watchmen

  • "You have hindered God's work by your want of prayer." (from M'Cheyne's 8th Pastoral Letter)

    In my last post I quoted from Robert Murray M'Cheyne, who reminded us that we "ought never do anything without prayer."

    Once again I'd like to bring you something from M'Cheyne. As way of background ~ M'Cheyne wrote a series of ten Pastoral Letters during the time he was away from his flock at St. Peter's, Dundee (initially for a few months due to illness, during which time he sensed God's call to go on mission to the Jews, and then he was gone for a period of eight months after that on mission, before returning to Scotland). (As an aside, this is a reminder how God desires to use us regardless of where we are; I've found what I've read of these letters so encouraging!)

    In his Eighth Pastoral Letter, subtitled "Warnings to the unsaved—Causes why so many among us are unsaved," Robert Murray M'Cheyne first addresses his own sins and shortcomings as a minister after which he addresses his flock. His second point in that section of the letter dealt with his people's want of prayer. I think these words are a much-needed exhortation to the Church of God today.

    ... You have hindered God's work by your want of prayer. When God gives grace to souls, it is in answer to the prayers of His children. You will see this, on the Day of Pentecost, Acts ii. Ezek. xxxvii. 9 shews, that in answer to the prayer of a single child of God, God will give grace to a whole valley full of dry and prayerless bones. Where God puts it into the heart of His children to pray, it is certain that He is going to pour down His Spirit in abundance. Now, where have been your prayers, O children of God ? The salvation of those around you depends on your asking, and yet " hitherto ye have asked nothing in Christ's name." Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers keep not silence, and give Him no rest. Alas ! you have given God much rest— you have allowed His hand to remain unplucked out of his bosom. It is said of John Welsh, minister of Ayr, that he used always to sleep with a plaid upon his bed, that he might wrap it around him when he arose in the night to pray. He used to spend whole nights in wrestling with God for Zion, and for the purity of the Church of Scotland ; and he wondered how Christians could lie all night in bed without rising to pray. Oh! we have few Welshes now, therefore our Church is so dim, and our land a barren wilderness. Dear Christians, I often think it strange that ever we should be in heaven, and so many in hell through our soul-destroying carelessness. The good Lord pardon the past, and stir you up for the future. I learn that you are more stirred up to pray since I left, both in secret and unitedly. God grant it be so. Continue in it, dear children. Do not let it slip again. Plead and wrestle with God, shewing him that the cause is his own, and that it is all for his own glory to arise and have mercy upon Zion.

    * * *

    Isaiah 62:
    1  For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
    and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
    until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
    and her salvation as a burning torch.
    2  The nations shall see your righteousness,
    and all the kings your glory,
    and you shall be called by a new name
    that the mouth of the LORD will give.
    3  You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
    and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
    4  You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
    and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
    but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
    and your land Married;
    for the LORD delights in you,
    and your land shall be married.
    5  For as a young man marries a young woman,
    so shall your sons marry you,
    and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
    so shall your God rejoice over you.
    6  On your walls, O Jerusalem,
    I have set watchmen;
    all the day and all the night
    they shall never be silent.
    You who put the LORD in remembrance,
    take no rest,
    7  and give him no rest
    until he establishes Jerusalem
    and makes it a praise in the earth.

    Holy Father, We confess how often we have left off in prayer. We confess we do not give You peace nor rest. Prayer is a privilege and a responsibility and a calling of all Your children. Your Son gave His body and blood so we might be given entrance to Your throne room. The Lord Jesus Christ made the way into the Holy of Holies so we might go there with Him also. He continues to intercede for us today without ceasing. Your Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Lord God, Forgive us for not availing ourselves of this blessed birthright of prayer.

