Power In Prayer 1 Chronicles 5:20 Ephesians 6:19-20 2 Corinthians 1:10-11 Psalms 6:9-10 Psalms 65:1-13 Psalms 66:16-20 Acts 2:42-43 Ezra 8:23 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 10.30.17

POWER IN PRAYER

BREAD

²⁰  They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.   1 Chronicles 5:20 (NIV)

¹⁹  Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰  for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.    Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV)

¹⁰  He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, ¹¹  as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.  2 Corinthians 1:10-11 (NIV)

⁹  The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. ¹⁰  All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace. Psalm 6:9-10 (NIV)

¹  Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. ²  O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. ³  When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. ⁴  Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. ⁵  You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, ⁶  who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, ⁷  who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. ⁸  Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy. ⁹  You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. ¹⁰  You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.  ¹¹  You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. ¹²  The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. ¹³  The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.   Psalm 65:1-13 (NIV)

¹⁶  Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. ¹⁷  I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. ¹⁸  If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; ¹⁹  but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. ²⁰  Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!   Psalm 66:16-20 (NIV)

⁴²  They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.   Acts 2:42-43 (NIV)

²³  So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.  Ezra 8:23 (NIV)

¹⁶  Be joyful always; ¹⁷  pray continually; ¹⁸  give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Yet the range of prayer is as great as trouble, as universal as sorrow and as infinite as grief. And prayer can relieve all these evils that come to God’s people. There is no tear that prayer cannot wipe away. There is no depression of spirit that it cannot elevate. There is no despair that it cannot dispel. Prayer always brings God to our relief to bless and to aid, and it brings marvelous revelations of His power.”   E.M. Bounds

“What does an unused prayer link look like? Anxiety. Instead of connecting with God our spirits fly around like severed power lines, destroying everything they touch. Anxiety wants to be God, but lacks God's wisdom, power, or knowledge. A godlike stance without godlike character and ability is pure tension. Because anxiety is self on its own, it tries to get control. Anxiety is unable to relax in the face of chaos; continuous prayer clings to the Father in the face of chaos.”   Paul Miller

“The world may doubt the power of prayer, but the saints know better.”  Gilbert Shaw

“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.”  Martin Luther 

“Prayer is the forerunner of mercy….Prayer is always the preface to blessing.  It goes before the blessing as the blessing’s shadow.   When the sunlight of God’s mercies rises upon our necessities, it casts the shadow of prayer far down upon the plain….If we are much in prayer, our pleadings are the shadows of mercy.”     C. H. Spurgeon

“It is by prayer that we couple the powers of heaven to our helplessness … and make the impossible possible.”   O. Hallesby

“Pray as if everything depended upon your prayer.”   William Booth

“Prayer, praise and thanksgiving all go together. A close relationship exists among them. The Scriptures join these three things together. Psalms is filled with many songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving, all pointing back to the results of prayer. Thanksgiving includes gratitude. In fact, thanksgiving is the expression of an inward, conscious gratitude to God for mercies received. Gratitude is an inward emotion of the soul, involuntarily arising therein, while thanksgiving is the voluntary expression of gratitude.”    E.M. Bounds

“A Christian, being only a traveler through the world, must expect a traveller’s fare; bad roads sometimes, bad weather, and bad accommodations; but since his journey’s end and city are in heaven, all his actions, sufferings, prayers, trade, and conversation turn that way.  O Lord, grant that mine eyes may always be fixed upon this mark, so as to regulate all my designs and doings accordingly; asking myself in everything, whether it be fit for heaven, and agreeable to the mind of the heavenly Bridegroom, and to the manners of the heavenly citizens.”    K. H. Von Bogatzky 

“Do not let us fail one another in interest, care, and practical help; but supremely we must not fail one another in prayer.”   Michael Boughen

“No prayer is lost.  Praying breath was never spent in vain.  There is no such thing as prayer unanswered or unnoticed by God, and some things that we count refusals or denials are simply delays.”   H. Bonar

“One of the best ways to discover a Christian's chief anxieties and ambitions is to study the content of his prayers and the intensity with which he prays them.  We all pray about what concerns us and are evidently not concerned about matters we do not include in our prayers. Prayer expresses desire. Prayer is the soul's sincere desire...Paul pours out his soul to God....The basis of Paul's prayer was the knowledge of God's purpose.”   John Stott  

“Prayer is a direct address to God. Prayer secures blessings and betters people because it reaches the ear of God. Prayer affects people by affecting God to move them. Prayer moves the hand that moves the world. The utmost possibilities of prayer have rarely been realized. The promises of God are so great to those who truly pray, that when He puts Himself fully into the hands of the praying ones, it almost staggers our faith and leaves us amazed.”   E.M. Bounds

“Hear the prayers of Your people as we call out to You. Give us self-control on those occasions when we're tempted to demoralize and put people down. Make us aware that a godly life preaches an unforgettable message to the unsaved. Help us remember that we're soldiers away from our home in heaven, living in a culture that's lost its way and is in desperate need of Jesus Christ. Keep us easy to live with, strong in faith, unbending in our convictions yet full of grace toward those who are bound by sin and captured by habits they cannot break. Enable us to shock this pagan culture with lives that are authentic, that stay balanced, that are still fun, and that ultimately glorify You, O God . . . just like Jesus did.”  Chuck Swindoll 

HEART SAVOR

·         Prayers change my focus off inadequate self to All-Sufficient Father.

·         The Lord hears our cries for mercy and always comes to our aid.

·         The Lord’s timing is always perfect - always.

 

Spiritual Warfare Ephesians 6:10-18 1 Timothy 1:18-19 1 timothy 6:11-14 2 Timothy 4:6-8 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 2 Timothy 2:3-7 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 Romans 8:38-39 10.27.17

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

BREAD

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  ¹² 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.  ¹³ 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.  ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  ¹⁸ 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 saints.  Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

¹⁸ Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, ¹⁹ holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.   1 Timothy 1:18-19 (NIV)

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Timothy 6:11-14 (NIV)

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)

³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

³ Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷ Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.  2 Timothy 2:3-7 (NIV) 

     

³ I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. ⁴ My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.  1 Corinthians 2:3-5 (NIV)

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Why was Job born? He was born for the same reason Adam was created. He was born for the same reason the earth was created. He was born, in part, for the same reason Christ was born and suffered and was crucified. We all exist to glorify God. On the Day of Judgement, when the mangled, burned, corrupted, and crucified limbs of God’s faithful are resurrected and made new, and when voices that died crying in pain are restored singing in praise, even Satan himself will bow in submission to the Lord who deserves all praise.  This life is no simple matter of little lives living private dramas. We are, since Eden’s loss, united in celestial warfare with eternal consequences. We were born to stand; we are armed to fight.  The good news is just that, through faith in Christ, we were born to win.”    Frances Poston Bennett  

 

“Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. Prayer gives us the significance of frontline forces and gives God the glory of a limitless Provider. The one who gives the power gets the glory. Thus, prayer safeguards the supremacy of God in missions while linking us with endless grace for every need.”   John Piper

“Christianity is a warfare, and Christians are spiritual soldiers.”   Robert Southwell

“Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.”  Alexander Maclaren

“Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light.”   Book of Common Prayer

“Lord, make us mindful of the Glory that is ours in Christ Jesus. Let us savor our relationship with You and let us use every opportunity to tell the wonderful news – the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those around us - and as we have the ability, to send and carry that news to all parts of the world.  And Father, save, protect, keep and provide for our families. Protect us from the warfare waged against us by evil men and by Satan and his armies. Deepen our faith. Let us look to You and receive strength and power; let us stand firm.  Let us cherish the times that we can spend together and let us think of and pray for one another when we are apart. Let us love one another deeply. May the Love of Christ overflow from our hearts. May people who are around us and see us know that we are Christians by our love. May our countenance, our faces display Christian Love.”   Roger Killian

“Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Prayer makes the Christian’s armor bright; And Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.”   William Cowper

