A devotional prayer based on 1 John 1
Lord God, I stand amazed again that You desire fellowship with me. So much so that You came among us in human flesh. To be heard by ears, beheld by eyes, and touched by hands. Real God in real human flesh. You did this for me to have a real relationship, real intimacy, real fellowship with You. I do not deserve to even be known by You, but You have made it so.
You desire for me to walk as one whose sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. To walk as a child of light. Strengthen me. Make me wise that my life would reflect my fellowship with You. O Lord, let me not be found a liar. Give me the grace to keep short account of my sin with You.
O God, draw to Your side those who think they have fellowship with You but walk in the darkness. There are many. Shed Your light on their deeds of darkness. Expose the gap between You and them. Bring them to confession of their sin and to swee fellowship with Your the God of Light. In Christ. Amen
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
FEEDING AND KILLING
A devotional prayer based on Matthew 5:29-30; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:17-32
Lord God I need your grace. I find myself feeding what I ought to kill, and killing what I ought to feed, loving what I ought to despise, and despising what I ought to love.
I am to crucify the flesh with its sinful desires. I am to flee immorality. I am to put off all iniquity and the sin which so easily entangles. I am to pluck out the eye and cut off the hand that causes me to sin. But yet I let sinfulness remain alive in me. What is worse, I feed it, I fuel it, and I give it life. I do not cast it aside, but put it on.
Still worse than this, as I give Satan a foothold and remain chained to sin's enslavement, I kill righteousness and holiness. I ought to feed it, to fuel it, to give it life. O Lord, that I would feed righteousness and holiness with the same passion and vigor that I once, and still often, pursue wickedness. Give me the strong desire to seek Your kingdom and righteousness, just a deer pants for water, and an infant craves milk.
Make me into a fighter, not a quitter. Make me into a worker, not a slacker. Make me into a lover of Your ways, not a lover of sin. To the glory of God and in the name of the savior. Amen
Lord God I need your grace. I find myself feeding what I ought to kill, and killing what I ought to feed, loving what I ought to despise, and despising what I ought to love.
I am to crucify the flesh with its sinful desires. I am to flee immorality. I am to put off all iniquity and the sin which so easily entangles. I am to pluck out the eye and cut off the hand that causes me to sin. But yet I let sinfulness remain alive in me. What is worse, I feed it, I fuel it, and I give it life. I do not cast it aside, but put it on.
Still worse than this, as I give Satan a foothold and remain chained to sin's enslavement, I kill righteousness and holiness. I ought to feed it, to fuel it, to give it life. O Lord, that I would feed righteousness and holiness with the same passion and vigor that I once, and still often, pursue wickedness. Give me the strong desire to seek Your kingdom and righteousness, just a deer pants for water, and an infant craves milk.
Make me into a fighter, not a quitter. Make me into a worker, not a slacker. Make me into a lover of Your ways, not a lover of sin. To the glory of God and in the name of the savior. Amen
Monday, December 18, 2006
HUMILITY
This is another prayer/devotional offering. This one is based on Philippians 2:1-11
Lord Jesus, You did not hold tightly to the rights of your divinity, but willingly gave up those rights in humility, and in taking on human flesh. A human form that is full of limitations, and subject to temptation and judgment. Your humility led You to death on the cross on my behalf. You subjected yourself to humiliation, so that You name might be exhalted, so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to Your glory, O God.
You have called us to be of the same mind. Not that we could even make atonement for our sins by way of humiliation and sacrifice, but that we might reflect Your purposes and heart. Remove from my heart rivalry and deceit. Let me not look at my needs, but also at the needs of others. Work in your church that we would live in the unity that you have called us to. May You use us to bring tongues to You that will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
Lord Jesus, You did not hold tightly to the rights of your divinity, but willingly gave up those rights in humility, and in taking on human flesh. A human form that is full of limitations, and subject to temptation and judgment. Your humility led You to death on the cross on my behalf. You subjected yourself to humiliation, so that You name might be exhalted, so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to Your glory, O God.
