Soon, God willing, a colleague and myself will be setting-up a new prayer group at work. With this in mind, and at the start of a new year, it would be good to quickly look at a few key Biblical passages on prayer, re-acquaint ourselves with them and remind ourselves of the importance of prayer. All quotes are from the New King James Version (NKJV)
It is God’s will. Christ taught us to do so.
Colossians 4
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
1 Thessalonians 5
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
It is sinful to neglect Prayer.
1 Samuel 12:23
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.
It’s vital to spiritual warfare
Ephesians 6:12-18
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Monday, 4 January 2010
New Year!
Happy New Year!
My new year's resolution (well, one of them) is to 'blog' on a more regular basis!!
My new year's resolution (well, one of them) is to 'blog' on a more regular basis!!
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Christmas Evans - unsung hero.......
Christmas Evans (1766 – 1838)
‘The one-eyed preacher from Wales’
Christmas Evans spent a lifetime combining pastorates at nonconformist chapels with great preaching tours of Wales.
After losing his father early in life Evans grew up as an uneducated farm labourer living with an ungodly uncle. He lost one eye as a teenager – this is most commonly put down to a brawl. Aged 17 Evans came under the influence of David Davies, a Presbyterian minister, and came to know Christ. He also learnt how to read and write in both Welsh and English. Soon, Evans, came under the influence of Baptists in Llandyssul and joined the denomination. They, and a number of Calvinistic Methodists, were a great influence on him and encouraged him to preach.
He settled in a remote part of Caernarfonshire and worked as a preacher before soon moving to Anglesey – which then had a reputation as being a very godless place. Here, on very low pay which he supplemented by selling tracts, he started to build up the Baptist community on the island. His time on Anglesey was very eventful and as well as encountering the usual opposition faced by Baptists at this time he also faced the threat of legal action of debts owed by one of the chapels he had planted. Evans combined his work on the island with great preaching tours of South Wales.
Eventually in 1826 he accepted the offer of a pastorate in Caerphilly and served the Lord there for two years before moving on to Cardiff but the draw to the north of Wales proved too much and he soon returned, recommencing preaching and chapel planting. Evans’ incredible workload soon started to affect his health and this contributed to his death in 1838 whilst on a preaching tour. His final words were “Good-bye! Drive on!”
Despite enduring a rather hard life and suffering from disfigurement, Evans was a very successful preacher. His style was very allegorical and probably contributed to him often being referred to as the “Bunyan of Wales.”
For most of his time he was an Evangelical Particular Baptist and staunch Calvinist (like Carey and Spurgeon) but for a while he did stray into Sandemanian ways. This sect, who originated in Scotland and had some positives in their beliefs and practices, made ‘faith’ a concern of the mind and almost academic in nature. Evans eventually realised that he was dwelling in “the cold and sterile regions of spiritual frost”, and in the grip of “a cold heart towards Christ, and his sacrifice, and the work of his Spirit” and ditched Sandemanianism.
And yes! He was born on Christmas Day, hence the unusual names!!
‘The one-eyed preacher from Wales’
Christmas Evans spent a lifetime combining pastorates at nonconformist chapels with great preaching tours of Wales.
After losing his father early in life Evans grew up as an uneducated farm labourer living with an ungodly uncle. He lost one eye as a teenager – this is most commonly put down to a brawl. Aged 17 Evans came under the influence of David Davies, a Presbyterian minister, and came to know Christ. He also learnt how to read and write in both Welsh and English. Soon, Evans, came under the influence of Baptists in Llandyssul and joined the denomination. They, and a number of Calvinistic Methodists, were a great influence on him and encouraged him to preach.
He settled in a remote part of Caernarfonshire and worked as a preacher before soon moving to Anglesey – which then had a reputation as being a very godless place. Here, on very low pay which he supplemented by selling tracts, he started to build up the Baptist community on the island. His time on Anglesey was very eventful and as well as encountering the usual opposition faced by Baptists at this time he also faced the threat of legal action of debts owed by one of the chapels he had planted. Evans combined his work on the island with great preaching tours of South Wales.
Eventually in 1826 he accepted the offer of a pastorate in Caerphilly and served the Lord there for two years before moving on to Cardiff but the draw to the north of Wales proved too much and he soon returned, recommencing preaching and chapel planting. Evans’ incredible workload soon started to affect his health and this contributed to his death in 1838 whilst on a preaching tour. His final words were “Good-bye! Drive on!”
Despite enduring a rather hard life and suffering from disfigurement, Evans was a very successful preacher. His style was very allegorical and probably contributed to him often being referred to as the “Bunyan of Wales.”
For most of his time he was an Evangelical Particular Baptist and staunch Calvinist (like Carey and Spurgeon) but for a while he did stray into Sandemanian ways. This sect, who originated in Scotland and had some positives in their beliefs and practices, made ‘faith’ a concern of the mind and almost academic in nature. Evans eventually realised that he was dwelling in “the cold and sterile regions of spiritual frost”, and in the grip of “a cold heart towards Christ, and his sacrifice, and the work of his Spirit” and ditched Sandemanianism.
