St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“GOD’S COMMAND IS NECESSARY” Romans 7 v 16

“Now you must repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, and so that the Lord may
send the time of comfort. Then He will send you the Christ He has predestined, that is Jesus.”
Acts 3 v 19-20
Psalm13 v 12 “Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.”
O Lord, my God, for how else
Can I become that sacred place You embrace
1 Corinthians 6 v 19 The dwelling place of the Holy Spirit?

“God knows all hidden things … darkness is no obstacle to Him.” Daniel 2 v 22

Come, O Holy Spirit, come within
To begin to show me the error of my way.
1 Peter 1 v 22 You say “Love one another fervently with a pure heart.”
So show me where to start to reflect on my omissions.

“It is the Lord who is my judge.” 1 Corinthians 4 v 4

How often my selfishness, pride and intolerance
Must be a problem in my thought patterns and actions.
Forgive me, dear Lord, I do not want to offend You.
Enable me to see others as You do.

“Help me God for my salvation! Help me for the honour of Your name. Oh, save me and forgive me
my sins.” Psalm 79 v 9

The more I look inside, the deeper the darkness.
It casts me down low! I can see within me
All manner of wrongs in intention, desire, attitudes and speech.
Come Holy Sprit, reach within in cleansing power.

“The Lord will bring to light everything that is hidden in darkness and reveal the designs of all
hearts.” 1 Corinthians 4 v 5

Our moment has come, for You stir my heart to sorrow.
Let me borrow all the mighty power of the Godhead,
To make an honest, heartfelt, whole confession
Psalm 41 v 4 “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal my soul, I have sinned against Thee.”

“Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2 v 7

I confess Father, I fall far too short of Your hopes,
Your desires and expectations for me to be holy.
Like Peter, I seem to do what I don’t want to do, * 1
And do not what I desire to do for You.

“Lord our God, great, eternal, wonderful in glory, who keepest covenant and promises for those
that love Thee with their whole heart, who act the Life of all, the Help of those who flee unto
Thee, the Hope of those who cry unto Thee, cleanse me from my sins, secret and open, and

from every thought displeasing to Thy goodness – cleanse my body and soul, my heart and
conscience, that with a pure heart, and a clear soul, with perfect love and calm hope, I may
venture confidently and fearlessly to pray unto Thee.” Amen.
Coptic Liturgy of St Basil personalised.

How much constant help and support I need.
I plead before You for the repair of my heart
And my fair share of Your loving, guiding, strengthening Spirit.
As I ask in Jesus’ name, Your Spirit will come in power to strengthen me.

“We can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through
the Holy Spirit.” Romans 2 v 5

I thank You, loving Father, that just today when I felt
Somewhat grey, heavily laden, burdened, You showed me joy.
Such is Your almighty, all calling love, You never ever
Want to see Your children suffer and strain.

The “Beloved of God He rests trustfully near Him. The Most High protects … day after day.”
Deuteronomy 33 v 12

Unexpectedly, You showed me a picture of spring,
Your season of new life, new growth, new hope in You.
Upon a cherry blossom tree were boughs laden
In glory, bestowed by the beauty of Your flowering.

The tree stood heavy, hopeful with pregnant promise.
I clearly felt my Lord and Master say to me:
“Those who remain in Me, and I in them, produce much fruit,
John 15 v 5 For apart from Me you can do nothing.”

I felt such a surge of joyful, positive, real hope.
Even in my sin, You do not turn Your face away from me.
You simply, gently begin to beckon me back to You,
Reminding me of Your gracious promise becoming my unmerited blessing.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.” 1 John 1 v 9

So compassionate, so tolerant, so patient is Your understanding.
Father of all grace, You work out of tenderness
Laced with lashings of mercy, tied up
In abundant bundle of all loving forgiving.

