Month: December 2016

SUPPLICATION

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SICKNESS – LIFE THREATENING

[The majority of our prayers concern physical health. We all know someone who is dealing with a life-ending disease. Here is an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-2-22-43-pm…LORD, You have planted eternity in ____’s heart (Eccl 3:11). And so You have had to set the cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen 3:24) lest (he/she) eat from the tree and live forever in (his/her) fallen nature. It is (his/her) human desire to live forever. ____ would like to always be healthy. But if (his/her) present body would become immortal it would mean eternal torment. You have not created (his/her) present bodies to last forever.

This world is in bondage to decay (Rom 8:21). It will not endure. At CHRIST’s second coming, the material elements of the universe will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up (2 Pet 3:10).

____’s body is (his/her) earthly home. The Apostle Paul calls bodies tents for they are only temporary (2 Cor 5:1). In this (he/she) groans because (he/she) is encompassed with many infirmities (2 Cor 5:2).

FATHER, how my sympathies want You to rise up and help ____ become well again. The desire to live forever is so strong that my first prayer request is always to ask You to heal. I know life isn’t the best here or earth, but it appears a lot better than death. And, so I pray for ____. But, my sympathies do not equal Your compassion.

LORD, guard ____ from deceptive and self-destructive means of temporary escape. And guard me from going no further in prayer than to ask You for more of this temporary life. I do not want to pray for only the pain and inconvenience to go away.

Give ____ enough faith to commit (his/her) way to You—to trust You (Ps 35:5). I pray ____ place (his/her) hope in You (Rom 15:13). Help (him/her) to embrace true Christian maturity (2 Cor 13:9) for godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come (1 Tim 4:8).

Aid ____ to resist the urge to desire this temporary life to be permanent. Prod (him/her) to prepare for the life to come by living each day of this week from faith to faith (Rom 1:17).

THANKSGIVING

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YOU TEST ME THEN RESCUE ME

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-2-13-43-pm “Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be,…for this is the will of God for you…’ (1 Thes 5:18 AMP).

Through my God I shall do valiantly, for it is He Who shall tread down my enemies (Ps 60:12). Though You are high, You regard the lowly (Ps 138:6). You rend the heavens and come down (Isa 64:1). You provide a way of escape for me (1 Cor 10:13).

Even though You test and try me, bringing me into the net, laying crushing burdens on my back, letting men ride over my head, yet You bring me out to a place of abundance (Ps 66:10-12). You reach down from on high and take me—drawing me out of deep waters. You rescue me from my strong enemies for they are too mighty for me. You bring me into a broad place because You delight in me (Ps 18:16,17,19).

Therefore I will come into Your house and perform my vows to You (Ps 66:13). A day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (Ps 84:10). I shall be forever praising You. Great is Your faithfulness. Your love never ceases; Your mercies never come to an end (Lam 3:22-23).

You are my portion, I will wait for You; my hope is in You, for You are good to me (Lam 3:24-25). You give me reason to ceaselessly praise You.

CONFESSION

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THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD–SATAN’S OR GOD’S?

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-2-06-23-pm…FATHER, my natural inclination is when life is easy to take life easy. Thus, it often does not occur to me to be resolute in the investigating of spiritual matters. You command me to “test everything” (1 Thes 5:21). I know I have power through the HOLY SPIRIT to test everything that enters my life. Let this prayer remind me that the evil one continually hurls lies at me (ref#101, p137-138).

Conviction that is real is conviction from the HOLY SPIRIT that leads to holiness while satan’s conviction leads to discouragement because he continually accuses (ref#101, p140). Asking for the precious cleansing blood (1 John 1:9) to purify me stops all accusation. If I am still assaulted with indictments I know they are from the devil (ref#101, p139). “…the Holy Spirit never reproves further if the sin is cleansed by the precious blood and forsaken” Watchman Nee (ref#101, p140).

“If the reproof is of a nagging nature—that is, blaming, without any end to it—and if it is a vague and general reproof rather than clearly specific, then we may know it to be, as a rule, the accusation of Satan. If the reproof is clear and specific, and if we instinctively know that we have only to be willing to say yes and repent to have peace and comfort, then we may be assured that it is the voice of the gracious Holy Spirit…and we may safely obey His convictions and turn to Calvary” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p96-97).

How sly the enemy is to make his convictions only slightly uncomfortable so that I can be lazy and only a bit discouraged. FATHER, too often I let accusations free to roam in my head for lengthy periods. Prod me, FATHER, that I may recognize conviction and deal with it immediately. All praise to You who conquers all Your enemies.

ADORATION

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JESUS GIVES ME THE ABILITY TO BE GOD’S PHYSICAL PRESENCE

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-2-01-01-pm…FATHER, You collaborated with the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT to create creatures with the primary role of being Your physical presence on earth. You made humans to have dominion over the works of Your hands (Ps 8:6), crowning them with glory and honor (Heb 2:7).

