But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. I Corinthians 15:20-26
Dear Lord,
Today I thank You for Your plan of salvation, foretold through the ages and still alive today. I thank You that even though our world was full of sin, You sent Your Son so that through man could come the resurrection of the dead. I thank You that in Christ all who have put their faith in You will be made alive. I give You praise and glory that the last enemy that will be abolished is death, and those who have been saved will not be separated from You. I thank You that You reign from Your throne in the heavens and that Jesus is at Your right hand. I thank You that because of Your grace, I have nothing to fear, not even death.
With gratefulness,
Amen.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
40 Days of Prayer: Day 25
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:11-12
Dear Lord my God,
I will give thanks to You forever for You have turned my mourning into dancing. I thank You for giving me Your joy that my soul can sing praise to You. Today I bring before You those who are mourning, and I ask that You would gird them with gladness and bring them to dancing. Lord, for those who are mourning who don't know You, I pray that Your Holy Spirit would work through their hurt and sadness and that through their mourning, they might come to know You as the great Comforter.
In Your Name,
Amen.
Dear Lord my God,
I will give thanks to You forever for You have turned my mourning into dancing. I thank You for giving me Your joy that my soul can sing praise to You. Today I bring before You those who are mourning, and I ask that You would gird them with gladness and bring them to dancing. Lord, for those who are mourning who don't know You, I pray that Your Holy Spirit would work through their hurt and sadness and that through their mourning, they might come to know You as the great Comforter.
In Your Name,
Amen.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
40 Days of Prayer: Day 24
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
Dear Jesus,
As I think about Your life here on earth there is one adjective that describes it perfectly: humility. Lord, I long to be like You in this way. Humble me Lord, and take away my pride. Show me how to be like You: selfless, kind, gentle and patient. I know that humility is not my strong suit, and I want to be like You. I thank You that You humbled Yourself and were obedient to the point of death, for my sake. Show me how to be selfless and fill me up with Your humility, that others will see You through me.
For Your Name,
Amen.
Dear Jesus,
As I think about Your life here on earth there is one adjective that describes it perfectly: humility. Lord, I long to be like You in this way. Humble me Lord, and take away my pride. Show me how to be like You: selfless, kind, gentle and patient. I know that humility is not my strong suit, and I want to be like You. I thank You that You humbled Yourself and were obedient to the point of death, for my sake. Show me how to be selfless and fill me up with Your humility, that others will see You through me.
For Your Name,
Amen.
Monday, April 4, 2011
40 Days of Prayer: Day 23
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Dear Lord,
Your word is so clear about where our trust belongs. Yet, sometimes I fall so short in trusting You and instead rely on myself. Lord, I praise You that You are the God who can be trusted. Give me grace to trust You more! I ask that You would guide me and move my spirit so that I would trust in You instead of leaning on my own understanding. My understanding is so limited! You've shown me over and over again that You are faithful; Lord, take away my insecurity and make me wholly reliant on You. I desire to put my trust only in You!
In Your Name,
Amen.
Dear Lord,
Your word is so clear about where our trust belongs. Yet, sometimes I fall so short in trusting You and instead rely on myself. Lord, I praise You that You are the God who can be trusted. Give me grace to trust You more! I ask that You would guide me and move my spirit so that I would trust in You instead of leaning on my own understanding. My understanding is so limited! You've shown me over and over again that You are faithful; Lord, take away my insecurity and make me wholly reliant on You. I desire to put my trust only in You!
In Your Name,
Amen.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Unveiled Christ (from the archives)
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20
The Unveiled Christ
Words by Noah B. Herrell
Once our blessed Christ of beauty
Was veiled off from human view;
But through suffering, death and sorrow
He has rent the veil in two.
Refrain
O behold the Man of Sorrows,
O behold Him in plain view;
Lo! He is the mighty Conqueror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
Lo! He is the mighty Conqueror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
Now He is with God the Father,
Interceding there for you;
For He is the mighty conqueror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
Holy angels bow before Him,
Men of earth give praises due;
For He is the well beloved
Since He rent the veil in two.
