Friday Morning Prayer:)… January 5, 2017
January 5, 2017 - 6 minutes readSweet are the promises, kind is the word,
Dearer far than any message man ever heard;
Pure was the mind of Christ, sinless I see;
He the great example is, and pattern for me.
Where He leads I’ll follow,
Follow all the way.
Where He leads I’ll follow,
Follow Jesus ev’ry day.[1]
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”[2]
Beloved in Christ,
I pray you are experiencing more and more the reality of Jesus every moment of everyday! Not only at the beginning of a New Year, but daily we resolve to walk with Jesus, relying on the Spirit to guide and direct. Pastor Mark reminded us on New Years to not presume we have tomorrow, but resolve today to be more like him, hence ‘Be imitators of God…’ Our God is sovereign! If the Lord wills, there I go, here I am, ready to follow.
The genuine supernatural, transformed life in Jesus! In his strength, in step with the Holy Spirit, we enter the battle knowing it belongs to him. I need you, you need me! We talk about the Lord! What is God doing through your surrendered life? Through mine? In Christ as individuals and together as the body of Christ we are continually excited, joyful, and being kept filled with the Spirit! Even through our trials and struggles, a supernatural joy and peace that is evidence of our gracious indwelling God!
There is nothing in this life that matters more than a life fully and wholly consecrated to Jesus. Our ever increasing goal, pursuit, resolution is to live a life worthy of the calling we have received! To choose humble, gentle, patience, and bearing with one another in love.[3] Sister/Brother, this is a high calling and difficult, seemingly unattainable with my sin nature and flesh distractions! However, pursuing obedience and overflowing in the Spirit is only attainable by being controlled by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
I doubt if there is a day I do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Yes, the flesh is still there distracting, reacting, trying to control. No! We fight! It is not consistent or long lasting! Beloved, be ye equipped and encouraged through meditating on Scripture, the necessity of hiding the Word in my heart, resisting the flesh, praying continually, fellowship with brothers, crying out for discernment, confessing and asking for forgiveness is the recurring process that keeps the Spirit controlling my senses, behavior, and desires to follow his leading.
To be kept filled, hence controlled by the indwelling Spirit, with whom we are sealed for the day of redemption is a profound reality for your life, mine too, and every genuine believer! Therefore, let us yield moment by moment to the leading of the Spirit. In this way we are light in the Lord! No longer darkness! Therefore, we live as children of the light reflecting goodness, righteousness, and truth! Our goal every day is to find out what pleases the Lord! Wisely, making the most of every opportunity in these evil days.[4]
Pastor Greg over at Bethel wrote somewhere his desire to be “louder, brighter, and bolder… relying solely on the power of the Holy Spirit!” Yes! May we encourage that pursuit in our Shepherds and ourselves! The result will be an overflowing with speech filled with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs toward one another! An inability to contain, therefore, we must sing and make music in our hearts to our gracious Lord! Thankful![5]
Sweet is the tender love Jesus hath shown,
Sweeter far than any love that mortals have known;
Kind to the erring one, faithful is He;
He the great example is, and pattern for me.
Where He leads I’ll follow,
Follow all the way.
Where He leads I’ll follow,
Follow Jesus ev’ry day.
List to His loving words, “Come unto Me”;
Weary, heavy laden, there is sweet rest for thee;
Trust in His promises, faithful and sure;
Lean upon the Savior, and thy soul is secure.
__________________
Sisters are meeting to pray! First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
Gals are meeting for a short time of prayer, then going to the AYC around 0930 to participate in open discussion about the progress and volunteer needs at the youth center. You are always invited to attend! Prayer and fellowship, a necessity to keeping gals strong in Jesus!
Brothers are meeting too! Grace Fellowship@ 2225 W. Victoria. Alpine. 0730.
You are invited! Faithful brothers getting together to love one another and pray before the throne of grace. We pray for our local body, churches, our community, personal needs, youth center, etc., as the Spirit leads. Join us for a time of encouragement and intentional prayer.
Your brother in Jesus!
Randall:)…
[1] http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/l/whlifoll.htm
[2] Ephesians 5:1-2
[3] Ibid. 4:1-2
[4] Ibid. 5:8-16
[5] Ibid 5:19-20
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