Grace

Established Churches in the Faith

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“The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!”  Proverbs 21:27

“And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.”  Acts 16:4-5

Seeing that God’s word tells us that the mind of Adam’s race is wicked continually and a sacrifice with wicked intent can only be further abomination, then let us pray that we come to God only through the sacrifice on God’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Let those who profess His name believe His word, proclaim His word, and live His word by the power of the Holy Spirit within and glorify His name. No sacrifice we offer can ever bring glory to God.

Let us pray for the continuing establishment of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ through the Scriptures, teaching them, living out our lives for the glory of His name.

Come today to the One, the only One who can redeem You. He died on the cross for our sins (your sins and mine), He was buried taking away all our sins, shame and condemnation, and three days later He came out of that grave alive forever more. Call on His name today.

Open Door of Faith

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“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.”  Proverbs 20:10

“And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.”  Acts 14:27

Pray that we who name the name of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior always be just, equitable, and righteous to all people with whom we speak, and with whom we do business.

We must also pray that we always in our gatherings together tell of all that God has done; of His Son Jesus, and His mighty works of grace and mercy in salvation of all who will call on His name.

Will you call on the name that is above every name – the name of Jesus Christ who died for us on the cross, was buried and He rose from the grave and forever lives interceeding for all who have come to Him calling on His name.

The Safe Place

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“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. ‘  Proverbs 18:10

“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.’ And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”  Acts 9:17-18

Let us always remember the safe place for anyone to be is in the name of the LORD, trusting Him, and growing in His love, mercy, grace, and His correction as well.

Remember the tormentor Saul sought to destroy the safe place of the LORD, which is in the name of the LORD, and he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, and bowed before Him. When Saul had met the LORD and humbled himself before Him he was filled with the Holy Spirit and the LORD used him mightily for the glory of His name. Let us pray to do likewise in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let me tell you that Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God died on the cross for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again to justify forever those who will call on His name. If you will call on Him today, right now, He will hear you and will give you eternal life.

Speaking with Wisdom from Knowledge

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“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.”  Proverbs 17:27

“And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”  Acts 6:10

In the fifty five years that I have been a born again believer in Jesus Christ I have learned this one thing; “The more I know, the more I realize that I do not know”.

I pray that I will increase in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding and that all those who are born again through the blood of Jesus Christ have the same.

I pray that when we speak that we speak with wisdom and grace. That we will realize that all who hear us when we speak with the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in the grace and mercy of God through the Spirit of God will be recognized as being from God; but that some will hate us for it. Yet some will receive it and lives will be changed.

Join with me in praying daily for the filling of the Holy Spirit.

The Father’s Instruction and The Prince of Life

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“A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.”  Proverbs 15:5

“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.”  Acts 3:13-15

May we always follow the instruction of wisdom that our earthly fathers have given us; and the instruction and commandments our heavenly Father has given us that we might be wise and clear minded in living life.

Since we know that Jesus was rejected by His own, and was crucified for our sins and the sins of the whole world; let us be faithful to Him, because He was buried, and He rose again and has redeemed us from our sins. May our lives be a testimony and a witness of His love, mercy and grace.

The World Didn’t Give it to Us, and the World Can’t Take it Away

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“The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.” Proverbs 11:18
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”  John 16:20-22

While the world is doing its wicked works let us be faithful to serve the Lord in righteous faith and living.

Remember that we, as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, have peace and joy that does not come from possessions of things or people or even family. Our peace and joy comes from heaven and like our Savior says, “…Your joy no one takes from you”.

If you do not know this One who give joy and peace; He is Jesus Christ, He loves you so much that He died on the cross in our place for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again and ascended into heaven, and is seated this day and forever at the right hand of the Father. Call on the name of Jesus, with sorrow for your sin, and He will hear you, and He will give you an eternal home with Him.

Lips and Words

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“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18
“Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.’ ” John 14:23

Pray for honest lips and encouraging words to our neighbor, our enemies, and the brethren in the faith. If we love God and His Son Jesus we can do no other.

Make sure the place you abide is with Him.

