Month: November 2024

God Sanctifies Us Completely;              Inspiring “Take Time to Be Holy”

British William Longstaff heard
a sermon on the text: Be ye holy,
for I am holy, and wrote down
what holiness meant to him,
inspired by 1 Thessalonians 5.
A businessman at heart, William
wrote no pious sounding verses
but down-to-earth thoughts, which
appeared in Christian newspaper in 1882.

1882. Years later gospel composer
      George Stebbins remembered the
      poem when he was asked if there’s
      a good hymn on living a holy life.
      Retrieving the newspaper clipping
      he saved, he set the poem to music;
      and ‘Take Time to be Holy’ was born.

Lord, we’ll seek to Do Your Will:
Therefore confort each other
and edify one another…
Be at Peace among yourselves…
Comfort the fainthearted, uphold
the weak, be patient with all…
Pursue what is good both for
Your health
yourselves & for all (1Ths 5:11-15)
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God (v16-18).
Now may the God of Peace Himself
Sanctify You completely; and may
your whole spirit, soul and body
be preserved blameless at
the coming of our Lord Jesus.
He who calls you Is Faithful,
who also Will Do it (v23-24) Amen

Lord, in this season of uncertainties,
many are searching for direction.
The Holy Spirit knows all needs,
know all things and inspires us
to build each other up with words
of comfort and words of edification.
O Spirit, use our imagination to write
Your will, impress Your thoughts
and speak into the hearts of Your
people through us. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, prompt us to rejoice always,
pray & give thanks without ceasing.
Lord God of peace, do Your holy
work of Sanctification within us
for we want to honour You with
our lives and to resist sin each day.
Preserve us Lord to be blameless.
Give us a deep love for You and
the zeal for Your glory that will
surpass any impure passion. Amen.

Lord, I believe the convictions and
longings in my heart are placed
there by You & I raise them to You.
Use them Lord to accomplish
Your purposes; and I believe that
You will get me where I need to go.
I am prepared and available to work
out the calling You have for me.
For I know Lord that You are faithful
and that You will surely do it. Amen.

Take time to Be Holy,
Speak off with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children;
Help those who are weak;
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek…
Take time to Be Holy,
Let Him be thy guide,
And run not before Him
Whatever betide;
In joy or in sorrow
Still follow the Lord,
And looking to Jesus,
Still trust in His Word. Amen.

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of 1st Thessalonians
is to strengthen the Christians
in their faith and give them
the assurance of Christ’s return; whilst that for the 2nd epistle is
to clear up the confusion about
the second coming of Christ.
Apostle Paul exhorts them to return to work and to take advantage
of the time they have to do good.

On Monday, we learn from 1 Ths 1
that God Honours Work of Faith.
On Tuesday, we learn from 1Ths 2
that God Helps Us to Walk Worthily.
On Wednesday, we learn fr 1Ths 5
that God Sanctifies Completely.
On Thursday, we learn from 2Ths 1
that God Empowers Your Calling.
On Friday, we learn from 2Ths 2
that God Establishes Good Work.
On Saturday, we learn from 2Ths 3
that God Will Protect His Servants.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Adore You:
For You are worthy of our Praise
as God Honours Work of Faith
and Sanctifies Us Completely.
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as God Empowers Our Calling
as well as Protects His Servants.
For You Help Us to Walk Worthily
as well as Establish Good Work.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Will Protect His Servants

In his 2nd letter to Thessalonians,
Paul commends their faithfulness
in persecution and encourages
them that present suffering
will be repaid with future glory.
Paul clarifies the Day of the Lord
had not yet arrived & recounts the
events which must take place first.
For labouring for the Gospel, rather
than lazy resignation, can be the
only proper response to such truth.

Lord, we’ll Share the Good News:
Finally brothers pray for us that
the message of the Lord may
Spread rapidly and be honoured…
Pray that we may be Delivered from
evil pple, for not everyone has faith.
But the Lord is faithful, and He will
Strengthen you and Protect you
from the evil one (2Thess 3:1-3).
And we have confidence in the Lord
that you are doing & will continue to
do the things which we charge you.
May the Lord direct your hearts
into the love of God and into
the patience of Christ (v4-5).
We… exhort through our Lord Jesus
Christ that they work in quietness…
As for you brethren, do not grow
weary in doing good (v12-13).

Lord, show us Your servants that
we need to be faithful to support
in Prayer as they spread Your truth.
Strengthen the hearts of those
who preach the gospel and equip
them in every way to do Your will.
Above all may Your Spirit do Your
mighty work in hearts of people so
that Your name be glorified. Amen.

Father God, may Your Love and the
perseverance of Christ constraint
us to continually share the good
news of salvation to the lost.
Equip us Lord with the right words
at the right time, so that those
hearts are ready to be drawn to You.
We also pray for people who need
the good news, that their hearts
would Be Open to receive all
that You have for them. Amen.

Lord, help us not to be lazy in the
things of God and helping others.
Help us when we are overwhelmed
by evil beyond the realm of reason.
Help us turn to You immediately
for Your Protection and Strength.
For ultimately You will triumph
and Your name will be glorified.
Help us not be weary of doing good
but live in such a way that our faith
and lives will please You. Amen.

God Establishes Good Work

Paul commended Thessalonians
for their faithfulness in midst
of persecution and encouraging
them that present suffering
will be repaid with future glory.
Paul also clarified the Day of
the Lord had not yet arrived,
and recounts the events which
must take place first. Labouring
for the gospel, rather than lazy
resignation, can be the only
proper response to such truth.

Lord, help us to Be Steadfast:
Brethren, concerning the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ…
we ask you not to be shaken
in mind or troubled (2 Ths 2:1-2).
God chose you for salvation
through the Sanctifying work
of the Spirit and through belief
in the truth… He called you by
(the) gospel, for… obtaining of the
glory of our Lord Jesus (v13-14).
Therefore stand fast and hold the
traditions which you were taught.
Now may our Lord Jesus Himself…
Comfort your hearts & Establish you
in every good word & work (v15-17).

Lord, grateful for good Christian
friends who can offer word of
encouragement, counsel and help.
And thanks Lord for Your Word
to bolster us in times of trouble.
Best of all, we have Jesus
Himself inside us to comfort and
strengthen us to face anything
and provide all we need. Amen.

Father God, we praise You
for You are perfect and holy.
I choose to trust that You see
me as already holy for through
Christ’s death, I am presented
holy and free from accusation.
And that the sanctifying work of
the Spirit in my life and through
believing the truth will help
me Mature In holiness. Amen.

Lord, thank You for Comforting
our hearts and Establishing us
in every good word and work.
What a friend we have in Jesus
all our sins and grief to bear;
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer.
Thank You Lord we don’t have to
forfeit peace or bear needless pain.
All because we can carry every
-thing to God in prayer. Amen.