GPS-Why Praying for the Church is Important
GPS: Praying
Thesis: Without prayer, the church will never succeed at her mission to make disciples.
Goal: Inspire and instruct people to pray for the church
Text: Topical
Introduction
Title Slide
A. FCCH Response Cards
B. GPS Series
1. We’re in the second week of a three week mini-series.
2. At FCCH, we believe that God calls us to partner with Him in ministry.
a) When you give, the CM buys curriculum and children learn God’s word.
b) When you pray, God sends comfort to the people in our church who are sick, grieving or dying.
c) When you serve, strangers are greeted as guests in God’s house. They experience His transforming love and become part of the family.
3. Last week, John Corey joined me to talk about why it is important to give to the church and how he has built giving principles into his life.
4. This week, I’d like to talk to you about prayer.
C. I understand that there are a lot of demands for your attention
1. Government study
Studied the number of ads children (2 to 11) were exposed to in 2004 - basically there were over 25,600 ads in 2004 geared for children – if they watched nothing but ads, nonstop, it would take 7.5 days – advertisers want your attention.
2. The Outdoor Advertising Association of America
They promote the use of digital billboards that change every 6 six seconds in the hopes that they will grab your attention for 1 second – they are looking to sell you their product in 1 second.
D. Amidst the cacophony of pleas for your attention is the church – asking you for prayer
Too many Americans see the church like the sad face of some child on the other side of a TV screen, asking you to pay attention to our need – we become the equivalent of a PSA.
Transition: I’m here today to talk about why I think people should pray for the church and how you can do it.
I. Why Should People Pray for the Church?
A. Mark 10:24-27
Preface the story
Slide 2
This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible but not with God. Everything is possible with God.” (NLT)
B. Answer
Our task is impossible without God – only God can transform the human heart so that someone can find life and be saved from eternal death.
C. Example
Parents of teenagers know this. We can make a teen go to church, sit through family devotions and even coerce/bribe/threaten them on a retreat but you can’t inject your son with love for God or your daughter with a passion to serve Christ.
You can plant these seeds of faith in them through the ministries of the church, the influence of your life and the exposure to the bible’s teachings but there is this mysterious transaction that takes place in a seed where it becomes a plant that breaks the ground and bears fruit. You can put all the right ingredients in but you can’t make a Christian out of your child. It’s the same with the church – nothing we do is possible on our own – only through God it is possible.
Transition: All right, so I know I should pray but how do I do it?
! II. How Should I Pray for the Church?
Slide 3
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Ephesians 6:18 NLT)
A. Four Characteristics
1. In the Spirit
a) When you pray what the bible tells you to pray – you’re cooperating with God and His Spirit – this is the most powerful praying because we know it is 100% in the will of God and it leads us into places that we would not go on our own
b) When something about the church unexpectedly comes to mind – a leader at the church, a ministry or event or a need that you’re aware of – it comes crowding into your mind – sometimes even waking you up
c) Praying in the Spirit is handing off an important request to God’s Spirit (who lives inside everyone who has surrendered to Christ), trusting that He will deliver straight to Heaven where God dwells
(1) For some it is tongues – a spiritual gift they have received from God that they use in private times of prayer or in small groups
(2) For most of us, it is the conscious dialogue of prayer where we know that there is a power and effectiveness that comes from God’s Spirit empowering my prayer
2. All the Time and Everywhere
a) Ten Good Times to Pray
(1) During your daily time with God
(2) While you are commuting – please keep your eyes open
(3) As a part of grace before you eat
(4) At the start of every ministry meeting you oversee
(5) With your children when you put them to bed at night
(6) During your small group time
(7) In the middle of the night when God wakes you up
(8) At lunch time (whether as a homemaker, student or employee) – invite others to join you
(9) During your ministry time (CCG, Sunday School, JAM night, Teen Ministry) – namely anytime you gather with people for a ministry
(10) While doing an unpleasant chore (like washing the floor)
!!!! b) On Every Occasion – means by yourself & with people
Brings up the question: what’s the big deal about praying with people? God hears me when I pray, right? Why bother praying with others?
(1) The first church regularly gathered together to pray
(2) It’s one of the best ways to learn how to pray
(3) It enlarges what you would have prayed
(4) God works through a unified church in powerful ways: Peter’s escape from jail
3. Alert & Persistent:
a) What does Paul mean?
like the way I drive in Boston, alert to the dangers, knowing that if I don’t give up but keep asking for help, I’ll eventually get there
when you let your guard down in praying for the church, it’s like taking your eyes off of the road to fidget with the radio
b) Why alert & persistent?
Looking at context: we live and minister in the midst of great conflict and strife: the first church faced it:
(1) Spiritual forces of Evil
Satan tried to sidetrack Jesus Christ Himself in the temptation in the wilderness
(2) World
The first apostles faced outright opposition to their work
(3) Our Own Nature
Temptations (greed, sexual compromise, arguments & strife) & doubts that undermine our faith
Transition: we can’t talk about prayer without practicing it
Application: - pull out the Bookmark insert
1. Review the Bookmark
2. Pray for a few minutes – encourage small groups
3. FCCH Response Card – check off the A: Pray through the bookmark by Sept. 9 – return of 2 services & school year ministries
!!! 4. What Should People Pray for the Church?
5. Pray that we’ll spread the message of Christ clearly, fearlessly and fruitfully
a) Clearly
Slide 4
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. (Colossians 4:3-4 NIV)
b) Fearlessly
Slide 5
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:19-20 NIV)
c) Fruitfully
Slide 6
Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. (2 Thessalonians 3:1 NIV)
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48 NIV)
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NIV)
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:13-14 NIV)
6. Pray for the integrity of our Church Leaders
Slide 7
Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. (Hebrews 13:18 NIV)
7. Pray for the Success of the Church
Slide 8
So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. (2 Thessalonians 1:11 NLT)
8. Pray for the People of Our Church
a) Experience of God’s Love
Slide 9
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV)
b) Make Loving, Wise Choices
Slide 10
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11 NIV)
c) Understand of Our Identity: who we are and what we are capable of doing
Slide 11
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:18-19 NIV)
Application