Friday Morning Prayer:)… July 26, 2018

July 26, 2018 - 8 minutes read
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
 
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obey:
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day;
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.[1]
 
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.”[2]
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The old hymns bring comfort and joy!  The chorus sings “And he walks with me and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”[3] As you pursue God in secret prayer, be encouraged as you worship and pray in song, “Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!  There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n; All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n; Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.”[4]  Through God’s mercy and abundant grace we in Christ live for Jesus; the regenerate heart overflows with love, compelled to embrace humble at every turn, especially before the throne of grace.  Daily the chorus we recognize, proclaim, practice, and appropriate gospel truth, “O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me; I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne; My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.”[5]
 
Jesus knows all about our daily struggles, he will guide until the day is done.  There are mysteries inherent in this life to be not fully known.  We observe pain and suffering at every turn, evil prevails, and depravity seems to prosper.  Tempted and tried we are often left to wonder why it should be all the day long.  The hymn ‘Farther Along’ encourages us, “Farther along we’ll know more about it, farther along we’ll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, we’ll understand it all by and by.”[6]   
 
A gal sat in my office crying this week.  Her life circumstances had become overwhelming to the point of her wanting to die.  My best efforts to listen and demonstrate genuine concern, even give options, words of encouragement, and hope was at best a band-aid for a heart problem only our sovereign God could fix.  Yes, we departed and I was left to wonder why. 
 
Our supernatural call is to love others in the power of Christ.  I care about how others perceive my character and life.  Our life goal is to please God in all we think, say, and do in this life.  We love one another.  “By this all men will know you are my disciples if you love one another.”[7]  Moreover, “…as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”[8] There was a time when every unregenerate heart was weak in their natural selves and prone to allow sin to prevail by obeying its evil desires.  Due to sin and a depraved nature, we readily offered our bodies in slavery to impurity and ever-increasing wickedness.[9]  But, the mercy of God saved unto a new life in Christ.  I prayed for the gal at my office.  O God, have mercy.  I trust our gracious God to direct as he determines.
 
We have been united with Christ in death through the cross and we will certainly be united with him in his resurrection.  Moreover, we count ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  On a daily basis, I must crucify the old self and those recurring sinful desires.  “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”[10]
 
Beloved, hold fast to gospel truth!  Be encouraged to press on the upward way and experience new heights every day.  Indeed! “Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith, on heaven’s tableland, a higher plane than I have found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”[11]  My humble, yet confident prayer for you, and for me,
 
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone,
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own;
Put on the gospel armor, and watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.
 
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.
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No prayer with the gals this week.   Prayer at First Baptist will resume August 3.
 
 
Brothers are meeting to pray!  Bethel Assembly.  1929 Arnold Way.  0730.  Alpine.
 
If you have an hour or so gather for prayer and encouragement, join faithful fellas this Friday morning.  Always a joy to see the brethren!  We pray as the Spirit leads and trust the God of all comfort to meet our every need.  Welcome.