Prayer Empowering Weekend Schedule

Thursday, April 7, 2011

3:00 p.m.         24-hour Prayer Vigil begins at church

 

Friday, April 8, 2011

5:00 p.m.         Visiting Team Meeting with Pastor and General Chairperson

6:00 p.m.         Fellowship supper for entire church and Visiting Team

7:00 p.m.         General session in sanctuary for everyone

7:30 p.m.         Youth and children dismissed with Visiting Leaders; adults remain in sanctuary

 

Teaching Session 1

8:15 p.m.         Adult Small Groups

9:00 p.m.         Closing Prayer – for everyone in sanctuary

 

Saturday, April 9, 2011

8:00 a.m.         Visiting Team Meeting with Pastor and General Chairperson

9:00 a.m.         General session in sanctuary for adults, youth, and children

9:30 a.m.         Youth and children dismissed to their classes; adults remain in sanctuary

 

Teaching Session 2

10:15 a.m.       Families travel to Home Prayer Meetings

11:15 a.m.       Families prayerwalk assigned street

12:00 p.m.       Lunch at church for everyone and Prayerwalking Debrief

1:00 p.m.         Men’s Meeting in fellowship hall and Ladies Meeting in sanctuary

Youth and children meet in their assigned areas

2:00 p.m          Free time

5:00 p.m.         Visiting Team Meeting with Pastor and General Chairperson

6:00 p.m.         Fellowship supper for entire church and Visiting Team

7:00 p.m.         General session in sanctuary for everyone

7:30 p.m.         Youth and children dismissed with Visiting Leaders; adults remain in sanctuary

Teaching Session 3

8:15 p.m.         Adult Small Groups

9:00 p.m.         Closing Family Prayer Time – for everyone in sanctuary

 

Sunday, April 10, 2011

8:00 a.m.         Visiting Team Meeting with Pastor and Home Chairperson

9:45 a.m.         Sunday School hour (option: Teaching Session 4 for adults in fellowship hall)

10:30 a.m.       Worship Service (option: Teaching Session 4 during sermon time)

12:00 p.m.       Lunch for Visiting Team and Host Families

6:00 p.m.         Churchwide Evaluation Service in sanctuary

REACH FOR OTHERS

Numbers 11:11 (NKJV)                                April 7, 2011

¹¹ So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me?

Some of us know how to give, but not receive. As a result we fail to reach our growth potential or accomplish what God planned for us. Somebody within your reach right now knows something you need to know; something you’ll never discover on your own. Get close to them and draw water from their well. It’s pride that keeps us weak. Weak people don’t reach for others, wise people do. Moses asked God, “Why… have [You] laid the burden of all these people on me?” God said, “I didn’t, you took it on yourself.” Then He instructed Moses, “Gather. ..seventy men …whom you know to be elders … Then … I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you” (Nu 11:16-17 NKJV).

A newspaper carried the story of a woman who fell asleep behind the wheel and plunged her car through a guardrail on the highway. It dangled precariously, sixty feet in the air. Motorists stopped, grabbed ropes, tied them to the back of the woman’s car and hung on till the emergency units arrived. A ladder was extended from below to help stabilize the car while firefighters chained the vehicle to tow trucks. Every time her car moved she screamed. It took over two hours for passers-by, the highway patrol, tow truck drivers and firefighters-about twenty-five people in all-to pull her to safety. The fire captain at the scene said later, “It was kinda funny. She kept shouting, ‘I’ll do it myself!” Are you like that? If you want to enjoy God’s best, reach for others!

Prayer: Dear God, please help me to accomplish what You have planned for me. Remove my pride so that I may be able to reach for others.  Help me to become obedient to Your word, so that I may enjoy Your best.

BECOME GOD’S FRIEND

John 15:15 (nkjv)                                      April 6, 2011

¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

David desired to know God above all else. He used words like longing, yearning, thirsting and hungering. “The… thing … I seek most of all, is the privilege of … living in his presence every day of my life” (Ps27:4 TLB).Again he said, “Your love means more than life to me” (Ps63:3 CEV).Jacob’s desire was so intense that he wrestled with God all night, saying, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (Ge 32:26 NIV). And the amazing thing is, God, who is all powerful, let Jacob win. Why? Because wrestling requires personal contact; it brings us close to Him. Paul was another man who was passionate about his friendship with God. “[My determined purpose is]… [that I may ... become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him]” (Php 3:10 AMP). You say, “I’d like to have a closer relationship with God, but I’m so busy.” The truth is, you are as close to God as you desire and discipline yourself to be! Friendship with God must become your passion. You must intentionally seek it. That means answering questions like, “Do I value it more than anything else? Is it worth giving up other things for? Is it worth developing the habits and skills required? Am I willing to say, ‘Lord, more than anything else, I want to know You’?”God’s answer to that prayer has always been: ‘When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed” (Jer29:13-14 TM).

Prayer: Father, I want to be more like David; longing, yearning, thirsting and hungering for You.  Please help me to seek a closer relationship with You every day through prayer and reading Your word.  Thank You for loving me.

