“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 (NASB)
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Let this be a time of worship to God. Pray each prayer and add your own personal message to God. Read each scripture as though reading it for the first time – listen carefully for the voice of God. Listen to each song paying close attention to the lyrics provided. These songs were carefully chosen. Even if the music is not your favorite style of music, know that the musicians performing are sincerely making music to the Lord. Try to feel the passion in their words and their musical expression. Give thought to the message presented and confirm the truth therein by opening your Bible and taking some time to do your own personal study. May you be greatly blessed.
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Father God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, we worship and adore you. Fill our hearts with that which is your will and control our steps as we celebrate your approaching kingdom. We look to you for all our basic needs and thank you for all that you provide. Please forgive us Father for all the mistakes we make along the way and soften our hearts so that we may forgive others. Keep us safe from the enemy who wanders about looking to devour our souls. Fill our minds with your wisdom and our hearts with your love. We ask these things in the Holy name of Jesus. Amen.
Those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, through faith in his death and resurrection as payment for their sins, have been born again into a new life. Imagine a white board at the front of a classroom covered in mathematical calculations wiped clean and returned to its original pure white condition. That is what it means to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24 (NASB)
Following Jesus is a new beginning – a fresh start with a clean slate. Believers no longer allow this world to dictate their destiny. Believers have been transformed into children of God with an eternal destiny in the kingdom of God.
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
Followers of Jesus are a new creation. Believers think different, experience things in a new and different way, and are motivated to act in totally different ways. The life of a true believer is completely restructured.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NASB)
Being a Christian is not something you only do on Sunday, or periodically throughout the week. Christianity is all encompassing. Christianity is a heart centered on loving God and loving others. Christianity is an all or nothing proposition.
Allow this song to speak to your heart.
There’s a voice that cries out in the silence
Searching for a heart that will love Him
Longing for a child that will give Him their all
Give it all, He wants it all
And there’s a God that walks over the earth
He’s searching for a heart that is desperate
And longing for a child
That will give Him their all
Give it all, He wants it all
And He says love me, love me with your whole heart
He wants it all today
Serve me, serve me with your life now
He wants it all today
Bow down, let go of your idols
He wants it all today [x3]
He wants it all
And there’s a God that walks over the earth
He’s searching for a heart that is desperate
Longing for a child that will give Him their all
Give it all, He wants it all
And he says love me, love me with your whole heart
He wants it all today
Serve me, serve me with your life now
He wants it all today
Bow down, let go of your idols
He wants it all today [x3]
He wants it all
All of you, more of you
He wants it all today, oh oh oh oh
All of you, more of you
He wants it all today, oh oh oh oh
All of you, more of you
He wants it all today, today, today
He wants it all today [x2]
So give it all
There’s a voice that cries out in the silence
Searching for a heart that is desperate
Longing for a child that will give him their all
Give it all
He wants it all
Believers are no longer ruled by sin. Believers are given power through the Holy Spirit to overcome sin in their lives. The mission of all believers is to become more like Jesus every day.
“In reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:22-24 (NASB)
Believers are compelled to reach out to others in love. These acts of love are not a demonstration of their faith, they are evidence of their new life connected to God. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, believers carry out the will of the Father according to his ultimate plan.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)
Followers of Jesus, in harmony with other believers, gradually walk away from their human existence and depend more and more on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Each day in a believer’s life is one step closer to full dependency on God and a total abandonment of selfish desire.
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 (NASB)
True believers give all of their life to Jesus.
Let this song move your spirit.
You came to the world you created
Trading your crown for a cross
You willingly died
Your innocent life paid the cost
Counting your status as nothing,
The King of all kings came to serve
Washing my feet
Covering me with your love
If more of You
Means less of me
Take everything
Yes, all of You
Is all I need
Take everything
You are my life and my treasure
The one that I can’t live without
Here at your feet my desires and dreams, I lay down
Here at your feet my desires and dreams, I lay down
If more of You
Means less of me
Take everything
Yes, all of You
Is all I need
Take everything
If more of You
Means less of me
Take everything
Yes, all of You
Is all I need
Take everything
Oh Lord
Change me like only You can
Here with my hearts in your hands
Father I pray make me more like Jesus
This world is dying to know who You are
You’ve shown us the way to Your heart
So Father I pray make me more like Jesus
Oh Lord, change me like only You can
Here with my heart in Your hands
Father I pray make me more like Jesus
This world is dying to know who You are
You’ve shown us the way to Your heart
So Father I pray make me more like Jesus
More like Jesus I pray Make me more like Jesus
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Father I pray, Father I pray
Make me more like Jesus
If more of You means less of me
Take ev’rything
Yes, all of You is all I need
Take ev’rything
If more of You means less of me
Take ev’rything
Yes, all of You is all I need Take ev’rything
If you’ve experienced a full immersion baptism, I know you came up from the water feeling completely changed. In that moment you were, without question, one with God. For most however, that complete transformation gradually fades as the enemy uses the challenges of this world to chip away at your new connection to God. Our enemy is real and he is all about driving a wedge between believers and God. Regardless of the enemy’s persistent effort, we are safe in the hands of Jesus.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30 (NASB)
The power of God overwhelms the enemy and no measure of temptation can overcome a true believer’s connection to Jesus. The good shepherd fulfills his mission to safely preserve all those the Father has given him. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers are bound together in loving cooperation, following the teaching of Jesus. This single mindedness establishes believers as the family of God.
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21 (NASB)
As per the request of Jesus to his Father, believers are one spirit with him. Those of us who are followers of Jesus are connected to the ultimate power of the universe in a very intimate way. There is nothing in this world that can sever that connection.
“But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB)
When the awesome power of God is connected together with every believer, there is absolutely nothing that can’t be accomplished. That kind of total unity should be our mission. We are each individually responsible for our part of this connection. We must push away all distraction and seek to be one with God.
Let this song speak to your heart.
One with the father
One with the spirit
One with the son of God
One with our sister
One with our brother
One family by the blood
Make us one, make us one
Your will be done
Make us one
One heart with heaven
One mind connected
One body unified
Bind us together
Now and forever
Jesus be glorified
Make us one, make us one
Your will be done
Make us one
Oh, make us one, make us one
Your will be done
Oh, make us one
We confess all our offenses
We confess we’ve been afraid
We repent of all the pride
Let all the hurt be washed away
For all the wars and violence
Against our enemies
Come heal our land with your great river
Restore the family
Make us one, make us one
Your will be done
Make us one
Oh, make us one, make us one
Let your kingdom come
Make us one
Oh, make us one
His door is now open to you. You are in God’s presence. Don’t leave without Him. Keep Him with you throughout your day.
Go in peace.
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