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What Did Jesus Do?

2010-06-13T01:07:00.000-07:00

What Did Jesus Do?
Rob Flood
Family Life
Every night, my wife and I have the same snack just before going to bed: a sliced apple and peanut butter. More times than not, as Gina is cleaning up some paper work she was doing, I am the one preparing the snack. And every night I face the same appalling battle.

You see, no two apples are exactly the same size. When they are sliced and placed on the plate, the question of which apple belongs to me must be answered. And there the battle starts. It's not one of those life-altering battles that define the destiny of nations. It is, however, the type of daily battles that define the character of a man.

I'd like to think that I would take a bullet to save Gina's life. I'd like to think that I would gladly trade my own freedom if it would provide for hers. However, when it comes to apples, somehow doubt and selfishness erupt out of my heart.

Such is the battle for being a godly husband. It doesn't often occur on the battlefield of major issues; it is on the battlefield of thousands of minor ones. How do we determine what decisions, perspectives and actions are best? We could ask ourselves the popular bumper-sticker question: "What would Jesus do?" But let's answer the question that the Bible seems to pose: "What did Jesus do?"

The Standard is Set

Paul is the one who nudges all husbands in this direction. In the book of Ephesians, he gives this amazingly weighty command:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church … (Ephesians 5:25)
The command goes out to all husbands, everywhere and at all times. So, as we wrestle with the weight of such a command, we all must ask the obvious question. It is not: "How would Christ love the church?" It is: "How does Christ love the church?" We needn't wonder or postulate. All we've got to do is observe.

Throughout the pages of Scripture, Christ actively loves His church. We could never contain all of the ways He does so in a single article. So let's proceed in answering this big question by asking three more, first of Christ, then of us:

What does He do for the church? (What should I do for my wife?)
What does He think of the church? (What should I think of my wife?)
What has He become for the church? (What should I become for my wife?)

As we answer these questions, we will all understand more fully not what Jesus would do, but what He did do. In that, we have our living model for how we are to love our wives. Don't let the size of the journey ahead of us discourage you. Every journey begins with one step. Let's have the courage to take that first step together.

What does He do for the church?

It has been widely accepted that Christ's activity on behalf of the church can be summarized in these three functional titles: Prophet, Priest and King. A brief look at each will give us keen insight into our role as husbands.

Christ as Prophet: A prophet is someone who brings forth the Word of God to mankind. He is responsible for accurately discerning what God is saying and communicating that to others. Christ performed this prophetic role perfectly in two ways. First, He accurately spoke and taught the Word and words of God to others. Second, He was the actual expression of God and the Word made flesh.
The Husband as Prophet: We have the amazing privilege of bringing forth the Word of God to our wives. While this might involve some actual Bible-teaching time, we need to see the various other forms this should take. We can proclaim His Word and His will as we counsel our wives, as we make family decisions and as we plan for our family's future. The common ingredient in all of its forms is God's Word. Without the Word of God, a prophet has nothing to say; his words are empty and meaningless.

In addition to bringing forth the Word in our actions, we too must personify the Word made flesh in us. We must model the truth we are teaching. We must personify what we desire our wives and our marriages to become. Without personally living the truth we proclaim, we can expect no higher praise from Christ than the Pharisees received. (Matthew 23:2-4)

Christ as Priest: A priest is an intercessor: someone who seeks God on behalf of someone else. As Priest, Jesus is constantly seeking God on our behalf. Through Him, we are made holy, righteous and acceptable to God. Yet, this Priest is different from all others in that He did not sacrifice a lamb, dove or bull. This Priest sacrificed Himself on our behalf.
The Husband as Priest: As we love our wives, we must serve as priest. Our wives and marriages need prayer. We have the privilege and duty of petitioning God on their behalf. We should pray for their purity, their protection, their joy, their faith and their burden. We should pray for their success as a wife, as a mother and as a woman of God.

We must again follow Christ's example and allow our priestly sacrifice to be our very selves. Hebrews 12 tells us that Jesus looked past His own sacrifice to the joy that would occur on the other side. With that in mind, look at all that your wife could become. Consider what God might want to do with her, in her and through her. And, for that joy set before you, willingly endure when you are called to sacrifice yourself. In so doing, you will love your wife as Christ loves His church.

Christ as King: A king is someone who is supreme or preeminent. As our king, Christ deserves our honor, our praise, our obedience and our servitude. He is in charge … the undisputed leader of the church. Paul speaks many times of Jesus as the head of the church. Yet, while this King rules and reigns, He also serves and ministers to His people. His rule is peculiar in that He models leadership by serving. He says that the greatest among His people will be those who serve. He also is an accessible King. In many courts throughout history, subjects were never permitted to be in the presence of their king. King Jesus invites us in; He leaves open the door to His throne room.-

The Husband as King: Ephesians 5:23 makes it clear; the husband is the head of the wife. In essence, kingship undeniably belongs to the husband. As we embrace that, we as husbands must lead. We must lead clearly and boldly. We must be out there on the edge looking to the provision and the protection of our kingdom. To do less is to fall short of our calling to headship. The privilege is ours to rule our home.

However, we are not called simply to take our crowns and dominate our wives. We must rule as Christ rules…with humility. He modeled precisely how He wants us to love our wives. As our King, Christ knelt and washed the feet of His disciples. We must follow His example and serve. Lead boldly, yet serve. Never let the brawn of your leadership outweigh the sacrifice of your leadership. Christ kept them in perfect balance; that is our calling as well.

What does He think of the church?

At various times throughout the past 2000 years, the church has reflected very poorly on Jesus. It has bungled both its doctrine and its practice. During one decade, it is too passive and tolerant; during another it is too judgmental and legalistic. In the middle ages, its pursuit of the lost led to the atrocity of the Crusades. In another age, its indifference to the lost led to failure in spreading the gospel.

With all of the embarrassment the church has caused, you might think that Jesus would rather disassociate with the church. Surely, He hesitates to admit His affiliation, right? Wrong. Through these select verses, take a look at what He thinks of the church.

But you [the church] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1 Peter 2:9)

…I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (Matthew 16:18b)

…that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:27)

He goes on to call the church His bride, His body and His people. Even in His reproof, we are called His flock and He readily refers to Himself as our Lord, the Shepherd of the sheep. And try as we might to lose His devotion, He refuses to turn from us:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

What should I think of my wife?

Too often we fall into the trap of allowing our wife's actions to determine what we think of her. We allow her to become less lovely to us when her actions are not lovely. We allow our love to wane when the romance fades and the honeymoon feelings disappear. We allow our thoughts to be shaped in accordance with our changing circumstances. This is not how Christ loves the church.

If we are going to follow His model, we must choose a different way of thinking. We must think of her as Christ does the church. Regardless of the quality of our relationship, Gina is my bride. As members of one flesh, she is in essence my body. And by the joining of two becoming one, she is forever my people.

Once you honestly ponder the person your wife is, I'm certain that you will discover plenty of wonderful traits that you have forgotten to think of. But reach further and higher than that. Think of your wife from a higher position; think of her as Christ thinks of the church: as complete, as made perfect, as chosen by God.

Practically speaking, think of her as perfectly designed by God for your good. As Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Marriage, says, marriage is not necessarily designed for your happiness but for your holiness. This is true of your wife as well. So, let your thoughts be made holy. Think of her as lovely, desirous, and pure. As you do, you will be thinking of her as Christ thinks of the church.

What has He become for the church?

Each of us is known by our names and roles. Personally, I am known both as Rob and as Daddy. I am a husband, father, friend, teacher, employee, etc. You could create your own list for your names and roles. Christ, too, has names and roles, each of which reflects a different facet of His being. All of which reflect what He is for the church. Consider some of the better known names and roles of Christ.