OUR INSEPARABLE RELATIONSHIP

Romans 8:31-39 (NKJV)                                                        April 5, 2011

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long;  We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Far too many relationships in today’s world are uncertain. Disunity is found in marriages, churches, and international alliances. Yet there’s one relationship that is sure and permanent. The Lord designed people for intimate fellowship with Him. His love toward each of us is evident throughout the Bible. In fact, there is nothing tangible, intangible, past, present, or future that can separate believers from the Father’s love. John 10:14 draws a comparison between Jesus and a good shepherd—a man whose ultimate task is providing for and protecting the flock. Christ’s character is one of passionate care for His people. First John 4:16 clearly states, “God is love.” If we believe the Bible, then we cannot deny this fact about His nature. We also see evidence of divine love through the Lord’s gifts and actions. For example, He created us in His image (Gen. 1:26). He sent His only Son to die in our place, and He forgives us of our sin debt (1 Cor. 15:3). John 15:15 tells us that Christ calls us His friends—and what’s more, when we trust in Jesus, God adopts us and considers us His children (Rom. 8:15). He even blesses us with an Intercessor and Helper—the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). The Word is clear: God loves us passionately. The affection we experience in our families is only a glimpse of the great compassion and care that God has for you. Think about the people you treasure most. Imagine what you would be willing to do if they experienced a need. How much more will our heavenly Father be devoted to you!

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for desiring to have a true relationship with me. Let me come to You daily, seeking knowledge and wisdom as to the way I should live my life. I would like to start today with a more fulfilling life, fully dependent on You.

 

VISION WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

Matthew 28:16-20 (NKJV)                                                            April 4, 2011

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. ¹⁷ When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

 

Many of our goals and dreams fail simply because we place limitations upon ourselves. This is true for the church as well—Christ’s command to share the gospel is an example.

Jesus gave us the vision to tell all nations about His salvation, and as His followers, we should make this our aim. Many Christians, however, are not working to fulfill this “Great Commission”—at least not fervently and purposefully. Often, what holds us back are the boundaries we place upon ourselves.

Fear is one of the biggest self-erected barriers to success. For instance, if evangelizing means traveling overseas, lack of safety might worry us. We may also feel concern about how family and friends will react to our decision and whether people will react negatively to our message.

Another hindrance might be conditional obedience—that is, a willingness to serve as long as God keeps us in a particular location or has us minister in a country where we don’t have to learn a new language. And some people make the inconvenience of spending money, time, or effort into an obstacle that prevents service to the Lord.

There are many barriers that can keep us from sharing the gospel. But when we’re willing to tear those down, we’ll be amazed at what God can accomplish through us.

Are you passionately sharing the gospel? If not, identify the obstruction that stands in your way, and pray for forgiveness. Refocus by reading the Word and remembering the mission that Jesus gave you. God’s love covers the whole world, and He therefore intends that everyone hear the good news.

Prayer: Father God, Your grace can give me the freedom to be able to do Your good work with no reluctance. Please help me to lead others to experience Your grace and mercy.

BLESSING OTHERS

Psalm 5:11-12 (NKJV)                                                                        April 3, 2011

¹¹ But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name , Be joyful in You.
¹² For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

The other day as I was walking through a store, I happened to sneeze, and a gentleman nearby offered the typical response, “Bless you.” This caused me to think about what that common expression actually means—namely, a request for divine favor—and the different ways we can bless others.

First, we can bless people by praying for them, and we should be specific when bringing such petitions to the Lord. General requests like “please bless him” can become rote and devoid of meaning. Besides, supplications with greater detail might bring more identifiable answers. And imagine how others will be encouraged when they see that we cared enough to pray thoughtfully—and God cared enough to fulfill the request.

Second, we can ask God’s favor on events and situations. Of course, He will respond only when these have His approval. For example, it is appropriate to request the Lord’s presence in a church service, and to ask that He touch those present.

Third, we can bless God. We do this by expressing our praise and thanksgiving for His character and for what He has done (Ps. 104:1). Blessing Him also takes place through our obedience, service, and desire to please Him. When we place Him first in our lives, He is honored.

The Lord provides a vast array of good gifts, and the desire for such benefits is normal and universal. In fact, as we yearn for divine blessings, why not apply the golden rule as a motivation to bless others—including God Himself—through prayer and service?

 

Prayer: Father, thank You for caring so deeply about my soul. Help me to open my heart to those around me and show Your genuine love through me. I pray to always put you first in everything I say or do.

Biblical Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (NKJV)                                          April 2, 2011

¹ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. ⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

In today’s passage, Paul talks about love and its preeminence over speech, knowledge, generosity, and self-sacrifice (vv. 1-3). The apostle then describes the nature of biblical love, which is patient, kind, humble, and slow to anger (vv. 4-7).

However, we often struggle as we try to practice this model of unselfish affection. One reason is that the godly expression of caring doesn’t come naturally to us. Pure Christian love puts the other person ahead of our own interests, even when our human inclinations clamor to place self first (v. 5).

A second challenge is the temptation to withhold affection until others apologize or change their behavior. We remember their offense long after it has occurred. That’s not what our Lord did—He loved us while we were still sinners and forgave us for everything (Rom. 5:8; Luke 23:34).

Furthermore, it is easier to point out someone else’s unkindness toward us than to see where we have fallen short. Perhaps a close friend has spoken impatiently to us and we responded with angry words. How easily we can use Scripture to point out her mistake, but how hard to admit our own.

We are called to be loving towards God as well as those around us (Mark 12:30-31). We’ve received the Holy Spirit, who will help us learn how to care deeply for others.

Experiencing God’s affection and demonstrating it to others are to be two of our greatest joys. Take time to memorize the attributes of biblical love, and look for ways to practice them in your relationships. In times of stress, think about the list, and let the power of love transform your response.

Prayer: Father, I praise You because You are love. Help me to love others not in my natural self but rather my supernatural self.