August 17, 2009

  • What few things does He have against us? (the church in Pergamum)

    And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

    –Revelation 2:12-17

    Lord Jesus, You who have the sharp two-edged sword. Though You do commend us today in some things, we ask that You give us ears to hear what the Your Spirit is saying to each one of us today regarding our sin. May Your kindness lead us to repentance.

    Where are we holding to the teaching of Balaam?
    How are we worshiping other gods?
    How are we not making Your Lord of all?
    How are we trying to serve two masters?
    How are we holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans?
    How are we taking the liberty we have in Christ turning it into licentiousness?

    By Your Word, O God, show us these things. We are deaf to our sin apart from Your opening our ears. We are blind to our sin apart from Your opening our eyes.

    Your Word, O God, is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from Your sight, but all of us are naked and exposed to the eyes of You to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:14-16, adapted)

    We know we must give account to You.
    We confess that we often hold to the teaching of Balaam.
    We confess we worship other gods.
    Your Body was torn so we might eat of You alone.
    Forgive us, O God of gods, when we go to eat elsewhere,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    We confess we lust after and gorge ourselves with earthly food rather than feeding upon the angels' food You provide, Your heavenly manna.
    We confess we don't see Your food as sufficient for us.
    We confess we don't see Your food as good, so we covet and crave lesser, carnal things.
    We confess we are not content with Your provision for us.
    We confess we eat food sacrificed to idols.
    Forgive us our iniquity, O Bread of Life,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    We know we must give account to You.
    We confess we do not make You Lord of all.
    We make ourselves lords of our lives.
    Forgive us our iniquity, O Lord of lords,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    We know we must give account to You.
    We confess we try to serve two masters.
    We try to serve our lusts and serve You.
    Forgive us our iniquity, O Master of our souls,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    We know we must give account to You.
    We confess we hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
    We confess we worship our own lusts.
    You loved us and freed us so we might worship You and You alone.
    Forgive us our iniquity, O Lover of our souls, when we play the harlot,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    We confess we lust after and covet after earthly joys rather than being satisfied with the pleasures forevermore available to us in Your presence.
    We confess we don't see Your presence as sufficient for us.
    We confess we don't see Your presence as good, so we covet and crave lesser, carnal things.
    We confess we are not content with Your provision for us.
    We confess we follow after our own lusts.
    Forgive us our iniquity, O Lover of our souls,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. 2 O my soul , thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; 3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. 5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

    –Psalm 16, KJV

    (Please also read Psalm 78.)

    Turn us back to You so we might abide in You. As we dwell in Your presence, as we follow Your path of life, You will provide fullness of joy to us and satisfaction abounding. No earthly joys can compare to You. Lead us to back to You once more and taste and see that You are good. We confess we are prone to wander. Guard us and keep us in Your care, O Good Shepherd. Amen.

    Please ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and add your prayers here as He leads...

Comments (3)

  • Father, I confess I've begun to make more of my Christian friends than I ought. Please forgive me. Help me never to put my friends before You. You are the Friend who sticks closer than a brother. I cannot ever love my friends more than You. They are a gift from You for however long You choose to give them to me. Help me to trust You will provide the friends I need when I need them. You know my needs and will not withhold from me any good thing. Thank You for reminding me there are many other brothers and sisters standing faithful for Your Gospel. Amen.

  • Lord, enable Your people to remember also the blessings You have lavished on them (Ephesians 1) and the ways You have provided to handle temptation when it comes (I Cor. 10:13).

    In Jesus' Name

    Amen

  • Lord, thanks for those strong qualities that Pergamum possessed--holding fast to your name and not denying the faith when persecution arrived. We do hope and pray that their mistakes will not become ours. Deliver us from the pitfalls of the clashing culture around us. Give parents some simple solutions to all the entertainment available to them and their children. Give them wisdom about teaching their children the truth about You in a hostile environment. May your Spirit lead and direct many churches through the maze of distractions facing all Believers. amen

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tent_of_meeting

"he called it the tent of meeting..."

I am burdened to pray to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the reformation and reviving of Christ's church.

The phrase tent of meeting comes from Exodus 33:7: Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.

This site is devoted to God first and foremost. In all that is done here, my prayer is that God is glorified and His Name magnified and Christ and Him crucified is lifted up so He might be preeminent and God might receive all the praise, honor and glory due His Holy Name. All who have come to a saving knowledge of our Father by grace through faith in the all-sufficient sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are welcome to enter this tent of meeting to seek the Lord.

This blog is a place for all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to come and seek God's face for revival. My intention is for this tent of meeting to be a holy place where we can enter into PRAYER together to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit leads you, please enter into prayer either here (think of "comments" as prayers) or on your own.

Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

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