A Strong Tower (Proverbs 18:10)
Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)
Present Help in Times of Trouble (Psalm 46:1)
The God Who Sees (Genesis 16:13)
Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11)
Gracious and Merciful God (Nehemiah 9:31)
Because of who He is and what He has done on our behalf, Christ has become all of these and much, much more for the church. These are not just functions that Jesus performs, they are His character, His very make up.

I can run to Christ not because He provides a strong tower, but because He is one. I can trust Him not because He gives wonderful counsel, but because being a Wonderful Counselor is His very character … it's who He is.

What should I become for my wife?

It is far better to actually be faithful than it is simply to refrain from extra-marital activity. It is far better to be gracious than it is simply to keep your mouth shut. Being is far better than just doing. Jesus does not simply remain committed to His church, He personifies faithfulness. He doesn't just show mercy, He becomes mercy.

In order to love our wives well, we must allow God to develop our character at its deepest levels. We must allow Him to work on us, to change us and to build us into the men he desires us to be. Then, in response to this renewing work, we must live consistently with all we profess. This is precisely what Christ did when He walked the earth. He lived in perfect harmony with what He said and professed to believe.

It is Christ's consistency that makes Him the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Knowing He'll never change gives us all the confidence to trust and follow Him. As husbands, we must establish a similar lifestyle of consistency.

Many may ask, "What does this look like?" It may look the same on the outside, but the difference is as night and day on the inside. Ephesians 5:1 tells us to be imitators of God. Yet Romans 7:18 says, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not." In short, we are called to accomplish something (imitate God) that we cannot do because we lack to goodness to do it.

This is where the great provision from God comes in. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22-23 that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." As we live according to the Spirit and not according to our own efforts and desires, we are able to actually become in our hearts and our characters what we desire to live out. And the greatest beneficiary of this transformation will be your wife.

The Battle Lines are Drawn

In the warfare that we face as husbands, we must remember that victory is not necessarily in the major issues of life and liberty. It is in the minor issues of sliced apples and peanut butter. It is not when the crowds are amassed; it is when you are completely alone. It is not when you are fulfilling your wife's wishes; it is when you are anticipating and meeting them. It is not in the size of your bank account; it is in the willingness to lay yourself down to be sacrificed.

Loving your wife as Christ loves the church is a very high calling—one that could stop a freight train. Remember, God is the One who has called you to it. He is the One who brought you and your wife together. He is the One who has given His Spirit to help you win at your calling as a husband.

Don't be crushed by the weight of it; but don't settle for anything less than all of it. As you embrace your calling, your wife will feel the difference. And you will feel the smile of your Savior.

Rob Flood is a writer and editor for FamilyLife. He and his wife, Gina, have three sons and one daughter, giving Rob ample opportunity to apply God's Word in daily life. Rob and his family are originally from New Jersey but now live in Little Rock, Ark.

Taken from www.FamilyLife.com by Rob Flood Copyright © 2006 FamilyLife. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

They took prayer & Bible from public schools and now they have shootings!

2010-06-13T01:01:00.000-07:00

America was founded upon the Bible and now has forgotten the God of the Bible. Early American schools taught the moral values from the Bible, with school prayer, today's public school system prohibit teaching moral values from the Bible, or even allowing students to pray to a God that a majority of faiths in this country recognize. The result is America has become a land with much looser morals then four decades ago, which is having a negative affect on all sectors of our society.

The U.S. is at the top of the world’s divorce charts on marital breakups.” The United States Supreme court made a terrible decision when they ruled to have prayer removed from schools in 1962. Statistics show that rebellion and violence have dramatically increased since that time. When prayer and Bible was removed from the schools cases of sexual transmitted diseases increased, Divorce rate in increased, (Now U.S. is at the top one of the world’s divorce charts on marital breakups.) unwanted pregnancies,immodesty,abortions, premarital sex,single parents, Vandalism, suicides, Adultery, prisons are full with criminals, arrogant and rebellious childrens, unmarried couples living together, violent crimes , drugs, alcohol, Gun and school shootings, sexual predators, sexual abuse ,pornography, nudity bars, sexual perversions, immorality, Unrighteous ways, Unrighteous philosophies, Unrighteous desires, decline of education, economy and society has been increased. Since God is gone from Schools Higher Education is lowered.. Sin has fascinated them. As a result now America is a lawless, sin filled nation, full of abominations such as Homosexual acts, Hands that shed innocent blood, Wickedness, Violence, etc

Bible is the foundation of our life, if that foundation is not there in the life there is a decline in righteous living and increase in sin living. Paul indicated in his letter to Timothy that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

When you remove God you invite everything that is wicked to come in and destroy. Because some people are destroyed from lack of knowledge and there is a continuous attempt to take God out of everything we do. Here is what the bible says for them.

Hosea 4:5 you stumble day and night and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother-- my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.

Amos 2:4 this is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, I will send fire upon Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem."
“In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).

Even some of the kids who go to public schools are very arrogant, rebellious, and ungodly. Home is the first school, even in their home there is no Godliness, no prayer, no respect, and most of the kids come from dysfunctional families, broken families where there are crimes, violence, broken relationships, drug abuse etc.Even in their homes they don’t fear God and parents have forgotten to discipline their children according to Gods word and they live according to world’s word which has caused all the chaos and moral decline in our society. God's word provides the best way to raise children and God expects parents to raise their children to serve Him. Before that Parents must be good examples for their children in everything, because children are natural imitators, we must put God's Word first pray in faith, obey God, and walk in love, God will work in our children's lives and change them.

There are lots of people who do not believe in God, who never repented of their sin in our society. The Bible is a closed book to them and they cannot understand it. A lost person without God's Spirit cannot understand the Bible. Lost people tend to seek out and find a false god to worship that will not condemn their lifestyle. If their lifestyle includes porn, sexual immorality, drinking, rock music, or the occult practices such as Halloween etc a lost person will seek out a false god that will approve of such things. When you rebuke their evil life styles they say Judge Not in order to justify their sin and rebellious ways. Public schools and even some private and Christian schools can be spiritual battlegrounds for our children. They may be inundated with anti-Christian doctrine, relative morality, and secular humanistic theories. Children tend to adopt the values of those with whom they spend the most time. In schools, they are exposed to the value systems of non-Christian students, teachers, and faculty. They may be told that homosexuality is simply an "alternative lifestyle," that abortion is acceptable, and sex before marriage is normal and healthy. Killing is not limited to our schools. Street gangs are fighting it out and senseless murders are taking place in our major cities every day in our society.The family structure in our nation has been breaking down over the last few generations with so much divorce leaving children without the proper supervision and home environment to keep them safe.

Blindness is God’s judgment on a rebellious and disobedient people this is how Jesus quoted the verse in John: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them” (John 12:40). God blinded Israel because they had continually rejected God’s word until the Lord gave up trying to reveal Himself to them and caused them to be blinded. That is exactly why some people, even Christians, just don’t get the message no matter how much you explain it, or try to convince them that they need to change. They have been blinded and are under God’s judgment.

This website gives info on the things happening in our schools. http://www.101reasons.org/
Our society has such an obsession with guns .School shootings have been making the remarkable headlines in the U.S.A. at an increased frequency. Also you can see here the list of school shootings in United States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_shooting.

A Department of Education Survey which analyzed violence in U.S. schools reported that public schools nationwide experienced more than 11,000 fights in which weapons were used, 4,000 rapes and other sexual assaults and 7,000 robberies. Other reports from Time and Newsweek magazines tell us the suicide rate among U.S. teens has risen 120% in the last 15 years while drug use has risen almost 80% since 1992. The youth of any nation are simply reflection of the parents of that nation. When sin is not dealt with in any society, the result of those sins will always produce violence. The generation living in the days of Noah was similar to our day.

Israel was instructed to teach their children the statutes of the Lord and the essence of that teaching is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-7: “Hear O Israel: The LORD our God is One LORD.” This is known as the Shema, which is the first word of verse four. Instructions to teach children are also found in Deuteronomy 4:10 and Deuteronomy 11:19. The teaching of God’s truth to children was the job of the parents and was done in the home. Sadly, this practice is no longer a priority in the homes of many believers, and many leave the instruction in God’s Word to the church or a school or daycares or teachers. The society, school and home need to work together to educate our children in the faith and their by raising Godly children a godly Nation. A Nation that refuses to teach its children right from wrong, good from evil will become a corrupt nation, where sin prevails, evil abounds, and children do as they please according to their own free will. When we remove God's standards, then man is free to substitute his own standards of morality. God's word in Judges 21:25 says, "In those days every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.

We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. We are mocking God's Word, we are offending him more than ever, we are allowing women to kill their babies, we are allowing a minority to re-define marriage and family in order for them to please their selfish and abnormal desires, we are allowing people to take drugs legally, we are telling children that masturbation, pornography, prostitution, lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexualism and other deviant practices are fine and even good and healthy. We are clearly living in the last days, as the Bible says:

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

We MUST defend Godliness, marriage and family. We MUST defend religious freedom. We MUST combat drugs. We MUST speak out without fear. And we must do it NOW. Today is the day that we can change things. The foolish, ungodly people are going to fight back and persecute us. Yet we should not be afraid of them, for the Holy Bible says: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1. ""Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10

This is what God wants us to do. He commands us: "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light." Ephesians 5:11-13
Expose the evil actions. Be a "good soldier of Christ Jesus" 2 Timothy 2:3.

GOD BLESS you ALL & STAND ON THE TRUTH FOREVER!

Author Resource:- http://biblicalproof4catholicfaith.blogspot.com/

If we do not repent we will perish!

2010-06-13T00:58:00.000-07:00

Every man has to repent in order to have a personal relationship with God. God commands everyone to repent and believe in the true Gospel it is our duty, responsibility to obey. Failure to do so is sin .There are some Preachers quit preaching against sins and some preachers themselves live in sin henceforth allowed sinners to stop feeling like sinners which allowed the sinner to continue to live in sin and justifying their sins hence they hardly repent for their sins.

Christian churches stand guilty before Christ for perverting the Gospel, because they teach the doctrine of Balaam, putting a stumbling block of sin before people, seducing people into sin, deceiving people into believing, even with God's Spirit, it is still spiritually impossible to live one's live without breaking God's commandments, and to teach people they can continue to sin without sin's consequences, and receiving the judgment of Christ and that Rom. 6:23 does not apply to their sins. Lasciviousness is shameless conduct that breaks God's Commandments without shame, or repentance, and creates a false obedience of teaching that does not recognize sin, nor defines sin as God's Word defines sin.

True repentance is turning from sin, and turning from sin means to stop sinning, then a person must live a sinless life in order to be saved. Jesus Christ began His ministry of preaching the Gospel by teaching the doctrine of repentance (Mat. 4:17), and everyone that does not repent of his sins which is the breaking of God's commandments cannot enter His Kingdom. Christ later said and taught everyone that does not repent will perish, Luke 13: 3.

If all these Christian Preachers and members don’t repent of these sins, and begin now to teach, preach and obey the true Gospel, they all will soon come under the curse of God--the coming tribulation of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord. Mal. 4:1-4, Mat. 3:10-12, Rev. 2:14-15. I Peter 4:17, says " For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall be the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?."

Mat. 8:11-12 says that children of this kingdom, church members believing they have been accepted in God's kingdom, but are of another kingdom, Satan's kingdom, following another gospel, or a perverted gospel,

Gal. 1:8-9, will have the curse carried out upon their lives, that they will be cast out of Christ's kingdom: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 5:32 "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to REPENTANCE."

Luke 24:47 Jesus said to them that REPENTANCE and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Mark 1:15 ..."The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, AND BELIEVE the gospel."

Ezekiel 18:32:For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Acts 17:30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Acts 20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Revelation 2:22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.

Revelation 3:3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Revelation 9:20-21The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Author Resource:- http://biblicalproof4catholicfaith.blogspot.com

A Genesis Bible Study - How to Forgive

2010-06-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

Learn how to forgive from this Genesis Bible study

You never know how forgiving a person you really are until someone wrongs you. Can you relate? It seems that in my life something happens almost every week that begs for forgiveness. I thought I was making progress until I found myself repeating a story about someone who had wronged me years ago. I realized that I had not fully let it go.

Learning to how forgive is hard

The Bible teaches that God has totally forgiven us. He is willing to let the past be past. Believing this truth is the only way you will have the ability to forgive others and yourself. Learning to forgive is probably the most difficult lesson for a follower of Jesus to grasp.

Joseph and his brothers

The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 is a classic story about forgiveness. At age seventeen, Joseph's brothers sold him as a slave into Egypt. In Egypt Joseph was unfairly sent to prison for several years. But God protected Joseph and enabled him to interpret Pharaoh's dreams. Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph that he made him Prime Minister of Egypt right on the spot.

Joseph learned how to forgive

After twenty-two years had passed, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt looking for grain. When the time was right, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and forgave them. He held no grudges. He told them that what they intended for evil, God meant for good. In his excellent book Total Forgiveness, R. T. Kendall teaches us several lessons from the life of Joseph and his brothers:

Keep quiet about what they did

To ensure privacy, Joseph had everyone leave the room (Genesis 45:1). Why? No one in Egypt needed to know what happened. It isn't necessary to tell people who aren't a part of either the problem or the solution. People often tell negative things about others only to punish and get even with their offenders. When you've been wronged, you have to decide who to tell. Tell the people that can help with the problem or solution.

Put them at ease

Joseph could have made his brothers acknowledge his power. He could have reminded them of his dreams and their disbelief. But Joseph did not want them to be afraid of him (Genesis 45:3).

Let them save face

Saving face means preserving one's dignity. To ease their minds, Joseph gave an explanation for his suffering. It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. . .so then it was not you that sent me here, but God. (Genesis 45:5-8).

Continue the commitment to forgive year after year

After Jacob died Joseph reassured his brothers of his kindness (Genesis 50:19-21). The commitment to forgive is a choice that we will have to renew tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. Satan's favorite strategy is to get into our thought life and tempt us to be bitter. Love pursues a lifestyle of forgiveness.

Author Resource:- Paul Schlieker disciples internationals and business professionals. He attends Christ Community Church in Omaha, Nebraska. Professionally, Paul is an insurance agent. He and his wife, Peggy have written several easy to use discipleship tools and Bible studies that train believers, introduce Christianity to seekers, and ground believers in Biblical fundamentals. See these resources, subscribe to a free monthly e-newsletter, read more articles by Paul and hear his sermons at www.bible-study-lesson-plans.com.

I confess but I can not repent!

2010-06-13T00:54:00.001-07:00

We see in Acts 17:30,God commands all men everywhere to repent .Even Christ came to call sinners to repentance not the righteous. God call us to repent when we have forgotten and offended him and living in sin or in unrighteous ways.

There lots of people who do not want to repent truly and if they do, they do merely do lip service of repentance .They fail to acknowledge their sins. After their lip service they go right back and sin again. That is not true repentance.

There are also different kind of people who have enough pride who are not willing to look bad, will gladly say sorry” through lip service to save their image. They think if you just say sorry is repentance. This is not true repentance either.

There are few others who think that by saying formula of sinners prayer will save them without being genuinely REPENTED of their sins. Some false preachers say that you can gladly receive Christ without following Him or without obeying his commandments they strengthen the hands of evildoers, comforting them in their sin rather than calling them to repentance humble themselves to Turn from sin.

True repentance is that we must first acknowledge our sins or wrong doing in our heart and have sincere remorse or regret about one’s wrong doing. Then the Holy Spirit draws us to Jesus Christ by convicting us of sin which produces a life of holiness and righteousness that comes by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus and the Apostles preached that man must repent and have a complete change of mind and heart in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

There are lots of scriptures which tell us that God wants us to repent.

