Wednesday Prayer #2

I want to welcome you tonight to the second week of our Wednesday night prayer focus, especially for those who maybe couldn’t make it last week.

Let me begin by saying thank you for taking the time to invest not only in your own spiritual development, but also in the spiritual growth and development of our church.

I really do believe the future of our church is dependent on our willingness to take time and pray, seek the Lord, and allow His Spirit to guide us.

As I said last week, the purpose of this meeting isn’t for us to just sit around, hold hands and sing kum by jah. The truth is, this meeting represents hard spiritual work.

The hard work of dropping our guard, opening our hearts, and allowing the Lord to speak to us in ways we’ve never allowed Him to.

And that my friends is hard because often times when we open ourselves up like that, it’s not always pleasant.

It’s not always pleasant as the Lord identifies areas of our life that maybe aren’t in line with Him or His Word and need to change.

It’s not always pleasant as He challenges us to evaluate our commitment.

It’s not always easy when greater access may require an entire renovation and reconstruction of our heart. And that’s not always fun, but to grow spiritually it’s necessary.

Because the truth is, it’s easy to allow things into our heart and life that work against our spiritual development. It’s easy to open ourselves up to influences that lead us down the wrong path. That’s why Paul says in that living for the Lord can often feel like a battle. He writes:

Galatians 5:17 ESV

17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Galatians 5

Paul says there’s a tug of war going on in your heart. The Spirit is trying to pull you one way while the flesh is trying to pull you another.

What that means then is that there is constant tension in your heart.

A constant pull towards one or the other.

And sometimes the tension is greater towards one versus another.

In other words, sometimes it’s easy to give yourself to the Spirit, but sometimes its not. Sometimes it’s easy to say no to the flesh, but sometimes it’s extremely difficult.

And some of you know exactly what I’m talking about. And the truth is, as we’ve started the book of Acts you’ve felt that tension intensify. You’ve felt the pull a greater pull of the Spirit as He’s pulled you towards greater commitment. As He’s pulled you towards greater obedience, and as He’s identified areas of disobedience. Areas of your life that need to change. And in the process you’ve felt the tension of the pull.

That’s why I say it’s hard work. Because as the Spirit has pulled and challenged you, the flesh has pulled back just as hard. The flesh is trying to lure you back because the flesh doesn’t die well. It kicks and screams all the way to the grave it deserves.

So, as we go into our time of focus tonight, I hate to tell you this, but it’s not going to get any easier. Tonight we are going to continue to challenge our commitment and our hearts. And to do that we’re going to go back to the four prerequisites of empowerment as we continue to evaluate our commitment as disciples.

Last week we took time to look at what it means to be a disciple. And if you recall, we took a test as we examined our commitment to Jesus.

We also took time to evaluate areas of disobedience in our lives. We asked the Lord to identify pet sin that is keeping us from moving forward. We asked the Lord to identify areas of our lives that needed to change.

So, before we move to our next focus tonight, I want to take a few moments and see if 2-3 of you might want to share what the Spirit showed you last week or through the week, some of the changes you’ve made as a result, and the difference you’ve seen in your walk with the Lord in the past week.

And I know by asking some of you to do this, I’m putting you in a vulnerable situation. But if you’d be willing to share, I think it could be an encouragement to those that are possibly struggling to fully give areas of their life over to the Lord. In fact, I believe it’s what Paul had in mind in . He writes:

1 Corinthians 9:22–23 ESV

22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

What Paul is saying is, “Sometimes we have to put ourselves in a vulnerable situation in order to help those who are struggling.” Why do we do it? Paul says for the sake of the gospel, that we might share with them in its blessings. In other words, by sharing in our weakness, we lead others to the source of strength.

So, if there are 1-2 who are willing, would you come up and share for a few moments how God used last Wednesday night to help you move forward spiritually.

Share Time: 10 mintues

Thank you for sharing. I hope that encouraged some of you in your commitment. I know it’s hard to make changes, but I can promise you this, by committing to obedience and making those changes, you’re going to see the Lord honor and work in your life in a way He couldn’t before. Amen?

As we come back to the prerequisites tonight, I want to spend the majority of our time focusing on the third prerequisite for empowerment. You may recall, it’s the prerequisite of being committed to unity. It’s the idea of being unified in mission and unified against division.

So, tonight we have two goals:

First, I want to take a few moments and explain what it means to be committed to unity. To talk about what steps you and I need to take in order for that kind of unity to be a reality at MCF.

Second, I want to give each of us an opportunity to practice that unity.

So, let’s start with what it means to have unity within the church. And maybe a good place to start would be by stating what unity is not. Because I think sometimes when we use that word, people tend to get the wrong idea of what unity in the church actually means.

First, unity is not you and I agreeing on everything. The truth is, you and I are never going to have 100% agreement on everything. To be honest, even among some of my pastor friends, we have areas of disagreement, but despite that, we are unified in our faith.

