Posts Tagged ‘saints’
Friday, March 29th, 2013
Industriousness, March 29
… He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Your word has made it clear. Every Christian must do their share if the body of believers is to grow. You have taught us that we are to seek to be mature in our relationship with You, no longer being as children who are deceived by the cunning of evil.
Father, we see that there are different ways to serve You and that You want to equip us to be as Jesus among men. Teach each of us what Your expectations are this day and every day and then enlighten us and lead us as we seek to serve You.
The presence of our fleshly, sinful instincts must decrease and Your perfect presence must increase. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Apostles, Christ, deceitful, doctrine, edifying, equipping, evangelists, faith, Industriousness, ministry, pastors, prophets, saints, Son of God, teachers, unity
Posted in Christianity, Industriousness, Law of God, Perseverance, Providence of God, Religion | 29 Comments »
Wednesday, March 20th, 2013
Courage, March 20
… I …, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Ephesians 1:15-21, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, this is the perfect prayer that we should offer for each other. Paul says he continues in prayer for these children of God. Can we do less? Help us today to focus on praying for each other and to encourage each other in the faith.
Paul says witness of who Jesus was and why He matters in your life. His name is above every name! We pray that His name and our Lord’s Holy name is only spoken in fear and reverence. Forgive those who believe Your name, O’ God, is an exclamation point. How Father did we become so irreverent?
Have mercy on the souls of those who are disobedient, we pray. Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, Courage, enlightened, Ephesians 1:15-21, faith, Father, glory, God, Jesus, Lord, love, power, prayers, riches, saints, Spirit, thanks, wisdom
Posted in Christianity, Courage, God's Gift, Hope, Inspirtation, Perseverance, faith, salvation, wisdom | 14 Comments »
Sunday, March 17th, 2013
Perseverance, March 17
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
Hebrews 6:4-11, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we confess our dependence on You. You have taught us that to know You and then abandon You is a grave error. Those who do so are like the thorns and briars that will be destroyed in the end. But we who love You and all the works we do in Your name will not be forgotten. We know that our works, in and of themselves, merit us nothing. Our works only count if they are truly a labor of love to You and to those created in Your image.
Help us to “finish well”, to show the same diligence towards You, every day until the end. Help us O’God to be as the cultivated herb, bearing fruit worthy of our calling. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: crucify, diligence, enlightened, gift, God, heavenly, Holy Spirit, partakers, powers, renew, repentance, saints, shame, Son of God, tasted
Posted in Christianity, End Times, Fidelity, Forgiven, Heaven, Law of God, Perseverance, faith | 15 Comments »
Saturday, March 9th, 2013
Hope, March 9
… Beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:9-12, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You expect more from those that love You because You empower them. You remind us that You will not forget our work of love that we have advanced in Your name.
Father, You have also taught us that the works that we do in Your name must spring from our faith, not our sense of duty. Thank You for teaching us that our works are in response to Your love. O’ God, is there any option for Your children but to respond to Your love?
We do pray for the strength and the endurance to persist in faithful endeavor even when we are tired and frustrated. Father, when we hang our head, we are looking the wrong way. Help us look up, seeking Your guidance in all things. We pray these things in the name of Jesus, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: beloved, better, faith, God, Hope, labor, love, ministered, patience, saints, salvation, things
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Perseverance, faith | 41 Comments »
Tuesday, March 5th, 2013
Providence of God, March 5
… 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.
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.
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.
Romans 8:26-28, www.solascriptura.com
Father, these are wonderful verses, the kind we ought to memorize. Thank you for interceding for us with feelings and words we can not even express. We do become impatient as we wait upon You. Increase our faith, we pray. You are Omniscient, we are extremely limited by contrast and yet You call us saints.
This day Father, remind us that all things do work to the good for those who love You. You see what we can not see and you lead us in paths toward Your goals for our lives. Such intercession is too marvelous to fully grasp. Give us faith, every moment of every day to experience Your Holy presence, Your leading. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: God, groanings, hearts, helps, intercession, mind, pray, Providence, saints, Spirit, weaknesses
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Holy Spirit, Providence of God, faith | 54 Comments »
Thursday, February 21st, 2013
Prayer, Part 2, February 21
Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.
O my soul, you have said to the LORD, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.”
As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god
O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; you maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance.
Psalm 16:1-6, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we know that our goodness, absent the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, is more than just inadequate. When our fleshly instincts take over, we know we are running away from Your presence. Your word tells us that You delight in your saints, a designation none of us feel able to accept, yet it remains Your expectation. What is a saint, Father, but one whose life reflects Jesus? Help us this day to be more consistent in our walk with You.
