Friday Morning Prayer:)… November 15, 2018
November 15, 2018 - 8 minutes readYears I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary.
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary.
By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary.[1]
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary.[1]
____________________
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…”[3] My son Luke and I went for coffee early on Monday and we met James. I thought about the gospel and the mercy of God as James discussed his understanding of religious ideas, God, and our Lord Jesus. He was sincere and confident as he shared. We listened intently and respectfully. I prayed in my mind for God’s mercy. I knew that any words I spoke needed to be full of grace as the Spirit led the conversation in response to his comments. Salvation is from God alone. “It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”[4] Therefore, we pray for God’s mercy for every person God brings into our sphere of influence who does not confess “Jesus is Lord” and refuses to believe God raised him from the dead according to the gospel−We do this with gentleness and respect and evident love through the power of the Holy Spirit.
James is the guy who knocks on doors to share his conviction about “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” In Christ God has called us to bear up under all types of pressures from an unbelieving world. Through the power of our indwelling God, we do not become weary in doing good and we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…”[5] Humble and compassionate is our pursuit in every context. We never compromise the gospel in the face of false teaching. However, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”[6] Moreover, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”[7]
Do I really love my neighbor? We can, and are compelled to do, through the Spirit of Jesus, we demonstrate sincere love toward others and hate what is evil. We are joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer because our hearts have experienced the mercy of God. Therefore, we do not repay evil for evil and we are careful to do what is right in the sight of everybody. It is tough sometimes, but as far as it depends on me, I pursue a life of peace with everyone.[8] In Christ, this gospel truth is your life too. We do not take revenge but allow God to deal with injustice and evil in his timing. In fact, we are called to feed our enemies, to give him or her drink, and overcome evil with good.[9]
My heart ached as I mostly listened to James. I let him know my feelings of grief and that he was preaching a gospel other than what I accepted and what the early church, the reformers, past, and present-day theologians and scholars would consider Christian. We agreed to disagree agreeably with mutual respect. He admitted he was encouraged by our time together. We were able to pray with him and I asked for the grace of God to be revealed in his life, him and his family. He said, “you have a good heart.” Love prevailed in a potentially antagonistic and hostile situation. Always as we keep in step with the Spirit, love is patient and kind. Love is not easily angered, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking.[10] Please, as you read about this encounter, pray for James. God have mercy on this man that he might become the light of Christ in a dark world.
O the wondrous displays of His perfections–the manifestations of His goodness–the outlettings of His love!
Here we received out of His fullness–grace upon grace. and glory upon glory.
O what torrents of eternal love teem from the glorious throne into our souls!
O the pleasure that is in His presence!
O the exuberant rivers of joy that flow at His right hand!
O love! never to be forgotten–which has brought me safely through so many winding labyrinths and crooked paths, in sight of so many enemies–in spite of . . .
a tempting devil,
the accusations of my sins,
the rebellion of my lusts,
the carnality of my affections, and
the weakness of all my graces–
to dwell at last forever in heavenly bliss![11]
Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary!
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary!
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!
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Sisters are meeting for prayer. First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
You are invited to join gals in Christ for a time of prayer. Go be encouraged as the Spirit leads our sisters in prayer. We are thankful for the prayers of many.
Brothers are meeting too! First Baptist. 3rd Friday. Alpine. 0730.
If your schedule allows, join us as we ask, seek, and knock before the throne of grace. It is a joy to meet with brothers and allow the Holy Spirit to lead our time in prayer.
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