SPIRITUAL EXCERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 105
STARTS THURSDAY 28th JANUARY 2010
“ABANDON YOURSELVES TO GOD”
(B) MARKS OF A LIFE SURRENDERED TO GOD
Weekly message No. 100 (23rd January 1986).
Prayer of the heart as prayer of intercession for saving souls.
“Dear children! Again I call you to prayer with the heart. If you pray with the heart, dear children, the ice of your brothers will melt and every barrier shall disappear. Conversion will be easy for all who desire to accept it. That is the gift which by prayer you must obtain for your neighbour. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
PRACTICAL:
This week often pray with the heart for the conversion of someone you love.
Thursday: Building on the rock, not on sand.
Matthew 7:24-29.
24“Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.” 28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Friday: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
1Timothy1:15-16.
15The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; 16but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Saturday: Jesus has a perpetual priesthood and lives for ever to intercede for us
Hebrews 7:24-25.
24But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. 25Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Cf. 1 John 2:1.
1My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Sunday: Prayer for the conversion of a sinner is an effective prayer.
1 John 5:14-16.
14And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. 16If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.
Monday: Saving a sinner brings blessings for us as well.
James 5:19-20.
19My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, 20let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Cf. 1 Peter 4:8.
8Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Tuesday: We have to make intercession for everybody because God wants to save everyone.
1 Timothy 2:1-3.
1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, 2for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. 3This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.
Wednesday: Whatever we do for the sake of the Lord, we should put our heart into it.
Colossians 3:23-25.
23Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ. 25For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.