2 Peter 3:9: God wants everyone to repent

Acts 17:30: God commands all people everywhere to repent

Acts 26:20: Paul preached repentance

Ezekiel 14:6: Repent and turn from all of your abominations

Ezekiel 18:30: Repent and turn from your transgressions

Ezekiel 33:11: God begs us to turn from our wicked ways

Isaiah 59:20: The Redeemer will come to those who repent

Job 34:33: Why do you refuse to repent?

Jeremiah 15:19; If you repent, I will restore you

Luke 13:3: Jesus said that you will perish unless you repent

Luke 15:10: There is rejoicing over one sinner who repents

Matthew 4:17: Jesus told people to repent

Matthew 3:2: John the Baptist preached repentance

Mark 1:15: Jesus said repent and live

Mark 6:12: The disciples preached that men should repent

Rev. 3:3: Obey and repent

Rev. 3:19: So be earnest and repent

Hosea 12:6: Turn to God

Author Resource:- http://biblicalproof4catholicfaith.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-confess-but-i-can-not-repent.html

All I Can Do Is Pray

2010-04-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

I've heard it a thousand times. I've probably said it a thousand times myself. Someone bares their soul to me, and the situation is terrible, painful, difficult ... far beyond the reach of anything I can do – or anyone can do – to help. And then those six words slip from my lips:
"All I can do is pray."

Even as I write the words, I can hear the defeat resonating from them. Properly translated, what I far too often mean when I say those six words is, "I'm sorry I can't do anything to help. I don't have the resources you need. I wish I did. I'll pray about it, but I know that's just a drop in the bucket to what you really need. I don't expect anything to really happen as a result of my prayers."

Then one day as I said it, God rocked me back on my heels. I realized how much I was cheapening God by the attitude behind my words. Think about it:
"All I can do is pray. I'm sorry – all I can do is call upon the sovereign Lord of the Universe, the One who holds all resources, all grace, all power, all hope in his hands. All I can do is ask the loving God who sent his Son to die for us and then raised him from the dead to help you out. All I can do is ask God to demonstrate his divine character in your life through his unending providence, generosity, love, miracles, presence, and care. Sorry I can't do more."

It comes down to a question of attitude and a recognition of adequacy. As Paul writes in II Corinthians 3:5 "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming form ourselves, but our adequacy is from God." Our attitude should be one of humility, recognizing that our adequacy to meet any need or act in any situation is from God alone.

Once we assume that attitude and understand that our adequacy comes from God, we will no longer despair when we are faced with situations that are beyond our control or help. We simply turn in the same humility to the God who is more than adequate to meet every need – and call upon him for deliverance.

With the right attitude and an understanding of where our resources always and only ever come from, we can truly reach out and say with confidence and trust, "I can't help you. I wish I could, but I simply don't have the resources you need. Fortunately, I know the One who does. All I can do is pray – but I know that God will take care of everything else."

© 2009 Paula Marolewski

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

2010-01-14T07:31:00.000-08:00

How to Improve Your Personal Bible Study

2010-01-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

Every sincere Christian wants to have a more meaningful personal Bible study, to understand the Bible better. While learning the Bible is the joyful task of a lifetime, I'd like to offer several suggestions that can enrich your Bible studies.

Bible Reading vs. Bible Study

First, recognize that Bible reading and Bible study are both important, but different. In order to grow, you need to read the Bible every day as part of your time with God -- your devotions or Quiet Time. During this daily time with God I recommend prayer, wide Bible reading, praise, thanksgiving, confession, and meditation -- these are ways to reach out to God with your spirit. Bible reading is one way of letting God refresh your spirit and speak to your mind.
If you really want to learn the Bible, I recommend that you read broadly rather than narrowly. A one-verse devotional may be quick, but it won't really help you understand the Bible. I try each morning to read one chapter from the Old Testament, one chapter from Psalms or Proverbs, and one chapter from the New Testament. If I'm consistent, this will get me through the Old Testament once each year and the New Testament twice. That's an example of broad reading and takes five to 10 minutes a day -- 15 minutes if the day's chapters are long.
But Bible reading as part of your daily devotions should be separate from your times of Bible study. Let me explain.

Blocks of Time for In-Depth Bible Study

Bible study, as opposed to reading, concentrates on a single topic, Bible character, or book of the Bible for closer study.
For example, right now in the New Testament I'm reading the Epistle to the Hebrews. I'm realizing that though I've read it many times, I need to dig in and figure out what it's really saying. That's where Bible study comes in. Bible study takes a longer block of uninterrupted time. Perhaps you'll set aside 30 to 45 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday nights for in-depth Bible study, or an hour on Saturday mornings before the family is up -- or perhaps longer. Blocks of time are important to Bible study.

Learn to Ask Questions

The real key to Bible study is being inquisitive, learning to ask questions of the text. First, read the passage. Then be a detective; look for clues. What's going on? What stands out to you? What don't you understand? Look for anomalies -- things that you might not expect to find here. Consider, for example, the familiar dialog between Jesus and Nicodemus:

    ¹"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. ²He came to Jesus at night and said, 'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.'
    ³In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'
    ⁴'How can a man be born when he is old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!'
    ⁵Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again." ⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.'" (John 3:1-8, NIV)

Several questions occur to me as I read this:

Where does this incident take place?
What did members of the Pharisee party typically believe? How were they viewed in society?
What does it mean that Nicodemus is a member of the "Jewish ruling council" or Sanhedrin? What does this tell me about him?
Why did he come by night?
Why does Jesus respond as he does to Nicodemus' introductory remarks in verse 2? Isn't Jesus a bit abrupt or rude in verse 3?
Is Nicodemus' response in verse 4 mocking or is it a sincere question?
What does "born of water" mean in verse 6? What does "born of the Spirit" mean? What does "born again" mean in verse 3?
What does the wind analogy in verse 8 teach us about the Holy Spirit?

You get the idea. Your questions of this passage might be different than mine, but that's okay. There are no right or wrong questions. But questions are vital, since they provide direction to where you're going in your Bible study. Give yourself freedom to follow some "rabbit trails," to explore one theme and then another as you get acquainted with a passage.
The questions will vary depending on the passage you're studying, but here are some typical questions:

Who wrote or said this?
When was it written or said?
Where did this happen?
To whom was it written or said?
What circumstance or event prompted this incident or teaching?
Why did the person act as he did? Or say what he said?
How can I apply or emulate or obey what I learn in this passage?

You'll be able to think of more questions. The key is to develop a questioning mind, and you'll learn. You won't find answers to all your questions, of course, but over time many will be answered.

Take Notes on What You Learn

One main difference between reading and studying is writing down what you learn. This isn't just so you'll remember it later. The very act of writing requires you to formulate your thoughts clearly. Writing forces you to recognize fuzzy thinking for what it is and push beyond it. Write down what your learning because it helps you understand it better.
I recommend that you begin a notebook in which to record your observations or research. Forty years ago I began taking notes on 8-1/2" x 11" binder paper. In the left margin I would record the date. In the top right corner I would record the book, chapter, and verses of the passage I was studying. This made it easy to file my notes in scripture order. I began with a single 3-ring binder, but now my binders fill a five-foot bookshelf and beyond. I look back at some of my early insights and am reminded of how the Holy Spirit has taught me over the years.
Start small, but take notes in a way that can be expanded easily. Another approach is to get a bound book that you can take notes in -- a kind of journal. (I've tried that, too.) Journaling has great value, but a bound notebook that contains many topics is difficult to organize or index in such a way that you can find your notes on a particular verse in the future. That's why I really like the binder paper approach. You could also take notes on a computer, naming the files in such a way that you can find them again or search an entire folder for a word or phrase. It's probably a good idea to print out your notes when you're finished and file them, however, since computer files have a way of getting lost after a few years.
I am so glad I began the habit of note-taking with my Bible study. Now when I study a passage again, I know what I learned the last time I studied it and what I need to explore next. For Bible teachers, small group leaders, and preachers, such a notebook of previous studies becomes especially valuable.

