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2 Thessalonians, Prayer Requests, Prayers for America . . .

Paul’s Request

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As Paul was closing out his second letter to the people of Thessalonica he made a request of them. He asked them to pray for him. Can you imagine the Apostle Paul asking you or me to pray for him?!  

Here’s what he asked them to pray: Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and receive honor, just as it did with you; [source] Of all the things he could asked, of all the needs he may have had he asked that the LORD’s message spread rapidly and be received with honor. Wow! First and foremost on the mind of Paul was others hearing the Good News, the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. 

Let us pray the same. That the LORD’s message will spread rapidly in America and around the world and be received with honor. 

Until Next Time ~ ~ ~ Kathie 

ABBA, we pray as the people of Thessalonica prayed, that Your Gospel will spread rapidly and be received with honor. I pray we will allow You to open our mouths and fill them with Your Gospel Message and our hands, our feet and our hearts be moved with compassion before our time runs out. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for Your Word that is alive and true. We pray to see people hear and believe in JESUS name. 

2 Thessalonians, Christian Living

Twenty-four/Seven

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Back to 2 Thessalonians 2 today.

2 Thessalonians 2

13 But we have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you as firstfruits for deliverance by giving you the holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth.

Firstfruits. There’s much more about firstfruits than I am prepared to give you here but I can tell you firstfruits are first mentioned in the KJV at Exodus 23:16. Here the Hebrews received GOD’s directives regarding His Feasts. They were to keep these every year at the appointed time. And so the firstfruits of the harvest were to be brought to the LORD at such a time as to remember when the Hebrews were delivered from the slavery of Egypt.

Look again at our verse for today. Chose you as firstfruits for deliverance. As surely as the Hebrews were delivered from the slavery of the Egyptians, we have been called to be delivered from the slavery of sin. At the moment of salvation we are delivered from the penalty of sin which is eternal death in hell. But that’s not all. At salvation we are given gifts and the two gifts spoken of here are just about beyond description for me.

Holiness.
We are given the gift of holiness by the impartation of the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD when He delivers us from eternal death to eternal life. Just ask Him to help you get yourself wrapped around that! Holiness. We have been given the gift of holiness! But how much do we walk it out in our 24/7?
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy. Leviticus 19:1-2 

Faithfulness.
We have been gifted with the gift of faithfulness. Now wouldn’t we like to get our arms wrapped around that?! Do you know what that would mean in this world?! Just think about it. If every Christian consistently practiced the gift of faithfulness to GOD, Churches would thrive – the world’s hungry would be fed;  families broken by divorce and excess (the Christian ones) would be virtually nonexistent; and the effect of our faithfulness on the unsaved would be phenomenally beautiful!  I am going to refrain from going on and on with scenarios of what could be; but I hope you and the HOLY SPIRIT will ponder it together a moment or two longer. 

We lie and deceive ourselves if we say we cannot be faithful to GOD. We can learn! We learn to be faithful by embracing the Truth. Look at the verse again. Faithfulness has it’s origin in the Truth. Believe the truth. Live the truth and we will be faithful. GOD says so. And He does not lie! Ever!

Until Next Time ~ ~ ~ Kathie

ABBA, one my greatest struggles is seeing it here, writing it here and then not living it out there. But You are able and so I pray for us all to walk out these gifts of faithfulness and holiness not for our glory but Yours. 

Christian Living, Forgiveness, Repentance

Springboard

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A quick word today. I think. You may know that rarely when I come to this screen with a thought to write is it more than just a springboard and I am as surprised as you where it lands. Today is the same. :)

Contained in one of my devotional materials for today was the suggestion that I read Matthew 20:20-28 which I did. Click HERE and you can too.  I read all eight verses but I am still paused at this:

25 But Yeshua called them and said, “You know that among the Goyim, those who are supposed to rule them become tyrants, and their superiors become dictators.

The exact place of pausing was But JESUS (Yeshua) called them. In the preceding verses I read that ten of the disciples were outraged at the two brothers.  Why? Because James and John with their mother had made a request of JESUS: She replied, “Promise that when you become king, these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left.” 

I am so impressed with JESUS. The request that was made of Him was shall we say at the least inappropriate. There are more spiritual applications to be made than we are making today. So leaving that right there, my point here is they made a request, a request that outraged the others. Outraged. That’s not just a little miffed. No. Outraged!

But. What did JESUS do?
What did He do with these outraged disciples? These jealous, fearful, bent out of shape disciples?
Was He outraged with them for being outraged? Did He rail on them? Did He berate them? Did He scowl at them? No. He CALLED them to Himself!

Called them to Himself. Oh that is soothing and healing to me. Here I see that when I am outraged. Jealous. Irritated. Fearful. Feeling threatened. Feeling put upon and put aside, He CALLS me to Himself. To mentor me. To correct me, yes; but to love me and instruct me in a better way. A better way to react. A better way to relate. A better way to achieve the greatness we are really seeking — His Kingdom.

Have you been outraged at someone?
Have you ever believed the lie that when you have fallen prey to some outrageous behavior that HE is outraged with you? That He has nothing more to say to you? That He wants nothing more to do with you? That you have out sinned your welcome with Him?

NOT SO!

Today. He is calling YOU to Himself. For healing. For instruction. For Strength. For forgiveness. For restoration. For whatever it is that will make you great in His Kingdom.

1 John 1:9  (AMP)

9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].

ABBA, thank You. Thank You HOLY SPIRIT for highlighting Your Word and teaching us. Thank You LORD YESHUA for calling. And I ask You HOLY  SPIRIT if You will to use this offering of words to help someone know they are loved and that they have been called. I pray we all will respond with yes. Yes I will come to You. And, ABBA, for every Reader who comes to this page I pray for them. I don’t know their needs, I don’t know their specific struggles or doubts or questions or burdens or fears but I pray they will be encouraged here and they will know You are trustworthy and You are faithful to them to supply everything they need. Help them receive, help me receive. Thank You ABBA. 

Until Next Time ~ ~ ~ Kathie