Month: April 2017

PRELUDE TO PRAYER

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Prayer Facts:

“There is nothing secret about communion with God. If we live a holy life before God, broken of our pride and self-will, crying out for grace, then we will be in communion with God. It is really that simple” Paul E. Miller (ref#62, p247).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You do not forsake those who seek You (Ps 9:10), I will wait for You.

Because You make a covering over those who take refuge in You and defend them (Ps 5:11), I will wait for You.

Because You will cause Your ear to hear the desires and the longing of the humble and oppressed, and will prepare and strengthen and direct their hearts (Ps 10:17), I will wait for You.

Read Through the Bible in a Year: April 29th – May 5th

Apr 29            2 Sam 6; 1 Chron 13; Ps 27

Apr 30            1 Chron 14-15; 1 Cor 13

May 1              1 Chron 16; Ps 132

May 2             2 Sam 7; 1 Chron 17; 1 Cor 14

May 3             2 Sam 8-9; 1 Chron 18; 1 Cor 15

May 4             2 Sam 10; 1 Chron 19-20; 1 Cor 16

May 5             2 Sam 11-12; Ps 51

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL TRIBULATION

[We all can think of a Christian sister or brother experiencing so much affliction they may not be able to pray for themselves. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

PERMANENT BLESSINGS

Calamity can wash ____ out to sea when everything before (him/her) begins shifting. Change frightens. Even one change in life can be enough to take (his/her) eyes off You, FATHER—You, the unchangeable GOD.

FATHER, although ____ is experiencing change, You abide evermore the same. The streams of Your love are as “deep, as broad, and as full as ever” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, July 1st AM).

Since ____’s stability is never sure, propel (his/her) thoughts toward the things that cannot be shaken (Heb 12:27). Certainly a short amount of reminiscing about You can cover over (his/her) unstable state and replace it with thanksgiving.

Move ____ to stand at the foot of the cross trusting alone in the merits of JESUS’ blood. Does (he/she) not have solid assurances that Your love will keep (him/her) until the end (Jude 24)?

You are (his/her) FATHER!—who gives good gifts to (him/her) when (he/she) asks You (Matt 7:11). You have a permanent house for (him/her) in the heavens (John 14:2). You not only love (him/her) through Your Son, but You, Yourself love (him/her) (John 16:27). FATHER, You are (his/her) GOD and Rock of salvation (Ps 89:26).

The love of Your Son stands also as a permanent blessing to ____. Nothing can affect the strength of His affectionate nature. (He/She) is His desire (Song 7:10). There is no creature or circumstance that can separate (him/her) from His love (Rom 8:35).

“…let us …not…be cast down by what may happen in this…fleeting state of time….we will see the wreck of everything earthborn, and yet rejoice in the God of our salvation” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, June 22nd PM).

Change is here for ____; inspire (him/her) to embrace You, LORD. You are (his/her) unchangeable GOD.

THANKSGIVING

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Chord Progression: ( C  Bb  Eb  G7 ) ( Cm  Ab  G  C )

COMPASSIONATE

FATHER, You are compassionate.

You deeply sympathize;

You are a God who pities (ref#110, p284);

there is no Savior besides You (Isa 43:11).

 

You are a merciful and gracious GOD (Ex 34:6)—

Extremely careful about details—

meticulous (ref#110, p854)

and slow to anger (Ex 34:6).

 

In Your faithfulness (Ex34:6)

You supply, give and furnish—

provide, equip and meet needs,

aiding and assisting us (ref#110, p1345).

 

Abounding in steadfast love (Ex 34:6),

You are gentle, courteous and kind (ref#110, p563),

unselfish and generous (ref#110, p562).

You are the LORD (Isa 43:11).

 

CONFESSION

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VAIN ILLUSIONS

“…the way in which we repent to God or apologize to someone show that we have not truly judged ourselves. We betray the fact that we feel the wrong is only an unfortunate slip, and that we have on this occasion acted out of character with our true selves. What deception” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p77)!

FATHER, I do not have the ability to take honest stock of myself. You say my heart is desperately wicked (Jer 17:9) but it doesn’t seem that bad to me. I live in the realm of illusion just as the Pharisee in the temple (Luke 18:10-14).

“The Pharisee who thanked God that he was not as other men were, honestly thought he was telling the truth. He was, however, just as covetous, unjust, and adulterous as anybody else, but his own heart had deceived him” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p50).

FATHER, I want to know the truth about myself. I am suffering from sin much more than I know. Shatter my vain illusion about myself:

“If the moment the Holy One took our place and bore our sins He was condemned by the Father and left derelict in the hour of His sufferings, what must our true condition be to occasion so severe an act of judgment! The Bible says He was made in ‘the likeness of sinful flesh’ (Rom 8:3), which means that He was there as an effigy of us. But if the moment He became that effigy, He had to cry, ‘My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matt 27:46), what must God see us to be? It is plain that God was not forsaking the Son as the Son. He was forsaking the Son as us, whose likeness He was wearing” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p52).

ADORATION

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Chord Progression: (Am Dm G Em7) (Am Dm G C)

PSALM 35

 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;

fight against those who fight against me.

Take hold of shield and buckler

and rise for my help.

 

Draw the spear, draw the javelin

against my pursuers!

Say to my soul,

“I am your salvation” (Ps 35:1-3).

 

You have seen, O LORD, be not silent

O LORD, be not far from me.

Awake and rouse Yourself for my cause,

my God and my LORD (Ps 35:22-23).

