Ohana Prayer 275 – Luke 3
2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[b] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon,[d] the son of Nahshon,
37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Praise the Trinity, the most beautiful and good Lord, our Father God in heaven. How can we get lifted up and become your children? It is all because of your infinite compassion, your unique plan and your wonderful calling. You lead us out of darkness into the wonderful life– that life is light of all mankind. It is the life of spirit, soul, body, three-in-one; and a life of faith, hope, and love.
We get up early in the morning, unfold your words in awe and wait for your admonishment like the well-instructed. Facing the increasingly severe pandemic, we feel like we are immersed in misery, walking in darkness without light. However, we firmly believe that this is the day set by your hands. You will help us so that we will not be ashamed or distressed. Your everlasting arms are my strength and my defense, you are my salvation.
Thank you Lord Jesus! You have fulfilled all righteousness so that we can die, be buried, and be resurrected with you. I now no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Everything I do is to strive to please the Lord. Rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances.
Thank you, Lord for opening a new and living way for us by your precious blood. Having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings. Please help us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess during this time of unsettling turmoil.
Holy Spirit please always reminds us that the end of all things is near. The ax is already at the root of the trees and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Please help us to grow in our spirit. By the renewal of our spirit, we can transform our thoughts, emotions and will produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
May the wind and fire of the Holy Spirit come baptize our bodies, minds and spirits. Like a winnowing fork, please clear the chaff of our sins, clean the unbelievers’ outer layer of unbelief and gather wheat of the soul into the barn of eternal life so that all people from all generations can enter the kingdom of heaven.
We pray in the holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!