“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (II Corinthians 3:17)
May 6, 2021 has been designated as a “National Day of Prayer”. What a blessing we have to join in prayer for the nation that the Lord has given us. Imperfect at best, we still have great nation to live in. The greatest blessing we have is complete redemption in Christ Jesus. The freedom to worship our God, without fear of reprisal, is also one we should never forget to uphold. As we ask the Lord to pour out the blessings of His Love, Life and Liberty, lets remember the importance of fellowship. Freely gathering in corporate worship has at times and continues to be taken away by repressive leaders. Faith is one thing that cannot be taken away by secular means. It is God, by His grace, through the Holy Spirit that sustains our faith. He remains steadfast in giving the best to His children.
The Apostle Paul wrote about life in the previous verses: “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (II Corinthians 3: 2-6) Let us continue to pray for our Nation and it leaders. May we not just pray for secular blessings, such living a quiet and peaceable life, and healing from the illnesses afflicting the Nation and world. May we pray for the healing that begins in the human heart, effected by the Spirit, revealing God’s Love, and bringing a liberty of heart and conscience unparalleled in the human experience.
The Gospel believed is the writing of the Spirit in the “fleshly tables of the heart”. Let this be our prayer for everyone in our Nation, and for all the world, that this liberty in Christ would be theirs. Such is the Love of God toward His created beings. Then we would see the life that we have been created for. It is an abundant life, a joyful life, an eternal life! Life in the Kingdom of God! There are two kingdoms in this world, one is darkness, the other is light. One ends in death, the other is life. Jesus calls us through the Gospel: “ .. I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 25-30) Believing unto peace and freedom is the message the Gospel brings, as we are encouraged to look to the Name given above every name, and the Blood that Jesus shed for the atonement of our sins. True liberty is found in His work for us, not ours for Him. It is a Kingdom of grace and mercy, of peace and joy with an alien righteousness given to us by faith. May the Word of God be your greatest treasure.
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14: 17).
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10: 13-17)
Pastor Stan
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