Out of Satan’s darkness, into the light of the Lord ..

Praying Through God's Word

How do we get from this – “Lord, you are the God who saves me” (Psalm 88:1) – to this – “darkness is my closest friend” (Psalm 88:18)? – “An enemy has done this” (Matthew 13:28).

God’s people are under constant attack – from Satan, the enemy of God and his people. Satan is a determined enemy.

How are we raised from the “darkness” of Psalm 88:18? How are brought into the assurance of salvation of Psalm 88:1?

We must remind Satan that he’s, also, a defeated enemy. We do not claim that, by ourselves, we are able to triumph over Satan. We direct Satan’s attention to Jesus Christ,  our Saviour and Lord. We remind Satan that Jesus “loved us and gave himself for us” (Galatians 2:20). We remind Satan that “we are  more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Satan will attack us, again and…

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A great God, a great love, a great gift, a great future

Praying Through God's Word

‘May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say,  “The Lord is great!”‘ (Psalm 70:4).

God is great. He loves us with the greatest love of all. He’s given us the greatest gift of all – his Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour. He’s given us a great future – “everlasting life” (John 3:16).

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Ye gates, lift up your heads on high …

Praying Through God's Word

“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. ⁸ Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. ⁹ Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. ¹⁰ Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty — he is the King of glory..  Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. ⁹ Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. ¹⁰ Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty — he is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:7-10).

Read the words from Psalm 24 – and sing them!

Ye gates, lift up your heads on…

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He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire …

Praying Through God's Word

“The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. ¹⁶ John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” ¹⁸ And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them” (Luke 3:15-18).

John was a great man. Jesus is more than a great man. He’s our great Saviour. People were blessed through the preaching of John. How much more blessing comes to us through Jesus, our Saviour!

John was a faithful and…

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Rejoice in the Lord always …

Praying Through God's Word

“Rejoice in the Lord always, and, again, I say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

What can I say about these words from Paul – Sing them!

Here’s a link to the song, “Rejoice in the Lord always”.

youtube.com/watch?v=hzyckxqXoZ4

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No one except Jesus …

Praying Through God's Word

“When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus” (Matthew 17:8).

Moses and Elijah had disappeared from view. The law and the prophets had done what they were intended to do. They pointed beyond themselves to Jesus, the Saviour.

“As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” ¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” ¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist”…

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Grace has brought me safe thus far, grace will lead me home …

Praying Through God's Word

“In your steadfast love, you led the people whom you redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling” (Exodus 15:13).

We look back to what the Lord has done for us, We look forward to what he will do for us. He has redeemed us. He will redeem us. Look back, and you see his love. Look forward, and you see his love. “‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home” (from the hymn, Amazing grace).

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