SEARCHLIGHT

  Matthew 6:9-10 “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. The Bible provides us with a rich and broad vision of intercessory prayer. Both the Old and New Testaments are full of examples of people offering prayer for others. Abraham pleads with God to spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah; Moses asks God to spare the people after they worship the golden calf; Jeremiah exhorts the captive Israelites to pray for Babylon, the city to which they have been exiled. Throughout the Old Testament there are continual reminders to remember the orphans, widows, and strangers. This emphasis on intercessory prayer was further strengthened and supported by the example and teaching of Jesus himself. “Pray for those who persecute you,” Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, and then proceeded to do exactly that as he was being crucified: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” The early Christ

  OCTOBER 31, 2023 Psalm 46   God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! 4 A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. 5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. 6 The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! 7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. 8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world. 9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be

  OCTOBER 30, 2023   “Salvation is by  Grace Alone , through  Faith Alone , in  Christ Alone , according to  Scripture Alone , for the  glory of God Alone ."   Today let’s reflect together on the theme of “Glory to God alone.”  The truth that the Reformers were most concerned to promote and what can be seen as the central theme of Scripture is  soli Deo gloria  — to God alone be the glory.   Ephesians 1:17-21 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the  Father of glory , may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and aut

  October 27, 2023     Romans 10:9-13  9If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”   12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”   Acts 4:11-12  11Jesus is “   ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”   Colossians 1:16-17 “All things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”     I Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and

    OCTOBER 26, 2023   2 Corinthians 12:9   9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   2 Timothy 1:9   9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time …”   Ephesians 2:8-9   8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.   What was the Reformation, really? What Luther, Calvin and the other Reformers devoted themselves to was nothing less than a recovery mission. They were recovering the rich, powerful, message of free grace in Jesus, or as they put it “Grace Alone.” Grace is a gift most of us do not know how to receive. We have been so flooded with

  OCTOBER 25, 2023 Romans 1:16-17 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”   2 Corinthians 5:21 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.   Philippians 3:9 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.   “When I was a monk, I didn’t accomplish anything through fasting and prayer. This is because neither I nor any of

  October 24, 2023 Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and   like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”   The Latin phrase “Sola Scriptura” ( By Scripture Alone ) means that God’s Word is sufficient and has the highest authority for all of life. This does not mean that the Bible is clear on every issue or question we have. However, Sola Scriptura means that the Bible is the reliable Word of God and takes supreme authority over our lives in every area it speaks to. We read in 2 Peter 1:19,  “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable , and you will do well to pay attention to it , as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ” When it comes to the spiritual life, Sola Scriptura means that the Bible gets the final word. As Christ followers, we believe that all answers to our questions and all wisdom for life should first and principally be found in the Word of God. Yes

  OCTOBER 23, 2023     2 Timothy 3:15-17  . . .you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.   Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.   Our Devotions this week will focus on the key teachings and encouragement that come to us out the historical period know as the Reformation.  I should tell you that a question prompted my preparing this series of devotionals. The question was REFORMATION? Why should I care? Why should we care? My prayer is that by weeks end we will be able to answer these questions and be able to acknowledge why this act of remembering i