Daily Prayer_December 17, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 30:10 (HCSB)
¹⁰ Don't slander a servant to his master or he will curse you, and you will become guilty.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 137:4-5 (HCSB)
⁴ How can we sing the LORD's song on foreign soil?
⁵ If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget [its skill].

The Word of God for encouragement:

Revelation 2:18-29 (HCSB)
¹⁸ "Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: "The Son of God, the One whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze, says:
¹⁹ I know your works—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Your last works are greater than the first.
²⁰ But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives My slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols.
²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.
²² Look! I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her practices.
²³ I will kill her children with the plague. Then all the churches will know that I am the One who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
²⁴ I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven't known the deep things of Satan—as they say—I do not put any other burden on you.
²⁵ But hold on to what you have until I come.
²⁶ The one who is victorious and keeps My works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations—
²⁷ and he will shepherd them with an iron scepter; he will shatter them like pottery— just as I have received [this] from My Father.
²⁸ I will also give him the morning star.
²⁹ "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

My observation:

The message to the church in Thyatira describes Christ as, "The One whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze".

Jesus commends this church for their growing love that in evident by deeds of service.  They looked pretty good in verse 19. But, Jesus rebuked them for lacking discernment and for tolerating heresy.

The way out for them is this, for the faithful, "Hold on until Jesus comes". For the unfaithful; repent, and hold on until Jesus comes.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that in these last days that you will look down from your throne in heaven and see an army of faithful saints who are holding to the truth.

Father, I plead that the faithful and the unfaithful will listen to what Jesus is saying to the church.  In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_December 16, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 30:5 (HCSB)
⁵ Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 136:1 (HCSB)
¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His love is eternal.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Revelation 2:12-17 (HCSB)
¹² "Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: "The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword says:
¹³ I know where you live—where Satan's throne is! And you are holding on to My name and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness who was killed among you, where Satan lives.
¹⁴ But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
¹⁵ In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
¹⁶ Therefore repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
¹⁷ "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

My observation:

Today we examine the church in Pergamum. Christ is "The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword". You do well to listen to what he has to say because He can discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (HCSB)
¹² For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.

Notice the commendation; they were holding fast to Christ's name, and not denying their faith. But, notice the rebuke for tolerating false teachers. The truth matters.

The remedy for the rebuke is to repent.

Revelation 2:16 (HCSB)
¹⁶ Therefore repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, our lives are an open book that you are able to read and know the thoughts and intents of our hearts.

Father God, by faith, I repent of anything that you see in me that is not pleasing in your eyes. Father, I plead the blood of Jesus, and I ask for grace to cover all my sins. I thank the Lord Jesus for paying my sin debt. I am forever grateful for the grace and mercy of my God. In Jesus name, Amen.

Psalm 51:7 (HCSB)
⁷ Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:9 (HCSB)
⁹ Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.

 

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_December 14, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 30:4 (HCSB)
⁴ Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son— if you know?

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 134:2 (HCSB)
² Lift up your hands in the holy place and praise the LORD!

The Word of God for encouragement:

Revelation 2:8-11 (HCSB)
⁸ "Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: "The First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life, says:
⁹ I know your affliction and poverty, yet you are rich. [I know] the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
¹⁰ Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
¹¹ "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.

My observation:

To this church Jesus is described as, "The First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life". Notice that Jesus did not have a word of rebuke for this church.

The church in Smyrna was a persecuted people. This church provides hope for any church or people that are facing persecution because of their faith in Christ, and the proclamation of the gospel of Christ. This is the hope; even in a chaotic world, the servant of God can find a place of peace, and have joy in the midst of hard circumstances.

This is the choice verse:

Revelation 2:10 (HCSB)
¹⁰ Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank you for the peace that you give to calm our fearful hearts. Father, I thank you that the risen Christ is the source of our peace in the midst of the storms of life.

Lord, I thank you that no matter what we are going through in this world we can still find a place of quiet rest, and in that place, we can rejoice in the Lord.

Father, in every circumstance I encounter in this world, I ask you to help me to be faithful, and not fearful. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_December 13, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 29:26 (HCSB)
²⁶ Many seek a ruler's favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 133:1 (HCSB)
¹ How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

The Word of God for encouragement:

Revelation 2:1-7 (HCSB)
¹ "Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: "The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says:
² I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.
³ You also possess endurance and have tolerated [many things] because of My name and have not grown weary.
⁴ But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love [you had] at first.
⁵ Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
⁶ Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
⁷ "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in God's paradise.

My observation:

Today we begin our reading of what Jesus has to say to the seven churches of Asia; which I remind you are a message to the churches of every age. You will note that he has something good, and something bad to say about each church. The key phrase is this, "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches".

This is one thing I heard loud and clear; "You have abandoned the love {you had} at first". This is a strong warning that nothing we do for God is a substitute for loving God. The Apostle John knew what kind of love the Spirit was talking about. Love and obedience are inseparable.

1 John 5:2 (HCSB)
² This is how we know that we love God's children when we love God and obey His commands.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you would help your people to love you with their whole heart.

Father God, help us to remember that no amount of sacrifice or service is enough to compensate for abandoning our love for God. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_December 12, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 29:25 (HCSB)
²⁵ The fear of man is a snare, but the one who trusts in the LORD is protected.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 132:7 (HCSB)
⁷ Let us go to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Revelation 1:18 (KJV)
¹⁸ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Revelation 1:18 (HCSB)
¹⁸ and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.

My observation:

Today our focus is on one verse in Revelation chapter one. In the book of Revelation, Jesus has many names; one of those names is the Living One.

I am so thankful that we serve a God who is alive. I like that song that we sing in the church, "He Lives"; another song that blesses my soul is, "Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow".

Jesus, the Living One, has conquered death. We who know Jesus as Savior never have to fear the future because of what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary. Moreover, what he did on the third day after they laid him in the grave, seals the deal. Death has been defeated. Because Jesus lives forever, we shall live forever. You can endure anything if you remember this promise.

Revelation 21:4 (HCSB)
⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, our cup of blessing is overflowing, and we are just at the first of twenty-two chapters in our reading of Revelation. Father, truly you are a God who is great and gracious to your people.

Father God, I thank you that the dearest people in my life; my father, mother, grandmother, and wife; are now enjoying a life free of pain, and filled with praise. I am so thankful that so many family and friends of over 70 years are now enjoying perfect peace. Father, you are worthy of our highest praise. We thank you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_December 11, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 29:23 (HCSB)
²³ A person's pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 131:1-2 (HCSB)
¹ LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved with things too great or too difficult for me.
² Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself like a little weaned child with its mother; I am like a little child.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Revelation 1:9-18 (HCSB)
⁹ I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God's word and the testimony about Jesus.
¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet
¹¹ saying, "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."
¹² I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands,
¹³ and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest.
¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool—white as snow—and His eyes like a fiery flame.
¹⁵ His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters.
¹⁶ He had seven stars in His right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth, and His face was shining like the sun at midday.
¹⁷ When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last,
¹⁸ and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.

My observation:

There are two pictures that are stuck in my head from the reading of this passage. One is the picture of John, and the other is the picture of Jesus.

We find that John was on the island of Patmos.  He was not there for pleasure but because of persecution. It is comforting to know that God is with us in our pleasure and in our pain. When you face difficult circumstances, remember that you are not alone. Like John, you can be in the Spirit everyday because God is the Maker of them all. Look up and rejoice in the Lord.

The other picture I see is of Jesus. Reading the book of Revelation will challenge your mental picture of Jesus. Notice the picture of his white hair; it represents his wisdom, and his divine nature (Rev 1:14). See also this from Daniel.

Daniel 7:9 (HCSB)
⁹ "As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of His head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, in this Christmas season, I ask that you help us to see Jesus through the eyes of John as we read through Revelation. Father, keep us close to you, and in the Spirit of God every day. Lord, I thank you for my blessings every day. In Jesus name, Amen.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Prayer_December 10, 2012

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 29:21-22 (HCSB)
²¹ A slave pampered from his youth will become arrogant later on.
²² An angry man stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered man increases rebellion.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
³ Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Revelation 1:4-6 (HCSB)
⁴ John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is coming; from the seven spirits before His throne;
⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood,
⁶ and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—the glory and dominion are His forever and ever. Amen.

My observation:

In these opening remarks John's greeting includes the triune God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This month as we celebrate the birth of Jesus we should not lose sight of the reason why he came to the earth.

He came for a purpose, and he fulfilled his purpose at Calvary. He came in a cradle, but his reason for coming was to give his life on an old rugged cross to set us free from our sins by the shedding of His blood.

Revelation 1:5 (HCSB)
⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood,

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so blessed when I read of how Jesus came into the world to rescue me from my sins. Father, I agree that I was a sinner who needed a Savior. Father, your word says all have sinned, and that includes me.

Romans 3:22-23 (HCSB)
^{22 b} since there is no distinction.
²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Father, I thank you for Jesus, the faithful witness. Father, help me by your power to be faithful in completing my God assigned purpose. In Jesus name, Amen.

Revelation 3:6 (HCSB)
⁶ "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

--

Psalm 130:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.
⁶ I ⌊wait⌋ for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning— more than watchmen for the morning.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/