“What giants are you facing?  The giant of peer pressure?  Of different ideologies and philosophies fighting for control of your life?  What about giants like social injustice, moral deterioration or crime?  Or maybe the giant of fear, joblessness, broken relationships or family conflict?  Young David faced a giant named Goliath, a member of the Philistine nation – a bitter enemy of God’s people.  Goliath was more than nine feet tall and clothed with heavy armor.  His spear was about the size of a tree trunk.  Goliath was one of the largest men in recorded history.  He defied the army of Israel, challenging them to send a man against him.  David volunteered.  Goliath had David out-armed and out –experienced.  Goliath was a great warrior; David was not.  His only weapon was a slingshot – and a deep dependence on God.  And God gave him victory.”   Billy Graham

“To you, therefore, my words are now addressed, whoever you may be, who are renouncing your own will to do battle under the Lord Christ, the true King, and are taking up the strong, bright armor of obedience.”   Benedict of Nursia

“Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.”   Robert J. Morgan

“The great tyrant has not forgotten you, and he designs your capture and re-enslavement.”  Charles Spurgeon

HEART SAVOR

• Believers are in a spiritual battle, yet we fight FROM victory not for it.  “It is finished” were our King’s last words.  We go forth in His power, to accomplish His purposes, all for His glory.  Our role is to don the full armor of God and stand.
• Satan fights dirty and the battle rages, but our Lord is stronger still.  We must be prepared as the Scriptures states “when” the day of evil comes not “if”.
• Prayer is essential in spiritual warfare.   

Poverty Which Can Issue From Prosperity 1 Timothy 6:9 Proverbs 15:27 Proverbs 28:20 Proverbs 28:22 Ecclesiastes 5:10 Matthew 6:24 Luke 12:15 2 Timothy 3:-5 1 Timothy 6:17-19 10.23.17

POVERTY WHICH CAN ISSUE FROM PROSPERITY

BREAD

⁹ People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  1 Timothy 6:9 (NIV)

²⁷ A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.  Proverbs 15:27 (NIV)

²⁰ A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20 (NIV)

²² A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.  Proverbs 28:22 (NIV)

¹⁰ Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.   Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV)

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”  Matthew 6:24 (NIV)

¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”   Luke 12:15 (NIV)

¹ But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.  2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV)

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.  1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)

BUTTER

“The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this, and could not contradict him, but they sneered at him.  Let us consider this as their sin, and the fruit of their covetousness, which was their primary sin.  Many who make a great profession of religion and abound in the exercise of devotion, are yet ruined by the love of the world.  These covetous Pharisees could not bear to have that touched, which was their Delilah, their darling lust; for this they derided him, they turned up their noses at him, or blew their noses on him.  It is an expression of the utmost scorn and disdain imaginable.  They laughed at him for going so contrary to the opinion and way of the world.  It is common for those to make a joke of the word of God who are resolved that they will not be ruled by it.”  Matthew Henry

“The Christian way is different:  harder and easier.  Christ says, ‘Give me All.  I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work:  I want you… No half-measures are any good.  I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down…Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked – the whole outfit.   I will give you a new self instead.  I will give you Myself:  My own will shall become yours.’”    C.S. Lewis

“Being generous with your money is a personal quality of someone that the grace of God has gripped.  Why? Because the essence of the Gospel of grace is generosity.  Jesus Christ gave up the Greatest Treasure in the world.  He gave away his treasure when he left the most affluent gated community in the universe, heaven and all its glory, became poor, so that we might become rich.  He gave up Ultimate wealth—Himself, for you.  ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’, he said and lived.  He also said you cannot serve God and money, it’s impossible. You have to choose. Only by the power of the Gospel of grace can you begin to be generous”.   Tom Wood

“‘There is no fear in love’, writes the apostle John, ‘but perfect love drives out fear…’ He goes on to point to the source of that perfect love: ‘We love because He first loved us”.  In other words, the cure to fear is not a change in circumstances, rather a deep grounding in the love of God.  I ask God to reveal His love to me directly, or through my relationships with those who also know Him—a prayer I think God takes great delight in answering.  When I get depressed about my present failures, I ask God to remind me of my true identity: one who will be made perfect and has already been forgiven. ‘You’ve got to go deeper’, said the nun to my burned-out pastor.  ‘Sink the well into a water table that never runs dry’…Thomas Merton conceded that everything in modern city life conspires against such surrender.  We worry (fear) about money, about what we need to have and to know, about whom to compete with and what is slipping out of our control…(he) found the secret to true freedom:  If we live to please God alone (the One who loves us), we set ourselves free from the cares and worries that press in on us.”   Phillip Yancey

