#intercession — Public Fediverse posts

What Now?: Foreknown, Called, Justified, and Glorified

“‘Dear Lord God, I wish to preach in your honor. I wish to speak about you, glorify you, praise your name. Although I can’t do this well of myself, I pray that you may make it good.’”[i]

Introduction

Last week, Paul moved his readers from the introspection of chapter 7 to the extrospection of chapter 8, Paul exhorted the Roman Christians to understand the symbiotic relationship redeemed humanity has with all of creation yearning for liberation, specifically the liberation that comes with the presence of the glory of God made known in the revelation of the adopted children of God—the ones who are saved by faith in Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit apart from any deeds. Christians, according to Paul, are the ones who understand that they are not the creator; they are the creature and God is the creator. This humble posture of the believer in Christ affirms and confirms that God is trustworthy and truthful (what God says about humanity and God’s self is true!); this is how we are justified because in affirming and confirming God’s trustworthiness and truthfulness, God deems the believer truthful and trustworthy. This then becomes the one who is adopted by God by faith and made one of Christ’s siblings, chosen to represent Christ in the world through truthful and trustworthy words and corresponding deeds. Once again, we were reminded that our salvation isn’t solely from something or someone or someplace, but, more importantly for something and someone and someplace. For Paul and the thrust of Romans, we are saved from ourselves for the wellbeing of our neighbor and creation and to the glory of God.

The last third of chapter 8 reinforces what Paul has been saying. As if he knew we could take what has been said thus far and run with it, thinking it is now up to us to save the world and our neighbor, Paul anchors it all in a subterranean dependence on the divine Spirit of God. From beginning to end, from start to finish, from the highest of heavens to the deepest mantel of the earth, this is all God’s activity—even when we pray and especially when we pray unintelligibly. While this may ruffle our American sensibilities, and specifically Western American sensibilities at that, it is important that we see how much we need God and must throw ourselves on God, on Christ, and on the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. Because, as Paul says at the end of chapter 8, if this is all of God then it is secure…absolutely nothing can undo what God has done in Christ for believers. And while this may sound like a “get-off-the-hook-of-giving-a-heck-about-the-world-and-its-inhabitants” card, it’s not. In being yoked to the One who is on the move, drafted by faith into God’s mission, and called into God’s purpose means that in our liberation from ourselves we, as Christ’s representatives and powered by the Holy Spirit, are free (in very imperfect ways) to help liberate others, to bring love where there is indifference, and to make sure life continues victorious over death.

Romans 8:26-39

Paul begins this portion of his letter by intensifying the believer’s dependence on the Spirit. Paul writes,

Now, in like manner, the Spirit takes hold of our weakness/frailty; for what we must pray for we have not perceived, but this same Spirit intercedes with/in groanings too deep for words. But the one who searches the heart has perceived the prudence of the Spirit because [the Spirit] pleads for the sake of the holy ones according to God (vv26-27).

Not even in our prayers and petitions do we find ourselves operating by our own power. In the words that we utter intelligibly and uttered unintelligibly, the Spirit intercepts and intercedes for us. When we are certain that what we pray for is what we want and even if it feels aligned to God’s will, the Spirit works in our hearts to conform our prayers and our wills to align with God’s own prayers and will.[ii] We may enter the state of prayer one way but we leave another, and that’s because the Spirit is working in us as we pray through the Spirit in the name of Christ to God. In and through prayer, we are changed as the Spirit intercepts us and our words, softening our hearts, informing and forming our minds.[iii] Also, the Spirit intercedes for us to God[iv] when we can only groan in response to the tragedies and terrors of the kingdom of humanity hallmarking the world around us.[v] In times when we cannot pray, the Spirit does so for us, bringing our moans and groans, our gnashed teeth, our collapsed posture into the throne room and pleads for our sake, rendering our inoperable and unintelligible prayers into viable communion with God.[vi] According to Paul, we do not pray alone even when we feel as if we’re the only ones praying. This is why Paul can then say, Now we have perceived that all things work together toward the good for those who love God, the ones who are being called according to purpose (v28).

