November 28, 2015

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

If I should die before I wake

I pray the Lord my soul to take

I would be pretty safe wagering that this was one of the very first prayers you learned as a child.  It is a very good prayer and if you have children I am sure you taught this prayer to them!

Prayer is one of the vitally important disciplines of effective Christians so the earlier you learn to prayer or teach children to pray the better it will be!

Since I will be calling the FredWes family to prayer in both services this Sunday morning I thought it wise to share three powerful portions of Scripture pertaining to prayer and pull some principles from them.

Yesterday I shared Ephesians 6:10-12 and shared this truth from those verses: We Are Armed For Prayer.

This morning I post the second prayer principle and it is found in Romans 8:26-35.

WE ARE ASSISTED IN PRAYER

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”  Romans 8:26-35

·         When you pray the Holy Spirit will strengthen you and guide your praying.

·         When you pray the Holy Spirit will intercede for you with God according to God’s will. He directs our prayers according to how God is working in you and in your circumstances.

·         Jesus also intercedes for you from His position at the right hand of God.

Knowing that the Holy Spirit is assisting and interceding as you pray should give you courage!

Knowing that Jesus is also interceding as you pray should strengthen your courage!

Pray away!

November 27, 2015

Sunday, before I call the church to prayer I will share three quick reminders about prayer based on three powerful Scriptures about prayer.

Here is the first one!

WE SHOULD BE ARMED FOR PRAYER!

^“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”  Ephesians 6:10-20

Here are several insightful takeaways from this powerful portion of Scripture:

·         Prayer is much more powerful than you think.

·         Prayer is spiritual warfare.

·         When you pray the enemy fights back.

·         Because it is spiritual warfare you need spiritual armor.

·         When you go to war you go to win and you can’t win without praying in the Spirit and putting on the armor.

·         With spiritual prayers and the spiritual protection you can pray fearlessly for yourself and others.

What spoke to you from this Scripture?

Will this impact how you think about prayer?

Will this change how you prayer?

Are you armored up this morning?

If you are, shouldn’t that give you courage as you pray?

November 26, 2015

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

You pray for everything and everyone that really matters to you. And you teach everyone who is important to you how to pray.

So, don’t tell me prayer doesn’t matter.

From the earliest days of our formation as a country prayer was valued because freedom and liberty were hard earned and highly valued.

But don’t take my word for it. Here’s the original proclamation that established this National Holiday. I thought it might be good to start your Thanksgiving Day by reading the declaration penned by Fredericksburg’s Favorite Son, George Washington.

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence  of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interposition of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.  Go. Washington

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

November 25, 2015

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or hear from me, or seen in me - put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."  Philippians 4:4-9

Christians don’t react, they act.

No one illustrates that better than young Wesleyan Pastor, Davey Blackburn. He and his toddler son face their first Thanksgiving without their beloved wife and mother. The lovely and vivacious young Amanda Blackburn was brutally assaulted and murdered by three thugs who invaded their Indianapolis home on the early morning of November 10^th. She was thirteen weeks pregnant when murdered.

Yesterday those suspects were arrested and charged with murder and several other related charges. Upon the media release of this arrest, Pastor Davey issued his statement. The statement he released to his church is below and then the statement he made to the press. I urged to read them and then reflect honestly on how you would have responded.

http://resonateindianapolis.com/2015/11/statement-from-davey-blackburn/

“Though it does not undo the pain we are feeling, I was extremely relieved to get the news of the arrest made last night of Amanda’s killer. The investigators have assured me they have a solidly-built case to ensure justice is levied and the process is expedited. The family and I couldn’t be more thankful for the level of compassion and professionalism the IMPD and investigators have shown us through the last couple of weeks. My hope is for three things in the weeks and months to come:

1) That the court system would have wisdom on how to prosecute this man, so that no one else endures the pain Amanda and our family have had to endure because of his actions.

2) That through all of this and although there will be great consequences for his actions, he would become truly sorry for what he has done and would even begin to experience the life-transforming power of the Grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ.

3) That Jesus would give me and our family a heart of forgiveness.

Though everything inside of me wants to hate, be angry, and slip into despair I choose the route of forgiveness, grace and hope. If there is one thing I’ve learned from Amanda in the 10 years we were together, it’s this: Choosing to let my emotions drive my decisions is recipe for a hopeless and fruitless life. Today I am deciding to love, not hate. Today I am deciding to extend forgiveness, not bitterness. Today I am deciding to hope, not despair. By Jesus’ power at work within us, the best is STILL yet to come. Even when I don’t see it, I believe it to be true.”

Christians act, they don’t react.

November 24, 2015

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Ephesians 5:15-20

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” -- Cicero

“The gracious stirrings of grateful affection to God," in which love flows from the heart as a response to the Divine, is one of the surest ways to discern the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person's life.” – Jonathan Edwards.

