01 Pray Like It’s Personal

Opening Song

“We gather to be formed in God’s presence so we can be sent into our community”

DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our church family is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit, and we are missionaries.

After greeting prayer: “Lord, open our eyes this week to those who are curious about faith.”

Announcements:

We’re not spectators here, we’re participants. Giving and filling out a Connect Card are practical ways to let us know you’re with us on mission.

You can complete a Connect Card at sangamonvalley.net/ConnectCard or by using a green outlined paper Connect Card today.

Giving: You can give in the box, online, through the app, or by mail.

NEW ANNOUNCEMENT:

Montgomery James born at 4:19 am 3/4/26; 8lbs. 3oz; 21”

Last Sunday of Month is Baptism by immersion

First Act of Obedience - Going Public with your Faith

Prayer for...

Sermon

THE TENSION

We often think disciple-making begins with:

A strategy

A program

A ministry launch

A class

But Jesus began somewhere else.

Before He said “Go,” He said, “Pray.”

If we want to develop missionaries, we must first develop intercessors (pray on behalf of another).

We live in a culture that reacts quickly.

We notice:

Needs in the church.

People drifting from faith.

Cultural confusion.

Spiritual apathy.

The Problem: Often our first response is discussion, strategy, or opinion.

But Scripture shows us something different: Mission begins with prayer.

MY STORY

“There’s a pressure in ministry to feel like if something is lacking, we need to launch something…the pastor should______…someone should____”

More programs. More structure. More opportunities.

And I’ve felt that pressure.

But I’ve also learned something.

If I build without prayer, I build under unnecessary pressure.

If I pray before I build, I build with peace because I build with Jesus.

There have been moments where instead of starting something new, I gathered a few people and said, ‘Please pray.’

And what God did through those quiet prayers shaped more lasting fruit than any calendar addition ever did.”

The Problem: Often our first response is discussion, strategy, or opinion.

But Scripture shows us something different: Mission begins with prayer.

THE SCRIPTURE

Matthew 9:36-38

CONTEXT:

This moment occurs early in Jesus’ Galilean ministry.

Jesus has been traveling through towns and villages.

He is teaching in synagogues.

He is proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.

He is healing diseases and casting out demons.

Matthew 9 records a rapid sequence of miracles:

Healing a paralytic (9:1–8)

Calling Matthew (9:9)

Healing a bleeding woman (9:20–22)

Raising Jairus’ daughter (9:23–26)

Healing blind men (9:27–31)

Casting out a demon (9:32–34)

So when we reach verses 36–38, we are seeing: Not exhaustion. Not irritation. But compassion.

This is the emotional hinge before Jesus sends the Twelve in Matthew 10.

CHARACTERS

1. Jesus

The Shepherd.

The one who sees spiritually.

The initiator of mission.

The Lord of the harvest.

He is not reacting to inconvenience. He is responding to spiritual lostness.

The Greek word for compassion (splanchnizomai) implies deep gut-level emotion and in Matthew is used as a Messianic characterization (TDNT).

2. The Crowds

Harassed

Helpless

Sheep without a shepherd

These are ordinary Jewish people under:

Roman political oppression

Religious legalism from Pharisees

Spiritual confusion

They are spiritually leaderless.

3. The Disciples - They are present, watching, learning.

Matthew 9:36–38 “36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.””

Compassion → Prayer → Commission.

Acts 1:14

CONTEXT

This takes place:

After the resurrection.

After Jesus has appeared for 40 days.

Just before Pentecost.

Acts 1 records:

Jesus giving final instructions.

The promise of the Holy Spirit.

The ascension.

The disciples return to Jerusalem.

And what do they do? They pray IN THE UPPER ROOM.

This is formative prayer. Before:

Preaching 3,000 saved (Acts 2)

Church multiplication

Miracles

There was sustained, unified intercession.

CHARACTERS

1. The Eleven Apostles

Peter, John, James, Andrew, etc.

These are the core leadership figures. They are no longer hiding (like in the Gospels). They are waiting in obedience.

2. The Women

Luke explicitly mentions “the women.”

Likely including: Mary Magdalene, Joanna (Lk. 8:3), Others who followed Jesus

They are full participants in prayer.

3. Mary the Mother of Jesus

Mentioned by name. This is her final appearance in Scripture.

4. Jesus’ Brothers

Previously skeptical (John 7:5). Now gathered in faith.

Prayer has united those who once doubted.

Acts 1:14 “14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

THE DISCOVERY

1. Mission Begins With Seeing

“When he saw the crowds…”

Missionaries are developed when:

We stop focusing on problems.

And start seeing people.

Prayer trains our eyes.

Without prayer: We see inconvenience.

With prayer: We see sheep without a shepherd.

2. Prayer Turns Frustration Into Compassion

It is easy to feel:

Frustrated with culture.

Frustrated with drift.

Frustrated with spiritual apathy.

But Jesus felt compassion, not irritation.

Prayer changes our tone.

Prayer softens our heart.

Prayer aligns us with the Father.

Opinion increases pressure.

Prayer increases patience.

3. Prayer Positions Us for Participation

Notice something powerful:

In Matthew 9, Jesus says: “Pray for workers…”

Then in Matthew 10, He sends the very people He told to pray.

Often the ones who pray for the harvest become the answer to their own prayer.

What if the burden you feel is preparation for your commission?

IDENTITY SHIFT

God Is the Lord of the Harvest (Matthew 9:38)

He is not scrambling. He is not behind. He is not anxious.

He already calls it His harvest.

That means:

The mission belongs to Him.

The results belong to Him.

The timing belongs to Him.

The workers are raised by Him.

This reveals God as:

Compassionate toward the lost.

Intentional in sending.

The initiator of mission.

We are not trying to convince God to care, He already does.

Prayer is not informing Him. It is aligning with Him.

God Is the One Who Empowers (Acts 1)

In Acts 1, they wait.

This reveals: God does not rush mission without formation. He empowers in His timing.

God is:

The source of authority.

The giver of power.

The builder of His church.

This shifts pressure off us.

We are not the savior. He is.

We Are Not Observers — We Are Intercessors

When Jesus says, “Pray for workers,” He is telling the disciples:

You are not spectators of lostness. You are participants in redemption.

Prayer shifts us from: Consumers → Co-laborers Commentators → Carriers Observers → Intercessors

We Are Apprentices First

In Matthew 9, they are not sent yet. They are being shaped.

In Acts 1, they are waiting. They are being formed.

This reveals: As we pray, God develops us internally.

We are: Inter-dependent. Developing. Formed through prayerful surrender.

PRACTICE OBEDIENCE

1. Write Down 3 Names

People far from God. Neighbors. Family. Co-workers.

2. Pray for Them Daily

Not vague prayer. Specific prayer:

Open their heart.

Send laborers.

Use me.

3. Look for One Moment

One conversation. One invitation. One step.

That’s it.

No new ministry required. Just obedience.

TRANSITION TO MUSIC:

We are not building activity. We are developing missionaries. And missionaries pray like it’s personal.

Consider: If we are not praying for people far from God, are we truly OBEDIENT to the Great Commission?

Worship Thru Music

Commissioning:

This week, build one relationship. Pray for one person far from God.

As you depart…Take one step toward discipling someone…by praying first!