Second, unity doesn’t mean you can’t or don’t have an opinion. The fact is, we each have viewpoints, ideas, and something to offer in any given situation. Whether it’s a business or a church, a good leader or boss values the opinions and input of others.

Third, unity doesn’t mean you’re a robot that does everything you’re told no questions asked. The last thing a leader or a church should want is a bunch of yes men or women. To be honest, that’s how some churches and organizations go sideways.

So, when I say our church needs to have unity, I’m not saying you have to check your brain at the door.

So, what do we mean by unity then?

if that’s not unity, then what does it mean to have unity in the church?

Well, some might say because nobody is ever going to agree 100%, that unity in a church is a commitment to show respect to others, even when we don’t agree.

That unity is you and I being open to the ideas, viewpoints, and the opinions of others. And maybe even be willing to concede and compromise at times.

And that to be unified means to work together as a team as we work alongside the leaders God has put in place.

And I would say that combined, those are great ways to achieve unity in any organization.

In addition to that, some might say unity is based on a commitment to avoid certain behaviors. For example to avoid gossip. To avoid unhealthy criticism. To avoid backbiting. To be willing to deal with problems Biblically instead of gossiping about them or sweeping them under the carpet.

And again, I would agree with that thinking. I believe anytime we cut out negative or sinful behaviors like gossip, backbiting, and we commit to handling problems in a biblical way, that unity is strengthened in a church.

So, again, all of those combined are great ways to create unity in a church and keep people on mission.

But what if I told you tonight that it’s possible to do all of those things by being committed to one thing? What if I told you that the key to unity in a church is really dependent on one commitment.

Would you be interested in knowing

So, what is the one thing? Well, Jesus tells us what it is in . In fact, I would say that represents the formula for unity. A unity that will not only strengthen our church, but Jesus says will be a testimony to those outside the church.

So, what’s the formula? Let’s let Jesus tell us as we read from . In Jesus says:

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In this passage Jesus gives us what He calls a new commandment. And the commandment is that we would love one another just as He loved us.

And he goes on to say, that if we will do this, it will be a testimony to the world around us that we are his disciples.

Now, at this point, you might be thinking, “Ok, hold no pastor. I understand the importance of loving one another, but I didn’t see anything about unity in that passage. I thought you said this passage was about unity.”

Here’s what I want you to see. The key to unity is love. In other words, if we were to actually love one another as Jesus loves us, that love would create an environment where it would be difficult for disunity to function.

I mean think about it, if you’re committed to love somebody like Jesus loves you, then you’re not going to gossip about that person. You’re not going to run them down. You’re not going to spread rumors about them. Why? Because that’s not what the love of Jesus does.

If you’re committed to love somebody like Jesus loves you, then you’re going to be committed to their well being. Why? Because God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son. God’s love goes out of it’s way for others.

If you’re committed to love somebody like Jesus loves you, you’re going to be more willing to make sacrifices for them. Why? Because that’s what the love of Jesus does. It gives itself for the sake of others.

The fact of the matter is, if we were committed to love one another like Jesus loves us, it would create a unity that the world has never seen. And the truth is, this is what Jesus desires most for His church. Listen to how Jesus describes his desire for this kind of unity in as he prays for his disciples:

John 17:20–23 ESV

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

The implication Jesus is making here is that if we would love each other with the same type of love that God and Jesus share, that we would achieve a unity that is similar to what they have.

Jesus’s desire is that we would become one. That we would be come like He and the Father. That we would model a unity that the world has never seen. A supernatural unity.

And the fact of the matter is, the only way you get to that kind of unity is through supernatural love. A love that can only come through your relationship with Jesus. A love that you experienced when you put your faith in Jesus. As you experienced the love of God poured out upon you. As you recognized what God sacrificed for you. A love that Jesus expects you to extend to others, especially those who you call brothers and sisters in Christ.

Because here’s the deal, if we want the Holy Spirit to work in and through our church, then we have to be committed to loving one another. We have to be “of one accord”. Because the more we love one another, the more unified we will be, and the more the Spirit will be able to work in and through us.

Think of it like this. What do you think would be most attractive or appealing to a person who visits our church for the first time? What do you think would cause a person who visits our church to say, “I’ve never experienced anything like this. I want to be a part of this church!”

Do you think it would be our kids program? Would it be our worship service? Would it be the sermon? Would it be the coffee? The Mom’s room? The classes we offer? What do you think a visitor would see and experience at MCF that would leave them awe struck?

What if I told you, while all of those things are great, while some of those things might incline somebody to come back, and might even keep them here, none of those things have the power to do what love can do.

Because the truth is, what would really capture their attention, what would really stop them in their tracks, what would really cause them to say, “I've never experienced anything like this!”, is the supernatural love of Jesus that comes through us.

A love that breeds a supernatural peace in the building.

A love that says, “These people really care about each other.”

A love that puts other first.

A love that says, “We’re not just a social club, we’re a family.”