    Holy Father, Forgive us for being lukewarm and complacent. Forgive us for being cold and uncaring. We confess that we are so hot and engaged in worldly pursuits. Yet, where is that same fire and engagement in heavenly pursuits? Cleanse and purify our hearts, our minds and our desires so we might have a greater passion for Your cause and Your glory. We confess how we are so often self-centered, concerned about our own causes and our own glory, ready to do just about anything for self-interest. We confess how little we are concerned about Your cause and Your glory: the saving of many souls from all nations through Jesus Christ to Your glory. We confess that our own self-interests consume us more than passion for Your cause and Your glory. Forgive us and cleanse us from us selfishness. You saved us so we might not walk according to our own lusts but to Your good, acceptable and perfect will. Send Your Holy Fire to consume us afresh and anew with a passion for Your cause and Your glory.

    Holy Father, Send Your Spirit to cleanse and purify our hearts, our minds and our desires so we might have a greater passion for intercessory prayer. Forgive us that we have hindered Your work by our want of prayer. Help us to be zealous for Your cause and Your glory. Help us to plead and wrestle with You for Zion without ceasing – for lost souls, for lukewarm souls, for our own souls. How often do we plead and wrestle for our own earthly, fleshly interests! Forgive us for having such impure thoughts and desires. May we be a bright and shining torch again, a city upon a hill, to which many nations will see Your light, righteousness and glory and stream there so they might seek and know You and the joy of Your salvation.

    Holy Father, Stir us up so we might pray without ceasing for Your cause and Your glory. Stir us up out of our beds. Stir us up in our homes. Stir us up in our church buildings. Stir us up as we walk. Stir us up as we sit. Stir us up wherever we are. Stir us up all the day. Stir us up all the night. Stir us up so we cannot keep silent but continue importunate in prayer. Stir us up to Your cause and Your glory. How can we be content unless we are united with Your mind and heart in this desire? Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon Zion. Have mercy upon Your Church. Have mercy upon our dry and prayerless bones! Breathe life into us, Holy Spirit, so prayers might rise as incense to Your throne once again for Your good pleasure. Amen.

    Please add your own PRAYERS as God's Spirit leads you.

  • You have performed Your words, For You are righteous. (Nehemiah 9:8)

    Yesterday I was rereading in Nehemiah 9 with the intent to continue on after my last post/prayer on Nehemiah 9:1-3 by focusing on how the leaders of the people led the way in confession of sin during corporate worship. I began reading . . .

    Nehemiah 9 (NKJV)
    4 Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the LORD their God. 5 And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said:

          “Stand up and bless the LORD your God
          Forever and ever!

          “Blessed be Your glorious name,
          Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!

     6 You alone are the LORD;
          You have made heaven,
          The heaven of heavens, with all their host,
          The earth and everything on it,
          The seas and all that is in them,
          And You preserve them all.
          The host of heaven worships You.

     7 “You are the LORD God,
          Who chose Abram,
          And brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans,
          And gave him the name Abraham;

     8 You found his heart faithful before You,
          And made a covenant with him
          To give the land of the Canaanites,
          The Hittites, the Amorites,
          The Perizzites, the Jebusites,
          And the Girgashites—
          To give it to his descendants.
          You have performed Your words,
          For You are righteous.

    That last phrase in verse 8 caught my eye and my heart:

    You have performed Your words,
          For You are righteous.


    I've written about God's calling to me to pray for revival and starting up tent of meeting most recently here, and at greater length here. If you are relatively new to tent of meeting, I would encourage you to read those posts.

    Today just as the leaders of Israel did in Nehemiah 9, I would like to cry out with a loud voice to the Lord my God, to bless Him and His glorious Name for how He has performed His words to me in this calling for He is righteous.

