Friday Morning Prayer:). June 5, 2015

June 6, 2015 - 6 minutes read

There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin sick soul.[1]

Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.[2]

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”[3]

Faithful In Christ,

Jesus showed his disciples that they should always pray and not give up.[4] We too are encouraged, exhorted really throughout Scripture to be faithful in prayer, devote ourselves to prayer;[5] “Be joyful always; pray continually;”[6] In this life, full of trials, afflictions, difficulties, we are instructed, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”[7] May your confidence, joy, and encouragement overflow because of your constant reliance on our gracious God. He cares! He is faithful!

I have to choose every day to be humble. So do you. Peter tells us, “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another….”[8] In fact, God’s abundant grace overflows to those who choose to pursue humble.[9] In due time, as we endure both successes and failures, hardship and comfort, frustrations, victories, etc., our sovereign God will ‘lift you up.” In Christ we can’t give up! We persevere! Be reminded, “Because you are sons, [daughters] God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ ”[10]

Yes! Our God indwells through the Holy Spirit. Think about it! Be in awe! Rejoice! Our omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God…full of mercy and grace loves YOU and me! He pursues, regenerates, transforms, and abides with His own. You are His through our Lord Jesus Christ! I am too! Praise our God! By grace through faith we are saved from our sin and eternal damnation. In fact, “…we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”[11] Amazing, ongoing love!

Therefore, we are compelled, stirred, prompted to humbly, “…pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”[12] Moreover, we discipline ourselves to be constantly mindful of our indwelling God, staying alert and “always keep on praying for all the saints.”[13]

Paul reminds us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. When we do not know what we ought to pray, the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.[14] Supernatural! It appears “that God makes himself our advocate with himself, that he utters for us that ineffable groaning, so that he will surely hear what we ourselves could not have told him, so that he will accept what he himself has to offer”[15] Intimacy with God! Through abundant grace, I pray YOU long for supernatural prayer in the Holy Spirit, especially as God “revives my soul [and yours] again.”

Beloved In Christ, be encouraged today and always! We heed the call from Jude to persevere, “…build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”[16]

If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus and say, “He died for all.”
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.

Don’t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend;
And if you lack for knowledge, He’ll never refuse to lend.
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.

Sisters are meeting to pray together! First Baptist Church. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900. You are invited!

Brothers are meeting too! We will be meeting at Grace Fellowship. 2301 South Grade. Alpine. 0730. Join brothers to pray together. Humble men desiring God, loving each other, allowing the Holy Spirit to help us pray. Come and overflow! :). Be encouraged!

Brothers getting together @ BAND OF BROTHERS! Thursday Night 6/5/15. Bethel Assembly. 1929 Arnold Way. Alpine. Men representing various fellowships, from Alpine and our surrounding communities gather to share a meal, worship, and feed on God’s Word. All men are invited. 6:00 dinner. 7:00 Worship and Bible. Check it out! :).

Your brother In Christ,

LoVe YOU! MUCH!

Randall:).

[1] http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/i/tisabalm.htm
[2] http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lyrics/hs889.htm
[3] 1 Peter 5:6-7
[4] Luke 18:1
[5] Rom 12:12, Col 4:2
[6] 1Thes 5:16-17
[7] Phil 4:6
[8] 1Peter 5:5b
[9] Proverbs 3:34
[10] Galatians 4:6
[11] Ephesians 2:8-10
[12] Ephesians 6:18
[13] Ibid.
[14] Rom 8:26-27
[15] Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1976) F. E. Gaebelein (ed). (Harrison quoting Barth, A Shorter Commentary on Romans, p. 102).
[16] Jude v. 20-21