“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:19-20
After Jesus had commissioned His disciples to “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), He ascended into heaven and was seated on the right hand of God the Father, a position of power and authority over all things, that His word might be preached in all the world by his followers and believed on by His chosen ones.
O risen and glorified Christ Jesus, You rule over all things and have commanded us to preach the Gospel in all the world. Enable us to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of forgiveness and life through faith in Your name, and bless the preaching of Your Word that those who hear also believe and are saved. To You be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:16-17
Through Spirit-wrought faith, we trust in Christ as our Savior and are children of God. As such, we have an inheritance awaiting us with Christ Jesus in heaven. However, as followers of Christ in this world, we can expect to share in His sufferings before we share in His glory.
O Savior, grant that we hold fast to You in faith through the persecutions and sufferings we, as Your followers, must endure in this world that we might also share with You in glory. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11
If the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in us, He will also raise us up from spiritual death and make us alive to God through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross and move us to live for Him.
O gracious Holy Spirit, wash away my sins in Jesus’ shed blood and raise me up to live for my Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:6-8
What people do not realize is that, because of our fallen nature, our thoughts, desires, words, and actions are tainted by sin’s corruption; we are spiritually dead and unable to truly love God, trust in Him, or honor Him with our lives. It is only by the Spirit of God working through the Word of God that we are reborn from above, trust in Christ for forgiveness, and have our minds renewed so that we might begin to love God, trust in Him, and honor Him with our lives.
O God, grant that we follow the leading and guiding of Your Holy Spirit through the Word so that we might trust in You for mercy and forgiveness and then love and honor Your holy name. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
Are you ready to pray this prayer — to ask God, who knows and sees all, to search and test your heart and reveal any wicked way in you? Are you ready for Him to lead you in the way everlasting by moving you to repent of your sins and look to Christ and His cross for pardon and forgiveness? Are you ready to seek the guidance and direction of God’s Word in your life?
Lead me, O God, to see and repent of my sins and trust in Christ’s holy life and innocent sufferings and death for pardon and forgiveness. “Lead me in the way everlasting.” Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
