Men and women are at their noblest and best
when they are on their knees before God in prayer.
– John R. W. Stott
Sermon Songs: Isaiah 59
Our Lord, He died and rose for you
To give you hope and make you new
So dare to be diff’rent today
In what you think, you do, and say
From violence, lying turn away
Be faithful to the Lord today
And for our nation kneel to pray
Proclaim Jesus: the only way
– From a sermon on Isaiah 59
(To the tune of “The Doxology”)
Evangelism
Evangelism is to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to sinful people, in order that they may come to put their trust in God through Him, to receive Him as their Savior, and serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His Church.
– Donald Whitney in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Will We Be Faithful?
In Isaiah 59:12-15, Isaiah addresses Israel’s sins in terms that could have been written to our country today. He speaks of sin, transgression, and iniquity, and it doesn’t take long to see the moral depravity of our own nation. He speaks of Israel walking away from God, and it appears that our nation is doing the same as it drifts back into paganism. Isaiah says truth has stumbled in the public square, and today people just don’t want to hear about God, His Word, or truth in our culture or our government. Isaiah says that the person who departs from evil makes himself a prey, and we see examples today of Christians who have refused to participate in evil being sued and even losing their businesses. And the question for the church today is: will we be faithful?
In a culture that celebrates sin, will we be faithful to turn from it? In a nation walking away from God, will we be faithful to follow Him? In a country that rejects truth, will we be faithful to stand for the truth? In a world that rejects righteousness, will we be faithful to walk in righteousness? Will we be faithful?
Today, as we gratefully remember our veterans who gave themselves for our country, will we as Christians faithfully give ourselves for our Lord? Will we be faithful?
Passion Points
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
Five Things Every Christian Should be Doing with God’s Word – Michael J. Kruger
17 Ways to Meditate on Scripture – Donald Whitney (via Justin Taylor)
Of Justice and Generosity – Kevin DeYoung
3 Choices in How We Respond to God’s Kingdom Agenda – Trevin Wax
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!
Saturday: Pray for Our World
Pray for our World:
- Gospel to spread, people to be saved, and churches to be planted
- A world-wide Great Awakening that transforms cultures
- Unreached people groups to be reached with the gospel
- Relief work in Nepal, Refugees in Syria and Iraq
- Peace in Ukraine, Middle East, African countries
Friday: Pray for Our Nation
Pray for our Nation:
- Growing recognition of the hollowness of the idols of our age: money, material things, sex, homosexuality, technology, social media, fame, power, alcohol, drugs, entertainment, government
- Growing openness and response to the hope of the gospel
- Many in our country to come to Christ and grow in Him
- Another Great Awakening that transforms lives and our country
- President Obama and his Cabinet, Congress, and the Supreme Court – wisdom, follow truth, righteousness, and justice
- Supreme Court decision on “same-sex” marriage
- State – Governor Snyder, Legislature, Judicial – wisdom
- Families – strong marriages, children, finances/work
- Economy – national/state growth, job growth
- Education – federal/state policies, curriculum, teachers, safety, public schools, private schools, home-school freedom
- Entertainment/Media – Christian influence, positive impact
Thursday: Pray For Your Community
Pray for your Community:
- Growing openness and response to the hope of the gospel
- Many people in our communities to come to Christ
- Fruit from your church outreaches
- A Great Awakening that transforms our community
- Families – strong marriages, children, finances/work
- Economy – local businesses, jobs
- Education – local schools, teachers, safety, graduates
Prayer Quote of the Week
As it is the business of tailors to make clothes
and of cobblers to mend shoes,
so it is the business of Christians to pray
– Martin Luther
Wednesday: Pray for the World Church
Pray for the World Church:
- Churches to grow, world-wide church revivals
- Pastors – Biblical training and resources, Biblical faithfulness
- Church in Nepal, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Iran, India, China, etc.
- Perseverance and strength for persecuted Christians
- God’s provision (food, homes, jobs) for Christians
- Christian refugees – especially from Syria and Iraq – and those ministering to them
- Bibles, Christian literature, radio, TV, and internet available to encourage, strengthen, and help grow in the Lord
- Growing freedom to worship the Lord
Brian J. Mikul 