Month: September 2017

PRELUDE TO PRAYER

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Prayer Facts:

“There is nothing more difficult than to ask. We will long and desire and crave and suffer, but not until we are at the extreme limit will we ask….” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, June 9th). “Prayer is weakness leaning on omnipotence” W. S. Bowden (ref#55, p129).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because all Your promises find their answer in CHRIST (2 Cor 1:20), I will wait for You.

Because Your Son is holy, blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners and exalted higher than the heavens (Heb 7:26), I will wait for You.

Because You sent Your Son into the world so that I might live through Him (1 John 4:9), I will wait for You.

Read Through the Bible in a Year: Sept 30th – Oct 6th

Sept 30 Lam 3-5; 1 Pet 3

Oct 1   Dan 1-2; 1 Pet 4

Oct 2     Dan 3-4; 1 Pet 5

Oct 3     Ezek 33-35; 2 Pet 1

Oct 4   Ezek 36-37; Ps 63

Oct 5   Ezek 38-39; 2 Pet 2

Oct 6   Ezek 40-41; 2 Pet 3

SUPPLICATION

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CHRISIAN

[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.]

MAN’S FOOLISHNESS ABOUT GOD’S WRATH

“…all human beings know GOD, but in guilt, with uncomfortable inklings of the judgment they cannot avoid” The Reformation Study Bible (ref#56, p1613, “Mankind’s Guilty Knowledge of God”).

The judgment is coming; everyone knows that. However, You, FATHER, took away the “uncomfortable inkling” in ____ when (he/she) experienced a great change of heart—the change from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh (Ezek 11:19). Now, with a heart able to grow into Christlikeness, FATHER, prompt (him/her) to utilize Your SPIRIT to adequately teach others the truth about man’s foolishness regarding the wrath to come.

“Men are ready to flatter themselves that they shall either outride or outlive the storms of Divine vengeance” Jonathan Edwards (ref#112, p567, [Jer 23:20]). Jonathan Edwards lends sobering words in his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” “Every one lays out matters in his own mind how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself…that his schemes will not fail” Jonathan Edwards (ref#139, point 9 in second set of beginning points). But, “…whatever pains a natural man takes in religion, whatever prayers he makes,…God is under no matter of obligation to keep him a moment from eternal destruction” (ref#139, point 10 in second set of points).

“…you that never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all you that were never…made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin, to a state of new…life are in the hands of an angry God. However you may have reformed your life in many things, and may have had religions affections and may keep up a form of religion in your families and closets, and in the house of God, it is nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction” Jonathan Edwards (ref#139, 5th paragraph of “Application” section).

The crux of the matter is a changed heart, not just changed actions. What important truth that ____ needs to be speaking to (his/her) acquaintances! FATHER, tie such a burden on (his/her) heart that (he/she) regularly searches for the opportunity and means of conveying this serious message.

THANKSGIVING

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Chord Progression:  (C  F  Bdim  Em)  (Am  Dm  G7  C)

INFRANGIBLE

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom (Ps 145:13).

You have exclusive control—

exclusive privilege, exclusive possession.

You have an eternal monopoly (ref#110, p879).

 

Your dominion endures throughout all generations (Ps 145:13).

You are not limited;

You are not confined;

You are not restricted (ref#110, p1462).

 

You uphold the universe by just Your word (Heb 1:3).

You have unlimited power and authority;

You are omnipotent and superior (ref#110, p946, 1344).

You are excellent and above all else (ref#110, p1344).

 

You are unapproachable and unmatched;

You have no rival or equal (ref#110, p1451).

You cannot be violated or infringed upon;

You are infrangible (ref#110, p693).

CONFESSION

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DOUBTS AND FEARS

…FATHER, You know me. You do not need anyone to bear witness concerning me. You know me in my deprived state (John 2:24). Yet, even as I display my humanness, You know my meek and broken spirit. Therefore You look on me with “pity, complacency and delight.” You know I mourn because I love and serve You so little. Even though my heart is simple You will love me so that my entire soul shall be full of light (ref#15, [John 2:24]).

But, sometimes I have doubts and fear that I am not Your child because the enemy convinces me my sins separate us. Some days I do not have the faith that assures me I am Yours. But, I do trust You; through experience I know You can be counted on. I do depend on You.