Paul then moves to speak of God’s foreknowledge about those who have been and are being called—further emphasizing the believer’s dependence on God. Paul writes,

Because God knew beforehand those [who are being called] also foreordained [them] to be conformed to the image of God’s son in order that [Christ] may be the firstborn among many siblings. And those [God] foreordained these ones [God] also called; and those [God] called, these ones [God] justified also; and those [God] justified, these ones [God] glorified also (vv29-30).

Rather than causing hackles to go up, Paul’s point here is to bring comfort to those who believe in Christ, those who have received the Holy Spirit, and those who are trying to do this thing called life while straddling the kingdom of humanity and the reign of God. What matters most here is not who is in and who is out of heaven. Rather, the point is those who are found in Christ by faith are sealed by God[vii]: foreknown, called, justified, and glorified. Believers may be able to boast about a lot of things in the world, but they are forbidden from boasting in their salvation as if it were their own; they didn’t earn it, they didn’t achieve it, they didn’t do it for themselves. Also eliminated is the aspect of chance; for Paul, believers are foreknown, called, justified and glorified intentionally.[viii] Paul here in Romans 8 anchors the very identity and ontology of the Christian in Christ, in the Holy Spirit, in God. All of it, from beginning to end, is because of God’s grand and great love for the whole entire cosmos[ix] (ref. Jn 3:16). And in light of this, it makes sense to hold on to the spiritual fact that not only will all things work together toward the good for those who are being called (even when things look really bad[x]) (v28) but also that If God is for these ones, who is against these ones?? [xi] (v31).

Paul’s declaration and proclamation of the gospel rings through the halls of the church in Rome,

God who did not spare God’s only son, but handed him over in defense of all of us, how will God not give freely all things to us with [Christ]? Who will bring to account against the elect of God? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who will give judgment against [the elect of God]? Christ, the one who died, and so much more, the one who was raised, who also is at the right hand of God who also intercedes on behalf of us! (vv32-34).

As elsewhere in the Second Testament epistles by Paul, Paul works himself up in a ripe gospel moment resulting in fervent proclamation as he recalls for the Romans the good word of God in Christ! And he brings the conversation full circle, linking the work of the Spirit and Christ together through active intercession on behalf of the ones who pray intelligibly and unintelligibly. Humanity is fully represented in the throne room of God as our prayers mingled with divine intercession and intervention fill up bronze bowls pleading that God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

And if that wasn’t enough, Paul weaves in the divine love of God for the cosmos, humanity, and the elect. This very God, who flung the stars and the great and lesser lights into the sky is for them. This God who did not spare God’s only Son is for them. [xii] This one who is the judge of judges, the king of kings, the priest of priests is for them.[xiii] Thus, these ones can cast their entire selves onto this God not in the sense of giving up but in the sense that behind them stands this one who cannot be defeated by anything and who will not forsake them. God’s love, according to Paul, binds and entwines, grafts and drafts, grows together with and through the beloved of God—those who are called, hear their name, and follow Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. That God loves humanity first is the catalyst for our love of God, the type of love that is born from within seeking the glory of the beloved. Nothing, says Paul in the remaining verses, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING will ever be able to separate you from God and God’s love in Christ made known by the power of the Holy Spirit (vv35-39).

