Devotions - Read Online
Wednesday | 23 January 2019
We first received our name, from the Father, when we were born from above by the incorruptible word of God. 1Pe 1:23. Furthermore, the Father continues to speak to us each week, through the word spoken at the communion table, concerning our sonship and the works we are to do. These works belong to our name and sanctification as a son of God. The faith we receive each week enables us to believe and obey what the Father is saying to us. Our first ‘work’ of faith is to speak – and the first context in which we speak, is the secret place of prayer. Rom 10:8. Thus, from the communion table, we proceed by faith to abide in the fellowship of prayer with the Lord.
Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, has invited us to join the prayer meeting of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As we are joined to Their prayer meeting, by the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to offer prayer and worship in the same way that Christ did! In the garden of Gethsemane, Christ offered Himself in prayer and worship to the Father. Eph 5:2. Jesus Christ has opened the way for us to join Him, as priests, in His offering of prayer and worship to the Father. We read in the book of Revelation, ‘He has made us to be a kingdom [of] priests to His God and Father’. Rev 1:6.
Christ’s prayer in the garden of Gethsemane revealed the fellowship of prayer in the most holy place of the true tabernacle. Heb 8:2. Jesus described this as ‘the secret place of prayer’. Mat 6:6. Through His instruction, Jesus teaches us to pray to our Father who is in secret, confessing Him as our Father. Mat 6:9. And, significantly, we note that the Holy Spirit is joining us to the continual fellowship and offering of Yahweh. In this sense, the fellowship of prayer doesn’t ‘begin’ when we start to pray. Rather, we are joining Their ongoing discussion.
Further Study:
Romans 8
Daily Proverb:
References:
1Pe 1:23
Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
Rom 10:8
But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach).
Eph 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Rev 1:6
And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Mat 6:6
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Mat 6:9
In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.’