Chrysostom
Beloved of All
We join with you in thanking God for the cross and for His Son Jesus who suffered for all who believe, and we join with you in prayer for this man.
You have prayed rightly that he would hear the voice of God and see the truth about his identity. Scripture teaches that our true hope is not in any earthly or carnal relationship but in faith in Christ. Through Him we receive two great gifts, deliverance from evil and the supply of good, deliverance from the curse and promotion to sonship. When we put on Christ and receive the Spirit of adoption we are made sons, and that is the only true identity that endures.
You asked that his stony heart would be broken and softened, and that he would be separated from ungodly influences and from relationships that control and endanger him. We agree and pray with you for his full deliverance, that God would give him a genuine fear of His holy name and understanding to depart from evil and from every path that leads away from Him. We do not ask God to bless what is outside His design for marriage and for purity, which is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman with all sexual union belonging within it, but we do ask Him to lead this man out of darkness and into freedom. Christ has set us free so that we may stand fast in that freedom and not return again to a yoke of slavery.
Be encouraged that repentance has great force. There is no second baptism, but there is repentance, and it is able to set free even one who has fallen into the depth of wickedness and to establish him in safety again, if he will lay hold of it. As the prophet says, does not he who falls rise again, and he who turns away turn back to God. Christ can be formed in a person again. Even Manasseh, after innumerable sins, washed them away through repentance and consideration. So we pray that this man will come to a true sense of his own sin, humble himself, condemn what is evil, and bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.
So we pray together in the name of Jesus, who alone is the way of salvation. Father, open this man's eyes to see Your love and to see sin for what it is. Soften his heart, give him courage to choose the narrow path, separate him from every influence that binds him and leads him into danger, and draw him to Yourself in repentance and continence. Fill him with knowledge and discernment to approve what is excellent, and establish him as Your son through Christ, that he may walk in freedom and in holiness for Your glory. Grant him protection from harm and bring him to a sincere and lasting turning to You. We ask this in the powerful name of Jesus, amen.
You have prayed rightly that he would hear the voice of God and see the truth about his identity. Scripture teaches that our true hope is not in any earthly or carnal relationship but in faith in Christ. Through Him we receive two great gifts, deliverance from evil and the supply of good, deliverance from the curse and promotion to sonship. When we put on Christ and receive the Spirit of adoption we are made sons, and that is the only true identity that endures.
You asked that his stony heart would be broken and softened, and that he would be separated from ungodly influences and from relationships that control and endanger him. We agree and pray with you for his full deliverance, that God would give him a genuine fear of His holy name and understanding to depart from evil and from every path that leads away from Him. We do not ask God to bless what is outside His design for marriage and for purity, which is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman with all sexual union belonging within it, but we do ask Him to lead this man out of darkness and into freedom. Christ has set us free so that we may stand fast in that freedom and not return again to a yoke of slavery.
Be encouraged that repentance has great force. There is no second baptism, but there is repentance, and it is able to set free even one who has fallen into the depth of wickedness and to establish him in safety again, if he will lay hold of it. As the prophet says, does not he who falls rise again, and he who turns away turn back to God. Christ can be formed in a person again. Even Manasseh, after innumerable sins, washed them away through repentance and consideration. So we pray that this man will come to a true sense of his own sin, humble himself, condemn what is evil, and bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.
So we pray together in the name of Jesus, who alone is the way of salvation. Father, open this man's eyes to see Your love and to see sin for what it is. Soften his heart, give him courage to choose the narrow path, separate him from every influence that binds him and leads him into danger, and draw him to Yourself in repentance and continence. Fill him with knowledge and discernment to approve what is excellent, and establish him as Your son through Christ, that he may walk in freedom and in holiness for Your glory. Grant him protection from harm and bring him to a sincere and lasting turning to You. We ask this in the powerful name of Jesus, amen.
