PPL eNews | The LORD, our Craftsman and Confessor

Compelled by the Gospel, PPL equips Presbyterians to champion human life at every stage.   PPL E-NEWS March 2024 The LORD, our Craftsman and Confessor By PPL Board Member Rev. Lowell Avery Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash  Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. Psalm 27:1 While most of us could probably grow in the amount of time we devote to prayerful intercession, I believe all of us can become more effective in prayer, as we ask God to build this part of His household of faith. Do you remember what the Holy Spirit told the Church when He spoke through James 5:16b? He said, “The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve.” (CEB) What an encouraging word from God! It reminds me of Jesus’ words to His disciples after the Last Supper, when He told them, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.” Although, when I consider the way our struggle against abortion seems to be unending, such statements prompt me to ask, like the prophet Habakkuk, “How long, O Lord, will I call for help, and You will not hear?” (Hab. 1:2)   I realize that there may be numerous good reasons God seems to be slow about granting our requests. I also learn from the Spirit that sometimes God’s reason has to do with us, His own people. Sometimes Jesus’ words are not abiding and having a righteous effect in our lives. Remember, Habakkuk knew that the horror his people were facing from the idolatrous Chaldeans was rooted in his own people’s idolatries. Also, remember: Our Lord has a solution to our problem. Immediately preceding James’ wonderful promise, the Spirit urges us to prepare for intercession this way: “For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” Or as Jesus had demonstrated after the Last Supper, wash each other’s feet, so that we have “clean feet” when we pray in His name (John 14:14).   Without diving into the challenge of confessing our sins to each other, I simply want to urge you to consider this possibility: If our faults are much deeper than we think or are willing to search out, then even our confession to God is shallow and probably does not get to the root of our trespasses and sins. However, there is Good News! During that same conversation in the Upper Room, Jesus promised that He would send the Holy Spirit, who would convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. That conviction includes those parts of this corrupt world still lurking in our hearts, as well, if we’re willing to let the Spirit our Comforter take us there. When the Spirit brings those un-dealt-with issues to our attention, we can confess and lay them at the foot of the Cross; then remember and rejoice that we are new creations in Christ and start following the Spirit’s lead in removing them from our lives.   Confessing our iniquities, ask God with renewed faith, clean “feet” and a pure heart to remove the scourge of abortion from the world. Let’s keep short accounts with both God and our brothers and sisters in Christ. And let’s humbly ask for big things from God, who is able. Let’s humbly ask for big things from God, who is able. Read on the blog

Recommended Resources

Consider joining PPL's Life Support Prayer Team! Receive topics to pray for, suggested for both individual and group prayer. Encourage public prayers in your congregation for vulnerable lives Commit to praying for one year Receive a digital and/or paper copy of the prayer calendar (published 3x a year) Join over 100 fellow believers across Presbyterian denominations in prayer! Join the team Download the prayer calendar

How Pro-Life Can Win An interview with Scott Klusendorf   An interview from Feb. 20, 2024 with the president of Life Training Institute and author of the second edition of The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture. "The overturning of Roe v. Wade was the beginning of a new phase in the fight for life. But every time abortion has been on the ballot, pro-lifers have lost. Shane [Morris] welcomes Scott Klusendorf, who thinks most Americans have never truly been confronted with the powerful case for life." Listen to the interview

PPL's Recommendations

BOOK | You're Only Human By Kelly Kapic, 2022   “Kelly Kapic's You're Only Human is medicine that provides an antidote to some of the worst effects of the ill-conceived modern project of the self. It has been developed in the company of masters of the theological and pastoral sciences. But it is also the fruit of many personal conversations and shrewd observations, all bearing the hallmarks of Professor Kapic's evident appreciation of, and love for, others ... It is a love gift to the church. Those who take Dr. Kapic's prescription, and finish the course, will surely begin to experience soul cure.” Sinclair Ferguson Chancellor's Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary Purchase the book

BOOK | A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World By Paul E. Miller, 2017   "A Praying Life is a prayer guide that has encouraged thousands of Christians to pursue a vibrant prayer life full of joy and power and has helped them learn how to pray faithfully and courageously. A life of prayer invites you to a life of connection to God. When Jesus describes the intimacy that He seeks with us, He talks about joining us for dinner (Revelation 3:20)." Purchase the book

BOOK | A Praying Church: Becoming a People of Hope in a Discouraging World By Paul E. Miller, 2023   "A Praying Church outlines how prayer in the early Church serves as a model for the modern Church, gives practical methods for implementing intentional prayer practices, and includes ways to overcome challenges associated with group prayer time." (Kristin Chapman, World 12/2/2023) Purchase the book

SONG | Brethren, We Have Met to Worship By Bart Millard, leader of the band MercyMe, from the album Hymned Again (2008) published by Simpleville Music; CCLI #5264245   This hymn is one of the oldest published American folk hymns, written by George Atkins in 1819 and put to music by William Moore in 1829. This arrangement by Bart Millard is thoughtful and in an upbeat Bluegrass style. It is ministering to the soul and suited well for personal and corporate worship and prayer.   Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God; Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word? All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down; Brethren, pray that holy blessings will be showered all around Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumb'ring on the brink of woe; Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go? See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down; Brethren, pray that holy blessings will be showered all around Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses' sister aided him; Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin? Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found; Sisters, pray that holy blessings will be showered all around   Brethren, join your cries to help them; Sisters let your prayers abound; Pray, oh pray that holy blessings may be scattered all around Brethren we were meant to worship and adore the Lord our God Check it out

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