Scripture

People outside the church must speak well of him, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.

Reflection

My guidelines for the character of christian leaders are specific but flexible.

These are principles not laws. The leaders in my church will above all be people who love me deeply and passionately. They will be people who love others and pour themselves out in serving others.

These are the people who are beyond reproach, who live faithful lives. They are not in any way perfect, but they know they are restored by my grace.

The titles of the office change, and the particulars vary, but the men and women of God are people who live in humble fellowship with me and who study my word.

Being an “elder” is not a reward for long service. It is rather a recognition of a person of true character who carries the respect of the church and the community.

This description is really the description of any mature believer. They have devoted themselves to me and have overcome their sin in the power of my Spirit.

Prayer

Please Lord, raise up these mature believers in the faith. Let everyone who claims to follow you take the call so seriously that you change every part of their lives. Amen

Scripture

In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

Observation

In every place of worship, men must pray with hands and hearts that are holy and dedicated to the Lord.

Women must be modest in their dress, not drawing attention to themselves with ostentatious hair arrangements or expensive clothes and jewellery. Women should learn submissively. They should not lord it over the men.

Application

People can be proud in their public worship. They draw attention to themselves in the way they pray or in their appearance.

God is not interested in these human power games. He wants hearts that are focused on Him, hearts that are surrendered to Him.

So we pray with holy hands. Our hands must not be a party to sin during the week. God will cleanse us from sin, but we have to ask Him and confess our sins before we get to worship.

Our hands should be lifted to God in surrender to Him. We reach up to Him as the source of every good thing.

We must be free from anger and controversy. If we are not walking in genuine love with our brothers and sisters, then how can we seek the presence of the Lord?

Worship and prayer are not about actions. God judges our hearts and not our outward appearance.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you command us to be holy, just as you are holy. Please help me to approach your throne confidently, but always in the knowledge of your grace. Amen

Scripture

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for Kings and all who are in authority, so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

Observation

We are to pray for all people, interceding and giving thanks for them. We need to pray for our rulers, so that we can live quiet and peaceful lives.

This is good and pleases God. He wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth that there is just one God and one Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. Paul has been chosen by God as a preacher and apostle to the Gentiles.

Application

We are to pray for everybody, interceding and giving thanks for them. This means we are to pray for the people we know who are not saved. God wants everyone to come into a relationship with Him. We must pray regularly and wholeheartedly for our family members, neighbours, and work mates who do not yet know Jesus.

We are also to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters. We are all involved in the eternal war against Satan, and we need prayer from other Christians. That places on us all the responsibility to pray for the church

Finally, we are to pray for rulers and kings. In the politically overheated atmosphere where nobody has respect for politicians, we who are Christians must love and respect our leaders, praying for them to be led by the Spirit of God.

Prayer

Father, please help me to pray and intercede for all people. Amen

Scripture

Cling to your faith in Christ and keep your conscience clear. For some have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked

Reflection

My child, cling to your faith and hold onto me. If you really love me, you will keep my commandments.

This is not religion or legalism. Know this: I give you freedom to obey, not freedom to sin. You cannot obey Christ and live and live for your flesh.

I long to see you holy and devoted entirely to me. That is what the gospel is for. That is why I placed my Spirit in you.

I have not admonishing you about occasional sin. The conscience violating sin is the sin that you indulge in over and over. You know it is wrong, but the allure of what of that thing keeps calling you back to it.

It is possible to shipwreck your faith. If you choose to keep going back and sinning repeatedly, I will not necessarily have you back.

Do not abandoned hope though. I will always receive a sinner who truly repents and turns to me – even one who has shipwrecked their faith.

Prayer

Please Lord keep me free from sin. Help me to keep my conscience clear and to refrain from the pleasures of the world. Amen

Scripture

Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

Reflection

Paul, or Saul as he was then known, was far from me. He loved my word more than he loved me.

There are many of that type of person still in the church. They love the Bible more than they love me. They love the traditions more than they love me. They love the committees and procedures of the church more than they love me.

It breaks my heart that such people have made what is good into an idol.

Rejoice, though, that such people are not beyond salvation. I gave the law to spark the consciences of liars, adulterers, and thieves. I give myself to catch the attention of the idolaters in the church.

Pray for them and for yourself that you would not fall prey to this insidious temptation.

Keep your heart soft towards me. Put me first in all things.

Prayer

Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters who have lost their way and have substituted a love for your gifts instead of loving you. Please keep me safe from this temptation. Amen

Scripture

The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and gentle faith.

Reflection

My people too often miss the point of my word. They fill their minds with the arrogance of knowledge, looking for points of difference to establish their own superiority.

I don’t care whether you worship on Sunday or Saturday, as long as you worship me with a pure heart.

It doesn’t affect your walk with me or the forgiveness of sins whether you believe the Son of God was crucified on a Friday or a Wednesday.

It will make no difference to my plans for your life whether you think Christ’s return is next Sunday or next millennium.

My child, I long for your heart to be pure, your conscience clear, and your faith gentle.

Come to me and lay all your burdens down at my feet. I will take them and give you lightness of spirit.

Confess your sins to me and let go of them when you do so. Don’t stagger under the weight of guilt when I declare you “Not guilty.”

Love your Christian brothers and sisters wholeheartedly. If you disagree on points of doctrine, let love override your disagreement.

None of you as a monopoly on truth.

I am the truth. Surrender to me with all your heart and you will see the truth.

My word is truth and life. Study my word for wisdom not knowledge, for truth and not to win arguments .

Set your heart on me always.

Prayer

Lord, I come to you now, humbly and honestly. Cleanse my heart of my sin and impure thoughts. Help me to love all of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen