Thomas Manton was a puritan of the 1600’s and 340 years later he is still known as a man of prayer and meditation. Concerning the issue of prayer Manton said, “Though there be not an express rule particularly set down how often we should be with God,” yet God's command and call to prayer “are very large.” He also pointed out that the Word commands us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17) and to be “praying always” (Eph. 6:18). This implies a continual habit of prayer. His words continue to challenge Christians that we should never be afraid to pray to God or hesitate to ask for His help. God does not have to be coaxed into taking an interest in our request. He is ready and willing to hear the prayers of His people. The Lord Jesus said, “Ask and it shall be given to you” (Luke 11:9)
Psalm 95 provides a primer on how we worship. The verbs in this chapter set the stage for our great experience and expression of worship. The author begins with the word “come”. Worship is that place where the heart of God and the heart of His children meet. Oswald Chambers said, “Worship is giving God the best He has given you.”
As I have been preparing for the upcoming sermon series I have been reminded of the beauty and simplicity of the gospel. The promise we receive from the gospel—the good news of Jesus—is that when we encounter the love of God and bring it into the core of our hearts, it changes us. The power of the gospel begins to reshape our hearts and transforms us into the likeness of Christ.
Have you ever thought about the metaphors in the Bible used to describe Christians? Christians are identified as temples, living stones, priests, and first fruits, just to name a few. I think one of the most interesting in Scripture was written by the apostle Paul when he called believers “jars of clay.”
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AuthorOur Pastor writes most of the blog posts we publish, however, occasionally some of our other church leadership (some staff, some volunteer) who also contribute to the New Life blog. Archives
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