Throughout time and endless ages,
Heights and depths of love so true;
He alone can be the Giver
Since He rent the veil in two.
This is a song that we sang pretty often in our church growing up. I understood what it meant that Christ “rent the veil in two” because of the crucifixion story and the verses in the gospels that plainly state it.
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Matthew 27:51
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Mark 15:38
However, what I didn’t know was the meaning for us, as believers, that Christ rent the veil in two. Why was it important that the veil was torn in two? What did the veil do in the first place?
You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies. Exodus 26:33
The veil was a critical piece in the tabernacle that Moses erected in the desert. The veil separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. All the priests ministered every day in the Holy Place, but the Holy of Holies was different. In the Holy of Holies was the ark of the covenant, and in those days, God met with His people in a cloud above the ark. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only on one day each year – the day of Atonement. (See Leviticus 16.)
Entering the Holy of Holies was serious business – God commanded Moses that Aaron (the high priest) would have to wear special clothes, bring animals for offerings and bring a firepan of coals and incense otherwise HE WOULD DIE.
He shall take a firepan full of coals of fire from upon the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense, and bring it inside the veil. He shall put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, otherwise he will die. Leviticus 16:12-13
This is where God was. Even the High Priest could only enter once a year. The Israelites could never go into the Holy of Holies. They had no direct access to God; they relied on the High Priest to make atonement for them.
Jump ahead to the time of Jesus and His life on earth – his death and resurrection bought our salvation and our eternal redemption. But what else? The Gospels tell us that at His death the veil was split from top to bottom – since the veil separated people from the Holy God, now, because of Jesus’ death, there is no separation! The veil is torn in two and now all believers have access to God through Jesus Christ! Stop for a moment and just think about this.
I think it must have been amazing, on so many levels, to be present at the crucifixion. But can you imagine what the Jews thought when they heard the sound of the veil ripping in two? Can you imagine what it must have been like to go to the Temple and see the veil in two pieces? To be able to see INSIDE THE VEIL?
In the Old Testament, the people had no access to God: a thick veil in the tabernacle separated them and only the High Priest could go within the veil. But Jesus has become our High Priest, has made atonement for us once and for all, and has rent the veil in two allowing us to go to God directly! Isn’t that GREAT NEWS???
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12
He is indeed our mighty conqueror, having conquered sin and death forever. And He is with God the Father, interceding for us.
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
I hope that you will take some time today and think about what it means for you, personally, that Christ rent the veil in two.
And I encourage you to draw near and hold fast as the author of Hebrews exhorts us.
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19-25
The Unveiled Christ
Words by Noah B. Herrell
Once our blessed Christ of beauty
Was veiled off from human view;
But through suffering, death and sorrow
He has rent the veil in two.
Refrain
O behold the Man of Sorrows,
O behold Him in plain view;
Lo! He is the mighty Conqueror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
Lo! He is the mighty Conqueror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
Now He is with God the Father,
Interceding there for you;
For He is the mighty conqueror,
Since He rent the veil in two.
Holy angels bow before Him,
Men of earth give praises due;
For He is the well beloved
Since He rent the veil in two.
Throughout time and endless ages,
Heights and depths of love so true;
He alone can be the Giver
Since He rent the veil in two.
This is a song that we sang pretty often in our church growing up. I understood what it meant that Christ “rent the veil in two” because of the crucifixion story and the verses in the gospels that plainly state it.
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Matthew 27:51
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Mark 15:38
However, what I didn’t know was the meaning for us, as believers, that Christ rent the veil in two. Why was it important that the veil was torn in two? What did the veil do in the first place?
You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies. Exodus 26:33
The veil was a critical piece in the tabernacle that Moses erected in the desert. The veil separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. All the priests ministered every day in the Holy Place, but the Holy of Holies was different. In the Holy of Holies was the ark of the covenant, and in those days, God met with His people in a cloud above the ark. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only on one day each year – the day of Atonement. (See Leviticus 16.)
Entering the Holy of Holies was serious business – God commanded Moses that Aaron (the high priest) would have to wear special clothes, bring animals for offerings and bring a firepan of coals and incense otherwise HE WOULD DIE.
