Prayers For Churches # 202 (For all Prayers)

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Do we know exactly what to expect from prayer? Of course we do. Prayer makes church services powerful, it causes me (your Pastor) to receive an anointing and it enables the church to give and receive incredible blessings. AMEN

QUESTION FOR YOU ALL? HAVE YOU GIVEN THOUGHT, REALLY GIVEN THOUGHT ABOUT OUR POTENTIAL HERE AT ST. PAUL’S? A pretty direct question isn’t it? Have you sat down and thought about what we can accomplish here at St. Paul’s?

What could we really be accomplishing if we were to reach out potential? How many lives would be transformed? How many lost people would come to know Christ? What would our impact be on this community? On this city?

Paul tells the church in Ephesus: Ephesians 3:9–11 “9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So how do we ere at St. Paul’s fit into this plan that Paul is talking about?

Dr. Paul Tillich once said: “The church is potentially a powerful body with a necessary arsenal at its disposal to change the moral character of this world. The fact that it is not doing so causes us to be painfully aware that its potential is not being realized. That which is possible is not being produced, for while possessing the DYNAMITE of the Gospel, the church has lost its DETONATOR (the part that starts the explosion.....US) As a result of this inaction, the church that the world sees is weak, timid, divided, and crawling instead of flying.” The DETONATOR that Mr. Tillich is talking about is prayer....... “we as a society really have a total lack of prayer.”

We have the potential people to do and be apart of what Jesus wants from His church, our church. Matthew 28:19–20 “19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Last week we began the process of becoming a “praying” church. Today we are continue the process of learning and making sure we are doing it right, the way we have been instructed.

Let’s start with 5 prayer requests from Jesus: 1) Jesus wants us to “sense” the Glory of God. John 17:22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.” Whenever God’s presence comes down within the church, it lifts up the people spiritually. Then, look out, this is when great things begin to happen!

When our church family here at St. Paul’s really begin to pray, really begin to worship, when we really seek to please God and have fellowship with Him and other believers, it draws nonbelievers like a magnet-Then the Glory of God is revealed!

2) John 17:8 “for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.” When the disciples received the words of Jesus, it gave their lives meaning, motivation and a mission to their lives. THAT WILL BE US!

When the people in church continually study, learn and use Scripture in their lives, they, the people begin to change. Their lives take on a new meaning. They become motivated to grow in their faith, to change how they live and become obedient to God and God’s purpose for His church. Are you getting this people?

3) Jesus prayed for all believers to be unified through love. We know this don’t we? Why? Because spirit-filled Christians, united in love and guided by a purpose they truly believe in CAN DO ANYTHING! AMEN

A sad fact with some churches, many churches is that are not unified through Jesus. They have their own agenda, their are selfish in their thoughts and decisions. They can’t take care of their own people and they can’t be an effective witness to people in the community.

4) God wants that we as a church go forth in the mission of God. Jesus directly asked God to “SANCTIFY” us so that we would be prepared to go out into the world, just as Jesus told the apostles.

John 17:17–18 “17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”

We, just like the apostles have been sent into the world, are we going? Are we waiting? Are we being obedient to God’s instruction and calling? We are to be bringing the Good News to the lost so that they might be saved. AMEN

As church leaders, Pastor Tom and myself are to be equipting others to share their Faith. Pastor Tom and I are to be here to explain, teach, motivate and inspire as well as answer all questions from all of you. We must do what it takes to become learned, courageous and confident when God places the opportunity for us to tell others about Jesus.

5) We must receive the full measure of Joy that Jesus wants us to have. John 17:13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.” What gives a body of believers Joy? Obedience to God in the things Jesus talked about gives joy: giving God the glory He desires gives us joy, following His Word and being united in love gives us joy. So, God wants us to joy, remember joy is not the same as happiness. Joy is within, happiness is temporary.

Was there a time when you knew God called you to do something through the Holy Spirit? Then say you heard this calling. Then you acted on this calling, then you were blessed because of this called deed. DID THAT NOT BLAST YOU WITH UNDESCRIBEABLE JOY? WELL, IT HAS ME.

This week, let us pray in Jesus name, let us focus on the things that we will pray for bring Glory to the Father. AMEN

Tell about the question I received Monday. Question: We do not have any Elders. How do I pray then? Pray for God to send us Elders, that we see God’s guidance as we begin to grow and follow the process to select the “Elders” that God wants in this church.

Example: Single parents: Be in prayer that God shows us as a church these parents who might need help. A ride to work, $ for gas to get to work. A meal prepared for the evening, leaves picked up. An errand to run. Our prayers must go deep then God will show us who needs His love shown through us at St. Paul’s

NOTEBOOK EXPLANATION FOR ENTRIES, THOUGHTS, PRAYER REQUESTS, ANSWERED PRAYERS. A journal maybe, a memory jogger of a prayer we prayed in January and God answered it in March.

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