You have called us to be of the same mind. Not that we could even make atonement for our sins by way of humiliation and sacrifice, but that we might reflect Your purposes and heart. Remove from my heart rivalry and deceit. Let me not look at my needs, but also at the needs of others. Work in your church that we would live in the unity that you have called us to. May You use us to bring tongues to You that will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
THE SHEPHERD OF OLD
The prayer/devotion is based on Micah 5:1-5
We are a people who are under siege by the enemy. He desires to destroy us, to take us captive, and to bring shame to Your Name, O God.
But from of old, from ancient days You have come. Lord Jesus, You stand firm for us. You shepherd us as you feed, protect, and lead your sheep. You lead in the strength of the Lord and in the majesty of His name for you are God. You are our peace.
Grant us, Lord, grace and strength to withstand the siege of the enemy. O Lord, that we would stand firm in You. Let us be submissive sheep. Let us receive our daily bread from Your hand. Let us remain fast under Your protection. Let us follow Your wise leading with grace and humble heart. In the name of Our Great Shepherd. Amen.
We are a people who are under siege by the enemy. He desires to destroy us, to take us captive, and to bring shame to Your Name, O God.
But from of old, from ancient days You have come. Lord Jesus, You stand firm for us. You shepherd us as you feed, protect, and lead your sheep. You lead in the strength of the Lord and in the majesty of His name for you are God. You are our peace.
Grant us, Lord, grace and strength to withstand the siege of the enemy. O Lord, that we would stand firm in You. Let us be submissive sheep. Let us receive our daily bread from Your hand. Let us remain fast under Your protection. Let us follow Your wise leading with grace and humble heart. In the name of Our Great Shepherd. Amen.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
TOO OFTEN
The Valley of Vision is a collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions put out by Banner of Truth. I have been inspired by it to put some of my prayers and thoughts in written form. Here is my first offering. May it be a blessing to you.
TOO OFTEN
Ephesians 6:10-18
Too often Lord I take no stand against the wiles of the devil. Too often I do not wrestle against the powers of darkness, but give into their wicked ways. Instead of wearing Your armor I think I do not need it, or do not want it on.
I set aside Your belt of truth in favor of lies. I set aside the breastplate of righteousness, and put on wickedness. My feet do not go in the gospel, but walk away from it. The shield of faith is too often at my side, instead of being raised in defense against Satan’s darts and accusations. The helmet of salvation not found on my head, but cast aside. The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, left in its sheath while I remain in defeat. Watchless and prayerless I stand in the fight.
Forgive me, Lord for my lack of fight. Strengthen me by Your Word and Spirit once again for the fight. Let me be strong in You Lord and the strength of Your might. Let me once again be one who stands, one who perseveres, and one who is bold in obedience and proclamation. Amen.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Too often Lord I take no stand against the wiles of the devil. Too often I do not wrestle against the powers of darkness, but give into their wicked ways. Instead of wearing Your armor I think I do not need it, or do not want it on.
I set aside Your belt of truth in favor of lies. I set aside the breastplate of righteousness, and put on wickedness. My feet do not go in the gospel, but walk away from it. The shield of faith is too often at my side, instead of being raised in defense against Satan’s darts and accusations. The helmet of salvation not found on my head, but cast aside. The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, left in its sheath while I remain in defeat. Watchless and prayerless I stand in the fight.
Forgive me, Lord for my lack of fight. Strengthen me by Your Word and Spirit once again for the fight. Let me be strong in You Lord and the strength of Your might. Let me once again be one who stands, one who perseveres, and one who is bold in obedience and proclamation. Amen.
The Crucible of Grace
Steve Camp always has great thoughtful articles. This one is comes from his heart and ministry. "The Crucible of Grace" is also one of my favorite songs of his. If you have not heard it, check it out on http://a1m.org/library.php?libid=e40db1de10f9fd854ec8c64916848d59 . This gives you the whole album. Many wonderful songs on there.
