Friday Morning Prayer:)… October 1, 2020
October 2, 2020 - 9 minutes readAmazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.[1]
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.[2]
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How should I see my “self” in Christ? A brother recently suggested an imbalance in how we identify who we are as Christians. A quick Google search reveals title articles, “Identity: Sinner or Saint?” “You Are a Saint, Sinner, and Sufferer,” and “Saint or Sinner? Rethinking the Language of our Christian identity.”[3] You and me want to think, speak, and even proclaim with great enthusiasm a balanced emphasis according to and consistent with the inspired Word of God. For every person given saving mercy by our gracious God is in Christ; you are a new creation, a regenerate heart, born again anew by the Spirit—a participator in the divine nature, which are “identity” terms consistently emphasized in Scripture and supernaturally real, exciting, life-changing, refining, and empowering.
Paul writes, “To all the saints in Christ Jesus…” “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.”[4] Peter, “To God’s elect…” “To those who… have received a faith as precious as ours.”[5] “To the holy and faithful brothers [sisters] in Christ…”[6] Be ye encouraged that God has called you and me to abide in Christ! We are loved by God and called… I am a follower of Jesus! I identify with Christ at the cross, his death, burial, and resurrection, which defines our new life, especially as we are assured by God the Holy Spirit indwelling, convicting, directing, empowering, and comforting as we journey this supernatural life. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”[7]
As we “…walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”[8] Fellowship with Almighty God! We are promised joy and peace in the midst of it all, even enjoying God as he reveals his glory, gives us guidance, hears our desperate cries, knows our weaknesses, comforts, disciplines, and answers our prayers according to his sovereign will. Our God calls every true believer to persistently cry out in total reliance on him in every circumstance, crisis, and decision. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”[9] Your new life in Christ does not want to sin, yet we all struggle! My most cherished interpersonal relationships can be trying. I get tired and feel overwhelmed once in a while, you do too, and words flow from that sinful nature, yet we have an advocate and know who we are in Christ.
Humble, I am empowered to overcome! However, I must fight the good fight of faith![10] I have to make time to enjoy God, I have to stop all the moving parts and listen. I will spiritually die if I do not pursue God in the living Word and meditate on precepts, inspired promises, commands, and ways of being that instruct me and are consistent with my new life, hence my identity in Christ.
Sister/brother in Jesus! A joy to know we are family! May all you do, say, and think, overflow from Christ in you and you in Christ. We abide in Christ and nurture this supernatural reality by delving deep into the Word of God, pursuing fellowship with one another, spending time in prayer, seeking God and talking to our gracious Father through the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit at every turn. “Lord, I need your help,” this recurring plea is pleasing to our God. To recognize him and worship in Spirit and truth is necessary and happens as you pursue, pursue, pursue. We pray and even allow the Spirit to intercede with groans that words cannot express. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness.”[11]
We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.”[12]
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
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Sisters are meeting for prayer. First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine, 0900
You are invited to join faithful gals for a time of encouragement and prayer. A joy indeed!
If you schedule allows go join. Thank you, sisters, for praying and helping many through your powerful and effective prayers.
Brothers are meeting too! Mt. View Bible. 2710 Alpine Blvd. Alpine, 0730
Yes! A call to brothers to join in sweet fellowship, seeking our gracious God together, encouraged as the Spirit directs our time together. If you can’t make it, please pray with us in your own context. We truly believe that our prayers matter and change lives supernaturally as God has mercy. In fact, we pray and trust our God to glorify himself and use our humble cries according to his sovereign plan. How that works, I do not know, but I believe it! Let’s believe together! It is always a joy to see you!
[1] https://youtu.be/pboMTpvUToA
https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/313
[2] 2 Peter 1:3
[3] Google search: Saint or Sinner
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/you-are-a-saint-sinner-and-sufferer
Saint or Sinner? Rethinking the Language of Our Christian Identity
Saint or Sinner? Rethinking the Language of Our Christian IdentityThroughout the letters of the New Testament, the people of God are called lots of things. Conspicuously absent f…
[4] Romans 1:7
[5] 2 Peter 1:1
[6] Colossians 1:2
[7] Colossians 3:3-4
[8] 1 John 1:7
[9] 1 John 1:8-9
[10] 1 Timothy 6:12
[11] Romans 8:26-27
[12] Psalm 75:1
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