Beloved in the Lord, we are the Body of Christ.
In one Spirit we are all baptized, into one Body.
(Let us strive to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.)
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
(And also with you.)
Welcome to the Good News Aces, where
We come just as we are because, willingly, He chose us with all HIS heart, soul, mind and strength.
Communion – Stage Son – Declaration by the blood, healing comes forth, not only for our physical bodies but our families
Giving – Ate Kate – Mas maganda yung kwento natin. Jesus is now part of our story, we are now part of His story. His blood flows through our veins.
Work is escalating. Di pa ako kinukuha ni Lord. Kaya natin to.
Recap:
‘BILIB’ tayo kay Hesus
We’re focused this month and next month, on Christ-centered Living. You can divide that into two – ‘Christ-centered‘, implying we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and ‘Living‘ implying that we live a life of love – The world will know that we are Christ’s when we follow the new Commandment He gives us – to love one another as He loves us.
Another perspective to Christ-centered Living is seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22: 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
We rejoice always, because we are always saved. We rejoice, and again we rejoice because no matter what happens, our names are written in the book of Life. We are bold and confident to proclaim this, not because of our own righteousness, not because of our works, but because of Christ’s finished work and because of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Last week we talked about giving thanks in all circumstances. Granted, we can actually praise AND thank God always and in all circumstances BECAUSE of our salvation, but we also looked into how it was no coincidence that Christ gave thanks before feeding the five thousand, before calling Lazarus forth from the tomb, and before passing the bread and wine in the first Holy Communion.
Thankfulness precedes breakthroughs, revelations, and even our salvation. And it works the other way around. In breakthrough, in revelations, and when we remember our salvation, we could not help but give thanks.
Christ-centered Living is not without rejoicing, and in our rejoicing, we give thanks. Christ-centered Living is full of thanksgiving, and in our giving thanks, we rejoice.
Christ-centered Living is a life of natural praise, and consistent gratitude.
There was a bonus that came up as we went through Scripture was how compassion drives us beyond intimidation and inconvenience. Our God-given desire to help others trumps our own comfort. Just goes to show that the life we live in this world, as part of the body of Christ, is a life loving others, indeed, as Christ loves us.
In Prayer, We Remember Our Identity
(After the Feeding of the Five Thousand)
14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
John 6:14-21
The misunderstanding masses were about to take Him, but in response He withdrew ‘to the mountain by himself‘, just as He would go to a mountain and pray, as in Luke 6:12. One online commentator shared that He did this to communicate to Himself and to others of His identity – He was not a freedom fighter against Rome, but in the service of His Father, with whom He would communicate while alone in the mountain.
The disciples proceeded to cross the sea to Capernaum, while struggling against the wind and the sea, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. The same Christ who at one point was sleeping with them through the storm, was now walking in it.
He spoke to the storm, saying, ‘Peace, be still!‘
Here, He spoke to the disciples – “It is I; do not be afraid.”
The prayerful Christ retreated to the mountains to talk to His Father, and was refreshed – reminded, in His walking on water, of who He is – the Son of the living God, the Son of the Creator of the winds and the waves. As the Spirit hovered over the waters in Genesis 1:2, so the Christ walks confidently upon the chaos.
Some folks out there are saying this one line starting with from the river to the sea… We in the body of Christ say, ‘from the mountain to the sea, Jesus Christ has set us free.’
Oftentimes we’re told to ‘check our hearts’ before we take Holy Communion, and even before praying – We need to make sure that we’re in the right ‘mood’ or ‘mode’ before talking to God… but folks, it is through this Scripture that I am convinced that it is actually IN prayer that we are reminded of who we are. In prayer we are once again convicted by the Holy Spirit, of our right-standing with God.
We don’t pray to walk on water. We pray, and in the process we are comforted, knowing that the One who walked on water is with us.
In Prayer, We Focus On God’s Will
7 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. John 12:27-30
In verses 27-28, we read of how the troubled Christ could have easily cried out for help and rescue, but instead, He says before the people present with Him at the time, ‘Father, glorify your name‘. If you take this with Luke 22:42, we see a similar pattern:“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
This tells me that as we cry out to the Lord, we are not only reminded of our right-standing with God, but we are also brought to look beyond our toil and trouble, (1) looking to the glory of God and (2) trusting in His will.
In Prayer, We Minister To Others
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:40-43
Seeing these sets of Scripture, I am inclined to consider that, yes, we minister to others when we pray – but it’s not just when we actually pray for one another. While that is well and good, I’m led to believe, here, that when we pray for ourselves, and by ourselves, others are impacted.
You know how when you have friends who come from abroad, and they have this different glow to them? You know how some people are pleasantly, differently happy after a good conversation? I think that’s what I’m trying to get at here. Beyond the obvious, we minister to others when we pray, simply because when we intentionally spend time with the Lord, others will see it, and others will be encouraged.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
Prayer looks good on us. It’s like a garment that we wear that’s saying ‘God hears me. God cares for me. God loves me. God likes me.‘
The Holy Spirit – Our Peace And Power In Prayer
Is Prayer Passive or Active? By the Holy Spirit, it’s both.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
Prayer is passive in the sense that the Holy Spirit prays for us. We have peace, knowing that He prays for us at all times (passive).
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:13-15
Prayer is active in the sense that the Holy Spirit convicts the world, and declare truth to us. Remember what we talked about earlier? We pray, and we’re reminded of our identity, we’re aligned with God’s will, and we impact ourselves, and others. Here, I’m saying that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He speaks truth – coincidentally, our identity, God’s will, and Christ’s impact to us and the others.
The Holy Spirit speaks Truth to us, and we pray.
We are empowered to pray, because He speaks Truth to us (active).
Close in testifying:
Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Make it real.
In all things acknowledge the Lord, and He shall direct our steps. Prayer is our acknowledgement.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5-7
Prayer is both an action and a reaction.
The Holy Spirit continually speaks Truth to us, and we respond in thanks, praise, and prayer.
We thank God, we praise God, we pray – and the Holy Spirit works Truth in us.
I didn’t say this, but when we talk about our being Temples of the Holy Spirit, it makes more sense now. What happens in the temple? Sacrifices are being made for the forgiveness of sins, praises and thanks are being offered.
In our case, the Holy Spirit continually reminds us that one Sacrifice has already been offered, so we praise and thank God, and we pray!
‘How’s your prayer life?’
‘Brother, my whole life is a prayer’
I didn’t have time but I’d like to continue by sharing these two points next Sunday, on top of our recap:
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:11-12
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Consider praying Scripture.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14
In the absence of printed or visual Scripture, we always have Jesus Christ, the Living Word who gives Life to Scripture, and the Word of Life who gives us Scripture as we live Life.
Steve Rogers: Doctor Banner, now might be a good time for you to pray.
Bruce Banner: That’s my secret, Captain: I’m always praying.
262970/365000
JB's Personal Brain Defragmenter 
Leave a comment