You left nothing outside of man’s control, but, at present, all things are not subjected to them (Heb 2:8). Your Scriptures tell about the failings of Your hand-picked nation, Israel—Your chosen, blessed to be a blessing—but not so.

You chose Aaron and his heirs to take on the sins of people, but they were not a blessing either for their priesthood was only a shadow of Your future plans—merely a rude outline of the good things to come (Heb 10:1).

You expressed Your will by piecemeal—not all at once. You made a covenant with Adam and then opened Your will further by revealing more to Enoch, Noah, Abraham, David—all along pointing to CHRIST (ref#21, p808 [Heb 1:1]).

Approximately 4000 years after Adam, You Son came to earth (ref#21, p 809 [Heb 1:1]). He is called “the last Adam” (1 Cor 15:45) because He is the end of Your revelation to man.

Never did CHRIST seek His own will but only the pleasure of You, FATHER (John 5:30) becoming my example of the emissary You created me to be. Now, with CHRIST in me, I am Your physical presence on earth.

Scripture paints a wonderful picture from Genesis to Revelation of how You direct Your creature’s hearts right down to me today. FATHER, allow these facts to root deep in my heart that I may gain a small sense of Your great plans.

VALLEYS TO MOUNTAINTOPS

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SABBATH REMINISCING

12/1/2016

screen-shot-2016-12-02-at-2-46-26-pm“God seeks to bring His holy remnant into the power of eternal life, even now….God wants a free people, a remnant totally detached from all that is earthly…” David Wilkerson (ref#138, p164).

This quote has been inscribed on my heart since I first read, Set Thy Trumpet to Thy Mouth back in the 80’s. David Wilkerson’s words and prophecies are still relevant.

My Sunday posts for the year, 2016 have ended. I have talked about the Sabbath every which way. So, how has my posts affected me?

First, those Sunday words have sobered me. I no more take the Sabbath lightly. I have internalized the truths expressed and experienced a humbling and an unction to be more in GOD’s presence.

The change gives me something to work toward and something to find joy in. My heart is more than ready to be detached from secularized society—this is where my joy lies. And my future work is to make that a reality—as unnatural as that is.

One reason GOD initiated a Sabbath was to offer a place where His people could be seen as different than the world. Sabbath observance would set them apart.

However, I am not set apart by just attending church on Sunday morning. 35-40 million people do that in this country; secular society has accepted that. Alistair Begg (ref#165, Series: God’s Work, God’s Way, Sermon#: 1761, “Threats to Spiritual Wholeness,” Part Two of Two, November 28, 2016). But, I can be labeled a fanatic if I set the rest of the day apart.

Thanks be to GOD who “built-in” a way to set His remnant apart. Observing the Sabbath is a weekly 24-hour opportunity to detach myself from all that is earthy and prove to the world that my spiritual life is more important than my physical.

And as I obey the keep-the-Sabbath command I will have my joy—joy in praising GOD as Creator, thanking Him for last week’s provisions and, by faith, next week’s, and taking advantage of the occasion to rest my body and soul. It is a time on earth to be immersed in eternity.

SABBATH

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CHRISTMAS SABBATH

“I go to the manger of Bethlehem and gaze on the infant Savior.  My faith staggers, and I exclaim, ‘Is this the Son of God?’ Retiring, I track that infant’s steps along its future path.  I mark the wisdom He displayed and I behold the wonders He worked.  I mark the revelations He disclosed, the doctrines He explained, the precepts He taught, the magnanimity He displayed.  I follow Him to Gethsemane, to the judgment-hall, and then to Calvary, and I witness the closing scene of wonder.  I return to Bethlehem and, with the evidences my hesitating faith has thus collected, I exclaim, with the awestruck and believing centurion, ‘Truly this was [is] the Son of God!'” (ref#135, Dec 25th).

Merry SABBATH Christmas

Merry SABBATH Christmas.

The Psalter Hymnal, (Pittsburg, PA: The United Presbyterian Board of Publication and Bible School Work, (c)1927)

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.]

SEPARATING THE SHEEP FROM THE GOATS

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…FATHER, hold ____ back from ever saying to an unbeliever, “GOD loves you.” A. W. Pink (ref#152, p160). Allow (him/her) a lesson from the words of Your Son. CHRIST spoke in such a way that His followers were drawn to Him but unbelievers were repelled. Nothing in His words or actions caused an unbeliever to feel secure in his sins—nothing to “cauterize his conscience” A.W. Pink (ref#152, p160). Entreat ____ to not speak in such a way that (he/she) inoculates the unsaved with encouraging words that do not save.

CHRIST came to “cleanse His threshing floor” (Matt 3:12)—gathering the grain and burning the chaff. Place in ____’s mouth truthful words that will cause (his/her) listeners to be for or against CHRIST.

“’Always preach,’ said Luther, ‘in a way that if the people do not come to hate their sin, they will instead hate you’” Martyn Lloyd-Jones (ref#159, p43).

Urge ____ to use words that will trigger rejoicing or disgruntlement. The truth will always cause CHRIST-rejecters to find something that they disapprove of hindering them from acknowledging CHRIST’s authority (Matt 15:12).