Conclusion

So, why proclaim such good news to us? What do we do with this very good news? What now? Well, we treasure it, let our weary and skeptical minds bath in it, our broken hearts heal in it, and our fatigued and exhausted bodies rest in it. We should let it wash over us, soak us down to the marrow, and let it begin to take root in our souls so that it can begin to form and inform, mold and sculpt our identity and action to conform to God’s reign, as those who are foreknown, called, justified, and glorified by God. We, through our hearing of the proclamation of Christ and our solicited believing in the Christ Jesus, this man who is God, we are created anew to become the representatives of God in a world that has either all too quickly forgotten this magnificent, unconditional, always and forever love of God or has given up hope that anything could ever be different, that there is only indifference, death, and captivity, that all is lost. As the adopted children of God, the “holy ones,” the saints, we are to bring the light of the word of truth to illuminate the darkness of falsehood and expose it, we are to use the keys of the reign of God to liberate anyone who is caught in captivity by the biased policing of the kingdom of humanity, and we are to use our voices and bodies against the authorities, and the principalities of darkness ruling this decrepit world to push back death in the name of life. We are called to live and spread grace, overhauling the power of sin and death one person at a time.[xiv] We are called to love because we were first loved.

[i] LW 54:157-158; Table Talk 1590.

[ii] LW 25:365 “For unless the Spirit is helping, it would be impossible for us to bear this action of God by which He hears us and accomplishes what we pray for.”

[iii] LW 25:367 “…so God comes upon our feeling and thinking, seeing what it is praying for, what it is suitable for, and what it desires; then heeding the request He begins to mold the form which suits His art and His counsel. Then of necessity the form and model of our thinking is destroyed.”

[iv] Lancaster, Romans, 148. “Because the Spirit groans with us and intercedes for us, God knows our longing even when we are unable to articulate it.”

[v] Sarah Heaner Lancaster, Romans, Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible, eds. Amy Plantinga Pauw and William C. Placher (Louisville: WJK, 2015), 148. “Living in and for a new reality and way of doing things puts us at odds with the way things are done now, so we do not rise in social standing or have the usual kinds of influence. Even in such weakness, we are empowered by the Spirit. To persevere in allegiance to God when something else constantly calls for our allegiance takes prayer. Because we stand between times, hoping for things not yet seen we do not see properly how to pray, so the Spirit works with us to assist us in prayer.”

[vi] Lancaster, Romans, 148. “So inevitably our prayers are expressed in words and concepts that fall short of divine understanding. But the Spirit sees beyond our articulation to the prayer that lies beneath our utterance, and it makes our thoughts and words into real communion with God.”

[vii] Lancaster, Romans, 150. “The emphasis on calling and predestination is a way of affirming God’s initiative in salvation. Those who are called, foreknown, and predestined will be conformed to the image of the Son, so the Son Jesus Christ will be the firstborn among a large family of adopted children (8:29). When God decides to save (predestines), Go calls. Those who are called are also justified and glorified (8:30). What God begins, God also completes. God initiates salvation as well as carries it out to its fulfillment.”

[viii] LW 25:371 “For if it were not the purpose of God, and if our salvation depended upon our will and works, it would depend upon chance…he is showing that the elect are not saved by chance but by necessity.”

[ix] Lancaster, Romans, 150. “The theologically important meaning of predestination in this letter is about God’s initiative in our salvation, about God’s faithfulness in fulfilling God’s purpose for us to be saved, and about how both these affirmations remove all grounds for human boasting in what we have done for ourselves.”

[x] Lancaster, Romans, 149. “For those who ‘love God,’ all things work together for good. Even though the subject of the sentence is ambiguous (is it God, the Spirit, or the things themselves that are bringing this about?), the affirmation is not in doubt. Because we know and love God, we may be confident that good will come even out of the suffering that is now endured.”

[xi] Lancaster, Romans, 153. “The only rightful judge on that day is God; so if God is for us, no one could oppose us.”

[xii] Lancaster, Romans, 153. “Jesus Christ himself, who took on weakness and died a shameful death to glorify weak people, who was raised and with whom we also will be raised, and who has a place of honor with God, now intercedes for us. How could anything possibly sperate us from such a love?”