“The entertaining of any worldly lust, and indulgence of any known willful sin, is an accursed thing, by which we are deprived of the power of God, and cannot stand before our enemies.  Behold, therefore the severity of God, and be more earnest.  Make all haste to flee from the lust of the world, especially from the lust of the eye, which is the love of money.  Examine thyself closely in other things, and whatever sinful lust harbors in thy breast, be faithful to put it off, and flee from it, else you must not wonder at your being so weak in spirit.  He that does not resist the sinful motions of his heart, will very easily give a loose to his hands and tongue; but he that immediately subdues the inward corruptions, will certainly be preserved from their breaking out in any sinful actions.  O Lord, deliver me from all accursed things, and keep my heart always under thy closest inspection and discipline.  Amen.”   K. H. Von Bogatzky 

 “What is the basis of our security? When we start thinking about that question, we may give many answers: success, money, friends, property, popularity, family, connections, insurance, and so on. We may not always think that any of these forms the basis of our security, but our actions or feelings may tell us otherwise. When we start losing our money, our friends, or our popularity, our anxiety often reveals how deeply our sense of security is rooted in these things.  A spiritual life is a life in which our security is based not in any created things, good as they may be, but in God, who is everlasting love. We probably will never be completely free from our attachment to the temporal world, but if we want to live in that world in a truly free way, we'd better not belong to it. ‘You cannot be the slave both of God and of money’ (Luke 16:13).”  Henri Nouwen

“I’ll never forget being prayed for by Ray, a friend whose world is one filled with material poverty, homelessness, setbacks and empty hands. Ray prayed strong and spontaneous – that I, the pastor of the big church from Nashville, Tennessee who writes books and has a blog and lives in a comfy house and has never been concerned about missing a meal and has always been able to pay his bills – would know the security of the Father’s care, the smile of the Father’s love, the freedom of the Father’s grace, the intimacy of the Father’s arms, the friendship of the Father’s family, and the abundance of the Father’s provision. Ray prayed as a man who, possessing close to nothing, possessed all things. He prayed as a man with empty hands but a full heart. He prayed as a man with abundant gratitude, as if he had a secret treasure stored up in a world that I had only heard and talked about, but perhaps had not yet seen.  In that moment, I began to wonder which of us was really living large and which was living in scarcity. I began to wonder which of us was running with two legs and which of us was running with one. I began to wonder which of us was carrying the aces and which of us was carrying an empty hand.  As Luther aptly said, ‘We are all beggars, this is true.’”  Scott Sauls

HEART SAVOR

·         Money itself is not inherently evil rather the insatiable lust for more of it is.  That’s called greed. 

·         God richly provides us for everything for our enjoyment yet we are to balance this with not living self-indulgent lives, being willing to share with those in need.  It’s all His and we are going to one day be accountable stewards for what He has entrusted to our lives.  This, of course, includes more than money.  It is our time, possessions and all gifts He has given us.  Remember, as well, we can be poor and still greedy with our gifts.  God loves a cheerful giver.

·         My hope is in Jesus not in my possessions.

Don't Be Troubled Psalms 34:17-19 John 14:1-4 John 14:27 John 16:33 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 2 Corinthians 4:16-19 Philippians 4:4-7 Ephesians 2:14 10.20.17

DON’T BE TROUBLED

BREAD

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.   Psalms 34:17-19 (NIV)

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”   John 14:1-4 (NIV)

27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”   John 14:27 (NIV)

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”   John 16:33 (NIV)

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.   2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV)

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.   2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

14 For he himself is our peace.  Ephesians 2:14 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Anticipation of trouble makes trifles appear unduly large, and the troubles that never come make up an imagined burden that will crush the spirit.  They are haunting specters, as unsubstantial as a bad dream, and we spend the strength that should be expended in constructive work and services in fighting problems that do not even exist.”  Billy Graham