Give ____ a burden to show the unregenerated their need for CHRIST. Provide the words to tell them of their absolute ruin and lost condition—“their imminent and awful danger of suffering the wrath to come, the fearful guilt resting upon them in the sight of God” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon (ref#150, p161).

“That which sinners need to have brought before them is, the ineffable holiness, the exacting righteousness, the inflexible justice and the terrible wrath of God” A.W. Pink (ref#152, p160).

THANKSGIVING

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THE SPIRIT’S WORK

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-1-07-40-pm“That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it…” (Eph 1:14 AMP).

“The work of the cross creates a position and achieves a salvation by which sinners can be saved; the task of the Holy Spirit is to reveal to sinners what the cross has created and achieved so that they may in fact receive it and be saved” Watchman Nee (ref#101, p11).

FATHER, I thank You for providing the condition that led me to believe in CHRIST so that I am now “…stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit” (Eph 1:13 AMP). This was just Your laying the groundwork for Your indwelling in me (ref#101, p13).

I thank You, SPIRIT, for energizing my personal spirit so that CHRIST is formed in me (Gal 4:19). You give me “the essential nature of God” and the “quickening life of the Son of God” Oswald Chambers (ref#83, p89). Praise to You for I am “lifted to the domain where Jesus lives” Oswald Chambers (ref#83, p89). You SPIRIT, reorient my affections and renew my will. You transform me so profoundly that I no longer live, but CHRIST lives in me (Gal 2:20).

CONFESSION

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DAILY RENDERING FLESH INEFFECTIVE BY FAITH

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-12-59-48-pm“Give me to view a discovered sinfulness, to know that though my sins are crucified they are never wholly mortified. Hatred, malice, ill-will, vain-glory that hungers for and hunts after man’s approval and applause, all are crucified, forgiven, but they rise again in my sinful heart” The Valley of Vision (ref#76, p71)

FATHER, sensitize me of the truth about myself so that I might, by faith, deal with myself correctly. The consequence of the fall is that I am wicked, corrupt, and fleshly. I have indwelling sin, which is the infection of my nature (ref#15, [Rom 6:6]). Correctly I am as truly slain as CHRIST was crucified in order that I am as truly raised from a death of sin to a life of righteousness as the body of CHRIST was raised from the grave (ref#15, [Rom 6:6]).

As much as this is true, remind me, LORD that this “destroyed” flesh still resides in me (ref#33, p103).

“The flesh with its fleshly nature abides perpetually in the believer. Whenever opportunity is provided for its operation, it at once will spring into action” Watchman Nee (ref#33, p103).

Flesh is forever flesh even though CHRIST delivered me from it. The moment I cease believing that in faith and fail to let the HOLY SPIRIT lead me, I do not walk by the SPIRIT as Romans 8 talks about. As soon as I make a decision without consulting the SPIRIT I am immediately engulfed in the experience of Romans 7 (ref#33, p102) and not able to triumph. Only by constantly appropriating the cross will I be liberated from the power of the flesh (ref#33, p101).

If I am to be freed from the oppression of the flesh, I must ‘put to death the wicked deeds of the body and walk according to the Holy Spirit” (ref#33, p102). FATHER, provide the faith I need to believe CHRIST’s deathblow to my flesh for I desire to take on the responsibly to give my flesh no further attention.

“…loved one…be constantly holding yourselves back from the passionate cravings which are fleshly by nature [fleshly in that they come from the totally depraved nature], cravings of such a nature that, like an army carrying on a military campaign, they are waging war, hurling themselves down upon your soul” (ref#37, p552, [1 Peter 2:11]).

ADORATION

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THE POWER OF THE BLOOD

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-12-54-58-pm…FATHER, by His blood, CHRIST ransomed people for You from every nation on earth (Rev 5:9). The precious blood of JESUS has ransomed me from the futile ways inherited from my forefathers (1 Pet 1:18-19). And He purified me by His blood in His suffering (Heb 13:12).

I was once far off but now brought near by the blood of JESUS (Eph 2:13). The precious blood of JESUS frees me to confidently enter the Holy of Holies (Heb 10:19) of Your presence and live there all the day (ref#97, p92).

By the power of His blood there is peace between You and me (Col 1:20). By the power of His blood, I have fellowship with You (1 John 1:7). CHRIST’s blood is true drink and if I abide in Him He abides in me (John 6:55-56).

FATHER, I have been justified by His blood and saved from Your wrath (Rom 5:9). By its power I have eternal life and CHRIST will raise me up on the last day (John 6:54). By the blood CHRIST shed, satan is overcome (Rev 12:11).

FATHER, This blood of JESUS cleanses me from all sin (1 John 1:7).   In Him I have redemption and forgiveness of my trespasses through His blood (Eph 1:7). His blood sets me free from the tyranny of an evil conscience (ref#97, p92). His blood purifies my conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve You (Heb 9:14). FATHER, I desire to wash my robe and made it white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:14).