Friday Morning Prayer:)… September 1, 2016

September 1, 2016 - 8 minutes read

*Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You’re the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You[1]

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee….

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.[2]
_________

Matt Maher sings a “modified” hymn of old that is pleasant to the ears and comforting to the soul. You can listen by clicking the reference below. Moreover, “I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee…” is a classic hymn that reflects biblical truth for every transformed heart In Christ!

“…to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”[3]

The Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, and to us, “those everywhere” who call on Jesus as Lord, and readily sing, “Lord, I need You, oh I need You…” Yes! I write the same thing in different ways week after week. I need to be reminded and encouraged! So do you! Therefore, I write to encourage and express love for you, my sister/brother In Christ. Moreover, I ask that as you find yourself reading, please pray for me and our Friday Morning Prayer groups. Cry out for grace overflowing for both our sisters and brothers meeting to pray together.

Who are those meeting to pray? Pastors, Elders, Leaders, men and women “In Christ” who serve and love the body of Christ. Gifted folks representing the body of Christ! Yes! By the grace of God, we come “washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”[4] Without a doubt, those gathering do agree with one another and are perfectly united in mind and thought when it comes to the gospel. United at the cross! “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

And I know, yes, I know
Jesus’ blood can make the vilest sinner clean,
And I know, yes, I know
Jesus’ blood can make the vilest sinner clean.[5]

Indeed! The family In Christ gathers to pray because we care about people. Our love for one another is the evidence we are truly transformed. A brother confirmed with me yesterday, “you are different than me” in regards to non-essential interpretation and application of Scripture. Yes! “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”[6] I value brothers and sisters gifted by God to do His will. We long for the gifts as God determines! “All these are the work of the one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”[7]
Moreover, the value of men and women meeting to pray from different fellowships highlights, “the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.”[8] “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into the body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”[9] How cool that is!

Finally, yes we value the intelligence and discernment of our brothers and sisters. The message of knowledge, prophecy, and the distinguishing between spirits, etc., a necessary gifting for the common good as God determines. My prayer for me and you, as God empowers and gives us insight into Scripture may we strive to live and relate according to the most excellent way: Love, even those who disagree with my way of understanding, application, and experience. I have to be careful how I exercise my freedom. Lord, help me to build up, expose, clarify, disagree, and even correct in Love.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”[10]

*Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, you’re my hope and stay

_____________________

Band of Brother meeting tonight! Bethel Assembly. 1929 Arnold Way. Alpine.
Dinner at 6:00 and worship and teaching at 7:00. All men invited! Dinner is $5
Professionally catered. Very good!

Sisters are meeting to pray! First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
You are invited! If you have gals in your congregation, in your small group, in your neighborhood, invite them to join faithful gals for a time of sweet prayer and fellowship.

Brothers are meeting too! Grace Fellowship. 2225 W. Victoria. Alpine. 0730.
We are at the Alpine Community Church. Parking in the rear. Join brothers In Christ to pray for our communities, youth center, the body of Christ represented through diverse fellowships. As always we rely on the Holy Spirit to lead our time together. We intentionally seek our God through prayer after a short time of fellowship. Check it out!

Your brother In Christ,

Randall:)….

[1] http://life1025.com/songs/lord-i-need-you/
[2] http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/I_Need_Thee_Every_Hour/
[3] 1 Corinthians 1:2
[4] 1 Corinthians 6:11
[5] http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Yes_I_Know/
[6] 1 Corinthians 12:4
[7] Ibid v. 11
[8] I Corinthians 12:12
[9] Ibid v. 13
[10] 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a