Get a Good Translation

One of the keys to learning the Bible is to get a good translation. You know, of course, that the Bible wasn't written in English, but in Hebrew (and a bit of Aramaic) in the Old Testament and Greek in the New Testament. A translation tries to render the original language into clear, accurate English. There are two types of translations:

Literal word-for-word translation. This makes for accuracy, but can be pretty wooden to read out loud. A good example of this type is the New American Standard Bible.
Dynamic thought-for-thought correspondence. Here the translator takes a thought in the original language and tries to translate it into the same concept in good English, without being tied to the exact words in the original. A good example of this might be Today's English Version (TEV).

The best study Bible contains a balance of both. You want a careful, accurate translation, but one that reads easily and clearly for family devotions or public worship.
Another issue is the underlying Greek and Hebrew text. The KJV translators worked with the best texts available to them in 1611, but in the last 150 years we have gained a much more accurate understanding of what the original text must have been. Nearly all modern translations are enriched by the translators working from the most accurate Greek and Hebrew texts possible.
Here are some of the most popular English translations. Your church or tradition may have a particular preference, but any one of these might be a good choice for you:

The King James Version (KJV, 1611) is, of course, the granddaddy of our English Bibles. For its day it was a very accurate translation and is still used in many congregations today. In 1984, the New King James Version (NKJV) was published as a whole Bible by Thomas Nelson. Translators modernized the language of archaic words substantially and removed most of the "thees" and "thous," though the original language basis remained the same as the KJV of 1611. For churches with a strong King James tradition, the NKJV is a popular alternative.
The New International Version (NIV) was first translated as a whole Bible by evangelical scholars in 1973, with revisions in 1983 and 1988. It is an excellent balance between readability and accuracy of translation. For years it has been the most popular newer translation in the United States, especially among evangelical churches.
New American Standard Bible (NASB or NASV), translated by the Lockman Foundation, was published in the whole Bible in 1971 and revised in 1977. Its big strength is its consistency in literally translating words and tenses. It is known as a very accurate translation, though perhaps not as easy to read aloud as some others.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV, 1989) and its predecessor the Revised Standard Version (RSV, 1952) are careful translations in the King James tradition. Several Protestant denominations prefer the NRSV. It is both accurate and readable.

Of course there are many other modern translations, many of them good for serious Bible study, too numerous to list here. The original Living Bibleand The Message are not translations, but paraphrases. They can be refreshing to read but aren't good Bibles for careful study.

Learning to Use a Study Bible

After you've decided what translation to use, I encourage you to purchase a study Bible, since it will contain a number of tools in one volume that can help you dig deeper. Nearly every Bible publisher offers a study Bible. Your local Christian bookstore can help you figure out which one is right for you. Here are some of the features that you'll come to appreciate:

Cross References. In a column next to the text, a study Bible lists several other verses with a similar idea or theme. For example, for "Nicodemus" in John 3:1, my Bible refers me to John 7:50 and 19:39 where he appears again. For "Rabbi" in verse 2, the cross references send me to Matthew 23:7 which has nine more references on this topic that I can explore. These cross references won't be comprehensive, but will point out the main passages that discuss this idea.
Bible Book Introductions. It's important to know something about the author, date, themes, circumstances, and intended audience of the Bible book or letter you're studying. In most study Bibles you'll find one to three pages of introductory comments for each book with a brief outline.
Study Notes or Annotations. Study Bibles have footnotes at the bottom of the page to help explain some of the more obscure ideas you'll run across -- a kind of mini-commentary. Remember, these aren't part of the Bible itself, but can often point you in the right direction in your study. These notes are usually indexed for easy reference.
Concordance. You've had a verse on the tip of your tongue, but don't know exactly where it is. A concordance helps you find a Bible passage if you can think of a key word or two that the verse contains. A concordance can also help you find other verses that teach a concept or use a word found in the passage you're studying.
Topical Index. In addition to a concordance, some study Bibles have a separate topical index that helps you find scripture references on a particular topic.
Maps. Part of understanding what's happening in narrative passages of Scripture is learning the geography, the location of cities, battles, mountains, valleys, enemies, etc.

Other features you may find include articles on various topics, a brief Bible dictionary, outlines of topics and Bible books, index of place names, time lines, and so on.

Specialized Tools for the Next Step

Obtaining a study Bible is the place to begin. But as your Bible studies increase, you may want to invest in some more specialized books. Some to explore:

Bible Handbook. Provides a great deal of information about each book of the Bible, life in Bible times, history of the English Bible, etc.
Bible Dictionary. Brief articles on each significant subject, word, and person in the Old and New Testaments. You'll often find helpful summaries of Bible teaching.
Bible Concordance. While study Bibles provide an abridged concordance, you can find an unabridged concordance that helps you find every occurrence of a particular word in the Bible. The best-known of these is Strong's Concordance (based on the KJV) which identifies each Greek and Hebrew word, and gives it a brief definition and a number. Now concordances are available for the NIV and NASB containing Strong's numbering system.
Bible Commentary. Bible commentaries provide an overview and running explanation of each book of the Bible. A good place to start might be with a fairly recent one-volume commentary on the whole Bible. There are also a number of inexpensive commentary series available that cover each book in the Bible, if you want to study a particular book in greater depth.
Word Study tools include an interlinear New Testament that shows the Greek text on one line and a literal English translation below it. A Greek-English Lexicon provides clear, precise definitions for each Greek word in the New Testament. Some of these are keyed to Strong's numbers so they can be used by students who haven't learned to read Greek letters. Similar resources are available for Hebrew as well.
Topical Bible. A topical Bible will give a great many scripture references listed by topic. Great if you're doing a topical or thematic Bible study.
Bible Atlas. An atlas contains more than detailed maps. It also describes the geography and places of the Bible, usually with fascinating illustrations and archeological details.

If you need advice on Bible study books, ask your pastor or the manager of a Christian bookstore. Some of my Bible study tool recommendations are available online.
These days many Bible study resources are available online at no cost, such as Crosswalk Bible Study Tools (bible.crosswalk.com). You can also purchase excellent Bible study software for your computer.

Don't Forget the Most Important Step

It's possible to be so engrossed in Bible study that you forget the most important purpose of Bible study. It's not Bible knowledge for its own sake nor being able to quote verses and recite orthodox doctrine. Ultimately, the purpose of Bible study is to learn exactly what the Bible teaches so that you can apply its teachings to your life.
Perhaps the simplest approach to Bible study is to use the three basic inductive Bible study questions to ask of a Bible passage:

What does it say?
What did it mean to those reading it in Bible times?
What does it mean to me as I seek to apply it to my life?

My prayer is that your Bible study results in a heart that is tender to listen to what the Spirit is saying to you through Scripture and a will that is determined to live out in your everyday life what you're learning.

2009-10-17T01:37:00.001-07:00

2009-10-17T01:29:00.000-07:00

You can send Gospel Songs,Messages and even Articles

info@ucfm.tk

Ucfm need More songs to broadcast..

Thanks In Advance

When I Say, "I Am A Christian"

2009-10-15T17:55:00.001-07:00

I'm not shouting "I am saved."

I'm whispering "I was lost";

That is why I chose this way.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble,

And need someone to be my guide.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak,

And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"

I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed,

And cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"

I'm not claiming to be perfect.

My flaws are too visible,

But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"

I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches,

Which is why I speak His name.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"

I do not wish to judge.

I have no authority;

I only know I'm loved.

Just What Is the Gospel?

2009-08-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

"I would like a simple and direct answer to the question: 'What is the Gospel?' Many of our pastors talk about it in their sermons only vaguely."

