SUPPLICATION

NON CHRISTIAN, RESISTERS

[We all have friends and family that do not want anything to do with Christianity so it is up to us to pray for their salvation. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

BACKSLIDERS CAN BE RESTORED

Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 12.31.23 PM…FATHER, You restore souls (Ps 23:3). You convert a “soul from sin that it may not eternally perish” Adam Clarke (ref#15, [Ps 23:3]). You bring back life from destruction, heal backsliders, and restore them to Your favor (ref#15, [Ps 23:3]).

“He breaks down the hard heart, arrests the soul in its onward progress of departure, places upon it some powerful check, lays it low….” Octavius Winslow (ref#61, Sept 1st).

FATHER, I plead to You for the same power You used to initially draw ____ to take up again Your work in ____’s heart (ref#61, Sept 1st). Even though (he/she) presently plows a wicked way, reaps a crop of evil, and eats a salad of lies (Hos 10:13), You will kindly give (him/her) another chance to turn (himself/herself) around again.

It is encouraging to know that since ____ is not in the pit of hell, (he/she) is on the ground of mercy and that You, FATHER, see a way for (him/her) to escape when I see none. I will depend on You and call on You for You only give a promise of deliverance (ref#124, p89-90).

THANKSGIVING

CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER SATAN

 Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 12.22.50 PM…FATHER, satan began his spiritual war with mankind by deceiving Eve, but his beginning was his end. As soon as the devil revealed himself, You, FATHER, prophesied his demise.

“I will make you and the woman enemies to each other. Your descendants and her descendants will be enemies. One of her descendants will crush your head, and you will bite his heel” (Gen 3:15 NCV).

“Christ baffled Satan’s temptations, rescued souls out of his hands, cast him out of the bodies of people…by his death, he gave a fatal and incurable blow to the devil’s kingdom, a wound to the head of this beast, that can never be healed” Matthew Henry (ref#18, [Gen 3:14-15]).

You, FATHER, established a perpetual overthrow of the devil and will shortly cast him into the lake of fire where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev 20:10). Praise to You, FATHER, for overwhelmingly assuring me that You were, are, and always will be in complete control of my arch enemy.

CONFESSION

GOD IS BOTH JUST AND JUSTIFIER

Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 12.15.28 PMWhat do I do with my guilt? FATHER, I am to be perfect as You are perfect (Matt 5:48)! Since I was born in Your image (Gen 1:26) the deepest desire of my heart is to live with You, but I don’t do the things I know I should do (Rom 7:15). I disappoint and have no ability to clear my own name before You (Rom 3:23). I just can’t always do what I know is right—sometimes I can, but not all the time. And You demand that I be perfect… (Matt 5:48).

But, what I could not do, You did (Isa 52:10).   Since You require justice, You, Yourself, must be the justifier (Rom 3:26). And this You did, all on Your own, without any help from me. So, You are both just and the One who brings justice.

Even though I am a sinner (Rom 5:8), You confer—You reckon—You count me as righteous (Rom 4:22). You consider me righteous when I am a sinner. You pronounce sinners righteous! You don’t change me so I am righteous, but You “pronounce” me righteous.

FATHER, You give the free gift of a right standing before You because of what Your Son JESUS did. I am drawn into Your favor because You have accepted the blood of Your Son in His death to soothe Your anger for all my sins—past, present, and future (Rom 3:25).

CHRIST’s dying on the cross does not automatically defuse Your anger toward every sinner.   You confer righteousness only upon sinners who support Your way of reconciliation—who believe CHRIST provides the only way to make peace with You—in contrast to believing that any efforts on my part has any power at all for my justification (Rom 3:28).

“Sinful men and women can be changed into new creatures, not by their repentance or their belief, but by the marvelous work of God in Christ Jesus which is prior to all experience…I am not saved by believing; I realize I am saved by believing. It is not repentance that saves me, repentance is the sign that I realize what God has done in Christ Jesus. The danger is to put the emphasis on the effect instead of on the cause” (ref#7, Oct 28th).

ADORATION

Prayer Facts:

Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 12.08.08 PM“Conformity, to live one with God, is a far higher and more divine life than to live simply in submission to God. To pray in conformity—together with God—is a far higher and more divine way to pray than mere submission” (ref#54, p51,52).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because in CHRIST I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of my trespasses (Eph 1:7), therefore I will wait for You.