Wisdom and Understanding Hearing the Words of Jesus

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“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”  Proverbs 9:10
“He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”   John 12:48

Let those who have heard the words of Jesus Christ believing and receiving Him continue in the wisdom of Jesus Christ and the Father; in holiness.

May those who have not yet believed and received Him, hear Him today, believe and receive Him by grace through faith in the finished word of His atoning death on the cross, His burial, and bodily resurrection.

Words of Wisdom

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“Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”  Proverbs 8:10-11
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

We need to ask wisdom for those who are lost and perishing in sin so that they might hear the words of Truth which our Lord speaks and that they will hear and believe unto salvation.

Discretion and Knowledge; Sowing and Reaping

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“My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: that thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.”  Proverbs 5:1-2
“Say not ye, ‘There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?’ Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, ‘One soweth, and another reapeth.’
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.”  John 4:35-38

We need to ask the Lord to give us always the heart and mind for sound judgment; that requires wisdom, understanding and knowledge. That also requires us listening to others – even those we disagree with on certain things that we might grow in knowledge.

Since Jesus tells us that the harvest is already ready, then we need to see the great need for telling the lost and the condemned and the perishing that Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God gave His life on the cross for our sins, He was buried carrying away all our sin, guilt and condemnation, then He rose and came out of that grave alive justifying those who will believe, forever. O what a glorious harvest Jesus is reaping.

Get Wisdom; He Who Made the World

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“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.”  Proverbs 4:5-6
“He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” John 1:10-11

We do need wisdom, especially for the war of the culture, the spiritual battles that we face where good has been declared evil; and evil has been declared as good.

We also need to return to the One who has made all things; to believe Him and to trust that He went to the cross, died for the sins of the world, was buried and He rose up bodily and came alive out of that grave, and He forever lives. May we be ever diligent and faithful to the One who gives us His grace; His name is Jesus Christ. There is no other Savior.

Fear the LORD; Opened Eyes

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“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”  Proverbs 3:7-8
“And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight.”  Luke 24:31

Let us pray that we fear God and nothing or no one else, because that is relying on His wisdom and not our own. Let us also ask Him to always keep our eyes opened to the truth of the identity of Jesus Christ who died on the cross, was buried, and He bodily arose and came out of the grave.

May we also pray for the eyes of the many who are hopeless, helpless, hurting and lost might be opened to see who Jesus is as well; that they might be delivered from sin and hell.

Prayer for this Lord’s Day January 31, In the year of our Lord 2021

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“Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. ”  Proverbs 31:9
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.'”   Luke 17:10

Our Lord God, Father and Savior we worship and adore You. We come to You through the glorious name of Jesus Christ  Your holy and only begotten Son who is with You in all eternity, past and present.

By the power of Your Spirit we will judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and the innocent who cannot plead for themselves. Forgive our sin of being respecter of persons, because You are not; neither should one of Your children be.

Also, Lord by the power of Your Spirit who is given us at that moment we call on the name of Jesus, Your Son for salvation and the receipt of Your grace and faith we will be faithful to live by faith, and do that which is our duty to do.

Thank You for Your multitude of blessings. Thank You for Your love, mercy and grace that saves. Amen.

Overcoming Fear

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“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”  Proverbs 29:25
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.”  Luke 14:33

Our Lord GOD and Father, in You we trust. Always may we keep in our hearts and minds that You are God, that in Your hands alone our daily lives and living rest. That, the fear of man and governments of men are a snare. There is only One who can meet our every need and give us true freedom and that is You, Lord.

We desire to be faithful disciples. We will cherish You, Your word, and will commit ourselves to You and You alone through the gift and power of Your Comforter, the Holy Spirit given us through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and our faith in His finished work there on that cross.

Fill us with Your Spirit, Lord, till all shall see Christ only, always living in us. Amen.

Prayer for Thursday January 28, In the year of our Lord 2021

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“He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.”  Proverbs 28:23
“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God: but he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.”   Luke 12:8-9

Father, God and Creator of heaven and earth. You know the heart and mind of all of Adam’s race. You hear and know every word that we speak; when it is true, when it is a lie, when is spoken in deceit, and for malice or prejudice toward another.

