Thank God I'm Forgiven
Whenever we have ask God to forgive us for sin, we should ask ourselves "have I forgiven the people who have wronged me?"
The key is forgiving others is remembering how much God has forgiven you. Is it difficult for you to forgive someone who has wronged you a little when God has forgiven you so much?
Realizing God's infinite love and forgiveness can help you love and forgive others.
Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. Ephesians 4:32
Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Colossians 3:13
But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel. Have pity on others, just as your Father has pity on you. Jesus said: Don't judge others, and God won't judge you. Don't be hard on others, and God won't be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. Luke 6:35-37
If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15
Friday, June 24, 2005
Examine Yourselves
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15, NIV
It's time for self-examination.
Paul's Final Advice:
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test. I hope you recognize that we have passed the test and are approved by God.
We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. We pray this, not to show that our ministry to you has been successful, but because we want you to do right even if we ourselves seem to have failed. Our responsibility is never to oppose the truth, but to stand for the truth at all times. We are glad to be weak, if you are really strong. What we pray for is your restoration to maturity.
I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won't need to deal harshly with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to build you up, not to tear you down.
Paul's Final Greetings
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Rejoice. Change your ways. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet each other in Christian love. All the Christians here send you their greetings.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:5-14
Dear Father,
Help me to examine myself, to test myself, to see whether I am holding to my faith. Help me to realize that Jesus Christ is in me. Help me not to do anything wrong, to do nothing against the truth. Help me stand for Christ and for what is right and true. Let my life, my attitude and my actions show constant improvement. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest upon me. May you, the God of love and peace, be near me. May the fellowship of your Holy Spirit surround me.
In Jesus name I ask.
Amen
It's time for self-examination.
Paul's Final Advice:
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test. I hope you recognize that we have passed the test and are approved by God.
We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. We pray this, not to show that our ministry to you has been successful, but because we want you to do right even if we ourselves seem to have failed. Our responsibility is never to oppose the truth, but to stand for the truth at all times. We are glad to be weak, if you are really strong. What we pray for is your restoration to maturity.
I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won't need to deal harshly with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to build you up, not to tear you down.
Paul's Final Greetings
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Rejoice. Change your ways. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet each other in Christian love. All the Christians here send you their greetings.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:5-14
Dear Father,
Help me to examine myself, to test myself, to see whether I am holding to my faith. Help me to realize that Jesus Christ is in me. Help me not to do anything wrong, to do nothing against the truth. Help me stand for Christ and for what is right and true. Let my life, my attitude and my actions show constant improvement. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest upon me. May you, the God of love and peace, be near me. May the fellowship of your Holy Spirit surround me.
In Jesus name I ask.
Amen
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Jesus Prays For Himself
The Prayer of Jesus
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do. And now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. John 17:1-5
From it, we learned that the world is a tremendous battleground where the forces under Satan's power and those under God's authority are at war. Jesus prayed for his disciples, including those of us who follow up today. He prayed that God would keep his chosen beleivers safe from Satan's power, setting them apart and making them pure and holy, uniting them through his truth.
How do we get eternal life? Jesus tells us clearly here - by knowing God the Father himself through his Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, when we admit our sin and turn away from it, Christ's love lives in us by the Holy Spirit.
Confess your sin..
listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! Nehemiah 1:6
Before Jesus came to earth, he was one with God. At this point when his mission on earth was almost finished, Jesus was asking his Father to restore him to his original place of honor and authority. Jesus resurrection and ascension - and Stephen's dying exclamation ( Acts 7:56 ) - attest that Jesus did return to his exalted at the right hand of God.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knee and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60
Stephen saw the glory of God and Jesus the Messiah standing at God's right hand.
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do. And now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. John 17:1-5
From it, we learned that the world is a tremendous battleground where the forces under Satan's power and those under God's authority are at war. Jesus prayed for his disciples, including those of us who follow up today. He prayed that God would keep his chosen beleivers safe from Satan's power, setting them apart and making them pure and holy, uniting them through his truth.
How do we get eternal life? Jesus tells us clearly here - by knowing God the Father himself through his Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, when we admit our sin and turn away from it, Christ's love lives in us by the Holy Spirit.
Confess your sin..
listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! Nehemiah 1:6
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalm 32:5
But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done. Psalm 38:18I have sworn by my own name, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to my name." Isaiah 45:23
For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Roman 10:9
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. James 5:16
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 1 John 1:9
Before Jesus came to earth, he was one with God. At this point when his mission on earth was almost finished, Jesus was asking his Father to restore him to his original place of honor and authority. Jesus resurrection and ascension - and Stephen's dying exclamation ( Acts 7:56 ) - attest that Jesus did return to his exalted at the right hand of God.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knee and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60
Stephen saw the glory of God and Jesus the Messiah standing at God's right hand.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Father's Day Prayer
Father's Day Prayer
Fathers are very special people and gifts from God. This is a special prayer for fathers.
