Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
"When The Son Of Man Comes ... "
"When the Son of man comes, will He find faith on earth?" Pray that your love for Him will not grow cold. Pray for faith to stand firm to the end.
The Promise of God And The Call To Mission
Acts 1:1-2:47
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place" (Acts 2:1). "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised ..." (Acts 1:4-5). In Acts 1:8, we have the promise of God and the call to mission. God's people pray (Acts 1:14). They are waiting on the Lord, trusting that He will fulfil His promise: "Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31). Notice that the Holy Spirit is God's gift (Acts 1:4). The disciples are not being rewarded for their commitment to prayer. They are waiting upon the Lord who sends the Holy Spirit as the gift of His grace.
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This is the first post in a series on "The Word of God and the Spirit of God in Acts 1-2."
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place" (Acts 2:1). "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised ..." (Acts 1:4-5). In Acts 1:8, we have the promise of God and the call to mission. God's people pray (Acts 1:14). They are waiting on the Lord, trusting that He will fulfil His promise: "Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31). Notice that the Holy Spirit is God's gift (Acts 1:4). The disciples are not being rewarded for their commitment to prayer. They are waiting upon the Lord who sends the Holy Spirit as the gift of His grace.
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This is the first post in a series on "The Word of God and the Spirit of God in Acts 1-2."
Let Us Seek To Bring ‘Sinners’ Back To The Lord.
Ezekiel 40:1-49
God was revealing Himself to Ezekiel. ‘The hand of the Lord was upon’ him. He received ‘visions of God’(1-2). Ezekiel was not to keep this revelation to himself: ‘Tell the house of Israel everything you see’(4). We are to learn from ‘the prophets who spoke in the Name of the Lord’. Like them, we are to seek to bring ‘sinners’ back to the Lord, showing them ‘the error of their ways’ and pointing them to God’s way of salvation. This work is to be done prayerfully, never forgetting that ‘the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective’(James 5:10,16,19-20). God promises great blessing to those who are faithful in this work of winning others for Him: ‘Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever’(Daniel 12:3).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
God was revealing Himself to Ezekiel. ‘The hand of the Lord was upon’ him. He received ‘visions of God’(1-2). Ezekiel was not to keep this revelation to himself: ‘Tell the house of Israel everything you see’(4). We are to learn from ‘the prophets who spoke in the Name of the Lord’. Like them, we are to seek to bring ‘sinners’ back to the Lord, showing them ‘the error of their ways’ and pointing them to God’s way of salvation. This work is to be done prayerfully, never forgetting that ‘the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective’(James 5:10,16,19-20). God promises great blessing to those who are faithful in this work of winning others for Him: ‘Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever’(Daniel 12:3).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
God Is Looking For People Who Will Be Faithful In Prayer.
Ezekiel 22:1-31
‘I looked for a man..., but I found none’(30). God is looking for people who will be faithful in prayer. What happens when God’s people refuse to pray? God’s Word leaves us in no doubt - ‘I will pour out My anger on them..., bringing down on their own heads all they have done’(31). What a tragedy! The people refused to pray - and there was no blessing from the Lord: ‘You do not have, because you do not ask God’(James 4:2). Things could have been so different: ‘If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land’(2 Chronicles 7:14). God wants to bless us. We must pray for His blessing. ‘Ask and it will be given to you...’(Matthew 7:7-8).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
‘I looked for a man..., but I found none’(30). God is looking for people who will be faithful in prayer. What happens when God’s people refuse to pray? God’s Word leaves us in no doubt - ‘I will pour out My anger on them..., bringing down on their own heads all they have done’(31). What a tragedy! The people refused to pray - and there was no blessing from the Lord: ‘You do not have, because you do not ask God’(James 4:2). Things could have been so different: ‘If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land’(2 Chronicles 7:14). God wants to bless us. We must pray for His blessing. ‘Ask and it will be given to you...’(Matthew 7:7-8).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
‘He Will Come To Us As The Showers, As The Spring Rains That Water The Earth.’
