JANUARY 17, 2012
| From Pastor Roger - Secret Prayers — by Lois Pecce. Copyright © 2012 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION © 1982.There is a passage of Scripture that conveys such hope and joy that it should be at the top of every parent, grandparent, teacher, pastor, and sibling's precious promises list. I'm talking about 1John 5:16. The whole of 1 John is a treasure, but my focus is this verse. "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that." Verse 17 explains, "All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death." The good news is that God does not give to any human the task of judgment. Not one of us can determine whether anyone has sinned the "unpardonable sin" of eternal rejection by God. What this text means to me is that I can lift my child, my grandchild, my brother, my sister, my friend, my spouse, (and myself) in prayer, claiming for them in Christ's name the gift of eternal life. Human Request I've heard it explained this way: When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, Satan claimed rulership of the earth and its inhabitants. One divine stipulation remained for humanity: free choice. Heavenly agents were restrained in their activity on earth and could only be summoned by a human request. Every believer in Christ, our Intercessor, is called to the ministry of intercessory prayer. It is the highest privilege and duty of a Christian. Oswald Chambers, in his book, My Utmost for His Highest, states that "Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying." (Ref. March 30 reading.) Jesus put it ever so simply: "Ask, and it will be given you…" (Matthew 7:7). These are not days to leave issues and loved ones to the "hands of fate." Temptations for all ages, especially youth, are innumerable and multiplying. This is a time, that with every thought of a loved one, our secret "closet" prayers claim their souls for Christ. | | What's happening: Jan. 25: Oregon Conference Town Hall/Lay Advisory Meeting SAVE THE DATE: Feb. 23, 7pm - Keepers of the Faith Quartet. PLAN AHEAD to invite your friends and neighbors. Check out our Concerts and Events page on the church website. THIS WEEK Tuesday, Jan. 17 |
