back to indexPraise and Prayer 5.28.21
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♪ Who else commands all the hosts of heaven ♪ 00:07:38.900 |
♪ Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring ♪ 00:07:43.900 |
♪ Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe ♪ 00:08:11.260 |
♪ Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe ♪ 00:08:45.640 |
♪ And lead me in Your love to those around me ♪ 00:09:13.140 |
♪ Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring ♪ 00:09:21.780 |
♪ Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe ♪ 00:09:45.560 |
and it's cool because we can all gather together 00:09:47.820 |
as a church, and I'm sure people are still tuning in 00:09:50.480 |
virtually here, and our hope is that we become 00:09:56.060 |
a one who comes before our God to request to Him 00:10:00.500 |
different things, but in a very personal, intimate way 00:10:05.700 |
And so before we begin, I'll pray for the night, 00:10:17.020 |
After long weeks, we get to the end on these Fridays, 00:10:30.600 |
and in the throne room of grace where we can come 00:10:40.960 |
Would You help us, God, not to see prayer as duty? 00:11:02.900 |
to be a prayerful church that we might understand 00:11:06.100 |
that all things are in Your hands and not in ours? 00:11:16.120 |
Church family, why don't we all stand together for worship? 00:25:33.700 |
it could be as simple as us just sending these things 00:25:38.700 |
and then you can just pray at home by yourself. 00:25:41.420 |
But I love these nights because there's something 00:25:44.700 |
about us knowing that we're all praying together, 00:25:47.620 |
and there is a unity of heart and mind and spirit 00:25:51.380 |
in prayer that I think is more than worth the drive 00:26:03.880 |
As hard as it is, I hope that we leave very encouraged 00:26:19.040 |
we're gonna be giving you a lot of time tonight, 00:26:22.340 |
a good chunk of time kind of undisturbed for you to pray. 00:26:32.620 |
and when we think about what we're doing here, 00:26:40.180 |
and try to see what angle our prayer's supposed to be. 00:26:43.460 |
Tonight, I wanted to concentrate on just one thing 00:27:17.000 |
We have many things that we want to pray for. 00:27:22.260 |
is there something that you wanted to pray for tonight, 00:27:26.300 |
I think there are a lot of things going on in our lives. 00:27:28.780 |
I think there are a lot of people in our lives 00:27:30.380 |
that are struggling and going through difficulties 00:27:33.780 |
I think there's a lot that we need to let go of, 00:27:40.700 |
But before that, our concentration on who God is, 00:27:56.520 |
and know him and see him in a very crisp way. 00:28:01.820 |
When you talk to someone, you're very aware of who they are. 00:28:09.000 |
and especially if you have requests for someone, 00:28:17.000 |
by the Sunday sermon and this idea of God's love 00:28:20.080 |
and this idea of what it means that he's our father. 00:28:30.600 |
what we ask for, how we approach, and what they do. 00:28:43.280 |
for things in regard in lines as to what that is. 00:28:47.020 |
Do you guys know what I'm kind of saying by that? 00:29:02.180 |
I know he has wisdom in regards to these things. 00:29:12.600 |
If my dad knows nothing about it, I won't go to him. 00:29:22.160 |
And when we pray, and when we evaluate our prayer, 00:29:26.320 |
and we think like, man, why don't I come to him enough? 00:29:35.280 |
It says a ton about what I believe he's capable of, 00:29:40.320 |
what he's like, what he desires, or what he doesn't desire. 00:29:49.280 |
that we're praying to, and then we just kind of come, 00:30:09.520 |
that things that you can be praying for tonight. 00:30:19.920 |
even in the middle of prayer, because we forget. 00:30:23.040 |
And we just kind of get into this mode of like, 00:30:25.320 |
here are the requests, here's my dutiful prayer. 00:30:28.520 |
See, I prayed for that person like I was supposed to, 00:30:36.120 |
don't you think that's gonna affect your prayer? 00:30:39.100 |
If you really believe that I'm looking at God, 00:30:44.120 |
don't you think that's going to change the way you pray? 00:30:47.480 |
That you'll start to ask of him things that really matter? 00:31:00.480 |
If we believe that he is actually all-powerful, 00:31:02.760 |
don't you think our prayers will become bigger? 00:31:08.280 |
Do you believe that God loves you as a father? 00:31:10.700 |
Don't you think that's gonna change the way you pray? 00:31:27.660 |
don't you think that's going to change the way you pray 00:31:30.960 |
Our prayers are gonna reflect a lot about how we see God. 00:31:38.700 |
'Cause again, it's gonna be a big chunk of time, 00:31:43.940 |
And if we lose who God is in the midst of prayer, 00:31:49.700 |
Keep God squarely at the center of prayer tonight. 00:31:54.580 |
And just to turn you, just one last note here. 00:32:00.660 |
When you think of Jesus when he says, "Pray like this," 00:32:08.020 |
"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. 00:32:15.400 |