God, bless all the fathers in the world. Guide them to be good role models and loving to all their children. Help them to be a father like You are. Give them grace and patience to handle situations in a loving way.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Thank you for the love you've shown me.
Thank you for setting a good example for me.
Thank you for forgiving me when I did wrong.
Thank you for teaching me the lessons of life.
Thank you for helping me set goals.
Thank you for sharing in my accomplishments.
Thank you for providing for me.
Thank you for making my life easier.
Thank you for being my friend.
Thank you for caring about me.
Thank you for spending time with me.
Thank you for always being there when I need you.
Thank you for everything!
I love you, Dad!
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8
Fathers are very special people and gifts from God. This is a special prayer for fathers.
God, bless all the fathers in the world. Guide them to be good role models and loving to all their children. Help them to be a father like You are. Give them grace and patience to handle situations in a loving way.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Thank you for the love you've shown me.
Thank you for setting a good example for me.
Thank you for forgiving me when I did wrong.
Thank you for teaching me the lessons of life.
Thank you for helping me set goals.
Thank you for sharing in my accomplishments.
Thank you for providing for me.
Thank you for making my life easier.
Thank you for being my friend.
Thank you for caring about me.
Thank you for spending time with me.
Thank you for always being there when I need you.
Thank you for everything!
I love you, Dad!
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8
Monday, June 13, 2005
In Your Prayer Life
What changes need to be made in your prayer life? How can you make worship a higher priority? Pray from your heart. With reverance.
We can never pray too much if your prayers are honest and sincere. Before you start to pray, make sure you mean what you say. It is not wrong to come to God many times with the same requests - Jesus encourages persistent prayers! But he condemns the shallow repetition of words that are not offered with a sincere heart.
Jesus said to his disciples -
When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.
Notice the order in this prayer. First, Jesus praised God then he made his requests. Praising God first put us in the right frame of mind to tell him about our needs. He made forgiveness the cornerstone of their relationship with God. God has forgiven our sins, we must now forgive those who have wronged us. Persistence in prayer overcomes our insensitivy, not God's. To practice persistence does more to change our hearts and minds than his and it helps us understand and express the intensity of our need. Persistence in prayer helps us recognize God's work.
We can never pray too much if your prayers are honest and sincere. Before you start to pray, make sure you mean what you say. It is not wrong to come to God many times with the same requests - Jesus encourages persistent prayers! But he condemns the shallow repetition of words that are not offered with a sincere heart.
Jesus said to his disciples -
When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.
Notice the order in this prayer. First, Jesus praised God then he made his requests. Praising God first put us in the right frame of mind to tell him about our needs. He made forgiveness the cornerstone of their relationship with God. God has forgiven our sins, we must now forgive those who have wronged us. Persistence in prayer overcomes our insensitivy, not God's. To practice persistence does more to change our hearts and minds than his and it helps us understand and express the intensity of our need. Persistence in prayer helps us recognize God's work.
Pray at home first. Make sure you are spending quality time alone with God daily in your own personal time of worship, prayer and fasting.. Do not allow the Church Prayer Meeting times to be your only time of prayer. Jesus warned us many times about those who love to stand before men and let their prayers be heard. Jesus called them hypocrites.
Enter the prayer room with good thoughts. Words of encouragements. Hope. Faith. Build up each other. Grumbling and complaining can set a bad tone.
Less Talking, More Praying. A prayer gathering is just a time to join together and pray. We have come together in a group to pray. Shared a few God stories filled with thanksgiving and praises. We enter the prayer's room with worship. Thanksgiving and praises. We cannot rush into the room waving our list of requests.
Allow the Holy Spirit to lead. Learn to listen. Learn to ask God to show you what to pray for.
Pray short and sweet. Most recorded prayers of Jesus were very short. If you pray many topics at once, it makes it difficult for others to focus your prayers. That way everyone has a chance to pray along with you.
Simple prayers are fine. Jesus taught us to come to God as little children. God knows our hearts. He wants us to talk to Him as a child would speak to his father.
Pray from your heart. With reverance.
Pray for God's will to be done. Not your will. Stay in His word.
Dear Lord,
I praise you that You are the God who hears and answer our prayers.Thank you that You long to be with us. Thank you for allowing us to come to You in prayer.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen
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