Month: September 2016

CONFESSION

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PUBLIC CONFESSION

Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 11.21.15 AM“Be confessing…your sins to one another for your own benefit, and be praying for one another that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person is able to do much as it operates” Kenneth S. Wuest (ref#37, p547, [James 5:16]).

FATHER, I sit here righteous because Your Son has clothed me in His robe of righteousness. But, I am a righteous sinner. I am always righteous and I am always a sinner. When I publicly confess I alert others of my activities so they might pray specifically for my spiritual welfare.

My brothers and sisters, being outsiders looking in at my sin, can pray more wisely than myself. Oh, that they might be true servants of You and be fervent in their prayers for me.

FATHER, make me see the goodness of public confession—how it maintains my communion with my fellow saints. After all, we are all the same—sinners huddled under the Cross of JESUS.

Remind me that the ones I judge as good Christians and the ones I judge as weak and backslidden are, like me, all in constant need of the forgiveness of JESUS. We simply are all the same—needing JESUS.

Although confession humbles me, it also makes me watchful. Being accountable keeps me from plummeting into habitual ruts of sin. It is beneficial to me that nothing is hidden from You; it is also beneficial to me if nothing is hidden from my fellow Christians.

Confession puts me on equal ground with my brothers and sisters. In no way am I better than anyone else. Sinning less is still sinning. One tiny sin makes the cross of CHRIST a necessity.

Confession teaches me to mourn as well as to celebrate Your goodness with my spiritual family. Transparency keeps me humble and conscience-clear. Once I confess, may I hear an assurance of pardon from my listeners. May they speak the words of Your heart.

FATHER, my desire is that we continually preach the Gospel of Your Son to one another. May we see You as the Giver and us as the receiver. May we never assume we have anything to give each other except to give You.

ADORATION

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GOD WAITS FOR ME

Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 9.48.59 AM“…the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]” (Isa 30:18 AMP).

VALLEYS TO MOUNTAINTOPS

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THE PURE-LOVE GOD

9/27/07

Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 10.09.41 AMIt’s late, and I have to get up at 6AM, but try to sleep when you suddenly realize the King of the universe gives you everything He has!

“…God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,…Now we are no longer slaves but God’s own sons. And since we are his sons, everything he has belongs to us,…” (Gal 4:6-7 TLB).

The SPIRIT chooses some time to illuminate the power of Scripture. I was just planning to play piano and worship a few minutes before bed. And now, who cares about sleep!

I have the resources of my elder brother, JESUS! This is not something new to my ears, but what has struck me is that the CREATOR of the universe is willing to give little, selfish me everything.

Again my FATHER has blessed me by rending the veil between the spiritual and physical so that I’ve received a glimpse of Pure-love Him.  And a dash of Pure-love makes me unable and unwilling to think of anything but Him who is praised forever, Amen. I’m so unworthy yet I scarf up the pleasure His openness has presented to me.

It reminds me of a poster I had pinned to my closet wall in MN where I formally lived. It was a picture of a field of daises.   (I wonder where that poster is?) It was on the wall to remind me of a dash of pure love He gave me 35-40 years ago.

I was in a remote area fossil collecting, walking along, hands on my knees searching the rocky ground. My eyes meant a lone flower and I thanked GOD for placing it there just for me to see.   Then I stood up to stretch my back and before me was an entire field of the same kind of wildflower. It was as if GOD, in Pure-love abundantly spilled Himself out by handing to me an entire field of flowers.

This love He sporadically pours out makes me so thirsty for more—and keeps me awake all hours—and makes me want to do nothing but honor Him.

SABBATH

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PRIVATE LORD’S DAY ACTIVITIES

“The time for performance of individual and family religious duties is before or after church….Private Lord’s Day observance includes prayer, Bible reading, meditation, and follow-up teaching after church” John Owen (ref#176).

“The Sabbath must be a day of spiritual improvement—improvement which comes in…families having time around the Lord Jesus, His Word, and His purposes” Alistair Begg (ref#165, Series: Pathway to Freedom, Sermon#: 1693, “Holy Day or Holiday?” Part Two, October 31, 1993).

Spiritual improvement comes from religious reading. (It’s possible to read through the Bible in a year by reading approximately 18 Chapters each Sunday.) Improvement also comes from secret prayer and holy meditation. (ref#165, Series: Pathway to Freedom, Sermon#: 1693, “Holy Day or Holiday?” Part Two, October 31, 1993).

“Church history informs us that after their private devotions, the members of the family in primitive times met for united prayer, the reading of the Scriptures, the recital of doctrinal and practical sentiments and mutual edification generally. This indeed, to some extent, was done every day. Each day was also closed by similar devotions. But, the Lord’s Day abounded in them” William S. Plumer, (ref#183).

Another LORD’s Day suggestion would be praising God for His mercies. But, this and the ones above are only suggestions. Though our desire would be to have a list of steps to follow, there are many temptations present in simply checking off a list.

Trouble happens when we simply follow lists—no manner how good the list is. We can fall into the category of sacrificing instead of obeying—just acting and not feeling.

God’s Word binds us only to Him and to His Word. We are free in matters of faith and worship from every man-made list. CHRIST has purchased the right to be our only Master. (ref#165, Series: The Sabbath, Sermon#: 2097, “The Delight of the Sabbath” July 18, 1999).

So, we must ask Him directly. We should ask Him every Sabbath what our agenda should be for the day.

SUPPLICATION

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CHRISTIAN

[Because we are Christians and live in the world we will always need prayer for our walk and for witnessing to others about CHRIST. Here’s an opportunity to pray for others or even ourselves. Fill their name or your name in the blanks.]

THE JOY OF PLANTING AND WATERING

 

Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 6.46.31 AM…FATHER, You have created ____ for fellowshipping with You in Your work. You have fashioned (him/her) to experience the most joy when (he/she) is with You. By steady attention to obedience, natural lives can be turned into spiritual lives (ref#118, p61-62). The farmer joyfully plants anticipating the harvest. Cause ____ who plants to anticipate Your spiritual harvest.

Your powerful Word dawns on men like the morning light—like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning—like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth (2 Sam 23:4). This Word comes through the SPIRIT, LORD, put His words on ____’s tongue (2 Sam 23:2).

Make it, FATHER, ____’s joy to be faithful to You as You make (his/her) way blameless (2 Sam 22:33) and righteous (2 Sam 22:21). You will reward (him/her) with joy when (his/her) work is faithful to You (ref#56, p460, [2 Sam 22:21-25]).

By working in union with You ____ can be bold declaring the Gospel, without error or impurity—having no desire to deceive. Make it (his/her) longing to be approved by You (1 Thes 2:2-4)—desiring not approval for (himself/herself) or from men.

FATHER, make ____ gentle, and affectionately desirous that men hear plainly the Gospel (1 Thes 2:7-8). With You, (he/she) will exhort and encourage and charge men to walk in a manner worthy of You—calling them into Your kingdom and glory (1 Thes 2:12).

Also, FATHER, make the ones You regenerate ____’s hope and joy and crown of boasting (1 Thes 2:19). Joining with You, FATHER, in prayer for the ones awakened to Your free gift of grace, cause it to be (his/her) greatest joy. For (he/she) knows that the ones You draw to Yourself through (him/her), will remain in faith and love (1 Thes 3:6) and continue standing fast (1 Thes 3:8). What joy (he/she) will feel for their sake and will long to continue in fellowship with them so that (he/she) may supply what is lacking in their faith and they may supply what is lacking in (his/her) faith (1 Thes 3:9-10).

THANKSGIVING

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FOREVER FAITHFUL GOD

Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 6.38.29 AM…Forever, O LORD, Your Word stands firm in the heavens (Ps 119:89). Your purposes are all settled above, and they shall all be fulfilled below (ref#15, [Ps 119:89]). FATHER, what You have ordained as law will always remain law—what You have affirmed will always remain true—and, what You have promised will be sure forever (ref#16, [Ps 119:89]).

Your faithfulness, O GOD, extends from one generation to another (Ps 119:90). As with Your everlasting faithfulness to Your promises, You will reign forever, to all generations (Ps 146:10). Your faithfulness is as established as the earth.

Your gracious promises are addressed to people of every age (ref#16, [Ps 119:90]). FATHER, You never change. Your faithfulness is always around You, it attends You at all times for it is a part of Your very nature (ref#16, [Ps 89:8]). You keep faith forever (Ps 146:6). You unchangeably adhere to the fulfilling of Your promises (ref#68, [Ps 146:6]). I thank You, that You are a forever faithful GOD. AMEN.