Anthony Sweat - Christ in Every Hour

All interior photos courtesy of Shutterstock; page 6 Richard Semick; page 28 Dmitry Laudin; page 48 B. and E. Dudzinscy; page 70 Maxim Khytra; page 92 Pichugin Dmitry; page 114 Scott Wong.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Sweat, Anthony, author.

Title: Christ in every hour / Anthony Sweat.

Description: Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book, [2016] | ?2016 | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015045489 (print) | LCCN 2015044479 (ebook) | ISBN 9781629734194 (ebook) | ISBN 9781629721996 (hardbound : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: AtonementThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. | Jesus Christ.

Classification: LCC BX8643.A85 (print) | LCC BX8643.A85 S94 2016 (ebook) | DDC 232dc23

LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015045489

Printed in the United States of America

Publishers Printing, Salt Lake City, UT

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Art direction: Richard Erickson

Cover design: Barry Hansen

Cover image: Kaan Tanman/iStock

Book design: Shauna Gibby

Design Deseret Book Company

To the memory of President Boyd K. Packer,
a great Apostle, teacher, and artist
who has influenced millions
and my lifes work in particular

Advance Praise for Christ in Every Hour

Anthony Sweat is a scriptorian, a storyteller, and a champion for Christthree characteristics that qualify him in my eyes as a humble expounder on the subject of grace. I loved this book from cover to cover and have found myself contemplating how I might access the power of the Atonement more frequently in my own life. Anthonys ability to show how the Atonement intersects with everyday life left a lasting impression on my heart. Each chapter led me to a deeper understanding of how relying on the Atonement could become a transforming experience. I wont soon forget that Christ isnt only a name; it can become a title that will remind us of the ever-present powers He has to offer us.

Emily Freeman, bestselling author of Celebrating a Christ-Centered Easter and Becoming His

With great insight, Brother Sweat teaches that as simply as we can spell Christ we can remember our constant dependence on Him and His constant devotion to us. This is a wonderful book that provides real answers to real questions and will surely make a real difference. The title says it all: We need Him every hour!

Brad Wilcox, associate professor of teacher education at Brigham Young University and author of The Continuous Atonement and The Continuous Conversion

Anthony Sweat renders a great service in this work, particularly by focusing on how through His grand condescension, our Lord and Master can identify with us, identify with our challenges and our crosses, identify with our anxieties and our alienation. As Brother Sweat points out so effectively, because Jesus entered into mortality and opened Himself to all the terrors and temptations that accompany this second estate, He is in a powerful position to succor us, to sooth and settle our troubled hearts, and to save our souls. This book is important. I recommend it highly.

Robert L. Millet, professor emeritus of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University and author of Living in the Eleventh Hour and Grace Works

Christ in Every Hour provides unique ways of involving Christs Atonement in our lives. Anthony Sweat forthrightly supports the doctrine that we cannot separate Christs Atonement from Christ Himself. This book can make a daily difference in our lives through very thoughtful and creative ways to learn, ponder, and act upon core doctrine and principles related to Jesus Christs divine influence and power.

Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, professor of Church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University and coauthor of Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament

Introduction

The Atonement of Christ... is an ever-present
power to call upon in everyday life.... The Atonement
has practical, personal, everyday value.

President Boyd K. Packer

Introduction

The Ever-Present Powers of Christ

I need thee every hour,

Most gracious Lord.

Annie S. Hawkes

How would you respond to the following question:

Why do I need Jesus... today?

In the Church we commonly sing, I need thee every hour.

So what does that look like for us today? Lets talk reality here. What ever-present power from Christ can my wife and I receive as we run the day-to-day operations of our home? What infinite power does the Lord offer today to my dear friends dealing with infertility? What ever-present power does the Atonement have for someone with ever-present back pain? Yes, the Lord can and does heal physically, but what does he bring today to someone who, despite their faith, isnt physically healed and endures in suffering? What does the Savior do for someone who repeatedly struggles with their imperfections? Related to that, where does the Atonement come into effect not just for the sinner, but also the sinned against, such as the innocent person who has been devastated by a loved ones actions? And lets not overlook another small segment of Saintswhat does Jesus do today for those for whom all is well, those who are currently blessed with a good marriage and children, friends, personal health, comfortable living circumstances, and not involved in major sin? Overall, what does it look like for the everyday person to need Jesus every day? These are the questions this book seeks to address.

As I have searched the scriptures and the words of the prophets for answers, I have been drawn to various examples that display Jesuss divine grace in daily operationmultiple stories and teachings where someone was assisted by the powers of Christ. People are raised from the dead and forgiven for mistakes. However, people are also healed in a variety of ways, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Tears of sorrow are turned to tears of celebration. The hopeless are somehow given hope. Wrongs are made right. Believers are given divine protection and guidance. Needs are met. Comfort is provided. Followers of Christ are given power to do good works they otherwise couldnt have done themselves. Disciples such as Peter and the people of Mosiah have their very natures and dispositions changed. The scriptures seem to teach us that the powers of Christ are many and varied and available for multiple situations and uses in our everyday encounters.

Each chapter of this book discusses one of the Lords more encompassing divine powers, addressing how the Savior has that power, why we need it in our daily lives, and how we can begin to access that power today. While grace is free (see Romans 5:1516), we nonetheless must access by faith into this grace (Romans 5:2). It is my hope that you will act on the suggestions within each chapter to open up the daily doors of divine influence Jesus is continually knocking on (see Revelation 3:20).

Each chapter on the Lords powers discussed herein could easily be an entire book in itself. While trying to provide doctrinal depth, Ive only used sufficient examples to get the point across, but there is much, much more to glean from in our scriptures and in the words of the prophets. As such, at the end of each chapter Ive provided suggestions for further studyscriptures, talks, questions, and invitations to act that can lead to further insight on the subject.