Altar of Private Prayer

 

 

Charles H. Spurgeon:

"Keep the altar of private prayer burning. This is the very life of all piety. The sanctuary and family altars borrow their fires here, there- fore let this burn well. Secret devotion is the very essence, evidence, and barometer, of vital and experimental religion.

Burn here the fat of your sacrifices. Let your closet seasons be, if possible, regular, frequent, and undisturbed. Effectual prayer availeth much. Have you nothing to pray for? Let us suggest the Church, the ministry, your own soul, your children, your relations, your neighbours, your country, and the cause of God and truth throughout the world. Let us examine ourselves on this important matter. Do we engage with lukewarmness in private devotion? Is the fire of devotion burning dimly in our hearts? Do the chariot wheels drag heavily? If so, let us be alarmed at this sign of decay. Let us go with weeping, and ask for the Spirit of grace and of supplications. Let us set apart special seasons for extraordinary prayer. For if this fire should be smothered beneath the ashes of a worldly conformity, it will dim the fire on the family altar, and lessen our influence both in the Church and in the world.

The text will also apply to the altar of the heart. This is a golden altar indeed. God loves to see the hearts of His people glowing towards Himself. Let us give to God our hearts, all blazing with love, and seek His grace, that the fire may never be quenched; for it will not burn if the Lord does not keep it burning. Many foes will attempt to extinguish it; but if the unseen hand behind the wall pour thereon the sacred oil, it will blaze higher and higher. Let us use texts of Scripture as fuel for our heart's fire, they are live coals; let us attend sermons, but above all, let us be much alone with Jesus."

©Charles H. Spurgeon

ℹ️Blue Letter Bible

Persist in Prayer

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Persist in Prayer for Everyone
Be Continually Spiritually Watchful
And Thankful!

Acts 12:5 NLT
While Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

Saints, we ought to pray for the persecuted church.  So many of them need our continual prayers. 

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2 Corinthians 1:11
And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Luke 18:1 
Parable of the Persistent Widow
18 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 

Jude 20
But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

Romans 8:26
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Colossians 4:2-4
An Encouragement for Prayer
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 
4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

Mark 13:33
"...be on guard! Stay alert!

1 Timothy 2:1
Pray for All People
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

📖 Bible

🎵  Song  🎵
Let's Hope Again
Rachel Morley • Songs from the Valley
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=eafXHsaBtoA
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Jesus the Messiah

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Gospel Proclaimed To All Nations
Jesus the Messiah 
Suffered, Died & Rose 
From the Dead On the Third Day
There is Forgiveness of Sins
For All Who Repent

Luke 24:46-47 NLT
⁴⁶ And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 
⁴⁷ It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 

Prophecy about Jesus the Messiah
By King David

Psalms 22:1-31 NLT
¹ My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? 
² Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. 
³ Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 
⁴ Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. 
⁵ They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced. 
⁶ But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! 
⁷ Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, 
⁸ “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!” 
⁹ Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. 
¹⁰ I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born. 
¹¹ Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. 
¹² My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! 
¹³ Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey. 
¹⁴ My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. 
¹⁵ My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. 
¹⁶ My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. 
¹⁷ I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. 
¹⁸ They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing. 
¹⁹ O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! 
²⁰ Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs. 
²¹ Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen. 
²² I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. 
²³ Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! 
²⁴ For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. 
²⁵ I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. 
²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. 
²⁷ The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. 
²⁸ For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. 
²⁹ Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. 
³⁰ Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. 
³¹ His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.

Hosea 6:2 NLT
In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.

Luke 11:29-30 NLT
²⁹ As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. 
³⁰ What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God.

Acts of the Apostles 17:3 NLT
³ He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” 

John 20:9 NLT
⁹ for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 

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Daniel 9:24 NLT
“A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 

Acts of the Apostles 5:31-32 NLT
³¹ Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. 
³² We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

Acts of the Apostles 10:43 NLT
He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

Acts of the Apostles 13:38 NLT
“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 

Acts of the Apostles 26:17-18 NLT
¹⁷ And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 
¹⁸ to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

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Psalms 22:27 NLT
The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him.

Jeremiah 31:34 NLT
And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Micah 4:2 NLT
People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.

📖 Bible 

🎵  Song  🎵 
King of Kings
Terrian and Eli Soares • 2026
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=d3-MchYYKzU
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Gems of Truth

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Study the Word of Truth
Find Treasures
Gems of Truth
In Old & New Testament
New Delights As Well As Old
Bear the Finest Fruit

2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 

Matthew 13:52 NLT
Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”

Romans 12:1-2 NLT
¹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 
² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

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Philippians 1:20 NLT
For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 

1 Timothy 4:13 NLT
Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

2 Peter 1:10 NLT
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 

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Song of Songs 7:13 NLT
There the mandrakes give off their fragrance, and the finest fruits are at our door, new delights as well as old, which I have saved for you, my lover.

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

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1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 

2 Corinthians 10:1-4 NLT
¹ Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. 
² Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives. 
³ We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 
⁴ We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 

Philippians 4:18 NLT
At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 

Matthew 13:22 NLT
The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 

Galatians 1:4 NLT
Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. 

