“And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’ ” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?””‭‭John‬ ‭5:9-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.5.9-12.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus told him to pick up his mat, even though the Pharisees will see it as breaking the Sabbath. Does Jesus ask us to obey Him in ways that would challenge the rules of the day? I saw Ambassador Andrew Young speak yesterday and I’m glad he “picked up his mat and walked” when Jesus nudged him to stand for Jesus in times of strife. Ambassador Young trusted Jesus many times throughout his life and he followed Jesus’ nudges time and time again. Please pray that we and our friends ask for and follow Jesus’ nudges today. Please pray for the CLC breakfast in Tenn. on 9/30. 

“Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.”‭‭John‬ ‭4:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.4.1-3.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus left Judea only after the Pharisees heard He was having more influence over the people than John the Baptist. I would think that God would want me to stay and “confront a adversary”, but Jesus chooses to leave. Most decisions I make without prayer are not the best decisions. I can only imagine that Jesus prayed over this decision and God said it wasn’t time, so He left. Please pray that we and our friends pray over our day today and ask God for guidance and then follow that nudge. Please pray for the Tennessee CLC breakfast on September 30th. 

“You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.””‭‭John‬ ‭3:28-30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.3.28-30.esv
All,
This stands out because John the Baptist says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” I often try to muscle or discipline my flesh to “act” accordingly. However, the flesh will only “act” appropriate for a finite time. Without Christ transforming me in a supernatural way, I will ultimately stay the same. As Christ increasing in me, my flesh nature decreases. Please pray that we and our friends invite and yield to Jesus transforming us. Please pray for the men that were introduced to CLC last night and THANK YOU for your prayers. We had a great crowd last night and a lot of guests. 

““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”‭‭John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.3.16-17.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” What does “believes in him” mean? The demons who Jesus casts out know who Jesus is, but they will perish. It seems that “believes in him” means to put ALL our hope in Jesus. Only the individual knows if they truly believe in Jesus. Please pray that we and our friends determine what we truly believe in. Please pray for the Buckhead social tonight at Capital City from 5:30-7:00. 

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.””‭‭John‬ ‭1:29-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.1.29-31.esv
All,
This stands out because John the Baptist says, “but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” Why did John need to baptize with water for Jesus to be revealed? If we have nothing to repent for, why do we need Jesus? It is a blessing to be convicted of sin in our life and then to know that Jesus is the only one who can transform us. We will try to do it on our own at first, but only Jesus can take away the sin by us yielding to Him. Please pray that we and our friends abide in Jesus today. Please pray for the Buckhead CLC social this Thursday at Capital City from 5:30-7:00pm. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.1.1-5.esv
All,
This stands out because John says ,”In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Jesus is life! During times of temptation, I try to remind myself that joy is a fruit of the Spirit and can only come from God. I may be able to get “short-term happiness” without God, but joy only comes from God. Christ is life and we can fool ourselves that we are “living” without Him, but, in my case, I just didn’t know what I didn’t know. Please pray that we and our friends receive the life that only God can provide. Please pray for the Buckhead social this Thursday at Capital city from 5:30-7:00pm. 

“Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:24-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.24.24-27.esv
All,
This stands out because it’s amazing how Jesus is foretold throughout the Old Testament. Everything is dependent on Him coming and being crucified for our sins because of the original sin of Adam. The more we know about the Old Testament, the more we can understand the New Testament and also know about other religions. We can have a civil conversation and ask our friends what they place their hope in. Please pray that we and our friends understand why we place our hope in Jesus. Please pray for the Buckhead Social this Thursday from 5:39-7:00pm at Capital City. 

“Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.”‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:50-51‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.23.50-51.esv
All,
This stands out because Luke says, “he was looking for the kingdom of God.” Joseph was part of the rulers who decided Jesus wasn’t the Christ, but he believed Jesus was because Joseph was actually looking for the Kingdom of God. How many times do we only notice things when we are looking for them or pay attention to our surroundings. Please pray that we and our friends keep our eyes looking for the Kingdom of God today. Please pray for the Buckhead social this Thursday from 5:30-7:00. 

“And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!””‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:35‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.23.35.esv
All,
This stands out because God’s plan was to not save Jesus at this moment so we could all be saved. You here people ask all the time how God could let something happen when it doesn’t make sense to us. I’m sure today something will happen that will prompt us to ask the same questions. There is so much peace behind Romans 8:28 “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose”. Please pray that we and our friends keep the perspective that God is in control and He will use all things for His purpose. Please pray for Buckhead social on 9/24. 

“But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.”‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:23-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/luk.23.23-25.esv
All,
This stands out because Pilate “delivered Jesus over to their will”. We know that Pilate doesn’t have ultimate control over Jesus, but God gives him free-will like all of us. Since Pilate was a leader and has influence over people, his decisions are weighed heavily and to whom much is given, much is expected. We have leaders in our world now who are willing to “deliver” Jesus over to the will of the people now. Leaders who will deny Jesus partly in order to be liked by the people who want to “control” Jesus. Please pray that we and our friends do not stand idly by as we see leaders sacrificing Jesus for their personal gain. Please pray for the men who will be at the CLC Buckhead social on 9/24.