-------------------------------------------
"12 BIBLICAL RESOLUTIONS FOR A NEW YEAR" -- January 3, 2019 | By Derek Prince; https://www.ifapray.org/blog/12-biblical-resolutions-for-a-new-year/
Would you like 2019 to be a great year for you?
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (3 John 2)
The Bible offers us New Year’s Resolutions that are guaranteed to have rich spiritual results in your life. Adapted from a radio teaching of the late Derek Prince (IFA [Itercessors For America] founder and international Bible teacher), we find 12 resolutions in the book of Hebrews, summarized below.
1) Let us fear (Hebrews 4:1)
We need to fear focusing on life’s externals and missing the essential of hearing the Lord’s voice in an intimate personal relationship with Him.
2) Let us be diligent (Hebrews 4:11)
We must be spiritually diligent. The opposite of diligence is laziness. Spiritual laziness is more often condemned in the Bible than drunkenness, which indicates how important diligence is to God.
3) Let us hold fast our confession (Hebrews 4:14)
We must make the words of our mouths agree with what God says. Our words will determine our destiny.
4) Let us draw near to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16)
God never gives an invitation that He doesn’t stand behind! This step depends on our commitment to the first three steps—with mercy we receive what we have no right to and with grace we receive well beyond what we deserve.
5) Let us press on to maturity (Hebrews 6:1)
We must train ourselves to grow in Christ and avoid “spiritual arrested development.” God has made special provisions for attaining maturity in His Word.
6) Let us draw near to the most holy place (Hebrews 10:19-22)
We are invited to take our place with Christ on the throne of God but there are four requirements—sincere hearts, full assurance of faith, hearts sprinkled from evil conscience, and bodies washed with pure water.
7) Let us hold fast our confession without wavering (Hebrews 10:23)
Confession is making the words of our mouths agree with God’s Word. “Without wavering” is holding to God’s promises in the face of obstacles and pressures.
8) Let us consider one another (Hebrews 10:24-26)
Three steps: First, dethrone self; second, enthrone Christ; third, serve other believers in close, committed, regular fellowship.
9) Let us run with endurance the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1-2)
How? With a right mental attitude, self-control, endurance, and fixing our eyes on Jesus.
10) Let us show gratitude (Hebrews 12:28-29)
Practicing thanksgiving releases the grace of God in your life. God wants us to express our appreciation to Him, acknowledging Him by our thanksgiving.
11) Let us go out to Him, outside the camp (Hebrews 13:12-14)
We must identify with Jesus and His Cross. The Cross is the only way of escape from the slavery of pleasing self and the slavery of pleasing the world.
12) Let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God (Hebrews 13:15)
We are to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. This step flows from the prior two— gratitude naturally leads to praise and the Cross removes key hindrances to praising God.
-------------------------------------------
Praying Through the Open Doors World Watch List for persecuted believers:o -https://www.opendoorsusa.org/take-action/pray/monthly-prayer-calendar/
As we look ahead to 2019, Open Doors is excited to partner with you to come alongside persecuted believers in a number of countries. We ask you to pray with us about this year’s vision focused on strengthening the Church in the Middle East, Nigeria, India, Colombia and Egypt, among others.
January 6 | BIBLE DISTRIBUTION - Open Doors was founded by Brother Andrew who began his ministry to the persecuted church by smuggling “illegal” Bibles to believers. We continue to carry on this ministry, putting Scripture into the hands of believers where it’s illegal or difficult to purchase a Bible.
*Names changed to protect identities
"12 BIBLICAL RESOLUTIONS FOR A NEW YEAR" -- January 3, 2019 | By Derek Prince; https://www.ifapray.org/blog/12-biblical-resolutions-for-a-new-year/
Would you like 2019 to be a great year for you?
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (3 John 2)
The Bible offers us New Year’s Resolutions that are guaranteed to have rich spiritual results in your life. Adapted from a radio teaching of the late Derek Prince (IFA [Itercessors For America] founder and international Bible teacher), we find 12 resolutions in the book of Hebrews, summarized below.
1) Let us fear (Hebrews 4:1)
We need to fear focusing on life’s externals and missing the essential of hearing the Lord’s voice in an intimate personal relationship with Him.
2) Let us be diligent (Hebrews 4:11)
We must be spiritually diligent. The opposite of diligence is laziness. Spiritual laziness is more often condemned in the Bible than drunkenness, which indicates how important diligence is to God.
3) Let us hold fast our confession (Hebrews 4:14)
We must make the words of our mouths agree with what God says. Our words will determine our destiny.
4) Let us draw near to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16)
God never gives an invitation that He doesn’t stand behind! This step depends on our commitment to the first three steps—with mercy we receive what we have no right to and with grace we receive well beyond what we deserve.
5) Let us press on to maturity (Hebrews 6:1)
We must train ourselves to grow in Christ and avoid “spiritual arrested development.” God has made special provisions for attaining maturity in His Word.
6) Let us draw near to the most holy place (Hebrews 10:19-22)
We are invited to take our place with Christ on the throne of God but there are four requirements—sincere hearts, full assurance of faith, hearts sprinkled from evil conscience, and bodies washed with pure water.
7) Let us hold fast our confession without wavering (Hebrews 10:23)
Confession is making the words of our mouths agree with God’s Word. “Without wavering” is holding to God’s promises in the face of obstacles and pressures.
8) Let us consider one another (Hebrews 10:24-26)
Three steps: First, dethrone self; second, enthrone Christ; third, serve other believers in close, committed, regular fellowship.
9) Let us run with endurance the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1-2)
How? With a right mental attitude, self-control, endurance, and fixing our eyes on Jesus.
10) Let us show gratitude (Hebrews 12:28-29)
Practicing thanksgiving releases the grace of God in your life. God wants us to express our appreciation to Him, acknowledging Him by our thanksgiving.
11) Let us go out to Him, outside the camp (Hebrews 13:12-14)
We must identify with Jesus and His Cross. The Cross is the only way of escape from the slavery of pleasing self and the slavery of pleasing the world.
12) Let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God (Hebrews 13:15)
We are to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. This step flows from the prior two— gratitude naturally leads to praise and the Cross removes key hindrances to praising God.
-------------------------------------------
Praying Through the Open Doors World Watch List for persecuted believers:o -https://www.opendoorsusa.org/take-action/pray/monthly-prayer-calendar/
As we look ahead to 2019, Open Doors is excited to partner with you to come alongside persecuted believers in a number of countries. We ask you to pray with us about this year’s vision focused on strengthening the Church in the Middle East, Nigeria, India, Colombia and Egypt, among others.
January 6 | BIBLE DISTRIBUTION - Open Doors was founded by Brother Andrew who began his ministry to the persecuted church by smuggling “illegal” Bibles to believers. We continue to carry on this ministry, putting Scripture into the hands of believers where it’s illegal or difficult to purchase a Bible.
*Names changed to protect identities |
I like items 2, 4, and 9 on this list. Be diligent... draw near to the throne of grace... run with endurance. Let's do this!
ReplyDelete-herb