Yesterday on the Lords day we gathered in the living room with one another after sharing a joyful love filled meal together.
We began in prayer offering petitions and thanksgiving to God as each one had. After each had an opportunity to pray we moved into singing. Here are some portions from those songs:
He Will Hold Me Fast
“I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so
He will hold me fast”
How Great Thou Art
“And when I think
That God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die,
I scarce can take it in –
That on the cross,
My burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died
To take away my sin!”
It Is Well
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul”
Then we shared testimonies of what God had been doing in our lives that week in answered prayers, and many shared.
Finally there was a time of teaching. The first teaching was on 2 Peter 1:5-10 and how these traits can help us to be salt and light to a perishing world, and how ultimately that is done by our love for one another. We discussed how it is possible to be a fruitful and unfruitful Christian, but we should make it our aim to give God a return on investment, to bear much fruit. He loved us therefore we ought to love one another, and by that be a light to the world. We have been purchased by God our forgiveness is complete, but this house now must be furnished with new furniture, and that furniture is: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.
The final teaching was on 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”
It was pointed out numerous times that this is a work He does, one was Philippians 2:12-13
“12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Not just one part of us needs to be sanctified, but body, soul, mind and spirit. Our whole being must be set apart for God through and through, nothing left un touched or un effected. Our past sins, guilt, unforgiveness, every weight and sin must be discerned addressed with the truth of his word and resolved through the help of his spirit in prayer, and fellowship. In this way we will be able to run with endurance eyes fully set of Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, and be sanctified through and through. This will result in joyful fellowship, genuine love and it will bring much glory to our Father. (see Hebrews 12:1-2)
“24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 24
