* Living Epistles

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are m3anifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 
2 Corinthians 3:2-3

 

 

This is the day that the Lord has made and allowed us to see!  And because it’s in God’s divine will for us to be here, because we know His will is good, it’s perfect and it’s acceptable, we should rejoice in that!  

I just want You to know on this day that Jesus is the very best thing that has ever happened to us!  He is our strength, our joy, our peace; the best of the best and I praise His holy name!

For 2 months, we’ve talked about the church; the body of Christ, the ecclesia, YOU in the world today.  By now, we should have the tenets of our faith solidified in our hearts so that we are not swayed by man nor the influences of the world. 

Then, we can focus on living the life that has been designed for us in God's word so that we become living epistles of that word; read by all that we come in contact with.  More than ever, the lost and unbelievers are falling further and further from God.  We are living in a world that is almost void of the truth and full of deception.  We know this, but we that have the truth down in us; that refuses to be swayed by Satan and his lies, by our lusts and temptations, and by the cares of this world - remember we are in the world but no longer of the world -  have an obligation to God to stand by His word, to proclaim it and to live it.  We will not waver, but we will stand whole hardly on the tenets of our faith.

 Apostle Paul shares this with us:  

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.  Titus 2:11-15

As the word tells us, verbal communication, is not the only way to teach; teaching by example is also a very effective method; let people see the Jesus in You.  

The word delivered by Apostle Paul also tells us 

 

 Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.  
Ephesians 6:10  

 

Learn how to say no to those things that are ungodly and by all means, bring our flesh under subjection to God’s will.  We already know that we have been delegated power and authority through Jesus Christ which allows us to not only work in the vineyard but also to fight in the battle under direction of God against Satan and his evil ways.  But we can’t do that effectively if we are not whole in God. 

Learn how to pray without ceasing.  Ask God to help you search yourself and try your ways, and when He brings it to light, turn to the Lord for help.  Learn to lift up your heart (present your heart) to God in the heaven and allow Him to mold, heal repair and restore it.  We are God’s instruments and He can’t use us in a defective state.  So let’s follow what Apostle Paul teaches us and live self-controlled, upright and godly lives.

So we want to ask God on this day for perseverance and strength to walk in the way that God would have us take.

Dear heavenly Father, we thank You this day for one more opportunity to come before You in prayer to lift Your holy name and to say thank You Lord for this day; for waking us up, for breathing the breathe of life in us.  We thank You Lord because we know that it is through You that we live, move and have our very being.  We thank You for that Lord.  We love You Lord, not for what You do or can do for us, but Lord, for who You are in all of Your magnificence, Lord in Your sovereignty – we thank You Lord.  Lord we worship You in the beauty of holiness; knowing that You are the creator of all; You caused the sun to shine and flung the stars across the universe, you created the seas and oceans and rivers all for Your glory to be revealed.  Lord You created us to be glory carriers for You.  

And now Lord we pray that You keep us, sustain us, protect us, watch over us and supply our every need as we go about fulfilling the purpose that You designed for our life.  Lord we need You; help us not to grow weary in our well-doing.  

You said to be strong and of good courage.  Help us Lord to encourage ourselves in You. And Lord, if we do grow faint, lead us to that place of safety in You; that secret place where we can hide in You.  Be our fortress and our shield in our time of trouble.  Build us up in You Lord so that we’re able to stand and withstand the evil day, the times of deception and temptation.  You are the solid rock Lord on which we should stand.   Help us Lord to delight ourselves in You; to keep our focus on You. 

Lord I pray that You decrease our unbelief and help us to wholly lean on You and the power we have through the name of Jesus and the blood He shed for us.  Increase our faith in You.   Help us to be faithful to believe in You at all times.

Lord, remember all of those that have lost loved ones.  Bring comfort and peace.  Lord, let Your healing virtue flow.  You tell us in your word,

. . . That Your compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.   The Lord is our portion, therefore will I hope in him.  The Lord is good unto them that waits for him, to the soul that seeketh him.  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.  Lamentations 3:3-25

Lord, we pray for healing in the name of Jesus; that You bind up everything that is not like You.  Lord give us shepherds after Your own heart to watch over our souls; to feed us and teach us Your word.  Lord we pray that You keep them, that You watch over them; that You keep them built up naturally as well as spiritually; that they prosper in their well-being even as their spirits prosper.  Lord, continue to have Your way in their life as well as ours.

Lord You tell us in Your word that Your grace is sufficient for us, that Your strength is made perfect in our weakness. And Lord because I believe in You, because I believe Your word, I can say through everything that we've been through, the hurt and the pain, frustration, stresses, losses, unemployment, weaknesses that You brought us through, we say thank You Lord. If it had not been for You . . . we thank You because we know that You are able. Lord You are all and everything we need. You are the supplier of all of our needs. Lord we know that You can make the impossible possible; we know that You can make a way out of no way.  At the end of the day, Lord, I can say thank You because I trust You Lord, I believe in Your word, I know that Your word is true and it is the only thing that’s going to last. 

We know and acknowledge that Your will is good, it is acceptable and it is perfect. So Lord we give You a yes on this morning, a yes to Your will, a yes to Your way and a yes to Your word. We declare obedience to Your word. Lord, we commit our lives to You for the purpose that You've uniquely designed in each of us. Above all Lord, we want to be good stewards of Your word and witnesses of Your gospel. Lord we want to follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see You. Bless Your holy name.

We give You all the honor, glory and praise and we ask all these things and we thank You for all things, in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

My final scripture for today:

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.  Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  

1 Peter 2:9-12

So, I say again, don’t let your light waver.  Let it shine in your actions, deeds and words.  

Be blessed and have a wonderful God-filled day!

AP  Candy

08/24/13

10/31/19

01/27/22