It has become a recent practice in our church to take an old Puritan prayer and adapt it as a congregational prayer. As I was preparing this week’s sermon on the topic of “the Gospel” – I came across a wonderful prayer that I have now adapted for the congregation but could not wait to make it known.
As we contemplate the opportunities we will have to be ministers of the Gospel in 2007, may this be a guiding prayer.
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Blessed Lord Jesus,
No human mind could conceive of invent the gospel. Acting in eternal grace, You are both its Messenger and its Message, lived out on earth through infinite compassion, apply Your life to insult, injury, death, that I might be redeemed, ransomed, freed.
Blessed be You, O Father, for contriving this way;
Eternal thanks to You, O Lamb of God, for opening this way,
Praise everlasting to You, O Holy Spirit, for applying this way to our hearts.
Glorious Trinity, impress the gospel on our souls, until its virtue diffuses every faculty; let it be heard, acknowledged, professed, felt.
Teach us to secure this mighty blessing; help us to give up every darling lust, to submit heart and life to its command, to have it in our wills, controlling our affections, molding our understanding; to adhere strictly to the rules of true religion, not departing form them in any instance, nor for any advantage in order to escape evil, inconvenience or danger. Take us to the cross to seek glory from its infamy; strip us of every pleasing pretence of righteousness by our own doings.
O gracious Redeemer,
We have neglected You too long, often crucified You, crucified You afresh by our impenitence, put You to open shame.
We thank You for the patience that has borne with us so long, and for the grace that now makes us willing to be Yours. O unite us to Yourself with inseparable bonds, that nothing may ever draw us back from You, our Lord, our Savior.
Amen.
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As we contemplate the opportunities we will have to be ministers of the Gospel in 2007, may this be a guiding prayer.
- - - - - - -
Blessed Lord Jesus,
No human mind could conceive of invent the gospel. Acting in eternal grace, You are both its Messenger and its Message, lived out on earth through infinite compassion, apply Your life to insult, injury, death, that I might be redeemed, ransomed, freed.
Blessed be You, O Father, for contriving this way;
Eternal thanks to You, O Lamb of God, for opening this way,
Praise everlasting to You, O Holy Spirit, for applying this way to our hearts.
Glorious Trinity, impress the gospel on our souls, until its virtue diffuses every faculty; let it be heard, acknowledged, professed, felt.
Teach us to secure this mighty blessing; help us to give up every darling lust, to submit heart and life to its command, to have it in our wills, controlling our affections, molding our understanding; to adhere strictly to the rules of true religion, not departing form them in any instance, nor for any advantage in order to escape evil, inconvenience or danger. Take us to the cross to seek glory from its infamy; strip us of every pleasing pretence of righteousness by our own doings.
O gracious Redeemer,
We have neglected You too long, often crucified You, crucified You afresh by our impenitence, put You to open shame.
We thank You for the patience that has borne with us so long, and for the grace that now makes us willing to be Yours. O unite us to Yourself with inseparable bonds, that nothing may ever draw us back from You, our Lord, our Savior.
Amen.
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Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Ed
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