He shall take a firepan full of coals of fire from upon the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense, and bring it inside the veil. He shall put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, otherwise he will die. Leviticus 16:12-13
This is where God was. Even the High Priest could only enter once a year. The Israelites could never go into the Holy of Holies. They had no direct access to God; they relied on the High Priest to make atonement for them.
Jump ahead to the time of Jesus and His life on earth – his death and resurrection bought our salvation and our eternal redemption. But what else? The Gospels tell us that at His death the veil was split from top to bottom – since the veil separated people from the Holy God, now, because of Jesus’ death, there is no separation! The veil is torn in two and now all believers have access to God through Jesus Christ! Stop for a moment and just think about this.
I think it must have been amazing, on so many levels, to be present at the crucifixion. But can you imagine what the Jews thought when they heard the sound of the veil ripping in two? Can you imagine what it must have been like to go to the Temple and see the veil in two pieces? To be able to see INSIDE THE VEIL?
In the Old Testament, the people had no access to God: a thick veil in the tabernacle separated them and only the High Priest could go within the veil. But Jesus has become our High Priest, has made atonement for us once and for all, and has rent the veil in two allowing us to go to God directly! Isn’t that GREAT NEWS???
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12
He is indeed our mighty conqueror, having conquered sin and death forever. And He is with God the Father, interceding for us.
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
I hope that you will take some time today and think about what it means for you, personally, that Christ rent the veil in two.
And I encourage you to draw near and hold fast as the author of Hebrews exhorts us.
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19-25
Saturday, April 2, 2011
40 Days of Prayer: Day 22
The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God," they are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; there is no one who does good. God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Have the workers of wickedness no knowledge, who eat up My people as though they ate bread and have not called upon God? There they were in great fear where no fear had been; for God scattered the bones of him who encamped against you; You put them to shame, because God had rejected them. Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. Psalm 53
Dear God,
As I meditate on this Psalm, it seems as if it could be written today. Sometimes it seems like there is no one who does good, that I am surrounded by people who act, think and behave as if there is no God. They have turned aside from You and become corrupt, and their corruptness is spreading quickly. Lord, how I thank You that Your salvation HAS come out of Israel, that You have sent a Redeemer. Let me be glad in You today and let Your gladness flow through me that I might be a light to those who say there is no God. Let them see You in me. I pray that Your Holy Spirit would speak to their hearts and turn them to You.
For Your glory,
Amen.
Dear God,
As I meditate on this Psalm, it seems as if it could be written today. Sometimes it seems like there is no one who does good, that I am surrounded by people who act, think and behave as if there is no God. They have turned aside from You and become corrupt, and their corruptness is spreading quickly. Lord, how I thank You that Your salvation HAS come out of Israel, that You have sent a Redeemer. Let me be glad in You today and let Your gladness flow through me that I might be a light to those who say there is no God. Let them see You in me. I pray that Your Holy Spirit would speak to their hearts and turn them to You.
For Your glory,
Amen.
Friday, April 1, 2011
40 Days of Prayer: Day 21
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7
Dear God,
Today I am so grateful for the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross for me. I thank You that through His blood, I have been redeemed and forgiven. I thank You, Jesus, for this sacrifice that saved my life. I praise You, Jesus, that You obediently gave up your life, doing what bulls and goats could not, and died once for all in order that sins could be forgiven. God, I thank You that You rose Jesus from the dead to show Your satisfaction with His sacrifice. Thank You for lavishing Your grace upon me. Oh, the blood, it is my victory!
In Your Name,
Amen.
Dear God,
Today I am so grateful for the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross for me. I thank You that through His blood, I have been redeemed and forgiven. I thank You, Jesus, for this sacrifice that saved my life. I praise You, Jesus, that You obediently gave up your life, doing what bulls and goats could not, and died once for all in order that sins could be forgiven. God, I thank You that You rose Jesus from the dead to show Your satisfaction with His sacrifice. Thank You for lavishing Your grace upon me. Oh, the blood, it is my victory!
In Your Name,
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)