What a wonderful question! But if I answer simply, I'll get in trouble with somebody who will chide: "You forgot this!" or "You left that out!" At the risk of angering someone, let me make it crystal clear:

The word "gospel" means "Good News."¹

In a nutshell, the Good News is that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to deal with our sins so that we can be forgiven, be drawn close to our Maker, and live with him forever. We come to God because we believe that this is indeed true.

That's it. Simple. And, when you think about, it is very, very good news! Being simple, however doesn't keep it from being profound. Someone once said the gospel is simple enough for a toddler to wade in and deep enough for an elephant to swim in.

Famous Verse

One famous Bible verse sums it up pretty well. The verbs in this verse tell the story:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."²

Your Deepest-Held Belief Determines Your Course

When I explain the simplicity of the Good News, somebody always asks: "Don't I have to do something?"

The answer is: "No, just put your trust in Jesus."

Of course, we're not talking about mere intellectual assent.³ We're talking about the deeply-held conviction that Jesus is who he says he is. The Bible calls that faith. God knows that we will live out our deepest-held beliefs, whatever they are. We can't help it.

You Can't Out-Sin Love

You protest: I believe, but I'll sin. I'll blow it. I know I will! Yes. But the Good News is that God has decided not to allow sin to keep you from him any more. Ask him to forgive you, he does, and the relationship between you and God is clear again.

St. Peter, obviously mad at someone, asked Jesus: "How many times do I have to forgive someone who keeps sinning against me?" Jesus must have smiled as he said quietly and cryptically: "Seven times seventy."⁴ Now don't get legalistic on me, do the math, and claim that you can stop forgiving at 490. That isn't the point! Jesus was saying: the perfect number times the perfect number times 10 for good measure. In other words, we can never stop forgiving someone who asks our forgiveness.

If we aren't to stop forgiving, I'm sure God doesn't either. All your sins combined don't compare to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for your sins -- but that's getting theological, just what I promised not to do. The bottom line is: you can't out-sin God's love!

Bottomless Love

I think the very best part of the Good News is that God loves you. He is not just aware of your existence. He actively loves you! He cares about your life, about what's troubling you. And he longs to draw you into his embrace the way an affectionate parent would reach out to a beloved child and draw him or her very close.

Jesus told the story of a man with a wayward son. Still in his teens, the young man is bored at home. He asks for his share of his father's estate in cash up front. With that in hand, he proceeds to blow through the money on wine, women, and song in the big city. When his money runs out, he is too poor for rehab. He hits bottom. He is homeless, starving on the street. One day he realizes that his father's employees are better off than he is. He decides to go home, beg for forgiveness, and plead for a job. Before he has scarcely turned onto the street to the house, his father sees him, runs out into the road, and throws his arms around the boy. The son tries to say his prepared speech, but there is no need. The son who had been "dead" is now home, and that is enough. The son who left home in disgrace returns to overflowing love.⁵

What does the parable mean? It's pretty clear. God loves you and will never, ever stop loving you. Come home, dear friend, come home and feel your dad's embrace. That is the Gospel. It sounds like pretty good news to this sinner. How about you?

Meditating on God's Word

2009-08-22T08:59:00.001-07:00

Meditating Gods word means emotionally involving or focusing our thoughts in memorizing scriptures, actively listening Gods word with the help of Holy spirit.
Meditation on Godly things brings wisdom ,purity, spiritual maturity and communion with God.When we meditate on Gods word , God reveals himself to us through his Word. By Meditating on God’s Word it renews our mind and transforms our life.

Supporting verses are:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8

Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah Psalm 4:4

So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. Malachi 3:16

whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 1 Timothy 4:15

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:1-2

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:and he shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:17

In Your Most Holy Faith

2009-08-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

It seems that now above any time in history Satan is unleashing a full attack on God’s children. Aren’t you glad God has not left us stranded and alone? He will never leave us or forsake us, and He’s given us some mighty weapons. One of these is the gift to pray in the Holy Spirit. Now is a time where God’s children need to be proactive. The enemy will lay traps for God’s children to stumble into. But, when you pray in the Spirit, you can stop the avenger, the Lord will help us do this very thing. Let’s read in the book of Romans…

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

helps -- is a compound of three different Greek words
Strong’s literal translation, joins in to help . co-operate (assist):
Or to take hold with us together against our weaknesses.

The gifts of the Spirit are for every child of God. I have found they are available to all who are truly hungry for them. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled.

Praying in the Spirit is a gift of God we all can have and use, and I believe opens the door for the other gifts to manifest. Praying in the spirit will put us in tune and in a place where we are already receptive to the things of God and flowing in the Spirit. We can not make all of the gifts manifest, as so many times they are as the Spirit wills. We can however be ready and willing to cooperate as the Holy Spirit wills. How many have missed out because they were not in a place spiritually where they could be receptive to the things of God, and because of this were not used. We’ve all missed it at times, I know I have. I also know that I have purposed in my heart to be sensitive and be used when the Lord does want to use me in these areas. We should all take this attitude. We can stop the enemy from his main job, that is to steal kill and destroy God’s children .

Romans 8:28 goes on to say --- And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

This is tied directly in with verses. 26 and 27. You know you don’t start a sentence with and, unless you are finishing a thought. I realize this verse is often quoted by itself without the previous verses tied into it, yet if we read it the way it was written and not single out a verse, we will see more clearly what is being said. I would like to look at this section of Scriptures in the New English Bible. I believe it is said in such a ways as to be a little more understandable, and you can see how this is all tied together.

--New English Bible
Romans 8:26-28. In the same way the Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness. We do not even know how we ought to pray, but through our inarticulate groans the Spirit Himself is pleading for us, and God who searches our inmost being knows what the Spirit means, because He pleads for God’s people in God’s own way; and in everything He co-operates for good with those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

It is talking about the saints interceding in co-operation with the Holy Spirit to overcome every adversity within the body of Christ,
that’s the will of God. Glory to God! Can you see this?

Let the Holy Spirit work together with us against our weaknesses, and also the weaknesses of our brothers and sisters in Christ, then we can truly say as Paul did, if God be for us who can be against us.
And, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

This portion of scripture has been the source of much prayer, consideration, and meditation, for me. I believe we as the body of Christ have largely missed it in this area. Lets see what the Word of God is saying, and not just sit back and let Satan do as he wills with us! He doesn’t have the right, yet we have the spiritual tools to defeat him. All things can work out to our benefit when we are interceding with the help or co-operation of the Holy Spirit to bring the purpose of God into being. Intercession is God's way to help us fulfill His will and His purpose in our lives, and the lives of others as well. Another way of saying this is to say that intercession is processing out the very plan of God. It is also thwarting the plan of Satan.

This applies not only to us, but can reach out to others as well. We won’t always know who we are praying for, but occasionally the Lord will show us. I believe sometimes it is just none of our business. Aren’t you glad He doesn’t show everybody your business? However sometimes He does show us things. One time after a prolonged period of praying in the Spirit, I had a vision of someone in our church. I knew of this man but didn’t know him personally other than I might have shook his hand a couple of times. I saw his face as clearly as if he was standing in front of me. The next time we went to church I asked about him and found out that he wasn’t there. Several weeks went by and he and his wife were not there. This was very unusual for him as he hardly ever missed. I finally found someone that I know knew him and asked about him. He said this person had lost his job and had taken it very hard. I knew he was older and near retirement and that loosing your job at this point would be a very difficult thing. However the very day I was praying I knew I had gotten a release in my spirit about him, and knew that things would be alright.

Shortly thereafter he got another job working in an area of ministry that he had spent a lifetime learning in the secular world. God is good, and I know many times what Satan means for our destruction God turns around for our good. Praying in the Spirit is one of the ways this takes place. It is literally praying into existence the plan and purpose of God.
This thing that was meant to do him harm was turned around by calling us to fulfill His purpose with the co-operation of the Holy Spirit interceding to fulfill His will. Wow.