1 John 2:15 NLT
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 

1 Peter 1:14 NLT
So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 

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May the Lord deepen our understanding and our trust in Him as we study His word by His Spirit. 

📖 Bible 

🎵  Song  🎵 
YOURS
Sondae & SIV • BOY • 2025
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=huMZvrTf89c 
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Come Out!

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Come Out!
4 Days Late
But Still On Time
Resurrection of Lazarus
From the Dead

John 11:39-44 NLT
³⁹ “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” 
⁴⁰ Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 
⁴¹ So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 
⁴² You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 

⁴³ Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 

⁴⁴ And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

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In John 11:43 Jesus is calling Lazarus who was dead for four days, out of the tomb after praying to God.  
Lazarus emerged from the tomb still wrapped in graveclothes.
A demonstration of Jesus' authority over death to those witnessing the miracle, that they should believe that the Father sent Him.

This miracle caused many to believe in Jesus.

📖 Bible 

🎵  Song  🎵 
Four Days Late
Juanita du Plessis
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=tBwhmqRVG48 
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Set Free from Fear

John 20:17 NLT
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 

"Mary Magdalene’s worst fears were realized in the death of Jesus. It’s no wonder that she clung to Him the moment she realized the “gardener” was really her Savior. The fear of losing Jesus again seems to have motivated Mary to grab hold of Jesus and not let go."*

Consider Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you . . .”
The glorified Jesus is known by the Spirit.
Jesus arose to free us from the power of fear!
We do not need to fear when we have the Holy Spirit from God." *

Jesus arose to free us from the power of fear!

Scriptures for Freedom from Fear

God's Presence is With us
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

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God is our Protector
Psalms 46:1 NLT
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalms 118:6 NLT
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?

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Seek Him & Be Delivered  From All Fears
Psalms 34:4 NLT
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

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No Fear In Love
1 John 4:18 NLT
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 

Pray for Peace
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 
⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Replace Fear with Faith
Psalms 56:3 NLT
But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

Counter Fear by Being Strong & Courageous
Joshua 1:9 NLT
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

"Letting go of what has become familiar and moving into what God has for us in a new season can be scary. Let us remember that “fear not” and “be not afraid” appear in Scripture some 365 times. Consider Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you . . .” Jesus arose to free us from the power of fear!"*
Pray:
"Lord Jesus, I surrender my fears to you today, asking You to fill me with shalom, Your peace, and to guide me by Your Spirit into greater confidence and hope. Amen."

**Youversion Reading Plan:
Transformed By The Messiah
Day 3: Saying Farewell to Fear
©HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Zondervan & Thomas Nelson)

📖 Bible 

🎵  Song  🎵 
Perfectly
Micah Tyler
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=E9sKENqGOwo 
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The Third Day

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Jesus Christ
Risen
On the Third Day

Matthew 12:40 NLT
For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

Hosea 6:1-2 NLT
¹ “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. 
² In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.

The Three Days Explained:
Youversion Reading Plan: 
'Transformed by the Messiah' 
Day 2: Risen on the Third Day
"How was the Messiah in the tomb three days and three nights if He was buried on a Friday afternoon and resurrected on a Sunday morning? " 
"It’s a good question that is answered by understanding a few technicalities of Jewish law.
The seven-day shiva period of mourning begins on the afternoon of the first day the deceased person is buried. So even if they are buried right before sunset, that counts as day one (even though it’s not a full twenty-four-hour period). According to Jewish law, one can stop mourning and resume certain aspects of “normal life” after morning prayers on the third day of shiva (again, not a full twenty-four hours).
Jesus’ entombment on Friday was day one. And we know He was in the tomb all day Saturday (day two). On the third day, after morning prayers, the disciples would be returning to a more regular life, as shiva ends the mourning period on the third day. Jesus rose that morning. So according to the Jewish understanding of “sitting shiva” and the other avelut (laws) of mourning, technically three days had passed, and Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of being “in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights” (Matt. 12:40).
The number three has tremendous significance in the Bible and in the life of Jesus. It is associated with redemption, going back as early as the exodus. There were three sprinklings of the blood of the Passover lamb applied to the top and the two sides of the doorposts of the Israelites’ houses. Also, the third of the four cups in a Passover Seder is known as the Cup of Redemption. It’s no coincidence that He lifted this third cup to inaugurate the Lord’s Supper. He prayed three times when He was arrested. He was nailed to the cross at the third hour. He died in the ninth hour, which is three o’clock in the afternoon. And, of course, the Lord was resurrected on the third day.
Jesus was raised on the third day to fulfill this promise and bring healing and restoration so we might live in God’s presence in the messianic kingdom for all eternity. "
Prayer:
"Thank You, Lord Jesus, Yeshua, for fulfilling the prophecy and rising on the third day to save me from the power of sin and death and to deliver me into Your family! Amen."
©HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Zondervan & Thomas Nelson

Amen.🙌🥰

📖 Bible 

🎵  Song  🎵 
King Of Kings
Eli Soares & Terrian
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=bT7XI12py0A 
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