SABBATH SCHOOL CLASSES AND CHURCH are open for in-person worship.  The children’s SS classes begin at 9:45 am and church service starts at 11:00 am Saturday mornings.  Please join us if you are able.  You can also join us on Facebook Live or on Zoom.

 

Join us next Sabbath and see what God has in store for us! 

 

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Vertical Conversations with God

Day 7 –

God’s Word Opens Our Eyes by Jim Kilmer, a prayer warrior and member of the UCC Prayer Team. Jim is also a retired Sabbath School and Personal Ministries leader in UCC Praying with scripture open’s our eyes to the Power of God. When Martin Luther prayed for his friend and fellow reformer, Melanchthon, who was ill, Luther said that he attacked God’s throne with His own weapons. Melanchthon was healed. Luther, no doubt, had in mind the texts in Isaiah 27:5 “Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” Luther’s Ph. D. degree was in Biblical Languages. He knew that the Hebrew word “strength” means also fortress or stronghold. 10 | P a g e Theologian Carl Barth writes that the Protestant Reformation was largely a work of prayer. Luther wrote most of his commentaries through prayer and meditation on scripture. When we quote the Bible in prayer, we are expressing the power of God. This power is in His promises. It is not that God needs to be reminded, but scripture is powerful to break down the stronghold of doubt that the enemy puts in our way. (2 Cor. 10:4) The Prophet Hosea says: “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips” Hosea 14:2. Elder Glenn Coon the author of the book, ABCs of Prayer, encouraged believers to memorize promises from God’s word and then repeat them in prayer. I have found that quoting Bible promises in prayer brings solid confidence that God hears us. He says: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” John 15:7. God abides in us through His word. As we pour out our hearts in earnest devotion, praying scripture, these words burn into our hearts and become life to our spiritual wellbeing. God breathes life to us and through us when we pray scripture. Jesus said, “the words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life” John 6:63. The words of scripture express our greatest need and deepest desires. These words elevate our thoughts to reach out for the Bread of Life who satisfies our soul hunger. The Bible is full of prayers that express these wants and needs. If we commit Bible passages to memory, these powerful words are available night and day, in sickness and sorrow, in fear and delight. Some of my favorite words: “Oh God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee. My soul thirsts for thee, my flesh longs for thee as in a dry and thirsty land where no water is…, to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in thy sanctuary. Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee . . . My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips, when I remember thee on my bed and when I meditate on thee in the night watches. (Portions from Psalm 63) Our Father who is in Heaven, You are exalted above all things and above all beings for You are worthy to receive power and glory and dominion. You have created us for Your own pleasure and glory. We hunger and thirst for Your presence, for in Your presence is fullness of joy and at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. We love to praise You for praise is comely. You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until we find rest in You. We thank You for forgiveness of sin and for new hearts and perfect happiness through Jesus. Amen

 

A Worldwide Church Family

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a mainstream Protestant church with approximately 19 million members worldwide, including more than one million members in North America. The Adventist Church operates 173 hospitals and sanitariums and more than 7,500 schools around the world. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) works within communities in more than 130 countries to provide community development and disaster relief.

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