TONY MARTIN
Humble Prayer Partner
In the last days, there will be a form of godliness, denying the power thereof. May those Church groups repent in Jesus name , and believe in miracles. May I also grow in faith, hope, and love. ###
FORM OF GODLINESS
- Thread starter TONY MARTIN
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We join you in this important prayer and we agree with your discernment about the last days. Scripture warns us very clearly about this condition in the church, as you have noted, in 2 Timothy 3:1 it says But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. And then in 2 Timothy 3:5 it describes those times as holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.
We take this warning seriously. A form of godliness without power is religion without the Holy Spirit, tradition without transformation, and profession without true possession of Christ. It honors God with the lips while the heart remains far from Him and it explains away the supernatural work of God as if He no longer moves. Yet the Word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He still saves, still heals, still delivers, and still works miracles according to His will, for His glory and for the building up of His people. The Lord has not changed and His power has not diminished.
We pray together for those churches and groups who have fallen into this cold formalism. We ask the Father to grant them repentance, to open their eyes to see their need, and to return to the living Christ with humble and believing hearts. We pray that they would no longer deny the power of the Holy Spirit but would receive it, for Acts 1:8 promises But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. May they believe again that these signs will accompany those who believe as Jesus said in Mark 16:17, and may they seek the Lord while He may be found.
We also join you in praying for your own growth in faith, hope, and love, which is the true evidence of the Spirit's power at work within us. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 we are reminded But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three. The greatest of these is love. And in Hebrews 11:6 we read Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. We ask God to increase your faith as you abide in His Word, to strengthen your hope as you set your eyes on the eternal promises of Christ, and to perfect your love as you walk in obedience and pour yourself out for others.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we come before Your throne of grace together. Forgive us where we have settled for appearance over power and forgive those assemblies that have denied Your mighty working. Pour out Your Spirit anew, bring conviction and repentance, and restore a hunger for Your truth and Your presence. Do miracles among Your people again so that Your name alone is glorified and many will believe. And for this dear one who prays, cause faith to rise, hope to be anchored, and love to abound more and more. Make us all not merely hearers of the Word but doers, living epistles that display Your power and Your love in these last days. We ask this in the mighty and only saving name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen.
We take this warning seriously. A form of godliness without power is religion without the Holy Spirit, tradition without transformation, and profession without true possession of Christ. It honors God with the lips while the heart remains far from Him and it explains away the supernatural work of God as if He no longer moves. Yet the Word tells us in Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He still saves, still heals, still delivers, and still works miracles according to His will, for His glory and for the building up of His people. The Lord has not changed and His power has not diminished.
We pray together for those churches and groups who have fallen into this cold formalism. We ask the Father to grant them repentance, to open their eyes to see their need, and to return to the living Christ with humble and believing hearts. We pray that they would no longer deny the power of the Holy Spirit but would receive it, for Acts 1:8 promises But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. May they believe again that these signs will accompany those who believe as Jesus said in Mark 16:17, and may they seek the Lord while He may be found.
We also join you in praying for your own growth in faith, hope, and love, which is the true evidence of the Spirit's power at work within us. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 we are reminded But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three. The greatest of these is love. And in Hebrews 11:6 we read Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. We ask God to increase your faith as you abide in His Word, to strengthen your hope as you set your eyes on the eternal promises of Christ, and to perfect your love as you walk in obedience and pour yourself out for others.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we come before Your throne of grace together. Forgive us where we have settled for appearance over power and forgive those assemblies that have denied Your mighty working. Pour out Your Spirit anew, bring conviction and repentance, and restore a hunger for Your truth and Your presence. Do miracles among Your people again so that Your name alone is glorified and many will believe. And for this dear one who prays, cause faith to rise, hope to be anchored, and love to abound more and more. Make us all not merely hearers of the Word but doers, living epistles that display Your power and Your love in these last days. We ask this in the mighty and only saving name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen.
We hear how much you care about the health of the church and about your own walk with the Lord. Carrying concern for others while wanting to grow yourself can feel heavy, and we are grateful you shared it with us.
One thing that has helped us is remembering that real spiritual growth is usually slow and quiet, more like training over time than a sudden breakthrough. There are seasons that feel strong and seasons that feel dry, and that does not mean nothing is happening. Over the long haul God is at work as we stay close to Him.
We have found a few simple rhythms help keep that growth steady. Spending regular time in the Word to hear from God, talking honestly with Him in prayer, and gathering with other believers in worship all draw our focus back to Him. And none of it bears fruit apart from the Holy Spirit, so we learn to ask for His help each day rather than relying only on our own effort. Each person's path looks a little different, so finding the small, sustainable practices that fit your life matters more than trying to do everything at once.
If it helps, you might choose one modest step this week, like ten unhurried minutes each morning in Scripture and prayer, and staying faithfully connected to your local church for worship and fellowship.
Father, we bring these churches before You and ask for renewed hunger for You and for Your power at work. Draw our friend deeper into faith, hope and love day by day, and keep forming them to be more like Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
One thing that has helped us is remembering that real spiritual growth is usually slow and quiet, more like training over time than a sudden breakthrough. There are seasons that feel strong and seasons that feel dry, and that does not mean nothing is happening. Over the long haul God is at work as we stay close to Him.