Ezekiel 19:1-14
There is real sadness here. It is the sadness of God - as He looks upon the sinfulness of His people. If we truly love the Lord, we will have great sadness when we see people turning away from the Lord and ruining their lives. We have joy in the Lord - ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’(Philippians 4:4). There is also ‘great sorrow’ in our hearts when we think of those who refuse to come to Christ for salvation. This ‘sorrow’ leads us to pray: ‘My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved’(1,14; Romans 9:2; 10:1). Let us pray for our ‘dry and thirsty land’. Pray that God will come to our ‘wilderness’: ‘He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.’ Pray that people will ‘return to the Lord’. Pray that they will ‘press on to know the Lord’(13; Hosea 6:1-3).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
There is real sadness here. It is the sadness of God - as He looks upon the sinfulness of His people. If we truly love the Lord, we will have great sadness when we see people turning away from the Lord and ruining their lives. We have joy in the Lord - ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’(Philippians 4:4). There is also ‘great sorrow’ in our hearts when we think of those who refuse to come to Christ for salvation. This ‘sorrow’ leads us to pray: ‘My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved’(1,14; Romans 9:2; 10:1). Let us pray for our ‘dry and thirsty land’. Pray that God will come to our ‘wilderness’: ‘He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.’ Pray that people will ‘return to the Lord’. Pray that they will ‘press on to know the Lord’(13; Hosea 6:1-3).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
Pay Careful Attention To God’s Word.
Deuteronomy 17:14-18:22
Even the king is subject to God’s ‘law’. His supreme responsibility is this: Pay careful attention to God’s Word (17:18-20). Politically, he may be in an elevated position - a ‘king over’ others (17:14-15). Spiritually, he must not allow ‘his heart’ to be ‘lifted up above his brethren’(17:20). There must be humble obedience to God’s Word. Priests speak to God for us. Prophets speak to us for God. We need both - ‘prayer and the ministry of the Word’(Acts 6:4). In our worship, we must keep the Lord at the very centre. Anything or anyone who distracts our attention from the Lord is no help to true worship (9-14). ‘A prophet like Moses’(18:15): Jesus is the ultimate prophet - to see and hear Him is to see and hear God (John 5:19; 12:49; 14:9). He preaches God’s Word. He is ‘the Word of God’(John 1:1).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
Even the king is subject to God’s ‘law’. His supreme responsibility is this: Pay careful attention to God’s Word (17:18-20). Politically, he may be in an elevated position - a ‘king over’ others (17:14-15). Spiritually, he must not allow ‘his heart’ to be ‘lifted up above his brethren’(17:20). There must be humble obedience to God’s Word. Priests speak to God for us. Prophets speak to us for God. We need both - ‘prayer and the ministry of the Word’(Acts 6:4). In our worship, we must keep the Lord at the very centre. Anything or anyone who distracts our attention from the Lord is no help to true worship (9-14). ‘A prophet like Moses’(18:15): Jesus is the ultimate prophet - to see and hear Him is to see and hear God (John 5:19; 12:49; 14:9). He preaches God’s Word. He is ‘the Word of God’(John 1:1).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
‘We Will Give Ourselves Continually To Prayer And To The Ministry Of The Word.’
Deuteronomy 8:1-9:21
The ‘wilderness’ was a place of ‘testing’. God was ‘disciplining’ His people. He was teaching them to ‘walk in His ways’(2,5-6). In the ‘wilderness’, we must remember this: ‘man does not live by bread alone... man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord’(3). Everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord - His warnings as well as His promises! He speaks to us in warnings: ‘Take heed lest you forget the Lord your God...’(11). He speaks to us in promises: ‘the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land’(7). ‘God forbid that I should glory...’ (8:17-18; 9:4-6; Galatians 6:14). God gave Israel the land. He gives us ‘the Kingdom’(Luke 12:32). As earthly kingdoms rise and fall, ‘the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed’(Daniel 2:44).
Deuteronomy 9:22-10:22
‘We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word’(Acts 6:4). Moses was an intercessor (25-29). The ministry of the Word needs to be grounded in prayer. Prayerfully seeking the Lord’s help, we are to place His Word at the centre of the life of His people (5). God shows His mercy by providing His servants to carry His Word in a ministry of blessing to the people, a ministry which helps the people to ‘go in and possess the land’(8,10-11). In gratitude to God, our Creator-Redeemer, we are to give ourselves to Him in obedience (12-15). Let your heart and life be changed by the Lord, never forgetting this: ‘He is your praise; He is your God, who has done for you... great... things’(16-21). ‘God... gives the growth’(22; Corinthians 3:7). Read Psalm 126:6 and pray!
