Look at Romans, Chapter 3, verse 23. "Since all have sinned and fall short" of the target test score, "they are now covered by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in  Jesus Christ, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement." It means to be made one with God. At onement. By his blood, released through faith. Released, activated through faith.
We're going to pray for three things and here's one of them. I know there is someone here who has been trying all your life to meet up to God's standard and you have failed many times. All of us have failed many times. Here's the good news of the gospel. God wants to cover you through the covering of Jesus Christ. He doesn't care that you've got pig slop all over you. God's not even thinking about pig slop. God's planning a party. And the party's for you. I want to give you an invitation because it comes from God, to allow him to cover you with the gift of Jesus Christ, the free gift of life on earth and life forever with God. All you have to say to God is, "I do, I'm yours." Here's another prayer. Many of us have children who might be a long way off from the Father and from God's purpose. I want us to pray for your kids. All week long I've been praying for your children. Then we're going to keep praying for the three people this year who we want to come to the hope and love of Jesus Christ.
Pray with me. I want to pray for those of you who are here and in a new way have heard that God has a gift for you in his Son, Jesus Christ. You've tried to do what God wants you to do and you've tried to be a good person, but you know you've never measured up to the test score. For the first time you hear God saying, "I'll cover you, just open your arms and your life to my Son, Jesus Christ." All you have to say is, "Lord, I want you." You don't have to say it with your mouth, you just need to desire it in your heart. "Lord Jesus, I want You to be fully a part of my life. Your love, Your forgiveness. I receive Your love; I receive Your forgiveness." Lord, right now we pray for children. I want you to silently name kids that you're lifting up to the Lord. Even now, Lord, I pray for Jonathan and Kristen, both of them in Philadelphia together hanging out. I just pray that You use them in a powerful way for Your purpose, as a witness to those around them who are lost and that You seek to find. I pray for the children here who are rebelling against You and who are a long way from You. You will not stop in your relentless, obsessive pursuit of these kids until they find their peace and rest in You. We trust You and lift them up and pray for those kids. And, Lord, we pray for our own lives, we pray that we have generous spirits and hearts and resources that can be released totally for Your purpose in the world for reaching those who need to know Your love. Lost and found. Lord, make us generous in love and deed and resources. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

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