All tagged church

Prayers of Compassion and the Elders

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Elders in the Church

I wrote much of this morning's devotional offering a few years ago, but after reading it again, I thought I would share it with all the readers of my morning devotional thoughts... it speaks of my journey, of prayer, and of God's hand in our lives, and it deals with something that is all but lost in the church today. So, this morning we will deal with praying from a broad base of experience, and with a heightened sense of compassion that years of living, and suffering, give us. This is our contemplation and was also the subject of my morning devotional reading

Private Prayer and Public Worship

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Prayer in Church

This morning let’s discuss experiencing private prayer during times of public worship. I have attended many churches during my life and have felt varying degrees of private prayer being welcomed during a service. On the one extreme I have prayed loudly and demonstratively beside Pentecostal brethren, prayed private prayers in a more subdued manner in my current church, and attended "high church" in Churches where very little private prayer is evident or encouraged. However, in each case private prayer does occur… it simply erupts from embattled souls across the sanctuary as believers adorn themselves in the armor of God and enter into personal states of worship, thankfulness, and distress.

Unity, Righteousness, and Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Unity in the Church, Unity in the Church

In Paul's letter to the Romans he presents a list of greetings to the church in order to insure unity within the newly forming bride of Christ, and he warns them to separate themselves from those who would bring discord within the Church. Paul was concerned about the Church moving away from the true gospel of Jesus, and becoming fractured. We should be equally concerned about this today.

Church Discord and Flight

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Church Flight

A couple of days ago we discussed the topic of praying for our pastors, but today let’s turn our attention to our churches themselves. My devotional reading this morning was titled "The Church Equals Its Leaders" and the message, although not a hard one to grasp, warrants our attention, and has been a difficult one for me to write about. In my reading there were a couple of thoughts I felt worth repeating... "Preachers are pre-eminently God's leaders... They shape a church’s character and give tone and direction to its life.", and... "The church is divine, the treasure it holds is heavenly. But it bears the imprint of the human. The treasure is in earthen vessels."

The Aroma of Religion

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Devotion on Holy Days

This coming Sunday being Palm Sunday makes today’s lesson all the more pertinent. There are three Sunday's when people attend church who don't typically come, and this is one of them. This is not a time to judge them, or look down our noses on them in pious condemnation of their faith, but to rejoice in their presence there with us, and embrace them. This is the time to open our hearts to them, and to smell the aroma of their religion and God as they are drawn back to the Church to seek, believe, and worship. May they fill the church pews, and the scent of their devotion waft over us on these holy days. They are the temple just as we, who might come to church every Sunday, are the temple… beware lest we destroy God’s Temple and destroy ourselves.

Guarding our Crown, our Church, and our Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Guarding Faith

In the book of Revelation the church at Philadelphia was told to hold fast to what they believed, and the faith they had. They were warned that if they did not then someone might seize their crown. These warnings are just as valid for us today, because the glory, and the danger of having it snatched from us is just as real. The dark one is still in the earth, and he rages with the same determined intensity. Even today he snarls and reveals his teeth, and his appetite for souls remains insatiable. Are we holding fast to the hand of Christ, and guarding our own crown as if Satan himself were trying to rip it from us?

Victory Today Despite the World’s Efforts

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Victory of the Church

Many Christians today have a defeatist mentality; they look at how the dark forces of the world have turned against God, Jesus, and the Church , and in their despair they proceed to wring their hands. So what are we to do when faced with such seemingly overwhelming odds? God’s Word tells us that we are to pray, and lean faithfully on Him. What we see today is not the first time that Satan has mustered his forces and marched against the Church. The history of Christianity is filled with such moments as these, and has always emerged triumphant. Are we praying as we should, or leaning sadly on our own misunderstanding of today’s events?

Pray for the Enemies within the Church

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Enemies of the Church

There are many challenges that face the Church today, but none so great as those that have risen up within it. Pastors that are not called by God, but are thieves who see the Church as vulnerable, and its children to be easily abused and taken advantage of. False prophets who desire notoriety, and serve only themselves. Men of God who fall victim to their own lusts; having forgotten God, and how to pray. These, and others, have breached the Holy walls of the Church, put God’s people to shame, have dishonored Him, and stand as obstacles to the salvation of many.

Praying Powerfully for the Church, and those who Lead It

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Prayer for the Church

When was the last time you prayed for your church leaders? It is so important to lift up those who have been called to be the tip of the spear in the war against sin. We should be honoring them, and asking the Lord to guide their every step. They are not only preaching and teaching the gospel to unbelievers, but they are also being attacked by the dark one.as he attempts to stop them from making a spiritual impact.

One God, one Faith, and One Church

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , One Church

Do you long to be in the presence of God? When you pass by a church do you admire the cross that crowns it, and think of Jesus Christ, and all He does for you? Do you dream of being in God’s presence, standing with Jesus before God the Father with your face aglow, and your heart nearly exploding with the joy He brings you? If so, you are not alone, and your soul is singing in unison with so many others.