Because in CHRIST I am set free from the law of sin and death and given the law of the Spirit of life (Rom 8:2), therefore I will wait for You.

Because in CHRIST I am a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Cor 5:17), therefore I will wait for You.

Because in CHRIST neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from His love (Rom 8:38,39), therefore I will wait for You.

SUPPLICATION

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.]

REASONS FOR AFFLICTION – TO TEST FAITH

Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 9.47.30 AM…FATHER, I know that it is necessary ____ be grieved by various trials so the genuineness of (his/her) faith may be tested (1 Pet 1:6-7). It is (his/her) faith that You will have on display as evidence of CHRIST’s victory (1 Pet 1:7).

Because of this, FATHER, may ____ understand that all Your providences to (him/her) are doors to trial.

“Even our mercies, like roses, have their thorns. Men may be drowned in seas of prosperity as well as in rivers of affliction. Our mountains are not too high and our valleys are not too low for temptations; trials lurk on all roads” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Sept 3rd PM).

Do not screen ____ from the trials by which faith is strengthened (ref#34, Sept 3rd PM). SOVEREIGN MASTER, allow the “beast” to wage war against (him/her) and conquer (him/her) (Rev 13:7) so (he/she) has opportunity to endure persecution patiently and remain faithful (Rev 13:10).

“…our pain and losses are always a test of how much we treasure the all-wise, all-governing God in comparison to what we have lost….God ordains the hard  times…to see if we have made a god out of our good times” John Piper (ref#124, p112).

FATHER, guide ____ through the tests of faith. May (he/she) be content “without the promise of any benefits in this life” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Jan 22nd PM) and, by faith, long for the eternal things (ref#34, Jan 22nd PM).

 O GOD, help (him/her) keep Your commandments and maintain (his/her) faith in JESUS (Rev 14:12). But also, when saddled with trials, remind (him/her) to expect Your blessings (James 1:12).

THANKSGIVING

IMPERCEPTIBLE

Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 9.39.27 AMYour throne, FATHER, is established from of old (Ps 93:2).

You are immeasurable—

“without…bounds”—illimitable (ref#110, p672).

You are not translatable (ref#110, p1453).

 

You are from everlasting (Ps 93:2)—

immutable and consistent.

You are changeless (ref#110, p234)

and no one can restrain You (ref#110, p1462).

 

You are the King of ages—immortal, invisible (1 Tim 1:17).

You are not limited or restricted (ref#110, p1162).

You are imperceptible and indiscernible (ref#110, p688)

and no one can hold You back (ref#110, p1162).

 

To You be honor and glory forever (1 Tim 1:17).

As You are impenetrable (ref#110, p676),

unfathomable and inscrutable (ref#110, p676, 698),

undecipherable and mysterious (ref#110, p1453, 698).

CONFESSION

TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY

Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 9.30.40 AM…FATHER, a blade of grass fulfills its created purpose—it is a praise to Your glory. You intend Your “grace and power and other perfections should…become conspicuous and illustrious” Matthew Henry (ref#18, [Eph 1:3-14]). And Your intention is that I magnify You (ref #18, [Eph 1:3-14]).

Praise is ascribed to You for the salvation You have granted to me (ref#16, [Eph 1:12]). When I let You work through me, You get the praise. All I have to do is follow You where You place me. FATHER, prevent me from placing myself (ref#83, p51).

I am tempted to ask You to help me be like CHRIST thinking others will see the goodness of You in me and praise You. But this is just a prideful request from my self-exalting nature. Another prideful request is for You to help me become more passionate for souls, but concentrating on saving souls is just religious commercialism (ref#83, p51).

Again, all I have to do is to follow You where You place me. When I am following You it will be a matter of indifference whether You put me in the spotlight or back stage. As long as I’m following You I can be unfairly accused or even be proven a failure without any irritation on my part (ref#83, p51).

CHRIST was a praise to Your glory. But, He was not obedient to His needs or the needs of men but obedient to Your will. Because of it, He was a ‘stone of stumbling’ to many people and I will be a ‘stone of stumbling’ by following Him (ref#83, p50-51).