“Doubting faith is not doubtful faith. If the believer has not the faith of assurance, he may have the faith of reliance, and that will take him to heaven” Octavius Winslow (ref#61, March 13th).

Thankfully these doubts and fears keep me humble. Being weak and dependent make me gravitate toward prayer as I long to possess the merits of JESUS (ref#61, March 13th). The enemy’s accusations drive me in a good direction. They move aside the pride assurance brings and allow more seeking of my Savior.

ADORATION

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Chord Progression:  (Am  G  C  F)  (E  Am  E  Am)

ISAIAH 26

Beneath Your discipline

I search for You,

begging for help,

whispering a prayer (Isa 26:16)

 

I, who thought myself high and mighty

You bring down and humble.

To the ground, in the dust

You have cast me down. (Isa 26:5)

 

I thrashed in labor but bore no baby.

I gave birth to wind; I won no victory

I did not give salvation to the earth—

no deliverance from my efforts. (Isa 26:17,18)

 

CHORUS:

You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,

So I commit to You—lean on You—trust in You. (Isa 26:3)

O LORD my GOD, other lords besides You have ruled over me,

but Your name alone I now bring to remembrance. (Isa 26:13)

 

In the path of Your judgments, O LORD,

I wait for You;

Your name and remembrance

are the desires of my soul. (Isa 26:8)

 

All I have and am O LORD,

comes from You.

You ordain peace for me—

favor and blessings. (Isa 26:12)

 

My soul yearns for You in the night;

my spirit within me earnestly seeks You.

For when Your judgments are in the earth,

I learn righteousness. (Isa 26:9)

 

CHORUS:

PRELUDE TO PRAISE

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Prayer Facts:

“It is not so true that ‘prayer changes things’ as that prayer changes me and I change things….Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonders in a man’s disposition” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, Aug 28th).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You know everything and nothing is hidden from You (1 John 3:20), I will wait for You.

Because You produced and formed the world and all things in it (Acts 17:24), I will wait for You.

Because You bring to a standstill by severe weather the hand of every man (Job 37:7), I will wait for You.

Read Through the Bible in a Year: Sept 23rd – 29th

Sept 23     Ezek 20-21; James 3

Sept 24     Ezek 22-24; James 4

Sept 25     Ezek 25-28; James 5

Sept 26     Ezek 29-32; Ps 61

Sept 27     2 Kings 25; 2 Chron 36; Jer 40-41; Ps 62

Sept 28    Jer 42-44; 1 Pet 1

Sept 29    Obadiah; Lam 1-2; 1 Pet 2

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL SICKNESS

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

THE RIVERS SHALL NOT OVERFLOW

FATHER, since ____ is sick and in sore troubles, You will quicken (him/her) and bring (him/her) up again from the depths of the earth (Ps 71:20-21). You perfect that which concerneth (him/her). Your mercy endureth for ever (Ps 138:8). O LORD, give ____ the strong faith to believe these Your promises.

Even though (he/she) is troubled on every side, yet (he/she) need not be distressed ( 2 Cor 4:8,9). When (he/she) is perplexed, (he/she) need not be driven to despair. When (he/she) passes through the waters, You will be with (him/her). And the rivers they shall not overflow (him/her). When (he/she) walks through fire, (he/she) shall not be burned (Isa 43:2). O LORD, give ____ the strong faith to believe these Your promises.

THANKSGIVING

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Chord Progression:  (C  Am  Am/G#  Am/G)  (Am/F#  F  Dm  G)

IMPERISHABLE

GOD, You are greater than I can understand (Job 36:26).

You are undiscoverable—

You cannot be fully known (ref#110, p1456).

You are beyond the limits of possible experience (ref#110, p1419).

 

Your kingdom cannot be destroyed (Dan 2:44),

for You are indestructible (ref#110, p677),

yes, immeasurable—

boundless and vast are You (ref#110, p674).

 

Your unconquerable kingdom will stand forever (Dan 2:44).

It cannot be erased or blotted out

since You are indelible—

permanent and lasting (ref#110, p685).

 

Your years cannot be counted (Job 36:26),

for You exist apart from the material universe.

You are transcendent (ref#110, p1419),

imperishable and continuing forever (ref#110, p677, 1414).