Forgive us, O Lord, our sins which are many and speaking to seek the favor of others is one of our sins; and there is too much of it done to deceive and lead astray those to whom we may be speaking. Cleanse us from our sin and create in us a clean heart, O God. Thank You for the forgiveness that is available only through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ Your Son who is seated at Your right hand.

Help us to always be strong in faith always confessing the name of Jesus no matter what may come our way.  Always professing our faith in the One who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again.

Our faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary. On Thee we call. Amen.

Prayer for January 26, In the year of our Lord 2021 Tuesday

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“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”  Proverbs 25:20
“And Jesus said, ‘Somebody hath touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.’ ”  Luke 8:46

Lord GOD and Father, You are the Creator of all that is and Your crucified, buried and resurrected Son Jesus Christ is seated at Your Right Hand. You are the Sovereign over all that is; even the hearts of kings and all who rule nations and cities.

You know that there is much corruption in the hearts of leaders in our country, and around the world. They, in fact, are working, probably unknowingly for some, with the father of lies and seeking to thwart the heavenly agenda of Your heart and mind. Not one word You have spoken will fail.

Knowing that there is much corruption in governments of men may all who call Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior ever be mindful of the evil that can be, and often is in our own hearts and minds; and may we diligently guard our hearts through prayer, and dedication to the reading, study and application of Your holy word, the Bible. May we hide it in our hearts that we do not sin against You and make it a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path. It is the way of cleansing when we take heed to what You say.

Forgive our own vile, evil, and malicious ways that we have at times, and create in our hearts renewing, forgiveness and healing for all. May we always seek to be at peace with all people as much as is Biblically possible. May we not be talebearers, but be peace makers and peace keepers as is possible through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Saturday Prayer In the year of our LORD January 23, 2021

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:Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.”  Proverbs 23:12
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”  Luke 1:37

Father all Glorious and worthy of worship and praise in You do I trust. I have never found You to fail. Every promise You have spoken has come to pass just as You have said; or it will come to pass in Your time and for Your glory.

Lord, I am trying to practice more the loving of my neighbor. You tell us in the gospel, “Ask and it shall be given you; Seek and you shall find; and Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.” Lord I am asking for Your guidance and Your will in putting it in the hearts of people in my community to seek out help if they need it; and if it is within my ability to help by Your grace and provision I will do it.

Thank You for the trapper You set in my path yesterday and was able to give him a jump start for his jeep. Thank You for all that You are setting before me today and days to come. May I by the power of Your Spirit be a faithful witness to Your love, mercy and grace through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ Your holy Son.

I pray for people to JUST ASK; especially to ask You; then if they need help I can give in Your name, I can do it. Amen.

Prayer for Friday January 22, In the year of our LORD 2021

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“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”  Proverbs 22:3
“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”  Mark 16:19

Lord GOD of heaven and earth; Creator of all that is; to You we give our life, our all. All things that are are Yours. We are Yours; bought by the blood of Jesus Christ Your holy, only begotten Son as He died on the cross on that dark day in His life; He was buried and He rose from that grave, and forever lives in glory, and in the lives of all who have called on His name.

Father, we ask for wisdom to see trouble and evil when it is approaching and trust You through it all; and to know when to hide from it or face it head on by Your Spirit and Your word. We ask that we will not be blind to evil coming, but avoid doing it and glorifying Your holy and righteous name. May we never call evil what You have declared good; and may we never call good what You have declared evil.

Fill us with Your Spirit Lord that we, Your people, may walk with You and be empowered to be a powerful witnesses of Your mercy, Your love, Your grace; and Your holy, righteous and just Character. You are also Immutable, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, and All-Present; and because of that You are worthy of worship, praise, and adoration and of our faithfulness to You.

Guide us through this day, O You Great Jehovah, and lead us to a soul that is nearest Hell; and by the power of Your Spirit, draw that soul to the saving Lord Jesus. Save to the uttermost those who are perishing. Amen.

