07/24/2022 Church service

周日礼拜

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A Praying Church

Acts 12:1-12

John Piper shared the story of the time his father, who was a traveling evangelist, like a mini-Billy Graham, preached an evangelistic crusade at a little church.

In attendance that day was an old man with a hard heart who the church had been praying for for many years.

He typically wouldn’t darken the door of the church, but for whatever reason, this time he came…

And as the gospel was preached, the man’s heart was gripped by God’s grace and he was saved from his sins and given eternal life.

But as he came forward and spoke with and prayed with the preacher, the old man cried out for all to hear, “I wasted it! I wasted it!”   

That man suddenly realized that time is precious, and our time here is meant to be lived for Jesus.

In Christ we are God’s beloved children; but now that that’s the case we are called to live out our new identity, and that means that we are to love like Christ. We are to live and love like Jesus did - for the glory of Christ.

We know this is true, even though we may be struggling with that truth even today.

We need to pray – and we also always need others to pray for us – especially when we find ourselves in those times of struggle.

“Pray for me.”

Two interesting verses
5: So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

 and 12: When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

1 Thessalonians 5:25: Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

2 Cor 1:11 - Join us in this work. Lend us a hand through prayer so that many will give thanks for the gift that comes to us when God answers the prayers of so many.

“as you help us by your prayers.”

Our scripture today tells us that James had already been put to death for the sake of the gospel – and Peter was next on their list

verses 5: So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

In America, we pay tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedom.

We remember the price they paid

The early church did the very same thing, so that we could hear and believe the Good News (the gospel) about Jesus

I remember when I first learned (in my preteens) about the persecuted church in communist countries

We have a Divine obligation to pray for and support these Heroes of the Truth.

Fortunately, prayer is not confined to one time or location

-      because God is not limited in the ways we are

God is beyond time itself

Friday Morning: Taking Holy Communion FIRST

“Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Our approach – our confidence – comes in our awareness of this love – and this supreme sacrifice for us.

John 11:3: (Mary & Martha sent word to Jesus) “The one you love is sick”

(talking about their brother Lazarus)

…it wasn’t, “The one who loves you is sick”

1 John 4:10 - And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

It was never about our promises to God – it is about God’s promises and His love) for us

Romans 5:17 – If one man’s sin brought a reign of death—that’s Adam’s legacy—how much more will those who receive grace in abundance and the free gift of redeeming justice reign in life by means of one other man—Jesus the Anointed.

We Pray “In Jesus’ Name…”

Jesus is the WAY

Whatever help we need – whatever answers we are looking for…

Jesus is the WAY

You can pray prayers that impact heaven and earth

James 5:17,18: "Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.  Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”

You can pray prayers that impact heaven and earth for someone else, too

We pray - not to soothe our emotions, but to bring heaven to earth and get results.

God doesn't help those who help themselves; He helps those who are help-less

Matt 5:3 – (Jesus) “Great blessings belong to those who know they are spiritually in need. God’s kingdom belongs to them.”

Earnest prayer is simply a proclamation of faith

It’s not the volume – and it is certainly not the repetition

It is the prayer of faith.

Trusting in the One Who loved us and gave Himself for us

Pray for those who are in chains today – both physical chains –

-      those in prison for their faith and for those who are locked away now because they dared to speak the truth about this world situation

-       

-      and also pray for those who are bound by chains of addiction – chains of spiritual blindness – chains of sickness – chains of sin

Pray for those who cannot yet properly pray for themselves

Romans 15:30 - I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

As a missionary going into India to preach the gospel once said,
"I will go down into the pit, but… the rest of you must hold the rope."

As servants of the Lord, we all need the prayers of each other

Pray for the strength and protection of those that you know are in a spiritual battle

Pray for those who boldly continue to preach the truth

Pray for the churches that refuse to compromise and they refuse bend to please the world

Pray God’s Word over their lives

Psalm 20:6 - Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.

Today as a born-again believer, you are no longer the old man born of Adam.

You are born again in Christ Jesus and when you behold Him and all that He is today, you catch a glimpse of your true identity in Him.

Because of the cross, our lives are now wrapped in Christ’s.

Understanding our status as “In Christ” and all that this means will empower us to pray bold prayers of faith for ourselves, for others, and for our churches.

For the Body of Christ

Col. 3:4  says “He is our life”

1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

1 Thessalonians 5:25: Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

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Hillside United Methodist Church
3739 US 80
Phenix City  AL  36870
United States
Pastor: Mike J Koger

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PO Box 8513
Columbus, Georgia 31908