Move me to realize that You have to be followed, I cannot clutch visions of grandeur that I become a beautiful specimen in Your showcase. I will reflect honor to You when I follow You in the mundane circumstances of life. (ref#83, p 53).

How difficult is following? FATHER, help me keep it simple. When I begin to question which way to go, sin has complicated my walk. Sin urges me to involve myself in activities that go beyond Your wishes and my abilities. The sin in me desires to do great spiritual things—things that will wear me out and make me frustrated and sad. Urge me to keep it simple and just walk behind You for the praise of Your glory.

ADORATION

CHRIST’S PROVISIONS

Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 9.23.26 AM “Thy throne of grace

is the pleasure ground of my soul

Here I obtain mercy in time of need,

Here see the smile of thy reconciled face,…” (ref#76, p150).

FATHER, without CHRIST, You would consume me. But, through Him I have access to You. By Him I receive the ability to fellowship with You. And the affect of that reconciliation is that I’m no longer hostile to You but now have the ability to speak and listen to You peaceably (ref#15, [Rom 5:11]). CHRIST provided this mercy to me by His death—reconciling me to You by the doctrines which He taught and by His intercession in heaven by which I can approach You through Him in His name (ref#16, [Eph 2:18]).

It is CHRIST that gives me an understanding of who You are (1 John 5:20) (ref#35, p217). CHRIST is the One who acquaints me with Your love and kindness, and patience, grace and pardoning mercy. CHRIST is the medium that supports all communication between You and me (John 14:6). Not only do I get to know You through CHRIST, but through CHRIST flows all my returns of love and delight back to You (ref#35, p218).

O LORD, constrain me from taking any steps toward You without CHRIST. For though CHRIST’s work allows me to walk with You, FATHER, I have nothing in common with You. I am darkness; You are light. Remind me again that without CHRIST I would be like dry straw and You a consuming fire. It would be disastrous to approach You without affirming an agreement with You by CHRIST’s blood (ref#35, p216).

FATHER, still me now that I may take in Your provided provisions given to me in CHRIST. Make it my delight to learn more and more of Your gifts through Him.

SUPPLICATION

LACKING PROVISIONS

[We all know someone who is dealing with financial problems. Here is an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

GOD GIVES DAILY ALL PROVISIONS

Screen Shot 2016-01-27 at 12.03.58 PMFATHER, I lift up ____ as (he/she) foresees (his/her) present supplies insufficient for (his/her) future daily needs. Grant (him/her) faith enough to believe You will never cease to sustain and uphold (him/her). You will not, You will not, You will not let (him/her) down (Heb 13:5). You obligate Yourself to supply (his/her) needs (ref#36, p388).

Empower ____ to ask You to take charge of (him/her). Provide for (him/her), FATHER, all that concerns (him/her) in this world—everything which (his/her) body requires. Aid ____ in acknowledging (his/her) “entire dependence upon You for life, and breath, and all things” Neil T. Anderson (ref#14, “Give us this day our daily bread”).

You graciously supply spiritual as well as physical needs. ____ requires a daily supply of grace, too. As with physical food, ____ needs a daily portion of spiritual food. Remind (him/her) that, in JESUS, all necessary things are laid up for (him/her). “In the Word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and in waiting” (he/she) will receive renewed strength (ref#34, Feb 14th AM).

THANKSGIVING

MY RESPONSIBILITY

Screen Shot 2016-01-27 at 11.51.27 AM…FATHER, even though Your work “of salvation is wholly sovereign and gracious…the reality of the human response in believing and receiving is never cancelled” The Reformation Study Bible (ref#56, p1509, [John 1:13]). Peter tells me I should be diligent to make my calling and election certain (2 Peter 1:10)—that is, certain to me.

“…simply to say that we are trusting in God instead of acting responsibly is sheer laziness…” Wayne Grudem (ref#63, p335). FATHER, I am known by the fruits I produce as I labor (ref#56, p1630, “Election and Reprobation”). Paul observed spiritual fruits in the Thessalonians: “We give thanks to God always for…your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thes 1:2-3 ESV).

In Your sovereign will, FATHER, You have designed me to be “a means You use to bring about the changes in the world” Wayne Grudem (ref#63, p 334). Thank You for giving me this opportunity to be a part of Your activities.