To The Almighty GOD…

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“The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.”  Proverbs 14:32
“And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted.”  Matthew 28:17

Father, I praise You. I worship You because of Your love, mercy and grace You have shown through Your Son Jesus the Christ who died on the cross for the sins of the world, was buried carrying away all our sin, its darkness, pain, shame and despair, and all our condemnation; then He rose bodily from that grave justifying forever all who come to Him. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Lord, give me wisdom concerning the peril of the wicked. I pray that I might see the wicked will be judged by their own wickedness, and by Your Just ways and word. For those who have been clothed in the Righteousness of Jesus Christ we have hope in death of Your presence and glory with You. Forgive our sins, O God, and renew a right spirit in us. There is much darkness in this world right now; I pray that we shall be a bright light reflecting the holy Light of Christ our Lord. For in Him is no darkness at all.

I pray, O Lord, for renewed strength today of faith. Continued growing faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Doubters will turn away, unless they will come to believe.

Turn our hearts, O Lord, away from being filled with the world, the flesh and the devil and fill us with Your Spirit that we may walk with You and glorify Your holy name.

I also ask, Lord, that You would plow the soils of the hearts of men, women, boys and girls who do not know You; that I will be faithful to sow the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that You will give the harvest. Bless the name of the Lord. Amen.

Prayer for January 8, 2021

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“Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” WISDOM Proverbs 8:34
“‘A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.’ And He left them, and departed.”  Matthew 16:4

Lord GOD and Father, all worship and praise belongs to You. There is none other who is worthy. You are holy, holy, holy, Just, Righteous and wise. You are the Creator of all that is; the seen and the unseen, and Your Son Jesus the Living Word is the One in whom it all consist.

You, Lord, have blessed us beyond what we deserve and I thank You for the multitude of blessings; many for which we are even unaware. Thank You

We ask for wisdom today. We ask for the wisdom that is from You and pray for ignorance of the doing of evil ways of men in the earth. Always, may we hear the words of godly wisdom, heavenly wisdom, and never the wisdom that is of this world; and may we live wisely according to the commandments of Your word.

We pray that You will keep us in Your hands; and You do. We ask that You will always help us  to keep our eyes on You, not hoping for signs of guidance and direction, but looking at You always and the work of Your blessed, holy Son Jesus who bled and died on the cross for our sins and the sins of the world, He was buried carrying away all our sin, shame, guilt and condemnation, and He bodily arose and is forever seated at Your right hand. In You, O Lord, do we trust and not in any sign. We do ask Lord Jesus, that You will come quickly.

We ask, Lord, also that You make Your word come alive in us to better serve, honor, and glorify Your name; and that others might come to a saving faith of Jesus Christ. Lift up that name that is above every name – the name of Jesus. Amen.

Prayer for January 7, 2021

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Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.  Proverbs 7:24
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.’ ” Matthew 14:27

Father and Lord of all, to You I give praise, honor and glory, because You are worthy. You spoke all that is into existence, and without You was not anything made that is made. You are light and in You is no darkness at all.

Forgive my sloth, lust, greed, and hate in my heart. Thank You for the forgiveness that is available through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus; and because of Jesus’s righteousness, I am now righteous. Thank You for clothing me in the Righteousness of Jesus Christ; and for clothing all who come to You through faith in Him, in His Righteousness.

I ask for forgiveness for the sins of our Church, our County, State and Nation. We have turned our backs on You, on the power and the authority of Your word and against the power of the Holy Spirit. Why is it that we do not like hearing the verses where we are told “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” That is the power and the authority of the Spirit filled child of God. Forgive me Father and forgive this sin of all Your people.

I need You. Our Church – all within need You. Our County needs You. Our State needs You. Our Nation needs You. There is so much evil, and it is evil that wants to keep on killing the innocent – those who cannot defend themselves, the unborn, and those in nursing homes and convalescing.

Lord GOD Almighty take Your people in Your hand and set our hearts aright. May we become people of prayer, of Your word, of Your Spirit; and let us walk by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. May we walk by faith, not fear.