And yes! He was born on Christmas Day, hence the unusual names!!
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Problems with the Church of England....
In the UK many sensible Non-Conformist Protestants constantly show their support for the Church of England. The Protestant Truth Society believes in keeping the link between church and state and so do many other fine organisations such as the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. Whilst I know many see it as bulwark against Rome, I have always been bemused by this support for various reasons:
1) The Church was only formed because Henry VIII wanted a divorce. There was no theological basis for it coming into existence, purely the desire of one man to do what he wanted. Henry VIII is no man of conscience like Luther or Calvin.
2) The Church of England martyred many fine Christians and jailed many dissenters.
3) Technically the Monarch is the Head of the Church. This is insulting to Christ who is of course the Head of the Church.
4) The Church of England is a ‘wets’ church which allows nominal ‘Christians’ who are unsaved to be buried, married and ‘baptised’ in its buildings. Sadly this tendency is also creeping into to non-conformist churches.
5) Its Bishops sit in the House of Lords, thus underlining the corrupt link between church and state.
6) Senior figures within the Church of England have to be approved by the Monarch, on recommendation from the Prime Minister. You could easily have an atheist, Muslim or member of another Christian denomination who as Prime Minister is responsible for appointing the Archbishop of Canterbury!
7) The Church of England is infested with Romish tendencies. Many still believe in ritualism, superstition, transubstantiation, praying to Mary, praying to Saints, praying for the dead, having statues etc.
8) The Church of England is against the Protestant principle of the Priesthood of all believers. Members are limited in what they can do both in a service and in exercising influence over the life of their church.
9) The Church of England is against justification by faith. If it believed in this truth then it wouldn’t ‘baptise’ babies in an attempt to ‘save’ the newly born. Also, it would not have in its numbers those who believe in praying for the dead (unbiblical) and those who believe the dead can intercess on behalf of the living (unbiblical). If dead relatives are going to pester the Almighty into letting you in to Heaven then you are doing away with the need to become a Christian!
I personally know many fine Anglicans, but let us be realistic and say that the Church of England is not worth defending and is nothing more than a watered-down version of the Church of Rome!!
1) The Church was only formed because Henry VIII wanted a divorce. There was no theological basis for it coming into existence, purely the desire of one man to do what he wanted. Henry VIII is no man of conscience like Luther or Calvin.
2) The Church of England martyred many fine Christians and jailed many dissenters.
3) Technically the Monarch is the Head of the Church. This is insulting to Christ who is of course the Head of the Church.
4) The Church of England is a ‘wets’ church which allows nominal ‘Christians’ who are unsaved to be buried, married and ‘baptised’ in its buildings. Sadly this tendency is also creeping into to non-conformist churches.
5) Its Bishops sit in the House of Lords, thus underlining the corrupt link between church and state.
6) Senior figures within the Church of England have to be approved by the Monarch, on recommendation from the Prime Minister. You could easily have an atheist, Muslim or member of another Christian denomination who as Prime Minister is responsible for appointing the Archbishop of Canterbury!
7) The Church of England is infested with Romish tendencies. Many still believe in ritualism, superstition, transubstantiation, praying to Mary, praying to Saints, praying for the dead, having statues etc.
8) The Church of England is against the Protestant principle of the Priesthood of all believers. Members are limited in what they can do both in a service and in exercising influence over the life of their church.
9) The Church of England is against justification by faith. If it believed in this truth then it wouldn’t ‘baptise’ babies in an attempt to ‘save’ the newly born. Also, it would not have in its numbers those who believe in praying for the dead (unbiblical) and those who believe the dead can intercess on behalf of the living (unbiblical). If dead relatives are going to pester the Almighty into letting you in to Heaven then you are doing away with the need to become a Christian!
I personally know many fine Anglicans, but let us be realistic and say that the Church of England is not worth defending and is nothing more than a watered-down version of the Church of Rome!!
Thursday, 30 April 2009
GREAT HYMNS - No.1 'The Ninety and Nine'.
The music was written by Ira Sankey.
This hymn is a great favourite of mine but sadly it would never be sung at my own church as it would be deemed far too old-fashioned and Calvinistic!
There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold.But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer:
“This of MineHas wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”
But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry,Sick and helpless and ready to die;
Sick and helpless and ready to die.
“Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way
That mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
“They are pierced tonight by many a thorn;
They are pierced tonight by many a thorn.”
And all through the mountains, thunder riven
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”
The music was written by Ira Sankey.
This hymn is a great favourite of mine but sadly it would never be sung at my own church as it would be deemed far too old-fashioned and Calvinistic!
There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold.But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer:
“This of MineHas wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”
But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry,Sick and helpless and ready to die;
Sick and helpless and ready to die.
“Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way
That mark out the mountain’s track?”
“They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”
“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”
“They are pierced tonight by many a thorn;
They are pierced tonight by many a thorn.”
And all through the mountains, thunder riven
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