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
The ‘wilderness’ was a place of ‘testing’. God was ‘disciplining’ His people. He was teaching them to ‘walk in His ways’(2,5-6). In the ‘wilderness’, we must remember this: ‘man does not live by bread alone... man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord’(3). Everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord - His warnings as well as His promises! He speaks to us in warnings: ‘Take heed lest you forget the Lord your God...’(11). He speaks to us in promises: ‘the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land’(7). ‘God forbid that I should glory...’ (8:17-18; 9:4-6; Galatians 6:14). God gave Israel the land. He gives us ‘the Kingdom’(Luke 12:32). As earthly kingdoms rise and fall, ‘the God of heaven will set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed’(Daniel 2:44).
Deuteronomy 9:22-10:22
‘We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word’(Acts 6:4). Moses was an intercessor (25-29). The ministry of the Word needs to be grounded in prayer. Prayerfully seeking the Lord’s help, we are to place His Word at the centre of the life of His people (5). God shows His mercy by providing His servants to carry His Word in a ministry of blessing to the people, a ministry which helps the people to ‘go in and possess the land’(8,10-11). In gratitude to God, our Creator-Redeemer, we are to give ourselves to Him in obedience (12-15). Let your heart and life be changed by the Lord, never forgetting this: ‘He is your praise; He is your God, who has done for you... great... things’(16-21). ‘God... gives the growth’(22; Corinthians 3:7). Read Psalm 126:6 and pray!
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
The Preaching Of God’s Word And The Praising Of His Name.
Proverbs 14:1-19
‘A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man with the fruit of his deeds’(14). Jesus speaks to us about ‘good fruit’ and ‘bad fruit’. He warns us not to be deceived by those who have no real love for Him: ‘You will know them by their fruits’(Matthew 7:15-20). How does good fruit grow in the ‘tree’ of our lives? - ‘Blessed is the man... whose delight is in the law of the Lord... He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season’(Psalm 1:1-3). There is good fruit to be enjoyed when we take delight in the Word of the Lord. There is bad fruit to be thrown away. Let’s throw away the bad fruit - ‘...strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness...’- and enjoy the good fruit - ‘love, joy, peace...’. Let ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ grow in you - ‘be filled with the Spirit’(Galatians 5:19-24; Ephesians 5:18).
Proverbs 14:20-35
'‘Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace in any society’(34). Our nation can flourish again - by the preaching of God’s Word and the praising of God’s Name. Times of blessing can come again - if we will listen to God’s Word and sing His praise. Times of blessing will not come if we refuse to listen to the Lord, if we will not worship Him. We are living in difficult times - ‘dark powers are poised to flood our streets with hate and fear’. We must learn to see things as God sees them - ‘You stand appalled to see Your laws of love so scorned and lives so broken. Pray for mercy - ‘Have mercy, Lord’. Pray for revival - ‘Revive Your Church again’. Pray that Christ’s ‘glorious Cross shall tower triumphant in this land’. Pray that ‘righteousness’ will flow ‘like a never-failing stream’(Mission Praise, 509).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
‘A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man with the fruit of his deeds’(14). Jesus speaks to us about ‘good fruit’ and ‘bad fruit’. He warns us not to be deceived by those who have no real love for Him: ‘You will know them by their fruits’(Matthew 7:15-20). How does good fruit grow in the ‘tree’ of our lives? - ‘Blessed is the man... whose delight is in the law of the Lord... He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season’(Psalm 1:1-3). There is good fruit to be enjoyed when we take delight in the Word of the Lord. There is bad fruit to be thrown away. Let’s throw away the bad fruit - ‘...strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness...’- and enjoy the good fruit - ‘love, joy, peace...’. Let ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ grow in you - ‘be filled with the Spirit’(Galatians 5:19-24; Ephesians 5:18).
Proverbs 14:20-35
'‘Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace in any society’(34). Our nation can flourish again - by the preaching of God’s Word and the praising of God’s Name. Times of blessing can come again - if we will listen to God’s Word and sing His praise. Times of blessing will not come if we refuse to listen to the Lord, if we will not worship Him. We are living in difficult times - ‘dark powers are poised to flood our streets with hate and fear’. We must learn to see things as God sees them - ‘You stand appalled to see Your laws of love so scorned and lives so broken. Pray for mercy - ‘Have mercy, Lord’. Pray for revival - ‘Revive Your Church again’. Pray that Christ’s ‘glorious Cross shall tower triumphant in this land’. Pray that ‘righteousness’ will flow ‘like a never-failing stream’(Mission Praise, 509).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com
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