“Surely then You will count my steps but not keep track of my sin.” Job 14 v 16

You remind me of this profound truth :
When I turn to my Lord Jesus Christ unconditionally, my loving Saviour,
Hebrews13 v 8 Who remains “The same yesterday, and today and forever.”
And ask Him to accompany me, marvellous things happen.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any
offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139 v 23, 24

My Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, talks with me
And walks with me into the past I’d rather forget.
He gently, calmly but consistently, shows me
Those darkened rooms within where sin and failure hold residence.

“All that I am Lord, I place in Your hands.” Celtic prayer

Quietly, my Lord takes my hand. He says :
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,
John 8 v 12 But will have the light of life.”

“Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” Matthew 5 v 8

My sin is erased, the slate wiped clean, completely clean
To offer me a new beginning. And why?
Because when my Father looks at me in Christ,
God sees the Saviour hanging on the † instead of me, paying my penalty.

“God declares ‘I shall forgive their guilt and never more call their sins to mind.” Jeremiah 31 v 34

You Lord Jesus, took all my sins upon yourself through love,
To set me free, completely free, spiritually healed and made whole . > 1i-vi
“I know the plans I have for you” my Father says,
Jeremiah 29 v 11-13 “Plans for good, not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

“The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3 v 3

Gracious Father, I believe because You tell me,
“All the days planned for me were written in Your book,
Psalm 139 v 16 Before I was one day old.” How amazing!
As amazing as the height, depth, breadth, width and circumference
Of Your all encompassing love.

“Trust in Him at all times.” Psalm 62 v 8

Sovereign Lord, Upright One, I can never thank You,
Not sufficiently for the love You hold for me.
But I will try, by better obedience and service to Your ways.
Wisdom 6 v 12 Honour me by Your wisdom “most glorious, she never fades away.”

“I have set God always before me; for He is on my right hand, therefore I shall not fail.” Psalm 16 v 8

Then daily, filled to overflowing by the power of Your Spirit,
I will be changed into the person You plan and purpose
Designed by love, through love, for love,

To hold Your love firmly in my heart and act upon it.

“God be merciful unto us, and bless us;
And cause His face to shine upon us;
That Thy way be known upon earth,
Thy saving health among all nations.

Let the people praise Thee, O God,
Let all the people praise Thee.
O let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
For Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.

Let the people praise Thee, O God,
Let all the people praise Thee.
Then shall the earth yield her increase;
Psalm 67 And God, even our own God, shall bless us.”

Father, almighty in love thank You that always, wanting nothing but the best for us,
1 John 5 v 14-15 “You listen to us, whenever we ask You for anything in line with Your will … We can be
sure that You will give us what we ask for.” I ask for a fresh outpouring of Your Holy
Spirit day by day, to enlighten, guide and strengthen me in my life’s journey with
John 14 v 6 Christ, “The Way, the Truth and Life.” Thereby through love, I will become made
holy. I thank You that although by myself this is impossible, with You, “all things are
Matthew 19 v 26 possible,” for You have “Not given me a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love 2
Timothy 1 v 7 personalised and self discipline.” With thanks from my heart and the praise of my spirit, I

Declare “God in His mighty power will protect me until I receive this salvation, because
1 Peter 1 v 5 I am trusting Him.” “The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in
Psalm 27 v 7 Him with all my heart.” Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You are the confidence of my
Bishop Thomas faith, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here
Ken 1637-1711 below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”
Amen.

*1
“I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience? Yes,
I’m full of myself – after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about
myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So If I
can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s
command is necessary.” Romans 7 v 14-16
> 1i
“God will judge man’s secrets through Jesus Christ.” Romans 2 v 16
> 1ii
“Those in Christ are not judged guilty.” Romans 8 v 1
> 1iii
“Faith in Christ sets us in the clear.” Romans 3 v 25
> 1iv
“Everyone who believes … is free from… guilt and declared right with God.” Acts 13 v 39
>v
“I will forgive their wrongdoings and … never again remember their sins.” Hebrews 8 v 12
vi
“Your … sinful self has died …our new life is … with Christ in God.” Colossians 3 v 3

25.11.04