“‘Dost thou want nothing, O poor soul?  Hast thou nothing to ask?  Oh yes!  You say, a great deal.  Well then, draw near to thy gracious King and Bridegroom without fear.  Lo!  He holds out His golden scepter to thee, saying, ‘Only ask:  not the half, but the whole of My kingdom shall be granted; nay, I will give myself unto thee!’  O dear soul, pray, and tell Him everything that is wanting, be it ever so great or ever so small.  His loving-kindness will hear even the least petition; nay, He will seem to be ignorant of what thou dost not tell Him.  But whatever is poured out before Him is actually addressed and lodged in its proper place, and does not lie upon thy heart any longer, but upon His heart, which cannot rest till you are relieved.  And if you have experienced His help aforetime in great or small things, you may depend on His readiness to help you out of troubles hereafter; only be earnest in prayer for His help.  We often imagine we were willing and drawing near to Him, but He was unwilling, and refused our request; but it is not so:  He rather draws us, and desires our relief more than we do; for it is He that works even this willing mind.”     K.H. Von Bogatzky

“In believing prayer, we learn to connect our present troubles to the good and perfect will of God.  We refuse to believe that chance rules our lives.  We withstand the temptation to imagine that God is capricious or malicious.  We know he has a higher purpose and that he is not dealing with us as our sins deserve.  As we bring our troubles to Jesus in prayer—asking his will to be done—we approve the will of our Father in heaven. We see our sufferings in the greater reality of his good, acceptable, and perfect will.  In prayer we ‘turn crisis to Christ.’  Our heart becomes tuned to his heart and we sing the song of grace.”   Ancient Prayer, John F. Smed 

“A fixed, constant attention to the promises, and a firm belief in them, would prevent solicitude and anxiety about the concerns of this life. It would keep the mind quiet and composed in every change, and support and keep up our sinking spirits under the several troubles of life….Christians deprive themselves of their most solid comforts by their unbelief and forgetfulness of God’s promises.  For there is no extremity so great but there are promises suitable to it, and abundantly sufficient for our relief in it.”   Samuel Clarke

“God will never permit any troubles to come upon us unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty.”   Peter Marshall

“This God is no stranger to the hard road. This God walked the hardest road for us. And whatever road we’re walking one now—then somehow, someway—that road is good. There’s not just breadcrumbs of good for you on it; the road itself is good… In this hard, He is doing something holy. He is doing something transformative. Even as our hearts rage. Even as they break….This upside down road, where His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), where troubles are an opportunity for great joy (James 1:2) because troubles usher us into His presence, and in His presence, there is fullness of joy. (Psalms 16:11).  This is Who.  A God who does not forsake. A God who is not cruel. A God who is not stingy with grace.  Not a sparrow falls outside of His care.  When we find ourselves walking through a dry and weary land where there is no water, shaking our fists at why…Fix the eyes on this God.  Remember and rest in Who.  Maybe comfort isn’t found so much when we ask ‘Why is this all unfolding here and now?’ — Maybe comfort is found more when we rest in Who is enfolding us all here and now.”  Katie Ganshert 

“Seriously, who wants to be known as ‘Shallow Hal’?  Yet sadly, many who claim faith in Christ fall into the mile wide and an inch-deep category.  This is not of God’s choosing.  He desires for us to grow up in Christ – to be conformed to the image of his Son – and He often uses our tribulations to bring this about.  That is His chosen instrument.  Sometimes this is excruciatingly painful – more often than not.  Remember as well, in this fallen and broken world, pain comes to all.  There are no exceptions.  But as believers our pain has purpose.  Pain is also relative as you most likely know.  A coffee stain on a white skirt can be as devastating to some as a bad diagnosis – go figure…If tribulation, then, is inevitable should we not prayerfully seek the purpose for it and grow up, look up, or grow nearer, if you will, in Christ?  As believers, we are never more like our Savior as when we walk the path of suffering and sacrifice.  And whether we are discerners of this or not the more like Christ we are the more satisfied we will be.  Remember, too, God’s grace is always sufficient to meet every need.  Every. Need.”  BHY

“He’s making good out of even the bad days.  And God’s good plans are bigger than any of your messes, your regrets, your bad mistakes.  Lord, Thank You:  I am not the mistakes I have made.  I am not the plans I have failed.  I am not the wrongs I have done.  I am not forgotten.  I am not abandoned.  I am not alone. Because You say to the lost: Come. You say to the Unlikely: Beloved.  You say to the Battle Weary: Rest.  In a hard and beautiful world, Your grace is the only pillowed relief for my tired soul to rest in You this week — making all things new.  And all the brave heaved relief & smiled their Amen.”    Anonymous

HEART SAVOR

·         Jesus has told us not to let our heats be troubled rather lean into Him Who desires to make the hard holy.