I ask, Father, that You will burden my heart, and all Christian hearts with the burden of seeing the lost, the perishing, the hopeless and the helpless come to saving faith of Jesus Christ and may we be laborers in the field which is the world. Amen.

Prayer for January 4, 2021

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Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding…
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”  Proverbs 4:7, 13

“When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, ‘Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.’ ”  Matthew 8:16-17

Father and Lord of all, I praise You and lift up Your thrice holy name. The name of Your Son Jesus is above every name as the apostle Paul proclaimed to the people of Philippi.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus the sweetest name I know. He is the personification of wisdom and in and through Him all wisdom comes. I pray for wisdom.

I pray for wisdom in living, in finances, in marriage, in family matters, in matters with my neighbor, in making decisions that will affect my life as well as others. Father the men of God who stand and preach Your word need Your wisdom; and the women who teach other women and children need Your wisdom in Your word and in life and living.

Forgive us, O God, the ignorance in us of Your word and Your work in our midst. We give more credence of power to science than Your word; and it is to a science that is not science but mere supposition, and deception.

I ask, Lord, that You get Your people to open their eyes and realize that You are God indeed, that Your word from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22 is the truth just as You gave it, and that every word You have spoken will come to pass just as You have said.

Forgive us our sins and heal our land; and lead us into Your Glorious Land.

Thank You for Your wonderful grace shown on display as Your Son Jesus bled and died on the cross, He was buried taking away all our sin, guilt and shame, then He left it in the grave and He rose the Victor and forever lives and intercedes for all who are His.

Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Prayer for January 1, 2021

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“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: to understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.” Proverbs 1:5-6

“…And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, ‘He shall be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:23

Father, God, Master, Creator, Savior, Lord who is All-Wise, and All-Knowing I praise You. You are worthy of praise alone and I am unworthy of giving You praise except for the gift of You only begotten and holy Son Jesus Christ.

We as the people who live on this planet You made for us are in grave need of Your wisdom, knowledge and understanding. We are in the midst of what appears to be a pestilence, a plague; and it appears to me that above all things it is a warning call from You for Your people to repent and return to Your word, to the cross of Your dear, and blessed Son Jesus who gave His life as a redemption of sinful Adam-kind.

Your word will come to pass as You have said. There will not be one single word unfulfilled. You will be glorified, and people of all ages will come and will bow before Your Son, worshiping Him and giving Him laud and honor and praise.

For this new year of 2021 I ask for wisdom for myself, for the people whom I attend worship with, for the pastors and churches of  the State of Missouri, all the other forty nine States and also give us a new love for You, Your Spirit, Your word, Your will and Your way. I also ask for a multitude of souls come to faith in You through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus  Christ; because the time is short until He comes again. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

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As Christians we are to grow in the faith, live a life that honors God and show forth His holiness working in our livs; we are to love one another, and to comfort one another with the words of hope concerning the Lord’s return.
In the Christian life growth occurs as one is obedient to the principles of God’s Word. To participate in the demeaning, immoral activities of the world system, as a Christian is to rob one’s self of spiritual growth.
Verses one through twelve have to do with a Christians growth. The same man who [under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit] wrote about our freedom [liberty] in Christ, also writes about abstaining from certain activities. Paul is here concerned abou their sanctification, as he would be ours as well. Our being separate, peculiar, different, is to be a distinction even others can notice. In the first chapter verse four, Paul recognized some individuals as being, “The elect of God”. He knew this by the way they lived, and so did “those who are outside”. Their lives were different, certainly in the way they loved (v. 9). There had been changes wrought in their lives; dramatic changes.
The growing Christian is changing daily. Each day he is more like Jesus than the day before, at least that is how it should be. Yielding to the Father; trusting Him with lifes ups and downs, ministering to others needs, never taking advantage of a brother’s weakness(es) to profit himself. Paul warned that, “The Lord is the avenger of all such” (v. 6).
The people at Thessalonica were concerned about their deceased loved ones, who had died in Christ and verses thirteen through eighteen handle that teaching for us. These fit together real well, because a clean and holy life is the only one God will accept into His Kingdom (Psalm 15). We can only live that life in the power of God’s Spirit, and that through faith in the shed blood of Jesus and His finished work. Our redemption finished when the bodies of the Saints shall all be redeemed by Jesus’s coming in the clouds.

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. vv. 1-2.

Pleasing God, to even professing Christians is often as difficult as walking a narrow pole across the Grand Canyon. It is not that difficult if one is born-again through Christ Jesus. It is a matter of trusting Him to carry you across the canyon.
This leader (Paul) is calling on them to get nearer to Jesus. The life of a Christian is to be lived as an example to others, keeping the commandments, and being pleasing to God. We are not being saved by keeping the commandments, but being saved we keep the commandments.

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. vv. 3-6.

Knowing the will of God is at times difficult, especially when we get confused about what is important, confused about what should take top priority in life, and when we are not giving to God what we already know to be His will.
The Word of God tells us God’s will for our lives. If we shun His Word why should we expect Him to show us His will in what boy or girl to marry, which house to buy, or which job to take? If we keep His commandments, because we love Him (Not for salvation), we will know His will, and can then, seek His counsel in every day questions.
There must be holiness in the Christian’s life. “This is the will of God”. It means abstaining from all forms of immorality, having self-control and knowing how to treat your spouse, caring for the weaker brother, and even the stronger. It means loving the Lord Jesus. Paul warns that the Lord is the one who avenges in such cases.

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit. vv. 7-8.

God has called us to be holy. Holiness is being clean for this Person of purity [the Holy Spirit] to live in and use for God’s glory. Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart [belly] shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). How can the water be clean if the vessel is dirty? If you are living in sin who is going to believe you when you say, “Jesus can set you free. Look what He has done for me!”? No one will. You can count on it.
To reject is to wreak havoc upon your life. These are God’s words, God’s instructions to His people. If you will not believe His Word at this point you do not believe it at any place, therefore, you are lost and condemned to the fires of Hell.

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. vv. 9-12.

The lack of love was not a problem, yet Paul says, “We urge you…increase more and more”. In what? In love. You cannot love, with God’s love, too much.
It is because of love we are to work, and not meddle in other’s lives, and to take care of our own business. Out of love our work life is to be just as good a witness to the condemned world as our faithfulness to attend worship. Others are watching. Those who do these things will live a life of joy, peace, and lack no good thing.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. for this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. vv. 13-17.

These verses speak of the “Blessed hope…”, which Paul writes of in Titus 2:13, and says, “Looking for that blessed hope…”. Paul was looking for it then, why are we not “Looking for that blessed hope” today?
A proper walk with God is not only conducive as a witness to the condemned, but also in preparation for the coming of Jesus.
The Thessalonian Christians were uncertain about their dead loved ones in Christ. What would become of them? For some reason the church – or at least many of them – were afraid that their loved ones who had died in Jesus would miss “the victories and glories” of Jesus’s return. It is made clear that, that just is not true. The word sleep is used in reference to the body, not the soul and/or spirit. “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
There was some ignorance concerning those who “Slept”. Some, evidently thinking it was over for the dead; no hope, no glory, no eternal life.
Verse fourteen clarifies that those who are dead will be with Him [Jesus] when He comes for His Church. Their spirit and soul will be united with a new resurrected body. It will be a body like that of Jesus’s resurrected body.
Verses fifteen and sixteen make it clear the living believers will not go before or without the dead in Christ. The dead will rise first (v. 17); then, the living will rise with them to meet the Lord Jesus; the Lamb of God; the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. v. 18.

We need this kind of comfort. Knowing Jesus is coming back should cause us to be comforted. Notice though who is to be the comforter – we are to one another; “With these words…”. There is comfort in reading the Scriptures of prophecy in the prophets, Moses, the apostle John, and in Matthew chapter 13, and 24-25. These should be encouraging words for the Christian, and real motivation to warn those who are condemned by sin.

