Friday Morning Prayer:)… January 23, 2020
January 23, 2020 - 8 minutes readThere is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day
And there may I, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away
Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away
And there may I, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away
Hallelujah, fountain full of love for us, poured out on us
Hallelujah, fountain full of love for us, poured out on us[1]
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”[2]
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‘And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.’ Among the greatest of all our God-given desires is the desire for others to be ‘plunged beneath that flood and lose all their guilty stains.’ In Christ, we share this great salvation that truly changed and continues to change our being.
The regenerate heart is a genuinely changed heart unto salvation. By God’s grace alone, through faith alone you have been saved.[3] And, not only is this great salvation a “past” and secure supernatural event, it is a “present” working of God in and through you, me, and every genuine believer. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are ‘being saved’ it is the power of God.”[4] Moreover, in the context of inspired instruction to love our neighbors as ourselves, love does no harm to its neighbor, and love is the fulfillment of the law, the apostle Paul refers to our “future” salvation, “And do this, understand the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because ‘our salvation is nearer now’ than when we first believed.”[5]
This week I experienced two brothers in the Lord at different places in their salvation. The joy in Christ overflowing yesterday morning made my day! A brother arrived saying, “praise the Lord I am reading the word and enjoying God.” I sensed right away his joy and tears of joy welled up in me as I recognized the power of God saving him, renewing him daily, empowering him, especially as he is regularly hiding the word in his heart and seeking opportunities to express his faith. The other brother who I do believe experienced salvation—a regenerate heart, hence the mercy of God saved him over a year ago with accompanying joy and peace and increasing desire for God. However, in recent days his present perspective is full of pain, anger, withdrawal. Definite anguish in my heart.
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”[6] The father of a boy who was demon-possessed exclaimed these words to Jesus. Jesus had mercy on the boy and delivered him from the evil invasion. I’d say the father of the boy was overcome by the magnitude and difficulties going on with his son and certainly believed, but doubted. His cry for help was an acknowledgment that even our faith comes from God and it is God’s sovereign grace working in our lives that enables us to believe and obey. For the hurting, the doubting, the resistant, and hopeless, the following author encourages those “saved” in Christ,
“As always, we can ask for what we need. When we doubt, we can ask for more faith. When we are wavering in our resolve to follow, we can ask for more resolve. When we are unwilling to obey, we can ask to be made willing. An unbeliever has no interest in having more faith or being made willing to obey. The believer knows that his faith and obedience are always deficient, and he will frequently ask God to enable him to live the life that pleases God. If left to our own strength and our own faith, we would never make it.”[7]
Be ye encouraged to believe and pray to believe even more! To grow in grace, mature in understanding, confidence, power, and joy is our constant pursuit! You are not called to be static, nor am I! “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”[8] It is a joy to encourage one another, to love and thereby enter more fully, deeper, wider, and higher into the understanding of our salvation status, privileges, righteousness, even our prospects in Christ. Joy in the growth and maturity of others, their solid footing is divine reasons for boasting and glorying in Jesus. The basis vs the action—the action is the inevitable outcome as you earnestly believe, yearn and cry out for more! Our progress and joy produced with new and greater reasons for overflowing joy as we help others, love, share the gospel, and join in as God calls unto salvation; through God’s mercy desperate lives are transformed, hearts softened, and the fruit of the Spirit is evident! As we grow in grace discipline, obedience, and ultimately by God’s indwelling and overflowing power we pray to see more clearly the enormous riches of our great salvation, past, present, and future.
Lord, help me to yearn for you.[9]
And since, by faith
I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die
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[1] https://mytopfinding.com/song/there-is-a-fountain-full-of-love-lyrics-shane-shane/
[2] Ephesians 1:7-8
[3] Ephesians 2:8-9
[4] 1 Corinthians 1:18
[5] Romans 13:11
[6] Mark 9:24
[7] https://www.gotquestions.org/I-believe-help-my-unbelief.html
[8] Philippians 1:27
[9] Yearn – Shane & Shane
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