You, Father, are not a transitory, undependable, father made of flesh. You are our permanent Heavenly Father, thus we do have a good inheritance. We are, gratefully, Your children. Your love for us exceeds human boundaries. What a wonderful designation….Your child. Amen and Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: excellent, God, goodness, inheritance, Lord, Prayer, preserve, Psalm 16:1-6, saints, sorrows, soul, trust
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Hope, Inspirtation, Prayer, Providence of God, faith | 15 Comments »
Tuesday, January 29th, 2013
Mind of Christ, January 29 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power Ephesians 1:15-19, www.solascriptura.com Father, the words we have just read are now a part of us. Your word has invaded our hearts, whether by a small amount or in a life changing way. Your word is never able to be stamped void. It is alive and active, giving us discernment and hope or convicting us. We truly respect and treasure Your word. Father, we thank You for Paul’s ministry. He taught us how to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, who he refers to as saints. We do pray for each other, perhaps not as fervently or constantly as we should, but we know that the prayers of a righteous man availeth much. You hear the prayers of those that love You so we never speak in vain when we bring our needs and hopes to You. We pray, this day, that You will reveal to us Your wisdom, Your insight, into situations where we feel incompetent. Help us know that You know our circumstance, that Your thoughts toward us exceed number. What a wonderful truth. Help us respond, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen Bruce Caldwell The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, Ephesians 1:15-19, faith, glory, God, Hope, inheritance, Lord, mind, power, saints, Spirit, thanks, wisdom
Posted in Christianity, Inspirtation, Mind of Christ, Providence of God, salvation, wisdom | 210 Comments »
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013
Mind of Christ, January 2
…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height–
to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we feel weak and ineffective in our witness and in the circumstances of our lives, too often. We know that if we have needs that have not been declared to You or if we set out to do something in our own strength that we are leaving out the one variable that changes everything and that is You.
You tell us that we should be strengthened with might through Your Spirit. What a gracious command. You want Your strength, Your vision, Your courage to be ours.
This day, help us grasp the fact that Your love for us surpasses knowledge, it exceeds reason, given our sinful past. We do experience perfection, at times, but it is only when we feel Your Holy presence, guiding us, challenging us and rejoicing with us. Enrich us in every way that we might be a conduit of blessings in service to You. In Your Holy name we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, faith, fullness, God, hearts, love, man, mind, saints, Spirit
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Holy Spirit, Mind of Christ, Revenge, faith | 1 Comment »
Monday, November 19th, 2012
God’s Gifts, November 19
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
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 with groans that words cannot express.
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
Romans 8:22-27, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You know how we love life and all of its opportunities yet we also look forward to perfection, an eternal life without sin and suffering. We who love You and have committed ourselves to Your service await the moment in time when we finally see all that You have prepared for us. You tell us that eye has not seen nor has mind imagined that which You have prepared for us.
It is this hope that leads to our faith in You Jesus and to our redemption, all made possible by God’s grace and mercy.
Paul teaches here that Your Spirit intercedes for us and pleads for us with words that are inexpressible by ourselves. There is no one that is able to present us to the Father in such a manner as this but You Jesus.
Paul reminds us again that we are saints, awaiting redemption, and that You search our hearts and intercede for us. Those are powerful facts and promises that we can not easily grasp. Help us O’God to experience the depth of Your love this day and every day. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: childbirth, creation, gifts, God, hearts, Hope, intercedes, pray, redemption, saints, saved, sons, Spirit
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Prayer, faith, peace | 10 Comments »
Friday, October 26th, 2012
Words of our Mouth, October 26
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 5:3-6, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we live in an era of disobedience. Far more people seem to remain neutral or negative towards Your law than embrace it. Here Paul gets very specific about what is prohibited.
None of us is perfect and we all have been disobedient. None of us are righteous, not one. To the extent that we are able to meet Your expectations, we know that happens as we place our soul, our spirit in Your care. You have told us to expect temptation, that it is common to all men. Father, we pray that you will guide us in our affiliations, our relationships and in the choices we make daily.
Where change is needed, shed Your light upon our lives and help us see what you would have us do. The words, “What would Jesus do?” give us an effective way to evaluate our choices. Help; us ask that question often. We pray that You will give us the resolve to more effectively seek You and serve you, this day. In Jesus’ Holy name we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
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Tags: Christ, covetousness, foolish, fornication, God, idolater, mouth, saints, unclean, words
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Fidelity, Religion | 106 Comments »