October 24, 2006
Hi, this is Chalma again. I apologize for the delay in our next step in becoming godly people.
Last time, we looked at all the things the God is. After all, if we strive to be godly, we must know what God's characteristics are.
I prayed long and hard, "What next Lord?" For I do not want to mislead anyone! I felt that I know the answer, but I continued to pray until full and Godly information was given to me.
I believe with all my heart that we must receive God as sovereign in our lives. He created with a plan from the foundation of the earth. Sometimes we maybe persecuted, allowed to go into situations that hurt us. We may be given a "thorn in the flesh" (physical pain). We will always be tempted by Satan. Sometimes we will fail. Sometimes we will resist by learning God's promise to give victory over temptation. Plead the blood of Jesus over this.
I got ahead of myself. All of these things, though, follow the very first things we must do to become a godly person. It is to accept God's free gift of salvation through Jesus. That means not just believing in the mind, put it in your heart. Loving Him and accepting His free gift. "For salvation is of grace, not of works, lest any man should boast." Over the years I have learned that we are all on level ground. God has said "For all have sinned and fallen short of the grace of God". This is why salvation, by submission, is our first step. You may been saved for forty years or more. I have, but only by readying and studying God's word will we ever know all that submit means.
Next, I would like to recommend a wonderful book of prayers. They have been compiled for Christians to grow by. The book is titled "Prayers That Avail Much" written by Germaine Copeland (ISBN: 1577947525). It is a 25th edition of 3 volumes put together. Please read the following prayers from the book:
Submitting All To God
Father, You are the Supreme Authority - a God of order. You have instituted other authority structures that will support healthy relationships and maintain harmony. It is my decision to surrender my will to You, that I might find protection and dwell in the secret place of the Most High.
Father, thank You for pastors and leaders of the church - those who are submitted to You and are examples to the congregation. I submit to the church elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church) - [giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel].
Lord, You know just how rebellious I have been. I ask Your forgiveness for manipulating circumstances and people - for trying to manipulate You to get my own way. May Your will be done in my life, even as it is in heaven.
Father, when I feel that my life is spiraling out of control, I bind my mind to the mind of Christ, and my emotions to the control of the Holy Spirit. I loose my mind from obsessive thought patterns that try to confuse me.
Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Father, You are much more interested in my listening to You than in my offerings of material things to You. Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshipping idols. Forgive me for practicing witchcraft and worshiping idols.
Father, You deserve honesty from the heart; yes, utter sincerity and truthfulness. Oh, give me this wisdom. Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood, and I shall be clean again. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. You have rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the Kingdom of the Son You love, in Whom I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Lord, I want to follow You. I am putting aside my own desires and conveniences. I yield my desires that are not in Your plan for me. Even in the midst of my fear, I surrender and entrust my future to You. I chose to take up my cross and follow You [cleave steadfastly to You, conforming wholly to Your example in living and, if need be, in dying also]. I desire to lose my [lower life] on Your account that I might find it [the higher life].
Father, You gave me Jesus, to be my Example. He has returned to You, Father, and has sent the Holy Spirit to be my Helper and Guide. In this world there are temptations, trials, and tribulations; but Jesus has overcome the world, and I am of good cheer.
Jesus is my Lord. I choose to become His servant. He calls me His friend.
Lord, help me to walk through the process of surrendering my all to You. I exchange rebellion and stubbornness for a willing and obedient heart. When I refuse to listen, anoint my ears to hear; when I am blinded by my own desires, open my eyes to see.
I belong to Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, Who breaks down and destroys every yoke of bondage. In His name and in obedience to Your will, Father, I submit to the control and direction of the Holy Spirit Whom You have sent to live in me. I am Your child. All to You I surrender. I am an over-comer by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony!
In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Scripture Reference:
1 Corinthians 14:33
1 Timothy 2:2
Psalm 91:1
1 Peter 5:5
Matthew 6:10
James 4:7
1 Samuel 15:22-23
Psalm 51:6-7
Colossians 1:13-14
Matthew 10:38-39
John 16:33
John 15:15
Revelation 12:11
To Walk in God's Wisdom and His Perfect Will
Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being. You adopted me as Your child through Jesus Christ, in accordance with Your pleasure and will. I pray that I may be active in sharing my faith, so that I will have a full understanding of every good thing I have in Christ.
Father, I ask You to give me a complete understanding of what You want to do in my life, and I ask You to make me wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way I live will always honor and please You, and I will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, I will learn to know You better and better.
I roll my works upon You, Lord, and You make my thoughts agreeable to Your will, so my plans are established and succeed. You direct my steps and make them sure. I understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is for I am not vague, thoughtless, or foolish. I stand firm and mature in spiritual growth, convinced and fully assured in everything willed by God.
Father, You have destined and appointed me to come progressively to know Your will - that is to perceive, to recognize more strongly and clearly, and to become better and more intimately acquainted with Your will. I thank you, Father, for the Holy Spirit Who abides permanently in me and Who guides me into all the truth - the whole, full truth - and speaks whatever He hears from the Father and announces and declares to me the things that are to come. I have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts, feelings, and purposes of His heart.
So, Father, I have entered into that blessed rest by adhering to, trusting in, and relying on You, in the name of Jesus,. Hallelujah! Amen.
Scripture Reference:
Revelations 4:11
Ephesians 1:5
Colossians 1:9-10
Proverbs 16:3, 9
Ephesians 5:16
Colossians 4:12
Acts 22:14
1 Corinthians 2:16
Hebrews 4:10
Next time, we will look at the fruit of the Spirit. This, we must understand and let our fruit shine forth in our lives
I love you all. I pray that God will take what we have learned and hide it deep in our hearts that we might not sin against our lovely, wonderful and glorious Jesus!
Lord, You are always with us, even when we wage the strangest battle of our lives. Your presence, You are with us. Let all who desire in our hearts to be Godly men and women depend on this. Godly persons learn that by faith and not feelings. For, He is always with us, even when we feel He has deserted us.
I'll talk again soon and thank you for reading this next step of our journey toward becoming Godly.
With Christ's love,
Chalma
PS
After I finished our lesson, I saw an old lesson that is still so relevant today. Again, the Holy Spirit to me always, that a godly person knows Him through His word. This is one of my unusually simply lessons. Sometimes simplicity is best.
You can find the lesson at the link below:
http://sunsetroadbaptistchurch.com/files/Chalma020997.pdf
