Piercing prayers...

Do you have any of the signs of being a godly man?

Let us lament over the few that cry “Hosanna” in their youth. Christ is an unknown Christ to young ones; and so they don’t seek Him, because they don’t know Him.

Pray that we will all work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Pray that we will walk together in brotherly love.

That we would exercise an affectionate care and watchfulness over each other and faithfully admonish and entreat one another as circumstances may require.

Pray that we would all see the wisdom and value to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for ourselves and others.

Pray that we will endeavor to bring up through sacrificial love and biblical discipleship, any that would be under our care, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example to seek the salvation of all our family and friends.

Pray that we will rejoice at each other’s happiness and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows.

Pray that we will seek, by Divine aid, to live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and remembering that, as we have been buried by baptism and raised again from the symbolic grave, so there is on us a special obligation now to lead a new and holy life. O that God might help us to remember that.

Pray that each one will work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines. Pray that we will all contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, especially the spread of the Gospel, from Roselawn through all nations.

Pray that we will, when we move from this place, as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

Truly beloved in Christ, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.

(1.). Pray that your preaching of the Gospel would be faithful, accurate, and clear.

(2) Pray for the increasing maturity of the congregation, that your local church would grow in corporate love, holiness, and sound doctrine, such that the testimony of the church in the community would be distinctively pure and attractive to unbelievers.

(3) Pray for sinners to be converted and the church to be built up through your preaching of the Gospel.

(4) Pray for opportunities for yourself and other church members to do personal evangelism.

Pray that our love towards God wouldn’t be so faint and so cold as compared to His great love for us! Pray this, so that we might adore Him more!

Let’s give thanks to the Lord for plucking us like brands out of the burning fire!

Let’s give thanks to the Lord for drawing us out from a corrupt world and from our own self-righteousness!

Pray that the Lord would draw us upward towards Himself, nearer than ever!

Pray that the image of Christ might be engraved deeper and deeper, stamped into the depths of our nature!

Pray and ask the Father to fill us with delight because of His great love in Christ!

Pray for those that are heavy of heart- That Christ’s sweet love would lighten their burden, that the truth of no troubles are comparable to the one whom God savingly loves.

"Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.” ()

The believer, of all people, needs strength and resolve.

PRAY that we’d have the resolve and strength from God to trample under our feet those sins that lay nearest to our hearts!

Saving faith is communicated from God towards those whom He’s going to save.

The first and most basic mark of the godly is they are men of knowledge.

So we cannot separate the scriptures from anything that we do.

10:14–15 The gospel is necessary, for without the truth of special revelation (now in Scripture) there can be no faith and no salvation. Hence the preciousness of the preaching of the gospel ().

10:16–17 As vital as is the preaching of God’s Word, it does not produce faith in all who hear it. This was largely disbelieved by Israel, both in the past and in Paul’s day ().

Beeke, J. R., Barrett, M. P. V., & Bilkes, G. M. (Eds.). (2014). The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (p. 1632). Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books.

Look up . How are the “sensible” described?

In , how are the virgins described, that are ready for the 2nd coming of Christ?

The ‘natural man’ () cannot act above his own nature and so he cannot discern spiritual things any more than a blind man can discern color. The natural man doesn’t know the evil of his own heart because it’s veiled from him nor can a natural man see the beauties of our Savior, Christ as a pearl of infinite worth!

But the godly have “His anointing teaches you about all things” (). Look up , what are we supposed to ‘maintain’ and ‘not lose sight of’?

Funny question. What is the aroma of the godly in ?

There is a great difference between one that has read of a country, or viewed it on Google Maps, and another who has lived in the country, and tasted the fruits and spices of that country. The knowledge that a godly man is adorned with has these eight rare ingredients in it.

FIRST. A Grounded Knowledge.

In , what is required for a man to be presented “holy, faultless, and blameless” before God? _____________________

This godly man is grounded by the Spirit’s work through the truth of the Word of God. The Spirit is a witness and the Word is a guide. True saving knowledge isn’t floppy or doubtful, but it has a certainty to it. Look up ; and seek to compare the certainty with what you ‘know’ with that of the saved apostles and ask, is my knowledge about God and everlasting life ‘grounded’ in the faith? _____________________________________

The godly holds no mare than he will die for. The martyrs were so confirmed in the knowledge of the truth, that they would seal it with their blood.

