Category Archives: prayer

Endurance

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Something I have struggled with all my life. Ever since I was a kid I knew that whenever things got tough, I could always quit. I retired multiple times from the youth soccer league.

Even now, when things are tough, I take a break. When things are not going my way, I take a break. What is it that God desires of me?

This is an excerpt from an article describing the roots of endurance is Spiritual. Maybe I had it all wrong. Endurance is not just a physical or emotional, but needs the focus on the Spirit of God.

Christians recognize that this is impossible, even with inspiring examples to point the way. The endurance needed to accomplish these tasks is supernatural in origin–it happens only through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Powerful Spiritual Weapons to Battle the Forces Attacking Young Adults

The emerging generation needs to understand that endurance is not rooted in a compelling vision/mission statement, or a well-defined goal, or a spiffy resume, or flawless communication skills. All of these things have merit, but aimlessness is first and foremost a spiritual problem, not a logistical problem.

Christians must clearly understand what John Piper articulates in The Roots of Endurance:

Our fight and our race and endurance is a radically God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-dependent, promise-supported life. It is not a ‘just do it’ ethic. It is not a moral self-improvement program…. It is a deeply cross-embracing life that knows the Christ of the Bible as the Son of God who was crucified first as our substitute and then as our model of endurance. (p. 29)

If you’re concerned about those who are having a hard time getting a sense of direction, consider engaging spiritually on their behalf through prayer, as the Apostle Paul did for his disciples:

- Pray that the Holy Spirit will help them in their weakness (Romans 8:26, Ephesians 3:16)
- Pray that they will not do what is wrong, but will do what is right (2 Corinthians 13:7)
- Pray that the eyes of their heart will be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18)
- Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for them (2 Timothy 1:3)
- Pray that they may increase in knowledge and depth of insight (Philippians 1:9, Colossians 1:9)
- Pray that they will be able to avoid anxiety but turn their concerns over to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6)
- Pray that they will live a life worthy of the calling they have received (Ephesians 4:1)
- Pray that God will fulfill their every good purpose and that the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in them (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)
- Pray that they will be active in sharing their faith (Philemon 1:6)

If the problem is spiritual, then only spiritual weapons can fight it. So keep praying. As John Bunyan said, “Pray often; for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.”

Return to the reformed tradition

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After finishing this semester in my intro to pastoral and theological studies, I am amazed at how far the church has come in terms of maturing in her faith.  I am also aware of how far we still need to go.  We have to grow in our understanding and application of the word of God.  The five points, five solas, the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, biblical theology, systematic theology, practical theology, etc…  All theology is practical, meaning that unless we apply it, we don’t truly grasp the full meaning of what we learned.

I’m learning that having a great understanding of the things of God means loving my neighbor as myself, means trusting God when it hurts, means reflecting the glory of God to a dark and sinful world.  Reformed theology is historical Christian tradition.  It is the pure religion that was taught by Jesus, it is the apostolic teaching, it is the teaching of the saints throughout the ages.  It’s not that it has changed, it has matured over the ages… it has been refined and focused by the person of Jesus Christ into a sharp laser that points towards that time when we will worship before the throne of God… with Him seated on the throne and high and lifted up… and us laid low by his glory.

Oh, what a tradition we have.  Oh, what a great God we serve. 

My prayer is that God will continually remind us of his greatness.  Remind us that it is His glory that we see… In times of suffering like that of Myanmar and Chengdu China, it is God who is our refuge and our comfort and our provider and our savior.  Lord that we may remember you.  In times of prosperity, like what we experience here in the U.S. may we not forget our Lord.  May we not forget you.  Help us.  Help us to worship you.  help us to know you and delight in you.  Lord help us!

Reformed Chinese Open statement

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International Fellowship of Chinese Reformed Evangelicals in North America open statement

Interesting statement made by the world’s renowned chinese reformed theologians and supporters. I’m still fairly new to this constantly growing community, but it’s good to see the growing desire of chinese to learn theology and doctrines.

Lord, unite us all in word and deed. Help us to live with true doctrines and theology.

to live is Christ and to die is gain…

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i have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer i who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which i now live in the flesh i live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me — galatians 2:20

but may it never be that i would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and i to the world — galatians 6:14

if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. what good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? — luke 9:23-25

he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his woulds we are healed. — isaiah 53:5

greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends — john 15:13

when Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. — dietrich bonhoeffer

true fasting

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read this a couple weeks back, but everytime i open my bible, God brings me back to this passage… will wait and see why… isaiah 58:3-12…

‘why have we fasted and You do not see? why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’

behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers.

“behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist you do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.

“is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? is it for bowing one’s head like a reed and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD?

“is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?

“is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

“then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

“then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry, and He will say, “here I am ‘ if you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.

“and the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones;
and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

“those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

a warrior for christ

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life is war. spiritual warfare is a reality.

ephesians 6 says this battle is not against flesh and blood. it is against principalities and the powers of this dark world.

stand firm. put on the full armor of God. Lord. equip us so that we may stand against the devil’s schemes. his many schemes.

belt of truth. breastplate of righteousness. sandals fitted with the gospel. shield of faith. helmet of salvation. and the sword of the Spirit. prayer. Lord teach us how to use every part of the armor. that we may defend and fight for you and your kingdom.

Spiritual Gifts

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Been researching spiritual gifts. God gifts individuals with different gifts to build the body. His purpose is for His own glory and not the glory of the person or the gift. Immature Christians (me) tend to get puffed up and arrogant when we have a gift. So many times we are so concerned with how we ‘look’ that we end up not giving the glory to the Giver. We either use it for ourselves or on ourselves, that we neglect the original purpose of building up the body and glorifying the Giver.

Lord, that my heart will be one with you. What you love, I will love… what breaks your heart, will break my heart.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. if I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3