Prayer fuelled by relationship with God & Bible

What is the general content of our prayers for others?

Gordon and I have been trying to combine the circumstances of the person we pray for, with their specific prayer requests and added to the mix, Scripture.

Sometimes we jot down a line or two from a Psalm or anywhere in the Bible. 

If we’ve set aside more time, we love to emulate one of Paul’s prayers.  The big result is when God connects requests in line with what comes from His own Mouth with the circumstances of those we pray for.

Two side-notes:

1. We don’t feel selfish to pray these for ourselves (we are too conscious of our need of grace!)
2. We ask boldly for healing or whatever the request is, in submission to God’s will.

You may need to take a deee-eeeep breath before you pray with our brother the Apostle, as he does in Colossians!

• When is the last time I put my hand on the back of a fellow Christian and prayed for their struggles as they also prayed for mine (James 5:16)?
• When is the last time I wept as I prayed?
• When is the last time I got down on my knees…no matter what was going on…and prayed without using robotic clichés and prayed as specifically as I possibly could and thanked Him in advance for His will (1 John 5:14)?
• What Christian does not want to learn to pray better? What Christian would claim that his prayers are as powerful as ever he would want them to be?
Let’s pursue God rather than prayer without a relationship with Him.

“A praying life isn’t something you accomplish in a year.

It is a journey of a lifetime. “

Paul Miller in his book, “A Praying Life.”

A snippet of Elihu, Job and suffering

So when you are considering consoling a grieving friend, will Elihu be of help to you? What will he teach us today? Will it be wise tenderness, will it be compassion and wisdom, like “Jesus with skin on”.


When my friend’s tears fall; when my friend is overwhelmed with grief, what can I learn from Elihu? And what should I avoid at all costs?

ELIHU, THE MAN

Some regard his contribution as long-winded and self-opinionated.  Mind you, he does mention himself a great deal. Elihu is a good listener. He let them have their say without interruption. He paid attention (Job 32:12). He obeyed protocol, but he cannot wait any longer to speak. Elihu gained our respect by waiting. Elihu is courteous and he gave the older men their place and time. Elihu seeks to give some glory to God. He takes no credit for his wisdom (Job 32:8). He is not claiming special revelation as Eliphaz did. Brash or Bold? Many see Elihu as brash, ego-centric with nothing of relevance to say. It can also be said that Elihu is bold enough to challenge the received wisdom of the day. Elihu is passionate. He must speak (Job 32:20).  He isn’t dull or merely academic. He means what he says even if he isn’t all together right. He is no dull preacher. Elihu doesn't flatter. Elihu is wordy in the extreme: it takes him 24 verses to say: “Look out, I’m going to speak”. Elihu pleads his integrity (Job 33:3) He seems conscious that he is a fellow creature and does not see himself to be any better than Job.  Knowing our own weaknesses will lead us to humility and gentleness in approaching others. Elihu is young. Elihu is angry with Job and with his three friends. He counsels from a heart filled with anger which can be dangerous.

Christian Friendship

GOOD CONVERSATION OVER A GOOD MEAL – ON…….Christian Friendship.
It’s Monday, but we cooked and feasted like Sunday.  The reason: to use the last food in our freezer and fridge and switch both appliances off for the 6 weeks we are away from Scotland, in New Zealand.


Gordon and I set the table, and agreed, our own little home-setting is any day, to us, as good as an outing to a restaurant.
Towards the end of our meal, we then read and chatted together from “The Meaning of Marriage” by Tim and Kathy Keller, continuing from page 114 on “Christian Friendship”.

CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP:

1. “Christians have all had their identity changed at the root, so now God’s calling and love are more foundational to who we are than any other thing. 
2. We also long for the same future, journey to the same horizon.
3. Any two Christians, with nothing else but a common faith in Christ, can have a robust friendship, helping each other on their journey…..”
4. Christian friends admit wrongs, offer or ask forgiveness”  (Ephesians 4:32) and take steps to reconcile when one disappoints another.”  (Matthew 5:23ff and 18:15ff)
5. Christian friends bear each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), sharing their goods and their very lives with each other if there is need. (Hebrews 13:16; Philippians 4:14; 2 Corinthians 9:13)
6. Friends encourage each other through honour and affirmation (Romans 12:3-6,10, Proverbs 27:2)
7. Christian friends are to build up each other’s faith through study and worship (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19)
8. Christian friendship is the deep oneness that develops as two people journey together toward the same destination, helping one another through the dangers and challenges along the way.”

A SUMMARY DEFINITION:

• Christian friendship is a deep developing oneness as two people, speaking the truth to one another in love, journey together to the same horizon. 
• The Christian’s horizon is high and far and sure – it is nothing less than “the day of Christ” and what we will be like when we finally see Him face to face.

1 John 3:2,3
²Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³ All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

A few sermon notes on John and Jesus' Baptisms

Snow, church and baptisms in Edinburgh

It’s Sunday morning, Edinburgh North, 13 January and time to get our bus to Charlotte Chapel, Rose Street Edinburgh.


We take the 3.5 mile journey into town.  The newspaper has to be fetched, come rain, come snow.


Our bus #29 bobs along the cobbled streets and turn up Frederick Street and first views of the Castle perched on the volcanic outcrop.





We walk the couple of blocks down Rose Street – looking forward to be with our Church family, hear God’s Word and worship with others.





Baptisms, testimonies, encouragements, great music to help us lift our voices and hearts in worship!



We walked past this tempting little place and found real food for our souls!