06-08-03 Communion Dedication - Baldwin Christian Church

Isaiah 63:7~14

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name? That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble? As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

If there's any part of your life, even the little things, about which you could say:

I feel confident that I have under it control.

It's like second nature to me, and I'm really good at it.

Sometimes I take it for granted, and I hardly ever give it a thought.

It's something that I don't pray about, or even don't feel the need to pray about.

I never praise and thank the Lord for it.

I never ask the Lord for His wisdom and strength to get me through it.

If there's any part of your life that you haven't given over completely to Him, be it a good thing or a painful thing, it's a part of your life that could lead you, even unwittingly, into rebellion against God. This old world is perishing, and it wants to take you down with it. Whenever you're ready to "take control of your life," the world is quick to step in and help. Instead, as you make your way through each day, keep asking yourself "Who is my pilot?" Make your way through the day, but make it one continuous prayer, keeping communion with the Lord at all times. When the interruptions come, as they surely do, they often carry a little message from the Spirit giving us new things to pray about. Jesus died to give us His Spirit. Let's not waste it. Each and every one of us needs more of the Spirit of Jesus in our lives to guide us, to empower us, and to spill over and bless every soul around us. Let's be careful of all the things that tend to distract us; even little things of this world can take us away and lead us away from wholehearted dependence and communion with God. If I make my days into one continuous prayer, I find it much more difficult to grieve or vex the Spirit, and I begin to see His glorious arm guiding my way through every day.