Friday Morning Prayer:). January 8, 2015
January 8, 2015 - 8 minutes readWe praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.
Sisters In Christ are meeting to pray! You are invited! First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900. Gals, who attend different churches gather to pray together. If you sense a need to join… please go… I know you will be glad you did… :).
Brothers are meeting too! We meet every Friday at one of the churches to pray and encourage one another. You are welcome to join us. Mountain View Bible. 2710 Alpine Blvd. Alpine. 0730.
Joseph emailed me today,
Josh McClure will be joining us for prayer this Friday. He has a bit of info to give us in regards to the pregnancy care clinic. We want to support this as a local body! Lets get this info into the bulletins at our churches and lets sow into this great cause. Please look below on what he will be discussing. Thank you….
I attached a link below highlighting a good work that is occurring through the Pregnancy Care Clinic. We ask for your ongoing prayer support as they expand into new areas with this necessary ministry. Very cool!
Beloved In Christ,
As I read, “The Great Evangelical Recession” by Jim Denison, I felt discouraged…. In general, a sad commentary indeed! Oh how desperately we need our God! We pray, pray, pray, on our knees asking, seeking, knocking: for America, our cities, towns, counties, families, youth…. We cry out for mercy and Holy Spirit power to change the inevitable, especially for those without Christ. Our culture, churches, animosity, division, a rebellious and resistant upcoming generation, worldliness, greed, etc., I thought of Paul’s inspired words to Timothy,
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” 2 Tim 3:1-5
We In Christ know these tendencies…in fact for many, if not all, a former way of life. However, mercy prevailed! :). The “old self” is put off and although we struggle, we are being made new in the attitude of our minds! We put on the “new self” and choose daily to take up our cross. Our constant and active goal is to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:22-24.
My boys know we identify ourselves as “Christians.” I want them to learn and experience what being a Christian genuinely means and looks like. Paul said, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” 4:1. During a Bible study at our men’s sober living one of the guys asked me why I kept saying “those who ‘profess’ Christ.” He didn’t like the implication as it related to him.
He later thanked me for making the distinction between those who “say they’re Christians” and those who actually live the life. He’s a fired up believer today! Mercy! Grace! Praise God!
We have been supernaturally called by God unto salvation through our Lord Jesus. This sovereign calling results in a transformed life! In Christ, YOU know this…so allow my expression to encourage your heart to pursue the supernatural more and more.
How are we going to reach a rebellious generation? How do we have a supernatural influence? We pray unceasing, individually and together. I strive to be completely humble and gentle…that is a struggle! How much do my boys, my spouse, co-workers, waitresses, etc., perceive me as patient and bearing with one another in love? Moreover, I, and we together…”Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” 4:3.
We need each other! God designed it that way! I need to make every effort to keep the unity of believers and WE enjoy this profound oneness by the power of the Spirit. I appreciate the diversity of our various churches. However, how cool it is that amongst the diversity, “There is one body and one Spirit…” Paul reminds us that we were called to “one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” v. 4-6.
Therefore, as we are “one” In Christ we can curb and even reverse the decline of our culture, facilitate God’s transformation of many: youth, “millennials,” elderly, all who will embrace the gospel! It is clear that, “God reigns ‘over’ all in his transcendent sovereignty. He works “through” …all in his creative activity. He dwells “in” all by reason of his immanent pervasiveness” (Wood, 1978).
Praise our “one” God who continues to transform, renew, and supernaturally work through faithful brothers and sisters united at the cross. In Christ, we can make a radical difference! Together as “one.”
We praise Thee, O God!
For Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior,
And scattered our night.
All glory and praise
To the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins,
And hath cleansed every stain.
All glory and praise
To the God of all grace,
Who hast brought us, and sought us,
And guided our ways.
Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.
References:
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. 1978. Gaebelein, F.E. (ed). Zondervan.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4eyu1y1ib0ly9j3/CPP%20MASTER.mp4?dl=0
http://www.denisonforum.org/cultural-commentary/1296-the-great-evangelical-recession
Band of Brothers resuming tonight! Robert sent an email. Church prayer at 6. Worship at 7. Bethel Assembly. Alpine. Thanks Robert! :).
Thank you for your prayers!
LoVe YOU! Much!
Randall:).
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