 

Vindicate me, O LORD,

according to Your righteousness.

Let none rejoice over me (Ps 35:24).

But, let them be put to shame (Ps 35:4).

 

Then my soul, yes, my soul will rejoice in You, LORD—

exulting in Your salvation.

All my bones shall say,

O LORD, who is like You? (Ps 35:9-10).

 

Shout for joy and be glad,

and let me say, “Great is the LORD” (Ps 35:27-28).

My tongue shall tell of Your righteousness

and of Your praise all the day long (Ps 35:28).

PRELUDE TO PRAYER

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Prayer Facts:

“God has decreed the means as well as the end, and among the means is prayer….It is God’s purpose that His will shall be brought about by His own appointed means, and that He may do His people good upon His own terms, and that is, by the ‘means’ and ‘terms’ of entreaty and supplication” A.W. Pink (ref#152, p137-138).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because there are three that bear witness in heaven: the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY SPIRIT (1 John 5:7), I will wait for You.

Because in Your hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10), I will wait for You.

Because You will remember Your covenant forever (Ps 111:5), I will wait for You.

Read Through the Bible in a Year: April 22nd – 28th

Apr 22            1 Sam 27; 1 Chron 9; 1 Cor 9

Apr 23            1 Sam 28-29; Ps 24

Apr 24            1 Sam 30-31; 1 Chron 10; 1 Cor 10

Apr 25            2 Sam 1; Ps 140

Apr 26            2 Sam 2; 1 Chron 11; Ps 142

Apr 27            2 Sam 3; 1 Chron 12; 1 Cor 11

Apr 28            2 Sam 4-5; 1 Cor 12

SUPPLICATION

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NON CHRISTIAN Pursuers

[We all have friends and family that sit in our churches but only act like they are Christians. It is up to us to pray for their salvation. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

CALL TO REVIVAL

FATHER, there are those in our congregation living on milk and content to be unskilled in righteousness (Heb 5:13) and, there are those who have unknowingly walked away from the SPIRIT they began with (Gal 3:3). ____ may fit in this category.

Only You can make steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.   Only You can make righteousness looks down from the sky and faithfulness spring up from the ground (Ps 85:10,11). Will You not revive ____, that (he/she) may again rejoice in You (Ps 85:6)?

The SPIRIT’s influence on the people that lived in Jerusalem when Ezra came to build the temple was something amazing. Ezra learned that the people, GOD’s holy race, had mixed themselves with the peoples of the nearby lands (Ezra 9:2). After Ezra prayed Your people, FATHER, in an unheard of, unthinkable act sent back home their foreign wives and their children (Ezra 10:12)!

I’m sure the action of Ezra, when he learned of the people’s intermarrying, influenced You in helping the people accomplish such unthinkable feats. Ezra tore his garment, pulled hair from his head and beard and sat appalled until the evening sacrifice then rose from his fasting and fell on his knees and prayed (Ezra 9:4,5).

FATHER, fasting and waiting on You for long periods of time is something rare today—as rare as the possibility of the work of the SPIRIT making current headlines. Burden ____ to seek revival for (his/her) own heart. Move (him/her) to concern (himself/herself) with Your goals. Give (him/her) a heart like Ezra’s.

THANKSGIVING

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Chord Progression: ( C  Em  C7  F  ) ( Fm  C  G7  C )

A PRODIGAL

FATHER, in Your steadfast love,

You lead the people whom You have redeemed (Ex 15:13).

You are solicitous—

showing attention, concern and care (ref#110, p1276).

 

You guide Your people by Your strength (Ex 15:13).

You are ardent;

You are passionate and enthusiastic—

zealous and devoted (ref#110, p72).

 

Your behavior is affectionate;

You always express love (ref#110, p801),

for Your lovingkindness is everlasting—

for You are simply good (1 Chron 16:34).

 

Since You are prodigal,

extremely generous and profusely abundant (ref#110, p1073),

lead us to Your holy abode (Ex 15:13).

Woo us, entreat, coax, and urge us (ref#110, 1536).

 

We will give thanks to You (1 Chron 16:34),

for You are thoughtful and heedful,

attentive, kind and considerate (ref#110, p1393).

Yes, we will give thanks to You (1 Chron 16:34).

CONFESSION

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GROWING TO HATE MY FLESH

…FATHER, many times You confronted Moses with impossible situations. And many times he felt as if it was his job to make the situation possible. One of those times was when the people asked for meat to eat (Num 11:4-6).

“Where am I to get meat to give to all this people?…I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me” (Num 11:13-14 ESV).

FATHER, You have put before me such impossible situations. And, like Moses, I easily forget that You do not demand I find solutions to those situations.

You, LORD, actually allow me to be defeated and fruitless in order that You may destroy my natural life containing my self-wisdom and abilities (ref#101, p84). In defeat You show me more of the sin and frailty of my flesh in order that I may be aroused to an increased indignation toward myself (ref#33, p91,92). With these situations You corrupt my confidence in my natural virtues (ref#7, Dec. 30th).

My natural life must not rule, You must rule in me (ref#7, Dec 28th). What I call strengths, You call weakness. When I trust my strengths and depend on them I make it impossible for Your will to be accomplished.

FATHER, You will not grant me increased strength to meet impossible situations. Guide me, instead, toward maintaining an affirmative attitude toward You and a negative response toward my flesh (ref#33, p 106). For, if I trust in my wits instead of You, I produce consequences for which You will hold me responsible (ref#7, Dec. 28th).