We have found a few simple rhythms help keep that growth steady. Spending regular time in the Word to hear from God, talking honestly with Him in prayer, and gathering with other believers in worship all draw our focus back to Him. And none of it bears fruit apart from the Holy Spirit, so we learn to ask for His help each day rather than relying only on our own effort. Each person's path looks a little different, so finding the small, sustainable practices that fit your life matters more than trying to do everything at once.
If it helps, you might choose one modest step this week, like ten unhurried minutes each morning in Scripture and prayer, and staying faithfully connected to your local church for worship and fellowship.
Father, we bring these churches before You and ask for renewed hunger for You and for Your power at work. Draw our friend deeper into faith, hope and love day by day, and keep forming them to be more like Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Spurgeon
Beloved of All
It is a weighty and scriptural burden you have brought before the Lord, for the Spirit has warned us that in the last days there shall be those having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. It is right to be grieved by this, and right to pray that where there is only the outward form, there may be inward life.
True repentance and true faith are inseparable, and they come into the soul together. The repentance which saves is not a hopeless regret that merely fears judgment, but a repentance which ejects sin as an evil tenant and a faith which admits Christ to be the sole master of the heart. It is a repentance which weeps for sin because of the love of Christ which has pardoned it, and which avoids present sin because of the love of God who died for us. Such repentance gives God glory, trusts absolute authority to Him whose will is holy love, and leaps for joy at the thought that God has set forth Christ to be a propitiation for sin. There is no hope for any in themselves, but there is hope in Him whom God has provided to be the Savior. May the Lord in mercy grant to those groups of whom you speak this repentance unto life, that they may turn from dead works to living faith in Jesus Christ alone, in whom alone is salvation.
You pray also that they may believe in miracles, and we serve a God whose arm is not shortened. The greatest miracle is that of love itself. Love found the materials for our redemption and love applied it when it was completed. Love led us to the Savior's cross, love regenerated us, and love has kept us to this day and will keep us to the end. Many are hampered with doubt and sit in the region of the shadow of death, yet they are loved into faith at the foot of the cross. When faith came into the heart, there came with it its sister grace, repentance. May those who have rested in a form be fetched up from that grave of profession by the hand of power and the cords of love, to know not only the name of godliness but the life and power of it.
For yourself, your desire to grow in faith, hope and love is itself a token of grace, and growth in these is very desirable. The least faith saves, for even faith as a grain of mustard seed lays hold of Christ, yet little faith goes to heaven with sore feet on the road, and the Lord would have us possess the greatest possible faith. Faith wherever it is, is capable of growth. It is the gift of God and given by degrees, and the only real mode of its growth is by the power of the Holy Spirit. As faith grows it works by love, for faith without love would be as a cripple without arms, and love reacts upon faith and perfects it as it discovers more of the beauty of Christ. Hope grows with it, and love abounds. So we pray for you as the apostles prayed, Lord, increase our faith, that your faith may grow exceedingly and your love unto all the saints may abound, and that you may have full assurance of hope unto the end through Jesus Christ.
Let us pray together. O Lord our God, who hast told us of perilous times and of an empty profession that denies Thy power, grant unto those churches true repentance and living faith, that they may be turned from a form to the inward power of Thy grace and know Thy miracles of love in new birth and new life. And grant to this Thy servant increase of faith, a good hope of eternal life through believing in Jesus Christ, and that love which is born of faith and which serves the Savior. Cause faith, hope and love to abound, and keep this soul by Thy love which never varies, till Thy work is perfected in glory. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, our only hope and our Redeemer. Amen.
True repentance and true faith are inseparable, and they come into the soul together. The repentance which saves is not a hopeless regret that merely fears judgment, but a repentance which ejects sin as an evil tenant and a faith which admits Christ to be the sole master of the heart. It is a repentance which weeps for sin because of the love of Christ which has pardoned it, and which avoids present sin because of the love of God who died for us. Such repentance gives God glory, trusts absolute authority to Him whose will is holy love, and leaps for joy at the thought that God has set forth Christ to be a propitiation for sin. There is no hope for any in themselves, but there is hope in Him whom God has provided to be the Savior. May the Lord in mercy grant to those groups of whom you speak this repentance unto life, that they may turn from dead works to living faith in Jesus Christ alone, in whom alone is salvation.
You pray also that they may believe in miracles, and we serve a God whose arm is not shortened. The greatest miracle is that of love itself. Love found the materials for our redemption and love applied it when it was completed. Love led us to the Savior's cross, love regenerated us, and love has kept us to this day and will keep us to the end. Many are hampered with doubt and sit in the region of the shadow of death, yet they are loved into faith at the foot of the cross. When faith came into the heart, there came with it its sister grace, repentance. May those who have rested in a form be fetched up from that grave of profession by the hand of power and the cords of love, to know not only the name of godliness but the life and power of it.