Even in the small things the mighty Holy Spirit is there to help and assist. There is no area of our life He won’t help us if we will avail ourselves of Him. I know of one particular instance I was out running errands and had been in a store to do some shopping, when I came out, my car wouldn’t start. I did what most guys do, I raised the hood and looked at the engine as if I actually knew what I was doing. That didn’t help much. I walked across the street to a service station that had a tow truck and asked for help. As I got back to my car and was waiting, some time went by and I realized that the tow truck wasn’t coming. This was before cell phones were so prevalent, and my wife was also out running some errands, so I couldn’t call her anyway. I had no where to go and no way to get there, so I just sat there and started to pray in the Spirit. I was thinking I might as well be productive while I am waiting till my wife got home. After some time, maybe a half hour or so, I knew the answer supernaturally. I didn’t have a vision or hear a voice, I just knew in my spirit exactly what to do. I opened my hood and looked to the back passenger side of the engine and saw a bunch of wires. I lifted these up and saw a single wire that had a plug on the end of it. Next to it was something that looked as if this wire were supposed to be plugged into it. I simply plugged the wire in, went back and put the key into the ignition and the car started up with no problems.

Whether the problem is great or small, the One who knows all the answers is on the inside of us and is an ever present help in a time of need. He will never leave us alone. If He will help with a small wire being unplugged, He will help with all the issues of life, for He is surely able and willing to do just that. We have to put ourselves in a place where we can receive this help, and also be used, so that through us the Lord can help others.

These are the things we the body of Christ should be putting into practice on a very regular basis. Some might say I’ve never really been taught this. I would say to you it is never too late to start, start today and begin to intercede on the behalf of others. The Word of God tells us to pray for one another that we may be healed. In praying for others we open the door for God to bring blessings to ourselves as well. This law of sowing and reaping as the Word of God declares, the very thing we sow we shall reap. Aren’t you glad this is not just in the negative, but a positive force that God can use to bring blessings to us and through us. As we begin to apply these things in our lives we will develop and grow in them. The more we put into practice the things of God the more we will develop in them as well. As we develop we will begin to have greater confidence in these areas. We should always continue to grow in the things of God and not keep the same status quo. As we do, we will grow to greater levels.

Many times the lord will warn us of things to come for the very purpose of averting disaster. One such instance happened to me a couple of years ago. My older son was going on a cross country trip with a friend to go and visit his grandmother. On the second day into the trip I was awakened in the night and began to pray very intensely in the Holy Spirit. This went on for a good portion of the night. The next morning we received a phone call from our son telling us how he had hit an ice patch and his car had flipped three times. He and his friend we virtually unhurt except for a few very minor scrapes and bruises. The car was completely totaled, but by the grace of God and through the help and co-operation of the Holy Spirit their lives were both spared. I have more stories that are just as dramatic and show God’s absolute faithfulness to us His children I would share if room permitted. I pray that the true understanding of this great and precious gift of God will begin to operate and grow in your lives as you step out and begin to co-operate with the Holy Spirit of God to avert the destroyer and to bring the plan and purpose of God to pass. Amen

Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Do you want to be a joint heir with Christ?
If so, I urge you to earnestly pray the following prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Your word says, “…and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (Jn.6:37),

So I know You won’t cast me out, but You take me in, And I thank you for it. You said in your Word, "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'' (Ro. 10:13).

I am calling on Your name, So I know You have saved me now, You also said, “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Ro.10:9,10).

I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. And I confess Him now as my Lord, Because Your Word says, “… with the heart one believes to righteousness…” and I do believe with my heart, I have now become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21),

And I am saved! Thank You, Lord! I can now truthfully say, I see myself as a born again child of God! Glory to God!!!! Amen.

God watches us because he loves us

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It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. Deuteronomy 11:12

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,On those who hope in His mercy. Psalm 33:18
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,And His ears are open to their cry. Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3
Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, And I will destroy it from the face of the earth; Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” Says the LORD. Amos 9:8
For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers;But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil. 1 Peter 3:12
The Angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Ps 34.7-8

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. (Ps 34.18)

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. (Ps 37.23-24)

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights. (Prov 3.11-12)

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint. (Isa 40.28-31)

(Jesus said:) "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one.'' (John 10.27-30)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1.2-4)

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom 8.16-18)

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. (Ps 145.18-19)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Prov 3.5-6)

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. (Ps 37.5)

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Ps 116.15)

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4.7-8a)

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Pet 5.6-7)

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore. (Ps 121.7-8)

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Ps 55.22)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1: 9

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your habitation, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:9-11

The LORD watches over you - the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121

For the rest, brethren, rejoice; be perfected; be encouraged; be of one mind; be at peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matt. 7:7-11

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16

The Jericho Connection a short story of Good Friday by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

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If you were to ask each man and woman who joined in the death watch that "Good" Friday, each could tell you of some personal connection to Jesus. There's John the beloved disciple, with Mary, Jesus' mother. Here are Lazarus and Mary and Martha, Jesus' friends from Bethany. The woman taken in adultery is here, too, in shock, and dozens of others. Each has a connection to the man crucified on the center cross. Some remember a healing, others his life-giving words by the shore of Galilee. Others recall a second chance the Master extended to them. Each has a connection.

They stand in clumps, here and there on that stark hill, drawn together by the sheer terror of what is happening. Two words describe what they feel: appalled and shattered.

But off by himself, as close as he could get to the base of the cross, is a tall, gangly sixteen-year-old with thick black hair and an angular jaw that makes him appear decisive, though at heart he is a dreamer and thinker.

But now his eyes are hard and narrow, staring at the blood that is dripping from the rough-hewn crossbar above. It has made a glistening pool in the rocky surface below, and each time another drop falls and breaks the surface of the puddle, Jonathan winces.

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Jericho

2009-08-08T21:18:00.001-07:00

Jonathan's connection to Jesus goes back a full three years to Jericho and the Jordan when he was thirteen. Jonathan was a shepherd who had grown up out-of-doors, familiar with each hill and vale on the Jericho plain, for he had grazed his father's sheep there since he had been a lad. Of all the shepherd boys, Jonathan had always been curious about God. He was always pestering the town rabbi with questions.

That same hunger to learn explained Jonathan's presence one sultry day when John the Baptist had been preaching and baptizing at the nearby River Jordan. Whenever he could slip away and leave the sheep with his brothers, Jonathan would run down to the Jordan in long, loping strides, until he reached the crowds at the riverside.

John the Baptist

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With a voice that seemed to carry for miles, the Prophet was saying, "You blind and thoughtless people! You live as if there is no tomorrow. Don't you know that the axe is already at the root of the trees? Don't you know that every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire? Don't you know?"

The Prophet had a kind of desperateness about him as he would call out to the multitudes that stood hushed along the banks. "Don't you know that the Kingdom of God is at hand, that Messiah is nearly come? Don't live in your sins any longer! Cleanse your hearts and your ways, and be baptized! Wash away your sins and receive forgiveness from your God!"

Jonathan had been one of those who had waded into the water in response to the Prophet's call. "Yes, Lord, cleanse my heart," he had prayed. "Make me ready for your Kingdom." And as Jonathan came up out of the water he had felt God's forgiveness and newness. At thirteen he had become a son of the Law. Now he was a son of the Kingdom, too.

Behold, the Lamb of God

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As he had stood, water dripping from his long hair, something strange and wonderful had occurred. Suddenly the Prophet was silent, and just stood staring. Staring at something on the riverbank. As the Prophet continued to stare, soon every eye of every person followed his gaze. John the Baptist was looking at a man walking at the river's edge.

"Behold!" John the Baptist had said in awe. "Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." And at that, the Prophet bowed his head slightly out of reverence, and as he did, so did the rest of the people.