[xiii] Lancaster, Romans, 153. “Neither sufferings in history nor cosmic powers nor anything else will succeed in separating us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

[xiv] Lancaster, Romans, 149. Those who love God are called according… “This description sets our love for God in the context of what God is doing, so love for God is neither merely emotional nor does it arise apart from God’s own work. Paul addressed the recipients of this letter in 1:7 as ‘God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints.’ Recalling this opening address shows us that we love God because we are beloved, that is because God first loved us; and because we are loved, we are called to be saints, that is, called to be holy or set apart as God’s …Being set apart for God means living in the dominion of grace—loyal to God rather than to sin.”

Philip James de Loutherbourg's vignettes for the Macklin Bible. Philippians. Robert Bowyer (d.1834) expanded his copy of the Macklin Bible by inserting over 6200 different prints. The Bowyer Bible is now housed in Bolton Museum. For these prints see https://archive.org/details/bowyer-bible
where Philip De Vere has created flip-books from Phillip Medhurst's photo-collection. #bible #MacklinBible #vignette #Loutherbourg #ChristianArt #BibleArt #BoltonMuseum #innocence #prayer #intercession

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙏

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, United Kingdom. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/gZvSrCVdWjg

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #Worship #Pentecostal #Charismatic
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Claudeth May Hitchman: Encounter at KT. 🙏

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/9VsdFM-nRKo

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #Worship #Pentecostal #Charismatic
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

Last week we were reminded that Christ is seated at the right hand of God, reigning with authority and continuing to intercede for us (Romans 8:34). The Ascension is therefore not Christ’s absence, but the assurance of His living presence, His sovereign rule, and His continuing care for His Church and for the world today. #JesusChrist #intercession

🗣️ Ron Salamat: Encounter at KT. 🙏

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill,
London W11 3BY, England,
Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/DJm5Fc2Jduw

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #Worship #Pentecostal #Charismatic #Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

A quotation from Mark Twain

   “You heard these words: ‘Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!’ That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory — must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!
   “O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle — be Thou near them! With them — in spirit — we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it — for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.
   (After a pause.) “Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits!”

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Story (1905), “The War Prayer”

More about this quote: wist.info/twain-mark/5637/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #twain #marktwain #warprayer #blood #consequences #defeat #destruction #devastation #divinewill #divinewrath #enemy #imprecation #intercession #killing #prayer #suffering #tragedy #unintendedconsequences #victory #violence #war #divineintercession #curse #divinelove

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙏

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/w3egJnBTDiA

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #Worship #Pentecostal #Charismatic
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙏

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/DWpRQBD3dQc

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙏

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/UhnDI4YtDjE

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙏

⛪️ Kensington Temple, Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/VT_kTWxNBxM

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: ”The Farewell Discourse”.

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/fa-M2yXuUBw

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#HolyWeek #StillaVeckan #Easter #Påsk
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple, Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/CEOZHAtKo7U

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte #Lent #Fastan

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/SCg8Ip9KZlg

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline #Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

Reclaiming Revival: Calling a Generation to Contend for Historic Awakening "Every great revival begins with a groan" Sale: $19.99 to FREE by Corey Russell & Billy Humphrey Rating: 4.7/5 (109 Reviews) #Revival #Prayer #Spirituality #Intercession #Forerunner #Worship #BookSky #Books #Free

Reclaiming Revival: Calling a ...

Reclaiming Revival: Calling a Generation to Contend for Historic Awakening "Every great revival begins with a groan" Sale: $19.99 to FREE by Corey Russell & Billy Humphrey Rating: 4.7/5 (109 Reviews) #Revival #Prayer #Spirituality #Intercession #Forerunner #Worship #BookSky #Books #Free

Reclaiming Revival: Calling a ...

🗣️ Scott J. Templeton: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/TSMpLSfN3Qo

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/eB7OWBUagl4

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/kIGYfbFrh7g

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road,
Notting Hill, London W11 3BY,
England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/P5I9ik8Znj4

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Gate, #London W11 3BY, #England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/ij2QhZHLW70

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/Z5wAkOWiE-c

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: All-night prayer gathering. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/Vmy23WovPRo

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/FQgSNYh2Myg

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/Fa8AvVVKn38

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV
#Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline
#Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

🗣️ Malcolm J. Duncan: Encounter at KT. 🙌

⛪️ Kensington Temple,
Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3BY, England, Great Britain. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

🎦 https://YouTube.com/live/0tTQFAw7MEs

🎦 https://YouTube.com/KensingtonTempleKT

🎦 https://www.KT.org/live

#KTLCC #KensingtonTemple #KTworship #KTnuGen #KTTV #Church #Kyrka #ChurchService #Gudstjänst #WorshipService #WorshipOnline #Advent #Prayer #Intercession #Förbön #PrayerMeeting #BöneMöte

Our #Roman #Catholic brethren commemorate John Vianney (commonly referred to as Curé of Ars) today. For those of use who serve as #pastors (even outside of the Roman Catholic tradition) his life is worthy of consideration and imitation. He was know for his life of deep #prayer , #intercession , and constant #fasting on behalf of the flock entrusted to his care. And his love for the Lord was unmistakable. In so many ways, he was an image of an ideal #pastor .

For those who are interested, here's a brief bio of his life and #ministry : https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint.../saint-john-vianney/

🤗🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌼🌼🌼🐎🐎🐎✝️🙏☁️🌈☁️🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥💫👑🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎🌼🌼🌼🌊🌴🌊🌴🌊💁🏿‍♀️*Who is to condemn?*Christ Jesus is the one who died!*more than that!*who was raised!*who is at the right hand of God!*who indeed is interceding for us!🤗🌴🌊🌴🌊🌴🌊🌼🌼🌼🐎🐎🐎✝️🙏☁️🌈☁️🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥💫👑🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎🌼🌼🌼🌴🌊🌴🌊🌴🌊🤗

#Intercession #GOD #Love #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Pray #World #People #Trinity

🤗🌼🌼🌼🐎🐎🐎☁️🌈☁️🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥💫✝️👑🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎🌼🌼🌼💁‍♀️*God's Everlasting Love!🤗🌼🌼🌼🙏🌼🌼☁️🌈☁️🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥💫👑🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎🌼🌼🌼🤗

🤗🌼🌼🌼🐎🐎🐎✝️🙏☁️🌈☁️🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥💫👑🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎🌼🌼🌼💁🏿‍♀️*Who is to condemn?*Christ Jesus is the one who died!*more than that!*who was raised!*who is at the right hand of God!*who indeed is interceding for us!🤗🌼🌼🌼🐎🐎🐎✝️🙏☁️🌈☁️🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥💫👑🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎🌼🌼🌼🤗

#Intercession #GOD #Love #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Pray #World #People #Trinity

🤗🐎🐎🐎🩷💛🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥💫🤍🩷☁️🌈☁️✝️👑🤍🙏🏻🙏🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜🐎🐎🐎💁🏼‍♀️*Intercession!🤗🐎🐎🐎🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥💫☁️🌈☁️✝️👑🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎🤗

🤗🐎🐎🐎☁️🌈☁️🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥💫✝️👑🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎💁‍♀️*God's Everlasting Love!🤗🙏☁️🌈☁️🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥💫👑🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎🤗

🤗🐎🐎🐎✝️🙏☁️🌈☁️🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥💫👑🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎💁🏿‍♀️*Who is to condemn?*Christ Jesus is the one who died!*more than that!*who was raised!*who is at the right hand of God!*who indeed is interceding for us!💁‍♀️🐎🐎🐎✝️🙏☁️🌈☁️🛐🕊️💦❤️‍🔥💫👑🙏🏻🙏🏿✌️☮️🌏🌐💜💛🤍🩷🐎🐎🐎🤗

#Intercession #GOD #Love #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Pray #World #People #Trinity

A quotation from The Bible

Father:
May your holy name be honored;
   may your Kingdom come.
   Give us day by day the food we need.
Forgive us our sins,
   for we forgive everyone who does us wrong.
   And do not bring us to hard testing.
 
