AUGUST 31

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

ICor 10:13

“God is faithful, who will not let you be tried above what you are able but will…make a way of escape, that you will be able to bear it.”

IICor. 2:14

“Now, thanks be to God Who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses (manifests) the fragrance of His knowledge in EVERY PLACE.”

Philippians 1:6                                                                                   

“Being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Ephes. 1:3

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

******* *******    

          This month we will continue the book, “Whatever Happens – How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart.”  By a contemporary author of many best-selling Christian books, Robert J. Morgan.  He took care of his wife when she had MS, until she went home to her Savior.  “He knows of which he speaks.”  I pray that this book blesses you. 

Philippians 4:21-23

“21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.  23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

WHATEVER HAPPENS…………BEGIN AND END EVERYTHING WITH PRAYER AND PRAISE

Years ago I was speaking at the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove in Asheville North Carolina.  Cliff Barrows approached me and asked about my subject.  I told him I was going to speak from Psalm 92.  Cliff immediately began quoting it from the Living Bible.  He quoted the entire psalm word for word.

I can still hear his friendly, lilting voice as he began, “it is good to say thank you to the Lord, to sing praises to the God who is above all gods.  Every morning tell Him, “Thank you for your kindness” and every evening rejoice in His faithfulness.”

We should begin and end our lives with praise and prayer – every day we live, everything we do, every trip we take, every burden we bear.  When we wrap up everything with prayer and praise, it’s less likely to come unraveled.  Let us thank Him for His kindness and rejoice in all His faithfulness.

The ending of the letter to the Philippians brings the epistle full circle, concluding with Paul’s final greetings and benediction.  He opened with prayer in chapter 1, and he ends that way with this final paragraph: (Philippians 4:21-23 ~ ~ our verse above):

“21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.  23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

Paul’s mention of Caesar’s household was undoubtedly intended to encourage the Philippians that people within Nero’s own circle were being converted.  The word “household” here isn’t necessarily limited to his family;  it would include his staff of servants and even his bodyguard, the Pretorian guard that had been guarding Paul.  He was telling them that despite his imprisonment and regardless of the persecution that was taking place, the gospel was expanding.

He then concluded his book with the benediction: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

As I mentioned earlier, as a senior pastor, I loved being able to pray the benediction over my congregation at the end of our Lord’s Day services.  This is a Biblical technique, going all the way back to the priestly benediction of Numbers Chapter 6.

Throughout the Bible, benedictions were used to summarize how God wanted to bless His people.  Finding the benediction of the Bible, using them in worship services, and praying them for yourself and others is at the heart of developing an effective pattern of prayer.

There is a question whether benedictions are prayers or pronouncements.  Liturgists have debated this question for ages.  Am I praying the benediction  or pronouncing it? 

I call it a very special species of prayer.  Pronouncing a benediction over His disciples was our Lord’s last action as He was ascending to heaven (Luke 24:50-53).  I encourage you to search out and use the benedictions of the Bible as you pray for your children, grandchildren, spouse, friends, and family and any others whom the Lord brings to your mind.

Begin and end everything that you do – and every day you live – with prayer and praise.

And to you, I say:

“the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Amen.”

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord