AUGUST 2019 MBUMC FOCUS PRAYER
You are invited to join the Prayer Ministry team in praying this prayer.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people. Luke 4:18-19 GNT/(Isaiah 61:1 GNT)
Jesus said to those who believed in him, “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The people replied, “We are the descendants of Abraham, and we have never been anybody’s slaves. What do you mean, then, by saying, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus said to them, “I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever. If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free.” (John 8:31-36 GNT)
Freedom is what we have—Christ has set us free! Let us stand, then, as free people, and do not allow ourselves to become slaves again. (Galatians 5:1 GNT). You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. Let us not use our freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If we bite and devour each other, watch out or we may be destroyed by each other. (Galatians 5:13-15 GNT)
Let us walk by the Spirit, and we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that we are not to do whatever we want. But if we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18 GNT)
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 GNT)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25 GNT)
May it be so, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
O Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end;
Be thou forever near me, my Master and my friend.
I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if thou wilt be my guide.
O let thee hear me speaking in accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will.
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
O speak and make me listen, thou guardian of my soul.
H396, vs. 1,3, words-John E. Bode, ca. 1866; music-Arthur H. Mann, 1888.