·         The peace He bestows is so other worldly – it passes human understanding – even in the greatest trials.

·         I am not to be anxious about anything rather pray about everything.  In all my ways acknowledge Him and He will make my path straight.

Be Diligent In Such As These Deuteronomy 6:4-12 2 Timothy 2:15 1 Thessalonians 2:2-4 Romans 12:1-2 1 Timothy 4:16 1 John 2:3-6 1 John 5:2-5 1 John 5:21 Jude 1:22-23 10.13.17

BE DILIGENT IN SUCH AS THESE

BREAD

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 10 When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you--a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant--then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.   Deuteronomy 6:4-12 (NIV)

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.   2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.   1 Thessalonians 2:2-4 (NIV)

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.   Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.   1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)

3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.   1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)

2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.   1 John 5:2-5 (NIV)

21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.   1 John 5:21 (NIV)

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.   Jude 1:22-23 (NIV)

BUTTER

“The way to do a great deal is to keep on doing a little. The way to do nothing at all is to be continually resolving that you will do everything.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

“The best protection against Satan’s lies is to know God’s truth.”  Anonymous

“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.”   Charles Spurgeon

“My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness.”   Robert Murray M’Cheyne

“When the goodness of Christ and the character of Christ and the Word of Christ are evident in the church, people in the world will be drawn to Him.  This is why we guard the Truth so people will be saved by it.   This is why we live with purity so people see the difference Christ makes.  This is why we train for godliness so people see in us the majesty of Christ.  May everything we do draw people to our great Savior.”   David Platt

“Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.”  Charles Spurgeon

“It is all too plainly apparent men are willing to forego the old for the sake of the new.  But commonly it is found in theology that that which is true is not new, and that which is new is not true.”    Robert Shindler

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.”   G. K. Chesterton

“What does it matter what people think of you when you know that you’re known by God?  Let people have their bloated opinions — take God’s bottom-line approval any old day.”  Ann Voskamp

“Yet our faith did not waver.  In much weakness we were going to undertake a stupendous task – not in our own strength but in His, who when He commanded His disciples to ‘go and make disciples of all the nations,’ also promised ‘Lo, I am with you all the days, even unto the end of the world.’”   Dr. Susanna Carson Rijnhart

“Much of the Christian life rests upon our response and our desire to experience God to the fullest. Don’t become satisfied with a relationship with God that is broken by sin and void of the power of the Holy Spirit. You have just as much of God’s powerful presence available to you as the greatest saint in Christian history!”   Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby

“God promises victory to those who endure, so He gives us enough strength – usually just enough so faith is still required – to keep us going.  He wants us to succeed and not give up.  In the walk of faith, we can’t afford to doubt, worry, fear, or complain – the very symptoms that kept a generation of Israelites out of their Promised Land.  All of these attitudes severely undermine God’s work on our behalf, not because He can’t do whatever He wants but because He has chosen to relate to us on the basis of our faith.  Negative attitudes and words undermine faith.  They devalue the very currency we have to use in God’s Kingdom.  Wherever God’s voice and your faith are leading you, do not be afraid or dismayed.”   Chris Tiegreen

“Give me a stout heart to bear my own burdens.  Give me a willing heart to bear the burdens of others.  Give me a believing heart to cast all burdens upon Thee, O Lord.”   John Baillie

HEART SAVOR

·       It is important for me to live a life worthy of the Lord – seeking to please Him in all that I do.

·       Jesus gave all for me how much more so should I for Him – through His power for His glory.

·       I am to watch my life and doctrine closely.