In conclusion of these verses, our lives should be lived for Jesus. This is certainly a world in desparate need, but the child of God can live in comfort and peace by taking heed to God’s Word. We need each others encouragement if we are to live in this “Modern World”. We need to be encouraged to abstain from things that displease God. We need to be encouraged to live clean lives. We need to be encouraged about the return of Jesus.
Not only the people of the world, but the earth itself is in a state of madness. Earthquakes where they have never been before – in recorded history. The weather odd and unseasonal, breaking into storms that cause multi-billions of dollars of damage; thousands and thousands of peoples lives destroyed by death and destruction. Today, in 2020 a pestilence [COVID-19] that is plaguing the world with hundreds of thousands dead from it.
The Christian can live in peace. She/He can live, because they know God has their life in His hands, and we encourage one another to this extent.
THE WALK WHICH PLEASES GOD is when we walk with Jesus Christ our sin-bearer, Redeemer, and expecting His soon return. “Even so, come Lord Jesus”.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

This is the second part of LIVING AS CHRISTIANS IN OUR MODERN WORLD. Paul the apostle, an instrument in the hand of God was and still is teaching God’s people how we ought to be living in any age we find ourselves. This second part, will itself be in two parts. In this part we will look at verses 1 – 12.

In these verses we see that caring Chrisitans live, not for themselves, but for the Lord, and those who have come to Christ through their ministry.

Paul calls the Thessalonian church to remember how it was when he came to them. He reminds them how he worked and labored; how he had suffered persecution, realizing they were as well.

The concern Paul had, as any man of God does, is that the people be strong in the faith. There were and are temptations which lure God’s children off the path of living the Christian life. It is especially so in the time of Paul’s letters, and in our time as the time of Christ’s return draws ever nearer.

What joy there is for a mother and father who raise their children in the precepts, statutes, judgments, and commandments of the Lord when their child gives their life to Him. When a father teaches his son how to safely operate the farm tractor, and that boy takes it up like he was born on it, and almost may have been. The joy, the hope of the Christian is when he/she sees one they have taught living according to God’s Word. What joy Paul must have felt and received when word came to him how these had grown in the faith.

“For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: but even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.” 1 Thes. 2:1-2

There is great assurance in these verses. The work of God is never in vain. If one person comes to Christ as a result of our presence it is not in vain. This church was a very active church, and very much alive. They were not in the least way in danger of losing their candlestick.

Even though persecution arises we are to continue to be bold with the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we are persecuted for our faith, and because of our boldness of speech we should approach it just like Peter and John, and all the apostles in acts chapter four. They were commanded not to speak in that name (the name of Jesus). They went and told the others, and they all just prayed for more boldness.

“For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: but as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.” 2:3-6

The concern of a parent is noticed in these verses. Paul, having been gone for several days, maybe weeks or months, shows his concern for their growth. He reminds them of his work and faithful ness, and the things which the taught them the three weeks he was with them.

“A flatterer can use either truth or lies to achieve his unholy purpose, which is to control your decisions for his profit.” WARREN WIERSBE. Paul did not use flatterery, or manipulation. He was not in it to please Paul or other men. that should also be the heart and attitude of any man who is called by God into a position of leadership and service to God’s people.

If a Christian is to lead he must be sure of his/her motive. If it is to receive glory from man he can be bought off. The man of God does not seek to please anyone, but God and His Son Jesus.

“But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.”  2:7-9

Today there is much said about expectant mothers and their drinking of alcoholic beverages. It is because the alcohol gets into the bloodstream from which the baby is sustained and can cause awful deformities and even addiction to alcohol.

The loving caring mother will not eat or drink anything that would bring harm to her baby, either before or after it is born. She feeds, and cares for that child holding it close to her heart.

We are to be as a caring and nourishing to the unborn-again, and the new born-again as an expectant and nursing mother – just like Paul.

“Ye are witnesses, and God also , how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. ” 2:10-12

Servants of God see themselves not as dominant leaders, but as servants to the people, while remaining faithful to God. The witnesses of Paul’s service was the people which he served. He had faithfully ministered to them the Word of God, words of encouragement, hope, exhortation, and reminding them that they were God’s children in His kingdom.

That is our calling as Christian leaders. How do our people view our service?