For this penetrating insight into gratefulness, I am grateful to Dennis Prager, author of the shrewd and perceptive "Happiness is a Serious Problem."

"There is a secret to happiness,'" Prager writes, "and it is gratitude. All happy people are grateful, and ungrateful people cannot be happy. We tend to think that it is being unhappy that leads people to complain, but it is truer to say that it is complaining that leads to people becoming unhappy. Become grateful and you will become a much happier person."

This is a keen observation, and it helps explain why the Judeo-Christian tradition places such emphasis on thanking God. The liturgy is filled with expressions of gratitude. "It is good to give thanks to the Lord," begins the 92nd Psalm.

Why? Is it because God needs our gratitude? No: it is because we need it. Learning to be thankful, whether to God or to other people, is the best vaccination against taking good fortune for granted.  And the less you take for granted, the more pleasure and joy life will bring you.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

Salvation

I am thankful that God sent Jesus to pay a sin debt that He didn't owe to redeem me from a debt I couldn't pay!

I am not only thankful that I got what I didn't deserve but also that I didn't get what I did deserve.

Savior

I thank God for a Savior Who I can know personally. As the hymn writer put it, "He walks wit me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own......"

Spirit

The Spirit is the Comforter who helps me through difficult times. He is the Spirit of truth Who leads me into all truth. He helps me when I pray and convicts me when I stray.

Sanctification

I am thankful that the Blood of Christ can cleanse my sinful nature and allow the Holy Spirit to fill me until His will is my will!

Security

I am thankful that when I am in Christ and when His Spirit indwells me, I can know I am secure in His love - forever.

Scripture

I am very thankful that God has written a love letter to me that reveals all of His truth and details His will.

Saints

I am thankful that I get to share my spiritual journey with others who are saved and Spirit -filled and who love the Scriptures and enjoy serving Him within the fellowship of the church.

Struggles

I am even happy for the struggles of life. Even though I don't enjoy them I understand their value in developing my faith. The only way to really understand how strong and faithful God is through the struggles of life.

Sovereignty

I am thankful for a God Who is the First and the Last - the Alpha and Omega - and everything in between! He had the first word in creation and He had the first word in my recreation. Everything is under His control and He is bigger than life and bigger than death!

How about you? Will thanksgiving be just a holiday or a habit?

I will add force to my life by changing the focus of my life:

-       I will commit to thanking God for everything every day.

-       I will commit to thanking others on a daily basis.

November 23, 2015

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”    Philippians 4:4-7

Who doesn’t like to rejoice? I know I do!

But rejoice always? How can that be? ALWAYS? Even on a bad day?

And with your rejoicing ALWAYS give thanks.

These are two of the chief characteristics that should be typical of a believer. Unbelievers are often angry and selfishly feel that life deals them a bad hand.

So, how is it that I can ALWAYS, be rejoicing and thankful? How is that possible?

I see four causes for thanks giving and want to Call them to your attention.

First, you can be thankful for what God had done for you through Jesus Christ!

“For God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Thank you, God!

Next, you can be thankful for what God is doing for you now!

“I am come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

Thank you, God!

Third, be thankful for what you know God will do because of His promises!

“I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Finally, you can always be thankful for what He is doing that you are not even aware of!”

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” Ephesians 3: 20-21

Thank you, God!

You CAN be thankful always – regardless of circumstances or situations!

In fact, you can be thankful that you can always be thankful!

November 22, 2015

"And that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with a sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hand." I Samuel 17:47

Where do you find courage when you need it?

I am identifying a four-fold spiritual development of courage from God's Word.

First, courage is based on God's credentials in Creation. At creation God spoke all the wonders of the universe into existence where there was nothing existing. As Hebrews 11:1 says, "That is the substance of faith."

Second, courage is based on God's character. God is the same "yesterday, today and forever" so, if God could create back then He can do what needs to be done today! As Hebrews 11:1 also says, that is the "evidence of things hoped for".

Third, courage is based on God's calling. It is significant to know that God who did great things before can still do great things today but it's even more significant to believe He can do it through me!

Fourth, courage is based on God's cause. David found courage from God as he took on the cause of God's Name, and the cause of God's Fame and the cause of God's Claim!

David knew Goliath had to be taken down when He heard him cursing and blaspheming the Name of God. God's Holy Name is worthy of worship not curses. And David knew Goliath must be dealt with when He defamed the honor of God through his curses and accusations. And finally, David knew he had to defeat the giant to defend God's Claim.

What do I mean, God's Claim?

The answer is found in the phrase, "The battle is the Lord's". In other words, what God says He will do - HE WILL DO! Or even better, when God says He will do something IT IS AS GOOD AS DONE!

When you know you have won before you have begun it's not hard to find courage!

David, in this well-known Bible Story shows how to have courage and how to use it. 

Courage comes from committing to God's cause for fighting giants - defending God's Name, God's Fame and proving God's Claim!

There are plenty of giants still out there.......