Pastor Sloan
Pastor Sloan
Friday, December 08, 2006
A GOOD RESOURCE GONE BAD
I recently purchased the 2003 edition of How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart. I am planning a class on the subject coming up soon. I was shocked to discover that in their chapter on translations they ENDORSE the TNIV! Stuart is a professor at Gordon Conwell, a seminary that I thought was trustworthy on such matters. Use this work with your people with extreme caution. If this edition is in your church library, you may want to remove it or put a warning with it. I had read a previous edition of this work and found it to be very helpful, so I am upset at this new edition. By the way, this book is published by Zondervan, the same publishing house that puts out the TNIV. Coincidence?
Pastor Howard
Pastor Howard
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
GOD IS NOT SHORTHANDED
Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV) Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; [2] but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
God's great concern is for His own glory. It is for His glory that He reconsile a people to Himself. We are far from Him because of our sin. The great news it that God is not shorthanded to accomplish His purposes. It is He who acts to save. What great news.
God's great concern is for His own glory. It is for His glory that He reconsile a people to Himself. We are far from Him because of our sin. The great news it that God is not shorthanded to accomplish His purposes. It is He who acts to save. What great news.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Spurgeon's Morning Devotion Today
"I have much people in this city." Acts 18:10
This should be a great encouragement to try to do good, since God has among the vilest of the vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched and drunken, an elect people who must be saved. When you take the Word to them, you do so because God has ordained you to be the messenger of life to their souls, and they must receive it, for so the decree of predestination runs. They are as much redeemed by blood as the saints before the eternal throne. They are Christ's property, and yet perhaps they are lovers of the ale-house, and haters of holiness; but if Jesus Christ purchased them he will have them. God is not unfaithful to forget the price which his Son has paid. He will not suffer his substitution to be in any case an ineffectual, dead thing. Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not regenerated yet, but regenerated they must be; and this is our comfort when we go forth to them with the quickening Word of God.
Nay, more, these ungodly ones are prayed for by Christ before the throne. "Neither pray I for these alone," saith the great Intercessor, "but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." Poor, ignorant souls, they know nothing about prayer for themselves, but Jesus prays for them. Their names are on his breastplate, and ere long they must bow their stubborn knee, breathing the penitential sigh before the throne of grace. "The time of figs is not yet." The predestinated moment has not struck; but, when it comes, they shall obey, for God will have his own; they must, for the Spirit is not to be withstood when he cometh forth with fulness of power-they must become the willing servants of the living God. "My people shall be willing in the day of my power." "He shall justify many." "He shall see of the travail of his soul." "I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong."
This should be a great encouragement to try to do good, since God has among the vilest of the vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched and drunken, an elect people who must be saved. When you take the Word to them, you do so because God has ordained you to be the messenger of life to their souls, and they must receive it, for so the decree of predestination runs. They are as much redeemed by blood as the saints before the eternal throne. They are Christ's property, and yet perhaps they are lovers of the ale-house, and haters of holiness; but if Jesus Christ purchased them he will have them. God is not unfaithful to forget the price which his Son has paid. He will not suffer his substitution to be in any case an ineffectual, dead thing. Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not regenerated yet, but regenerated they must be; and this is our comfort when we go forth to them with the quickening Word of God.
Nay, more, these ungodly ones are prayed for by Christ before the throne. "Neither pray I for these alone," saith the great Intercessor, "but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." Poor, ignorant souls, they know nothing about prayer for themselves, but Jesus prays for them. Their names are on his breastplate, and ere long they must bow their stubborn knee, breathing the penitential sigh before the throne of grace. "The time of figs is not yet." The predestinated moment has not struck; but, when it comes, they shall obey, for God will have his own; they must, for the Spirit is not to be withstood when he cometh forth with fulness of power-they must become the willing servants of the living God. "My people shall be willing in the day of my power." "He shall justify many." "He shall see of the travail of his soul." "I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong."
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