[Πάτερ, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου·
ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου·
τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δίδου ἡμῖν τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν·
καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν,
καὶ γὰρ αὐτοὶ ἀφίομεν παντὶ ὀφείλοντι ἡμῖν·
καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Luke 11: 2-4 (Jesus) [GNT (1976)]

Sourcing, extensive notes, alternate translations: wist.info/bible-nt/76093/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #Bible #Jesus #Christianity #God #intercession #needs #petition #prayer

A quotation from The Bible

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
 
[Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς·
ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου·
ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου·
γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου,
ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς·
τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον·
καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν,
ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν·
καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν,
ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.
Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία
καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα
εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Matthew 6: 9-13 “The Lord’s Prayer” (Jesus) [Episcopal Book of Common Prayer (1928)]

Sourcing, extensive notes, alternate translations: wist.info/bible-nt/75967/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #bible #jesus #lordsprayer #Christianity #God #intercession #needs #petition #prayer

Quote of the day, 15 March: Silvio José Báez, ocd

“Love your enemies” (Mt 5:44). This does not mean feeling sympathy or affection for those who have harmed us. Rather, it means refusing to hate, seeking no revenge, and being willing to do good to those who do not love us or have wronged us. It means loving with the same love with which God loves us.

Loving an enemy should not be confused with the demand that the guilty party be held accountable before a court of law.

This is not hypocrisy.

One may still feel antipathy and rejection toward the wrongdoer, but one chooses to go beyond feelings—deciding not to seek revenge or harbor hatred, and, if necessary, even to do good to them and pray for them. This is a gift from God.

Love for one’s enemy does not exclude but rather presupposes the need for the guilty party to face justice.

Silvio José Báez, O.C.D.

Auxiliary Bishop of Managua
16 June 2020

https://twitter.com/silviojbaez/status/1272859024648802310

Translation from the Spanish text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: Bishop Silvio José Báez, o.c.d. (left) and Archbishop Leopoldo Brenes (right) join in prayer at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Managua. Earlier that day, they had traveled to Saint Sebastian Basilica in Diriamba, Nicaragua, where they were attacked by pro-government sympathizers. Image credit: sj.baez / Facebook (Used by permission).

🕊 What does this quote mean for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

#BishopSilvioJoséBáez #feelings #good #guilt #hatred #intercession #judgment #law #love #loveYourEnemies

Forty Holy Martyrs or Sebaste, you died a truly gruesome dead and stood firm.

You're remembered in Orthodox wedding services until today: "remember them, Lord our God, as you remembered your Forty holy Martyrs and sent down upon them crowns from heaven," they tell the couple.

Today, bless everyone who's found strength in community, and everyone who can't take it anymore and leaves, like one of you did.

#Intercession

St. Joseph Novena 2025: Introduction

To the land of Egypt you must quickly go.
Joseph, this very night, depart in silence.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Like Mary, Joseph too received an annunciation. In fact, at every pivotal moment of his life, it is God who speaks. Usually, God’s word initiates a dialogue; for Joseph, it is indeed a dialogue with his God, but his response is silent—he speaks through his actions. The word of God sets the rhythm of his life; he is accustomed to it, and he always begins by listening. This is his way of worshiping the Lord and belonging to Him. In this way, he instinctively assumes the posture of a servant, expressing his submission in advance, without a word.

Yet he knows from experience that the word of God draws him ever more deeply into mystery. He is astonished by what happens to him, but he immediately hides in silence every event whose significance escapes him. Mystery enters his life, just as it enters ours, but he welcomes it without trying to deny, diminish, or eliminate it—waiting only for God to give it meaning through a new word. Without letting any part of the mystery be lost, he gives his yes in advance to the liberating word that will inevitably come.

