Monday Morning Prayer, 10 Aug 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Surely, it is God who saves me;
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense,
and he will be my Savior

“you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.
Now we call him, “Abba, Father.””
Romans 8:15

Collect for Purity

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Scripture Reading (NLT)

Psalm 90:1-2, 14

Lord, through all the generations
you have been our home!
Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from beginning to end, you are God.

-PSALM 90 – New Era

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
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Scripture Reading (NLT

Romans 8:9-18

You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

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Reflection on: “God’s Spirit lives in you”   (David Guzik)

How does one know that they have the Spirit? Answer these questions.

· Has the Spirit led you to Jesus?
· Has the Spirit put in you the desire to honor Jesus?
· Is the Spirit leading you to be more like Jesus?
· Is the Spirit at work in your heart?

We cry out, “Abba, Father.” It is easy for us to think of Jesus relating to the Father with this joyful confidence, but we may think we are disqualified for it. However, remember that we are in Christ – we have the privilege of relating to the Father even as Jesus Christ does.

“And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”
(Romans 8:17)

Prayer

Abba Father: Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to save us;
and thank you for giving us your Spirit to lead us into newness of life,
as your adopted children

+ Thank you for the Kingdom family that we have inherited in Christ….
+ Thank you for the full and satisfying life that we have inherited in Christ….
+ Thank you for the strength to endure suffering that we have inherited in Christ….
+ Thank you for the certain hope of eternal glory that we have inherited in Christ…

Abba Father: Fill us again with your life-giving Spirit; that we may live confidently and courageously and glorify your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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“Children of the Heavenly Father” – Sharon Mennonite Bible Institute Singers

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Closing (Romans 8:15-17

Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.