That’s what will bring them back, and more importantly, that’s what will lead them to Jesus. It’s a love you can’t find in the world. A love that you can’t purchase or buy. A love that only God can give us through a relationship with Jesus. And it’s a love we are to model.

So, how do we do that? How do we love each other like Jesus loved us? To be honest, it’s not easy. In fact, I would say, without the Holy Spirit, you can’t, and you won’t.

This is why Jesus prayed that we’d have this. It’s not a natural love, it’s a supernatural love. And Paul says, without it, then anything we do for Jesus falls flat. In He writes:

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 ESV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Paul says you can every spiritual gift on the map, but if you don’t have love, then you are no better than a noisy gong or clanging symbol. You’re like a fly that won’t go away.

So, if it’s that important, how do we get it?

Two ways. First, we need to pray for it. It’s supernatural, so you only get something supernatural by going to a supernatural being, and in our case, that’s God.

And second, we need to practice it. The truth is, if you ask for something from God, you have to be willing to implement it into your life. And that’s the problem for a lot of Christians. They pray for something, but then they don’t practice what they ask for. They pray, “God make me more generous”, but then they don’t put anything in the offering bucket. The fact is, when it comes to your faith, the feelings often follow the action. So, if you want to be more generous, pray for it, and then start giving. And what you’ll find is the more you give, the more generous you’ll become, and the more God will bless you.

It’s the same with love. We need to pray for it, and then we need to practice it.

So, here’s what we are going to do. In , Paul goes on to lay out the virtues of Christian love. He writes:

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 ESV

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

For the next 10 minutes we are going to spend some time in personal reflection and prayer. And as you reflect and pray, I want you to ask yourself these questions:

1 Corinthians 13 ESV

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

When it comes to people, am I patient and kind?

When you interact with people, whose the #1 topic of conversation, you or them? In other words, are you more focused on telling them about your life, or asking them about theirs?

When it comes to relationships, is it your way or the highway? In other words, are you a person that always has to get their way?

When it comes to relationships, are you a bear to deal with? In other words, do people have to walk on egg shells around you? Do people have to constantly worry about offending or upsetting you?

When it comes to the sinful actions of other believers, does it bother you? In other words, do you excuse sin or do you confront it? Do you sweep stuff under the carpet or do you deal with it? For example, when you see somebody you care about in the act of sin, do you turn a blind eye, do you shrug it off, or do you love them enough to talk to them about it?

When it comes to relationship with others, do you bear their burdens, believe in them, hope the best for them, and in times of difficulty endure the storm with them?

For the next 10 minutes, I’m asking that you consider these questions, and that if none or only some of these apply to you, that you would begin to pray that all would apply to you. Because without this kind of love, Paul says none of the other gifts matter.

Prayer Time:

So, now that we’ve prayed, we’re going to practice. And to do this, we are going to form in groups of 4-6. And for this to be the most effective, I really need it to be 4-6. Anything bigger than that is going to work against what we are trying to do. So, take a few minutes, form groups of 4-6, and then I’ll give further instruction.

Groups Forming

Now that you’re in your groups, I want to share a passage from where Paul instruction on how to practice our love. He writes:

Philippians 2:1–8 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

In this passage Paul gives us some instruction on how to care and love one another.

First he says we are to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Second, he says we are to consider not only our own interests or needs, but the interests and needs of others.

So, in your groups here’s what I want you to do.

First, as you look at each person in your group, for the next few moments I want you to take the mindset that the needs of those in your group are more important than yours. To be honest, this won’t come natural, and you may even need to ask the Lord to help you with this. And please hear me, this doesn’t mean that your needs aren’t important. But think of it like this. If everybody in the group actually does this, then you’re going to have 4-5 people focused intently on your need.

Second, as Paul encourages, I want you to share your prayer needs, challenges, or struggles with your group. Be has transparent as you like or don’t like. And as each person shares, I want you to focus on what they’re saying and ask the Lord to give you a genuine concern for their need.

And then after everybody shares, I want you to take turns as you pray for the person to your right. And then when you’re done praying, hang tight, and I’ll give you some closing instruction.

Prayer Time:

For the next 4 weeks, I want the people in your group to be your gang. The reason I say gang, is because a gang takes care of its members. A gang connects on a regular basis. A gang makes sacrifices for one another. A gang does life together.

So for the next 4 weeks I want you to get involved in each others lives. Using the piece of paper you were handed when you came in, I would suggest you take the contact info on your prayer sheet, and you set up a group text, and throughout the week you start checking in on each others needs. Or that you maybe even share new needs.

I would also suggest that you encourage each other to be at church Sunday and then back at prayer meeting next week. That you maybe even plan to sit together.

Finally, I would suggest that you maybe even find a time to plan a social activity together as a group. Include your spouses if they’re not here, and plan a time to interact with one another.

For the next 4 weeks I’m asking that you operate as a gang. Love one another, encourage one another, support one another, and make sacrifices for one another.

Begin to practice Christian love. Begin to love one another as Christ loves us.

Let’s Pray