And when that word does come, it demands even greater faith: “Do not be afraid,” says the Lord. Yet, from a human perspective, there was so much to fear—such as Herod’s threat! “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt!” (Mt 2:13). Flee, Joseph!—But for how long, Lord?—“Until I tell you…” Until another word comes!—But then, it won’t be final? I won’t be able to plan the future for Mary or the child?—“Stay in Egypt until I tell you.”—So I won’t be able to settle there?—“Joseph, your true place is wherever Jesus lives, wherever you accompany Mary…”

And Joseph rises, because the word of God, despite the night of faith, is stronger than all opposing evidence. He takes the child and his mother by night—the child who sleeps and the mother who shivers—and he sets out.

As for us, we are willing to take Jesus and Mary, but not if it means entering the night, not if it means walking into exile, not if it means continuing our exodus—from Nazareth to Bethlehem, from Bethlehem to Egypt, and from Egypt to God knows where—because we have our own ideas about the life that suits us.

Everything rests in the hand of God, and all initiative belongs to Him. At the same time, Joseph remains completely free, yet his listening already signals his consent. “Here I am,” say the men of the Bible. Joseph, for his part, places himself before God; he listens, and that is enough. His yes is not only immediate but already contained within his listening. The word of God gives rhythm to his entire existence and enables him to pass through dangers and dead ends with serenity. He is open to receiving everything from the hand of his God.

This is the attitude we need!

Father Jean Lévêque, o.c.d.

2017 Carmelite Online Retreat (excerpt)

PRAY EACH DAY WITH ST JOSEPH

Day One — Service

Day Two — He looks

Day Three — Workman

Day Four — God’s heart 

Day Five — He knows

Day Six — If you knew 

Day Seven — Happiness

Day Eight — Pleasing to God

Day Nine — Mercy 

NOVENA PRAYER

Remember, O most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
my great protector, Saint Joseph,
that no one ever had recourse to your protection,
or implored your aid without obtaining relief.
Confiding therefore in your goodness, I come before you.
Do not turn down my petitions, foster father of the Redeemer,
but graciously receive them.

(Mention your prayer requests)

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

V./ Pray for us, holy Father St. Joseph
R./ That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.

Father,
you entrusted our Savior and his holy Mother
to the care of St. Joseph.
By the help of his prayers
may your Church continue to serve its Lord, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.

Tribute to Frère Jean Lévêque, OCD (1930–2024)

Frère Jean Lévêque, a distinguished Discalced Carmelite friar of the Paris Province, passed away on June 11, 2024, at the age of 93. Born on August 30, 1930, he entered the Carmelite Order in 1955, dedicating nearly seven decades to a life of contemplative prayer, scholarly pursuit, pastoral care, and musical composition.

Renowned for his profound biblical scholarship, Frère Jean held degrees in Oriental studies and theology, including a doctorate focusing on the Book of Job. He taught Old Testament exegesis and Oriental languages, primarily at the Institut Catholique de Paris from 1974 to 1990.

In addition to his academic and pastoral contributions, Frère Jean was an accomplished musician. His musical sensibility led him to compose hymns and liturgical offices, enriching the celebration of the liturgy within the Carmelite community and beyond.

All scripture references in this novena are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.

of Lisieux, T 2008, The Plays of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: “Pious Recreations”, translated from the French by Conroy S and Dwyer D J, ICS Publications, Washington, DC.

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: Detail from Saint Joseph’s second dream, stained glass window in the Basilica of Saint Clotilde, Paris, France. The photographer, Zvonimir Atletić, is the renowned Croatian photojournalist who first met St. Teresa of Calcutta in 1977, capturing images of her work in Calcutta. Over the years, he accompanied her on several occasions, documenting her mission in Croatia and India. Atletić is considered one of the photographers who had the most opportunities to capture Mother Teresa’s dedication to the poor and abandoned. His black-and-white images, described by the Croatian Photography Center as enveloped in a “sacred silence,” open a space for dialogue with the Creator.

Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, St. Edith Stein and St. Joseph.

LET US UNITE IN PRAYER

#inspiration #intercession #novena #PiousRecreation #prayer #StJoseph #StThereseOfLisieux