Prayer is not just a ritual or religious exercise. 00:32:39.740 |
our prayers can become a lot more powerful and refreshing. 00:32:53.760 |
Which is, I'm gonna give you guys just a moment here, 00:33:00.000 |
to go ahead and turn to each other and say prayer requests. 00:33:03.180 |
And then after that, you're gonna have that chunk of time 00:33:10.020 |
It's gonna be broken up into five major sections. 00:33:20.260 |
Sins of commission, what sins have I committed 00:33:30.580 |
I think we're much more aware of sin than we might think. 00:33:33.780 |
And we're just very good at burying those things. 00:33:39.560 |
what have I not done that I should have done? 00:33:46.500 |
What are the things that you've found yourself 00:33:49.860 |
Where have you been very complaining in your heart? 00:34:08.800 |
Have you been struggling with pride and arrogance? 00:34:15.200 |
And this is the time where you can take this, 00:34:25.840 |
he calls us to confess because we have sin in us. 00:34:31.360 |
The second one there is building up of the church. 00:34:34.520 |
Letter A, are there relationships that need to be reconciled 00:34:46.480 |
really consider God's love, God's forgiveness. 00:35:00.360 |
and desiring to love others the way God has loved you? 00:35:06.720 |
Have you been pursuing them if there's conflict between you? 00:35:12.400 |
there's a section that talks about this where it says, 00:35:14.880 |
like if you have an offering, hey, leave it at the altar 00:35:20.240 |
Letter B, pray for people God has been placing on your heart 00:35:32.860 |
when you think about people you desire to reach out to, 00:35:37.140 |
but then you just haven't been reaching out to them? 00:35:45.680 |
by something that God has placed on your heart. 00:35:57.900 |
through reading, praying, and speaking the gospel 00:36:03.060 |
but that we would be going this long distance 00:36:05.860 |
to saying that we want to be a church that prays for this. 00:36:09.680 |
That we read together, that we pray together regularly. 00:36:18.780 |
specifically as more and more people are struggling 00:36:22.360 |
Pray for a greater resolve to fight against impurity 00:36:28.260 |
in what we allow ourselves to kind of think about. 00:36:40.980 |
hopefully you would have already confessed those sins. 00:36:46.820 |
Pray deeply that Satan wouldn't have a foothold 00:36:56.940 |
to come out of the darkness and to confess their sins 00:37:10.060 |
Letter D, pray for specific people in your lives. 00:37:16.320 |
You could pray for the church leadership by name. 00:37:28.180 |
Letter E, pray for the gradual opening of the church. 00:37:38.380 |
we know how volatile these kinds of conversations are. 00:37:44.140 |
and we're gonna be doing the church retreat in person, 00:38:02.920 |
in making decisions that's for the best of the church. 00:38:15.140 |
But that we would really operate in that realm of grace. 00:38:18.140 |
That we desire what is best for those that are around us, 00:38:20.900 |
and that we are doing everything in order to ensure that. 00:38:25.600 |
Pray that God would protect the church from the enemy 00:38:29.500 |
because he has been using, obviously, these things, 00:38:33.420 |
this situation and this particular circumstance, to divide. 00:38:36.940 |
And let's be honest, it's entered the church. 00:38:44.300 |
Let's pray that the enemy wouldn't have that foothold, 00:38:59.540 |
of our finances, well, for God's kingdom and not our own. 00:39:04.100 |
that you're not surrendering in your own life 00:39:25.640 |
Imagine the battle going on in every church out there, 00:39:49.540 |
but to really do what would be the most honoring to God 00:39:54.480 |
The third section will be concerning the gospel, 00:40:00.780 |
Locally, pray for coworkers and family members 00:40:18.560 |
Pray for opportunities that might come up in coming days. 00:40:21.920 |
Pray if there's an opportunity that you foresee coming, 00:40:25.720 |
that you would be bold and you would have the courage 00:41:00.180 |
that they would be able to function off of wisdom 00:41:28.140 |
and obviously, I mean, they're gonna be very sad about this. 00:41:39.220 |
and there's a huge hole in their hearts there. 00:41:42.840 |
that the believers there would be encouraged, 00:41:47.320 |
that the hope in God's unshattering, unbreakable plan 00:41:55.640 |
and that they would push each other more and more even, 00:42:00.840 |
and someone that would be able to fill those shoes. 00:42:03.620 |
Pray for all the missionaries who have been displaced 00:42:11.080 |
Pray that they would clearly see God's sovereign hands 00:42:15.860 |
There's so many missionaries around the world, 00:42:19.300 |
and we need to remember that moving into number four here, 00:42:23.480 |
that there are persecuted brothers and sisters 00:42:30.100 |
that we're going through, and it is difficult, 00:42:42.600 |
It won't be fully recognized maybe, but it could be felt. 00:42:58.680 |
Let us see, pray for greater opportunities for the gospel 00:43:01.840 |
