Friday Morning Prayer:)… November 29, 2018

November 29, 2018 - 9 minutes read
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
 
 
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
 
 
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
 
 
Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.[1]
 
 
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.[2]
______________
 
Are you delighting yourself in the Lord?  This great salvation in Christ calls each regenerate heart to trust in the Lord and do good. [3]Our sovereign God chose you and me unto this great salvation before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.[4]  My heart aches for those who find no interest in delighting in Jesus.   We know that the spiritually dead do not have the capacity to pursue God, nor do they grasp the idea of enjoying him.   We pray in earnest, asking God to have mercy on the souls of many as we offer this great salvation.  More often I am burdened for those who have grasped the gospel truth and in days past surrendered all to the One who paid it all.  You may know someone like that or it may be you; there was once a delight in Jesus, a constant pursuit, and joy overflowing.   However, due to life circumstances, interpersonal conflicts, loss of focus, or for whatever reasons, there is now a state of wandering away from fellowship, an avoidance of prayer and Bible study.   Of course, we all have those days of not feeling the joy of our salvation and delighting in the Lord is a distant concept.    I need the encouragement of the Spirit, you do too!   Every genuine believer needs the Spirit of strength every moment of every day in this life.   Believe the precious promises and plead for the light of Christ to illuminate gospel truth, revive your joy, and kindle holy fire as you yield to the Spirit.
 
 
How does one delight in Jesus?  I was asked by a gentleman this week how to know God.   I was excited to share the cross.  All to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give; I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live.  [5] We know God through our Redeemer, through the blood of the Lamb.  I explained that it was God who was stirring his heart, only God can raise the dead, make the blind see, and give the desire to know Jesus.  Believe the gospel, trust Jesus as Savior and Lord, and cry out in prayer asking God to give him the assurance of salvation by grace through faith.  We talked about the indwelling Spirit to help him truly work out his salvation and help him grow in grace.  I prayed and encouraged him to pray in the privacy of his own room.  The joy of a new life in Christ!   This same supernatural joy is for the regenerate heart needing to be renewed.   In Christ, you have experienced the power of the Spirit, and a humble repentant heart readily cries out in earnest prayer knowing that our God, the God of all comfort hears our cry for a renewed delight in him.
 
 
I need to cling to the promises of God and trust his faithfulness.  We are promised, Jesus.   “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…. Because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”[6]  We are promised the Holy Spirit.  “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”[7]  We are promised peace.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”[8]  As our gracious God has sealed your heart by his sovereign mercy and grace, you are given the power of the indwelling Spirit to live this life in Christ.   I need Holy Spirit power to pursue fellowship with other believers, to pray effectively, to understand Bible study, to love my neighbors, to discern truth and resist harmful worldly enticing ways of destruction, especially the devil who constantly tries to destroy my witness for Jesus.
 
 
Beloved, let us heed, embrace, and diligently pursue the inspired promises, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.   Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”[9]  God gives us his Spirit of wisdom and revelation so we can know him better.  Our eyes are enlightened in order that we in Christ may know the hope to which he has called us.  We are promised a rich and glorious inheritance in the saints and are given incomparably great power to effectively live and work out this great salvation to the glory of our gracious God in Christ.  I pray you are encouraged to persevere in his strength, especially as you yield to the Spirit and plead in prayer for overflowing joy.
 
 
Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
 
 
Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
_____________
 
 
Sisters in Christ are meeting for prayer.  First Baptist.  1912 Arnold way,  Alpine, 0900.
 
You are invited to join faithful sisters for a sweet hour of prayer.  Diverse gals representing various gospel-centered churches meet to encourage one another and pray as the Spirit leads their time together.  Go check it out!
 
Brothers are meeting too!  Alpine Youth Center,  2153 Arnold Way.  Alpine, 0730.
 
Join us for a time of prayer if your schedule allows.  Brothers gather week after week to love one another, pray as the Spirit leads for the body of Christ, one another, our youth, etc. No requirements or expectations, just a love for Jesus and the brethren. We wrap it up at 0830.

[2] Ephesians 5:1-2
[3] Psalm 37:3
[4] Ephesians 1:4
[6] John 14:18, 19b-20
[7] Ibid v. 26
[8] Ibid v. 27
[9] Psalm 37:4-6