The man had nodded almost imperceptibly to the Prophet in response, and then continued to walk along the bank. The crowds parted as he came to them and they let him through. Then he had passed on, out of sight, and it was over.

Soon the crowd was all a-buzz. "Who was that?" they asked one another.

"Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth," said one who knew him, and soon the word spread throughout the crowd. "It is Jesus. Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth."

The next day it was the same. Preaching, baptizing for hours throughout the morning and then the Prophet stopped again, and again his gaze fell upon the man.

"Lamb of God," Jonathan could hear the Prophet say with hushed reverence. "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

Why a Lamb?

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That's it? That is Jonathan's connection to this man on the cross? Didn't he even hear Jesus teach or see him perform a miracle?

Actually, no. When Jesus came to Jericho a year or two later and converted that notorious tax collector Zacchaeus, Jonathan had been away in search of ungrazed fields for his flock.

So what kind of tenuous connection is this?

Not tenuous at all. Persistent, obsessive, perhaps -- anything but tenuous -- because the vivid image of Jesus' face and those very strange words, "Lamb of God," had burned indelibly into Jonathan's heart.

What does "Lamb of God" mean? he wondered. Next chance he got, he asked the rabbi.

"What is the Lamb of God, Rabbi?"

The old man gestured for him to sit down in the shade outside the Jericho synagogue that hot afternoon. Then the old rabbi eased his tired body onto a stool next to the doorway.

The Passover Lamb

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"You know, Jonathan," the white-bearded rabbi began, "that lambs are regularly sacrificed for the sins of the people.

"Then, too, your father takes his best lambs up to Jerusalem every spring for Passover. Centuries ago, boy," he said, "when God brought us out of the land of Egypt, Pharaoh didn't want to let our people go. You remember the ten plagues God brought on the Egyptians under Moses? The final plague was to be the death of the firstborn.

"So that first Passover which took place the night before the Great Exodus, a lamb was sacrificed for each family. Each father dipped a branch of hyssop into the blood of his family's sacrifice, and daubed it on the doorpost and lintel of his house."

As the rabbi continued to speak, Jonathan's mind could visualize the slaughtered lamb. And he could see the fresh blood of the lamb that had been painted onto the doorpost. He could see it drip down the post and dribble onto the ground.

"And at evening on that Day," the rabbi continued, "each father made very sure that each child -- each son, each daughter -- had been brought inside the house and accounted for. Because outside that night, the Lord struck the land of Egypt, slaying the firstborn son of every family in the entire kingdom. Every firstborn died, except for those sons of Israel whose fathers had sacrificed a lamb and painted its blood on their doorposts as a mark of faith.

" 'When I see the blood,' God had promised, 'I will pass over you.' And He did pass over us," the rabbi concluded. "Not one firstborn Israelite met death that night when death was all around us. And by morning all Israel walked free, journeying out of the land of bondage into a new day of liberty."

So the "Lamb of God" is a Passover lamb, thought Jonathan, as he thanked the rabbi and returned to his father's flocks. A Passover lamb.

Lambs for the Temple

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Jonathan's father had a contract to deliver eight dozen Passover lambs to the Temple in Jerusalem a few days before Passover. Jonathan, now sixteen, and his older brother Benjamin were given the responsibility of bringing these 96 lambs to Jerusalem.

As Jonathan's flock climbed the Jericho Road up to Jerusalem, he pondered these sheep and their wonderful and awful role in redemption. Two weeks from now, each would have been slaughtered, and its blood poured out. Had this been ancient Egypt, each lamb would have been sacrificed for a family so that the Lord might pass over them -- the lamb's life given in exchange for the lives of the family.

Jonathan looked at the white, woolly backs of these yearling lambs as they bobbed up and down on the road to Jerusalem. What a burden for an innocent sheep, to die for a family. His father's lambs would suffice for ninety-six families, but what about the rest? Jonathan's dark eyes were fixed on the road ahead, but his mind was a thousand miles away. Only ninety-six families. Surely there are enough lambs for the others.

Jerusalem

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But there was no time for the lazy musings of the upward path now. They had reached the summit of the hill, and beyond them was the glorious panorama of the Holy City, the gold of the Temple gleaming in the noonday sun. What a thrill!

Now down to the Kidron brook that runs along the east side of the Temple. Then the flock struggled up the steep grade to the Sheep Gate where they were inspected by a priest. And as each was found to be without blemish, each was certified as an approved sacrifice. And each of those unblemished sheep would bring Jonathan's father a handsome price.

For the next few days Jonathan and his brother guarded the certified yearling lambs until the day of Passover. Then their task would be over and they would return to Jericho.

Francisco de Zurbar�n (1598-1664), "The Crucifixion" (1627), oil on canvas, 290 x 168 cm, Art Institute Museum, Chicago. Larger image.
Jesus, too, was in Jerusalem, Jonathan had heard. Jonathan hoped to get to see him before going home. But the sheep kept him busy and soon his few days in the Holy City were nearly over.

Then in rapid succession, Jonathan heard bits of the shocking news that flashed throughout the city. Jesus had been arrested! Now he was being tried. Now condemned to death. How could this be? How could it?

Jonathan's duties were over now and he was free to roam the pilgrim-packed city. But there was little joy in the city this year. Tension, yes, and hatred. There was fear and anger, too, as the Romans carried out their grizzly task of crucifying the popular hero Jesus.

At the Cross

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Many others had heard the news by now, and Jonathan joined the crowd that surged along the road that led to the killing ground outside the city to see if it were really true. There Jonathan finally saw him on the center cross, dying. Jesus! He looked like Jonathan remembered him, yet drained, crushed, as it were, by the weight of the world. A crown of thorns had been pressed into his scalp, and his hands and feet had been spiked to the huge cross that stood naked against the foreboding darkness.

Jonathan pushed closer. Part of him wanted to run and hide. But part of him had to see, had to see for himself. Jonathan edged his way through the press of mourners until he came to the perimeter set up by the soldiers.

Jonathan stood transfixed, tears running down his cheeks. And then he heard Jesus declare in a weak voice, yet clearly, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

"What are they doing?" Jonathan wanted to shout. "What are they doing to this holy and righteous man?"

Jonathan's eyes followed another droplet of blood as it lingered for a moment on the wooden crossbeam, and then fell onto the rocks below the cross.

Perhaps of all the onlookers that day, Jonathan alone remembered and began to understand.

"Behold," Jonathan said out loud, but quietly so that no one could hear unless listening intently. "Behold," said Jonathan, weeping silently, now dropping to his knees.

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."

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For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for them:

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You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I don't have enough faith"
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

Ministry Prayer

2009-07-31T02:56:00.000-07:00

O my Lord,
Let not my ministry be approved only by men,
or merely win the esteem and affections of people;
But do the work of grace in their hearts,
call in thy elect,
seal and edify the regenerate ones,
and command eternal blessings on their souls.
Save me from self-opinion and self-seeking;
Water the hearts of those who hear thy Word.
that seed sown in weakness may be raised in power;
Cause me and those that hear me
to behold thee here in the light of special faith,
and hereafter in the blaze of endless glory;
Make every sermon a means of grace to myself,
and help me to experience the power of thy dying love,
for thy blood is balm,
thy presence bliss,
thy smile heaven,
thy cross the place where truth and mercy meet.
Look upon the doubts and discouragement of my ministry
and keep me from self-importance;
I beg pardon for my man sins, omissions, infirmities,
as a man, as a minister;
Command thy blessing on my weak, unworthy labors,
and on the message of salvation given;
Stay with thy people,
and may thy presence be their portion and mine.
When I preach to others, let not my words be merely elegant and
masterly,
my reasoning polished and refined,
my performance powerless and tasteless,
but may I exalt thee and humble sinners.
O Lord of power and grace,
all hearts are in thy hands, all events at thy disposal,
set the seal of thy almighty will upon my ministry.
Lord Jesus Please Bless UniTed ChrIstian Fm..
Amen

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