SECOND

SECOND. It’s a Favorable & Perceptive Knowledge

A jeweler knows jewels, that has the skills to value them. Look up and read . The godly know God, they value and admire Him above the glory of heaven even! To compare anything to God is to debase Deity, not even comparable difference between the lighting up of a bugs butt in comparison to the blazing light.

THIRD. It’s Life Giving Knowledge.

What do the precepts (instructions) do for the Psalmist in ? Knowledge in a natural man’s head, is like a flash light in a dead man’s hand: true knowledge gives life.

How was John the Baptist described in ? _____________________________________

John didn’t only shine by illumination but he burned by affection for the truth in Christ!

FOURTH. Divine Knowledge is Applied.

Medicine is only good if taken.

How do you apply these truths when you’re feeling

Uncertain () ___________________

Alone in sin () ____________________

What a comfort & guarantee it is to know Christ is my advocate with the Father and that He’s never lost a case that He’s pleaded yet!

FIFTH. Divine Knowledge is Transforming.

True knowledge transforms those who are godly. Just like a artist looking at an object intently and draws the object in the picture.

So too, looking upon Christ in the mirror of the gospel, the godly are changed into His image. Look up . How is this described by Paul? ______________

We can look at a buff dude and yet we won’t be made buff by looking at them. We can look upon a surgeon and yet not be healed. But here in lies the excellency of this divine knowledge, it gives such a sight of Christ, that it makes us partakes of His nature.

SIXTH. Divine Knowledge is self-emptying.

What does carnal knowledge do according to ? _____________________________

True knowledge brings a man out of love with himself; the more he knows, the more he blushes at his own ignorance.

We’d view David as a spiritual giant among God’s people and the Spirit of God called him a man after God’s own heart but how did David view himself in ? _____________________________________

SEVENTH. Divine Knowledge of the godly, Grows.

As a godly man, what did Paul pray for for the believers in Colossi concerning knowledge of God ()? _____________________________

True knowledge is like the morning light. The light increases and gets brighter in the horizon till it comes to the meridian. This is like the sweet knowledge of God. Once the believer tastes it and knows more, the more thirsty he becomes of godly knowledge. Paul says that knowledge of Christ ‘enriches’ us (). The more a man has the more he wants. Paul knew Christ and yet wanted to know Him all the more: "My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,” ()

EIGHTH. Divine Knowledge is Seen in Practical Obedience.

EIGHTH

Look up . How is our relationship to Jesus described? _____________________________

True knowledge not only renews a believers sight but renews his pace too. To believe is to obey. To disobey (what you know to be true) is to not know. Follow the life of Eli’s sons marking first which reads, "Eli’s sons were wicked men; they did not respect [means ‘to know’] the Lord”

How could that not know? They taught others the knowledge of the Lord. They didn’t know because they didn’t obey. They sinned against the Lord in His presence, concerning the sacrifices (vv13-16).

How is their ‘service’ noted in v17? _______________

Their sins spiraled into fornication and knowledge of their sin was exposed and was now wide-spread (vv22-24). What is the logical conclusion made by their father Eli in v25? _____________________________________

We’d all say that we love Jesus but how does Jesus see those that say they love Him in , , 23?

So the first mark of godliness that we looked at is knowledge and eight ingredients. Perhaps to look into the mirror of scripture and it reflects back into empty pockets where you perhaps don’t have this godly knowledge so let me seek to stir you up to pursue it at all costs. It will require digging and searching for it. "if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, "then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.” ()

Let me give to you two motivators.

ONE. It’s the Best Knowledge.

"Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, "for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. "She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire can equal her.” ()

There’s no jewel like wisdom that will so adorn us as the jewel of wisdom. She’s ‘more precious than jewels’. How does say concerning wisdom? __________________________________

Empty and dark is a fit description of our old nature () but how is our new nature described in ? ____________________________

Oh how that soul sparkles as the sun at noonday.

TWO. It’s Better Than Natural Knowledge.

"For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.” ()

Natural wisdom and knowledge (knowledge of arts and science) are as gathering up straw but the knowledge of God in Christ is gathering up rare pearls, a knowledge that ushers in salvation:

"who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, "who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.” ()