    You alone are the Lord!
    You have made the heavens and the earth and all that is in them.
    You preserve them all.
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    You alone are the Lord! You are the LORD God.
    You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    You alone are the Lord!
    You have formed me and given me breath.
    But then You breathed new life into me by Your Spirit.
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    You alone are the Lord! You are the LORD God.
    You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    You alone are the Lord!
    You chose me to be Your child.
    But then You called me to intercede for Your Church.
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    You alone are the Lord! You are the LORD God.
    You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    You alone are the Lord!
    You called me to intercede for Your Church,
    Yet I had no desire to do so, but You put it on my heart, You gave me the desire.
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    You alone are the Lord! You are the LORD God.
    You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    You alone are the Lord!
    You know how I have fumbled and stumbled in this calling.
    Apart from You I could do nothing. You persevered with me so I might persevere in this calling.
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    You alone are the Lord! You are the LORD God.
    You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    You alone are the Lord!
    You kept me coming back to Your throne of grace,
    Despite my disenchantment, doubt, loneliness and weariness.
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    You alone are the Lord! You are the LORD God.
    You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    You alone are the Lord!
    You called others to intercede for Your Church.
    They have come alongside me to encourage me.
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    You alone are the Lord! You are the LORD God.
    You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    You alone are the Lord!
    You renewed my strength when I was weak. You turned my eyes back to the ruins.
    How could I give You rest so long as Your Church is a reproach to Your Name and not a praise in the earth?
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    You alone are the Lord! You are the LORD God.
    You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    You alone are the Lord!
    You opened up the heavens to me in ways I could not imagine.
    Prayer has begun to become sweet communion and a joy to my heart.
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    You alone are the Lord! You are the LORD God.
    You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    You alone are the Lord!
    How can I not tarry in prayer alongside You in the heavenly places?
    Jesus, Great High Priest, You ever live to intercede for us. O, continue to melt my will into Yours, Sovereign Lord.
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    You alone are the Lord! You are the LORD God.
    You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    Ah, LORD God, what kind of God are You?
    You alone are the Lord.
    You are the God who calls us and then works in us the calling.
    We are faithful only because You are faithful. Preserve us here, Lord.
    LORD God, I want to bless You and bless Your glorious Name today and forever and ever.
    Truly You have performed Your words, for You are righteous!
    You have worked immeasurably above all I could have asked or imagined.
    The God who called me has been faithful. You have surely done it! Glory to God!

    As the Spirit leads you, please add your praises to the Lord for His faithfulness to you to perform His words.

  • Pour out on us a spirit of grace and of supplications

    And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications... (Zechariah 12:10a, KJV)

    And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy (Zechariah,12:10a, ESV)

    Supplication late Middle English from Latin supplicat 'implored,' from the verb supplicare, from sub- 'from below,' + placere 'propitiate.'

    Holy Father, Son and Spirit,

    Our sins and iniquities separated us from You...

    Isaiah 59
    1  Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
    or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
    2  but your iniquities have made a separation
    between you and your God,
    and your sins have hidden his face from you
    so that he does not hear.

    We were lost, we were dead in our sins and transgressions...

    10  We grope for the wall like the blind;
    we grope like those who have no eyes;
    we stumble at noon as in the twilight,
    among those in full vigor we are like dead men.
    11  We all growl like bears;
    we moan and moan like doves;
    we hope for justice, but there is none;
    for salvation, but it is far from us.
    12  For our transgressions are multiplied before you,
    and our sins testify against us;
    for our transgressions are with us,
    and we know our iniquities:
    13  transgressing, and denying the LORD,
    and turning back from following our God,
    speaking oppression and revolt,
    conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words.
    14  Justice is turned back,
    and righteousness stands afar off;
    for truth has stumbled in the public squares,
    and uprightness cannot enter.
    15  Truth is lacking,
    and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

    We had no intercessor...

    The LORD saw it, and it displeased him
    that there was no justice.
    16  He saw that there was no man,
    and wondered that there was no one to intercede;

    But then! the exceeding riches of Your grace poured down from above!
    Your grace sent Jesus Christ, who was our plea for mercy.
    Your grace sent Jesus Christ, who was our supplication.


    then his own arm brought him salvation,
    and his righteousness upheld him.

    Romans 5:6  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

    O, how can it be! Amazing grace poured out on vile and unworthy sinners like us!
    If we have known You, if we have known such grace,
    ought we not be filled with such a Spirit?
    Your Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy!
    Your Spirit of grace and of supplications!
    Yet how little time do we spend interceding at Your throne!
    How can we say we know You or Your grace if we neglect to sit at Your feet!
    Forgive us, O Lord God. Cleanse us from our sin.

