Reflection: Done: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How clearly do we understand that God has condemned and conquered sin?

2.     Do we accept it daily in our personal lives? Why or why not?

3.     What can acceptance look like in practical action?

4.     Are we willing to let go of our own methods and trust His?

Share: How has His gift given you the ability to stand firm in battle this week?

Done: Listen: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Romans 8:3

“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.”

How many times have we become discouraged over our attitudes and actions, towards ourselves and others knowing they are not acceptable or kind or caring? Plus these daily struggles may not even come close to acknowledging the even deeper sins we keep buried from our own sight.

Even when we honestly take on the battles we recognize Psalm 127:1 reminds us that, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”

Yet how often do we trudge along on our own solutions expecting ongoing success? We may well win long and often and yet, since we cannot eradicate them, our sins continue to hibernate and wait for the opportunity to strike again.

And those are the ones we admit and recognize. How deep do our secret ones go—especially the ones we have never encountered.

No matter how many rules and intentions we set for ourselves they are useless apart from His condemnation of sin. We will still be in a battle but now we know there is true victory and relief in sight. Even if we experience external loss as a result, our hearts and souls belong to Christ. He enables us to stand firm.

All our brokenness can be brought into healing light. We are no longer left helpless. He lifts us up out of sin’s grasp into new life.

Lord, by Your power, please enable us to stand firm in Your truth and face our sin with boldness, especially in our weaknesses.

Psalm of Worship: Proverbs 8:2

“On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;”

Deceit: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 2 Timothy 4: 3-4

“For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.”

We are not really surprised by this verse when we consider today’s culture. Sadly.

Publicly between advertisements, politics, and social media it is almost impossible to hear truth spoken. Partial truths, perhaps, innuendo certainly, but honest truth is too rare. And when it is shared opponents have a way of vilifying and shredding the integrity behind it.

Historically our churches at large too often fall into the power lure as well and preach only partial scripture, or consider only limited ways in which the precept should be applied. And through the centuries the legalism and control have wounded countless believers.

The Jewish leadership took God’s Ten Commandments and by Jesus’ time had added over 600 addendums to it, putting a terrible weight on the people struggling to uphold the law. And the leadership was not pleased when Jesus kept poking holes in their religiosity.

In Acts 17:11, Paul encouraged the Bereans in their integrity because when they heard the gospel they went directly to the scriptures to certify its truth. In its whole passage. Not just filtered excerpts. And here in Timothy the warning continues.

Not only do we have scripture but the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us. We have a responsibility to recognize deceit in all the areas of our lives so that we can stand firm in truth that heals and restores, unifies and uplifts, embraces and shares together. Not to pursue or ignore self-centered doctrine that pretends to be truth.

Lord, please give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to follow Your words, Your way.

Psalm of Worship: 1 John 1:2

“This life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.

Stand Firm: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

           Stand Firm

            Because

            He is present

            kingdom readied

            take seriously command.

            Proclaim

            message in all circumstances

            with patience

            knowing of judgment.

            Persistent

            with compassion

            convince, rebuke, encourage

            life eternal.

Reflection: Persist: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How do you stand firm in truth in times of battle?

2.     What do you think can be at stake in our souls even in what might be considered minor skirmishes?

3.     What kind of setbacks have you had to struggle with?

Share: How did His message give you courage to stand firm?

Persist: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-2

“In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable, convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.”

There are many situations in our lives that we come to recognize as an end. Perhaps a relationship, or a job, or a goal, or a hope, or a question. Opportunities have dissolved. And, as if in a battle, weariness, discouragement, and doubt invade our hearts and souls. We often quit trying in all areas of our life and not just the one where we have been disappointed.

That is not an option, Timothy reminds us, where God’s message is to be spoken—shared—sustained—with or without words.

Solving a solution or seeing results is not the measure. Faithful persistence is. Especially in times of setbacks and failure. When we most need to trust in His truth and His word. Which never fails even when we cannot see, and may never see, the outcome.

His word that we all need in all circumstances because if we don’t stand firm we lose any hope of strength. The damage goes deeper than the surface and erodes compassion in our hearts. Building more walls. Burying truth instead of sharing it.

He stands for us. We only need to ask.

Lord, please give us Your strength to persist in all situations and stand firm in battles that try to separate us from Your grace and truth. May Your message hold us up together, with each other and with You.

Psalm of Worship: 1 John 1:1

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“We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with out eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.”

Stand: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Stand

            Weakness turns into strength

            only when acknowledged,

            released into promised

            power.

            Stand firm in promise

            of strength that endures

            relinquish  self-hold, enter

            purpose.

            Whole armor

            not just bits and pieces

            that we choose

            leaving us vulnerable

            easy targets for

            lies and treachery

            to confuse our actions.

            Seek God’s armor

            not our own replicas

            based on misconceptions

            that block His voice

            and hinder our understanding

            instead accept His cover

            then stand firm.

Reflection: Armor: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you automatically seek God’s strength first or do you try to stand on your own before you seek His power?

2.     What difference can seeking His armor first make in conflict?

3.     What specific ‘wiles’ break down your trust or security in God’s offered protection

Share: What weakness do you need to acknowledge right now?

Armor: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Ephesians 6:10-11

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Have you ever resisted valid common sense advice from a trusted friend? Why? Perhaps because we don’t want to seem vulnerable? I know I have, and then later wondered why—especially when I knew they were being both accurate and caring.

Maybe it is difficult to admit our weaknesses and acknowledge that there are ‘wiles’ that lead us into bad decisions with negative consequences.  Or into outright blatant sin.

Then, when we try to manufacture our own self-protection and fail, we become disappointed in God. Yet He alone knows all the details all the time. He is the only one that can identify the battle we are up against. And His armor is the only solid protection.

Because often the battle is not just what we are facing outwardly but goes even deeper into our heart and soul.  

When Jesus was weak with hunger and isolation the devil offered Him wealth and power and prestige. (Luke 4) But with each temptation lured before Him, Jesus stood on scripture and God’s character to respond. “It is written…serve only him…do not…were His armor for that particular battle.

And God extends His armor to us as well, so that we never need to be alone or without His strength to enable us to stand.

Lord, you have given each of us Your means to stand firm in You alone. May we accept all Your gifts of armor and not just pick and choose in our limited understanding.

Psalm of Worship: Isaiah 55:5

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“See, you shall call the nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you. Because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.”