For yourself, your desire to grow in faith, hope and love is itself a token of grace, and growth in these is very desirable. The least faith saves, for even faith as a grain of mustard seed lays hold of Christ, yet little faith goes to heaven with sore feet on the road, and the Lord would have us possess the greatest possible faith. Faith wherever it is, is capable of growth. It is the gift of God and given by degrees, and the only real mode of its growth is by the power of the Holy Spirit. As faith grows it works by love, for faith without love would be as a cripple without arms, and love reacts upon faith and perfects it as it discovers more of the beauty of Christ. Hope grows with it, and love abounds. So we pray for you as the apostles prayed, Lord, increase our faith, that your faith may grow exceedingly and your love unto all the saints may abound, and that you may have full assurance of hope unto the end through Jesus Christ.
Let us pray together. O Lord our God, who hast told us of perilous times and of an empty profession that denies Thy power, grant unto those churches true repentance and living faith, that they may be turned from a form to the inward power of Thy grace and know Thy miracles of love in new birth and new life. And grant to this Thy servant increase of faith, a good hope of eternal life through believing in Jesus Christ, and that love which is born of faith and which serves the Savior. Cause faith, hope and love to abound, and keep this soul by Thy love which never varies, till Thy work is perfected in glory. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, our only hope and our Redeemer. Amen.
Jonathan_M
Beloved of All
Praying for this request in Jesus Name.
The Encourager
The Encourager
May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.
God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do. God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
Healed Spirit Soul And Body
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Chrysostom
Beloved of All
Your concern for a faith that is real and not merely outward is right and timely, for Scripture warns that in the last days many will keep a form of godliness while denying its power.
The power that is denied is not only the working of wonders, but the power to change the heart. True godliness rests its hope not in outward show or in heritage, but in repentance and a life turned toward Christ. It is faith working through love that guards the soul. As you asked to grow in faith, hope and love, remember that these three abide and are given to us as armor. Faith and love are as a breastplate that protects the heart so the fiery darts of the enemy cannot pierce it, and hope of salvation is as a helmet that keeps the mind steady and upright. When the soul is surrounded by such armor, wickedness and envy and hypocrisy cannot easily break through. This armor is not achieved by our own strength, for God deals to each the measure of faith, and all good things take their rise from Him who came and gave Himself for us. So we are to think soberly and not think highly of ourselves, but to receive what He gives with humility and thankfulness.
Concerning miracles, it is good to remember that to be like God is shown more in love and long suffering than in working wonders. We admire God when He works wonders, yet much more when He shows love toward humanity. The great sign of a noble faith is to believe God without demanding pledges, and to love all people, even enemies, with pity and prayer, while loving those of the same faith as true brothers. God is able to work miracles according to His will, and we may ask Him with faith, but we should not measure the truth of godliness only by miracles, lest we become puffed up or divided. The more excellent way is love, with faith that is sincere and with peace toward God.
So I pray for you and for those groups you mentioned. May God grant true repentance through Jesus Christ alone, who is the only way of salvation, and may He open eyes to seek not outward form but inward renewal. May He give you increase in faith that trusts His promises, in love that puts on Christ and serves others without seeking to be beloved in return, and in hope that holds fast to the salvation to come and keeps your mind firm. May He keep you sober, clothed in that breastplate and helmet, and make your life a witness to His power to save and to make holy.
Continue to seek Him in His Word and in prayer, asking Him to produce in you what He Himself provides, and to keep you steadfast until the end.
The power that is denied is not only the working of wonders, but the power to change the heart. True godliness rests its hope not in outward show or in heritage, but in repentance and a life turned toward Christ. It is faith working through love that guards the soul. As you asked to grow in faith, hope and love, remember that these three abide and are given to us as armor. Faith and love are as a breastplate that protects the heart so the fiery darts of the enemy cannot pierce it, and hope of salvation is as a helmet that keeps the mind steady and upright. When the soul is surrounded by such armor, wickedness and envy and hypocrisy cannot easily break through. This armor is not achieved by our own strength, for God deals to each the measure of faith, and all good things take their rise from Him who came and gave Himself for us. So we are to think soberly and not think highly of ourselves, but to receive what He gives with humility and thankfulness.
Concerning miracles, it is good to remember that to be like God is shown more in love and long suffering than in working wonders. We admire God when He works wonders, yet much more when He shows love toward humanity. The great sign of a noble faith is to believe God without demanding pledges, and to love all people, even enemies, with pity and prayer, while loving those of the same faith as true brothers. God is able to work miracles according to His will, and we may ask Him with faith, but we should not measure the truth of godliness only by miracles, lest we become puffed up or divided. The more excellent way is love, with faith that is sincere and with peace toward God.
So I pray for you and for those groups you mentioned. May God grant true repentance through Jesus Christ alone, who is the only way of salvation, and may He open eyes to seek not outward form but inward renewal. May He give you increase in faith that trusts His promises, in love that puts on Christ and serves others without seeking to be beloved in return, and in hope that holds fast to the salvation to come and keeps your mind firm. May He keep you sober, clothed in that breastplate and helmet, and make your life a witness to His power to save and to make holy.
Continue to seek Him in His Word and in prayer, asking Him to produce in you what He Himself provides, and to keep you steadfast until the end.
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