    Lord God, hear our pleas and supplications for Jesus' sake!
    Father of mercies, Pour out on us Your Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy!
    Slain Lamb of God, Pour out on us Your Spirit of grace and of supplications!

    We were once not Your people...
    We once had not received mercy...

    Hosea 1:6  She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the LORD said to him, “Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all. 7  But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen.”

    8  When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. 9  And the LORD said, “Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”

    But then! the exceeding riches of Your grace poured down from above!
    Your grace sent Jesus Christ, who was our plea for mercy.
    Your grace sent Jesus Christ, who was our supplication.

    Hosea 2:1  Say to your brothers, “You are my people,” and to your sisters, “You have received mercy.”

    I Peter 2:10  Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

    O, how can it be! Amazing grace poured out on vile and unworthy sinners like us!
    If we have known You, if we have known such grace,
    ought we not be filled with such a Spirit?
    Your Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy!
    Your Spirit of grace and of supplications!
    Yet how little time do we spend interceding at Your throne!
    How can we say we know You or Your grace if we neglect to sit at Your feet!
    Forgive us, O Lord God. Cleanse us from our sin.

    Lord God, hear our pleas and supplications for Jesus' sake!
    Father of mercies, Pour out on us Your Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy!
    Slain Lamb of God, Pour out on us Your Spirit of grace and of supplications!


    We had no plea but guilty.
    Our mouths were stopped.
    We had no offering for sin.
    We were an unclean thing.
    Our works were filthy rags.
    We were eternally condemned.

    Isaiah 64:6  We have all become like one who is unclean,
    and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

    Romans 3:19  Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God 20  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

    John 3:18b whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

    But then! the exceeding riches of Your grace poured down from above!
    Your grace sent Jesus Christ, who was our plea for mercy.
    Your grace sent Jesus Christ, who was our supplication.
     

    Romans 3:21  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

    Hebrews 2:17  Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

    O, how can it be! Amazing grace poured out on vile and unworthy sinners like us!
    If we have known You, if we have known such grace,
    ought we not be filled with such a Spirit?
    Your Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy!
    Your Spirit of grace and of supplications!
    Yet how little time do we spend interceding at Your throne!
    How can we say we know You or Your grace if we neglect to sit at Your feet!
    Forgive us, O Lord God. Cleanse us from our sin.

    Lord God, hear our pleas and supplications for Jesus' sake!
    Father of mercies, Pour out on us Your Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy!
    Slain Lamb of God, Pour out on us Your Spirit of grace and of supplications!

    Like the disciples, we confess we struggle with watching in prayer for even an hour...

    Mark 14:32  And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray...” 35 "...Remain here and watch.”

    37  And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

    40  And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41  And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?...”

    But then! the exceeding riches of Your grace poured down from above!
    Your grace sent Jesus Christ, who was our plea for mercy.
    Your grace sent Jesus Christ, who was our supplication.

    Lord Jesus, You persevered in prayer in the Garden...

    Mark 14:32  And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33  And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34  And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35  And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36  And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37  And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39  And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40  And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41  And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42  Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

    And You continue to persevere in prayer at our Father's right hand as our perfect High Priest, where You never fail to plead for us...

    Hebrews 7:25  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

    26  For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27  He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28  For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

    O, how can it be! Amazing grace poured out on vile and unworthy sinners like us!
    If we have known such grace, ought we not be filled with such a Spirit?
    Your Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy!
    Your Spirit of grace and of supplications!
    Yet how little time do we spend interceding at Your throne!
    How can we say we know You or Your grace if we neglect to sit at Your feet!
    Forgive us, O Lord God. Cleanse us from our sin.

    Lord God, hear our pleas and supplications for Jesus' sake!
    Father of mercies, Pour out on us Your Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy!
    Slain Lamb of God, Pour out on us Your Spirit of grace and of supplications!

    Please add your PRAYERS to the Lord to pour out on His people a spirit of grace and of supplications!

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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