Friday Morning Prayer:)… May 13, 2021
May 14, 2021 - 9 minutes readI hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the *leper’s spots [*leopard’s]*
And melt the heart of stone.
When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.[1]
“…To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.[2]
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How do you respond, how do I respond to crisis, difficulties, pressure, or even scoffers, the ungodly, those who follow their own natural desires? Jude encourages the early church, and us, to “…remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.”[3] People will mock and be driven by depraved desires that include hate, evil behaviors, manipulation, thievery, betrayal, gossip, false teaching, etc. Paul, in speaking to the Ephesian Elders, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”[4] “Jesus said to them: Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.”[5] Genuine, truly regenerate hearts touched by the mercy of God persevere through adverse circumstances, and by God’s abundant grace discern truth from error, even battling our own tendencies to waver in saving faith.
Hold fast to the gospel and do not be overly alarmed by the compromising wickedness and false teaching of the times—it is pervasive today. Jesus said, “So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”[6] Moreover, Paul said the same, “So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.”[7] I am learning to not be overly surprised or aghast reactive to people’s behavior, especially the unregenerate heart. “There but for the grace of God go I.”[8] To know, integrate, rehearse, memorize, share, and remind one another of gospel truth is our protection. The truth of the Scriptures is lived out in godly, moral, and glorifying to God ways. Unfortunately, with higher or lesser degrees of evil, people within and leading: godless systems, even religious organizations, seemingly good movements, etc. without supernatural saving grace live according to their natural instincts and do not have the Spirit of Jesus indwelling. We too were once driven by our own natural instincts, followed inherent evil desires, and selfish, biblically compromising ways. Although I continue to struggle to overcome the flesh and natural instincts, and you do too—remember, we have the Spirit and by supernatural power we sing, sing, sing, “Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”
“Beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”[9] In Christ, you are in the world, but not of the world. I have to be proactive to not allow the world system, popular ideas, cultural norms, compromising ideas contrary to biblical precepts and truth to influence and form me to its mold! “Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”[10] You, and me too, were slaves to sin outside of Christ, but now in Christ, we echo the words of Jesus, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. [Yes! …really his disciples!] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”[11] Moreover, Jude encourages us, “Keep yourselves in God‘s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.“[12]
My brother, my sister in Jesus, pursue, pursue, pursue. Yes! Keep yourself in God’s love! Grow strong in Christ, build a solid foundation through studying the inspired Word of God, and working out your great salvation with great reverence, fear, and trembling before our holy, holy, holy, God. Remember, “…it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”[13] ”In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.“[14] Be ye encouraged! I have ears to hear, and you do too! ’I hear the Savior say, ’Thy strength indeed is small; Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.’
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
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Sisters are meeting to pray! First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine, 0900
You are invited. If your schedule allows, join Christian gals for a time of prayer and fellowship. Thank you, sisters! Joy and a great help as you pray week after week for the saints, and for God to be glorified in all the earth, especially through our lives!
Brothers are meeting too! First Baptist. Alpine. 0730
Join us if your schedule allows and God is prompting you to encourage the brothers with your presence! Yes! Indeed! I am always encouraged when brothers meet together to love God and one another. We encourage for a bit and intentionally pray as the Spirit leads our time together. Zoom will go on concurrently.
You are invited to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Friday Morning Prayer
Time: This is a recurring meeting 0730
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84790519443?pwd=alBUN0ZlVDdqTzZYYzJZRWxQaXV1dz09
Meeting ID: 847 9051 9443
Passcode: Prayer
· *alternate text, alluding to Jeremiah 13:23
[1] https://youtu.be/YfUNU-sPwbQ?list=RDBYjhGeAIG6k&t=5
[2] Revelation 1:5b-6
[3] Jude v. 17
[4] Acts 20:29-30
[5] Mark 13:5-6
[6] Mark 13:23
[7] Acts 20:31
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bradford
[9] Jude v. 20
[10] John 8:34
[11] Ibid. v.. 31-32
[12] Ibid. v. 21
[13] Philippians 2:12-13
[14] Romans 8:26
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