YA Night of Prayer (Election Night)

For too long you have been considered by others or thought of yourself as a problem and a liability. But you are a resource from the kingdom to your community!

Today we will resource our country with the prayers of the faithful.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

We have been in a series on Sunday going over the book of Nehemiah and I believe that the book opens with what it looks like to humble yourself and pray.

Nehemiah 1:4-11 NIV

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. 8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ 10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

Psalm 33:12 NIV

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.

God is God over every nation, but he wants us to pray that he might also be seen as God in every nation

For the remainder of the night, we will pray for and over our Nation. You were handed a card when you walked in, if not, slip your hand in the air so that our ushers can get you one. On this card are different topics/prompts we will pray over with scriptures to guide us.

James 5:16 says, The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective…

Tonight we are calling on Young Adults from all over Houston to be a person of prayer. If you find yourself in a place where you are at a loss for words to pray you can pray the scripture on your card.

About a year ago Pastor Garrett said something to me that has truly set the ministry on a path to receive the blessings of God. He said that the hand of God is on the ministry and can be removed from the ministry if you lock unity and purity.

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Our staff, students, interns, and volunteers have put this verse into practice living a life of unity and purity and in doing so we have seen the Lord moving each week.

What would it look like if our nation was unified and sanctified?! Could our nation begin to see the hand of God move again?

Prayer Topics

Peace

Unity (Family, friend groups, country/world)

Sanctity (Holiness, speaking truth in love)

School curriculum / Safety - Bethany

Influence - Tommy (The Church has an influence on culture. Influential people take a stand of righteousness.) People would begin to stand up for righteousness. (When opposition shows up, it’s time for a generation to stand up!)

Shift in culture all around.

Safety

Economy (financially, ability to buy a home…)

Awakening/Revival (Personally and nationwide)

Optimistic and hopeful for the future

Ezekiel 8:18 ESV

18 Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”

This refusal to hear is partly dependent on human attitudes towards God. In the context of Ezekiel's vision, this verse relates to the prophet's conviction that the sins of God's people had driven His presence ("glory") away from the temple