Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. I bow low and lift You high, as I begin my day, both reverently and intimately, in the Presence of my King in the communion of prayer with You; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, 'The one who is righteous will live by faith'" (Romans 1:16-17).
Today, we celebrate Halloween. Today also marks the 507th anniversary of the Reformation; the day the Catholic Monk, Martin Luther, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany. It set off a revolution of reformation against many practices and doctrines that had crept into the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther was especially and passionately incensed against the spiritually coerced practice of requiring "indulgences" as payment to the church for the salvation of souls being purged in the fires of "purgatory." It's said that perhaps the straw that broke the camel's back for Luther was the inflammatory saying of Fr. Johann Tetzel, the Papal representative tasked with raising money from the people for building the basilica of St. Peter in Rome, "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs!"
It's not our coins, money, wealth, or assets but our hearts, turned to you in faith alone that determines our eternal destiny. And as I understand Your Word, there is no "purgatory," for "we are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). I thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have paid in full the penalty for my sins that I am forever cleansed of all unrighteousness through the repentance of my heart (1 John 1:9 and 2:2; Romans 5:8; Isaiah 53:5; Hebrews 7:7). When we depart this earthly realm in faith, we are with You in Your heavenly realm forever (Philippians 1:23; John 3:16). Though our works in this world may tested in the fire, we ourselves personally never will because of God’s mercy and grace by the sacrifice of Jesus and power of Your love for us "Through Him God was pleased to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20).
Come, Holy Spirit. Awaken a revolution of reformation in my soul today. Cleanse my sins in the blood of Christ. Purify my heart in Your holy fire. Let my soul spring forth, filled with Your Spirit, to turn "(my) world upside down" in the name of Jesus for the glory of God and the salvation and sanctification of souls by faith alone (Acts 17:6). "For by grace (we) have been saved through faith, and this is not (our) own doing; it is the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8). Make it clear to me the practices and doctrines that have crept into and are present today in the teachings and traditions of the church and in me, and ignite a revolution of reformation in my heart against all of these. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray the Holy Spirit awakens in your soul a revolution of reformation that first causes you to inwardly exam yourself and your church of practices and doctrines that have crept into your faith, And secondly, awakens and sends you out in His power and love to share your hope and faith in Jesus Christ to turn your world upside down today, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
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