to spread locally and globally as the pandemic 00:43:03.760 |
and racial tensions have created a greater sense 00:43:07.860 |
If you're not aware, there are a lot of people 00:43:17.340 |
but they might be someone who don't know God at all 00:43:31.860 |
Even in college ministry, this quarter has been crazy 00:43:35.140 |
because constantly there are students coming through 00:43:37.660 |
right now who have never once set foot in church, 00:43:46.920 |
Let's pray that we would seek for more people 00:44:00.800 |
This is a very, I would say, ripe time for us 00:44:04.780 |
to not only be praying but reaching out in that manner. 00:44:07.480 |
Moving on to Roman numeral four there, section four, 00:44:13.400 |
Now, I just listed a few here, and there are a lot more, 00:44:16.120 |
and you can pray a lot more concerning the things going on 00:44:27.920 |
and you can look through all of these things, 00:44:35.760 |
That we just say this is a fundraiser for missions, 00:44:39.300 |
Let's make sure that we gird all of those things in prayer, 00:44:44.160 |
and that we're lifting it up to God and saying, 00:44:48.240 |
the way we want it to, but God, would you empower it? 00:45:07.960 |
Pray, and get through as much as you can, yes, 00:45:27.640 |
And just like last time, please don't take too much time, 00:50:45.800 |
All right, so, keeping in mind that you have a whole paper 00:50:58.360 |
And a good thing is you can take this home and pray, 00:51:06.960 |
when you were given that big chunk of prayer, 00:51:08.560 |
you realized, wow, I could really pray for a long time. 00:51:15.440 |
And so tonight, let's use the next 30 to 35 minutes 00:51:20.220 |
Please remember, if it is difficult, it's okay. 00:51:27.240 |
We are practicing this together and work through it. 00:51:33.980 |
we're gonna be having the praise team come up. 00:51:36.140 |
We're gonna be worshiping together and I pray that, 00:51:38.640 |
that really after having been praying to our God 00:51:41.320 |
for 30, 35 minutes, even our worship changes. 00:51:45.640 |
Even our praise and the songs that we sing to God 00:51:56.440 |
for the last 30 minutes and we would want to worship Him. 00:52:07.920 |
Heavenly Father, we pray that over the next 30 minutes 00:52:12.920 |
or so that you would help us to have the concentration, 00:52:22.720 |
Father, would you help us to fight through this, 00:52:27.000 |
God, to fight to remember you and to give to you 00:52:36.840 |
Help this not to be just a time where we're dutifully 00:52:39.680 |
going through a list but Lord, that we are coming 00:52:53.080 |
Lord, that we would plead with you and cry out to you 00:52:57.800 |
because we know that you are the only sovereign God. 00:53:00.400 |
Lord, we're frail and weak but we pray to you 00:53:06.600 |
God, we trust in you with all of these prayers. 00:53:09.120 |
Lord, allow these things to dissipate our anxieties, 00:53:13.680 |
that our trust in you and our faith would be pure. 00:53:16.180 |
So God, thank you that you give us such a privilege 01:26:13.160 |
- In a few more minutes, we will transition to praise. 01:27:50.160 |
If you're ready, would you please join us and stand with us? 01:31:56.820 |
We're going to close our time with a final song, 01:32:20.420 |
♪ Your glorious cause, O God, engages our hearts. ♪ 01:32:28.220 |
♪ May Jesus Christ be known wherever we are. ♪ 01:32:36.120 |
♪ We ask not for ourselves, but for Your renown. ♪ 01:33:10.420 |
♪ Let Your song be heard everywhere on earth, ♪ 01:33:18.420 |
♪ until Your sovereign work on earth is done. ♪ 01:33:35.420 |
♪ Give us your strength, O God, and courage to speak. ♪ 01:33:43.420 |
♪ Perform Your wondrous deeds through those who are weak. ♪ 01:33:51.420 |
♪ Lord, use us as You want, whatever the test. ♪ 01:33:59.420 |
♪ By grace we'll preach Your gospel, tell our dying breath. ♪ 01:34:24.420 |
♪ Let Your song be heard everywhere on earth, ♪ 01:34:32.420 |
♪ until Your sovereign work on earth is done. ♪ 01:34:56.420 |
♪ Let Your song be heard everywhere on earth, ♪ 01:35:04.420 |
♪ until Your sovereign work on earth is done. ♪ 01:35:28.420 |
♪ Let Your song be heard everywhere on earth, ♪ 01:35:36.420 |
♪ until Your sovereign work on earth is done. ♪ 01:36:06.420 |
Heavenly Father, we thank You, Lord, for You are a God who is 01:36:16.420 |
Father, we thank You so much for this opportunity tonight for us 01:36:24.420 |
Lord, we know that more than anything else that we do, 01:36:27.420 |
coming before You and asking You for help, Father, 01:36:34.420 |
Lord, I pray that You would open our eyes to be able to see 01:36:37.420 |
things through Your lens, through Your eyes, Lord. 01:36:41.420 |
Lord, we live day by day entangled with various 01:36:45.420 |
responsibilities, distracted, things that are going on at work, 01:36:52.420 |
But in the midst of all these things that distract us, Lord, 01:36:55.420 |
help us as we pray to have an eternal perspective. 01:37:01.420 |
Lord, that we would be kingdom-minded to pursue things 01:37:09.420 |
Teach us what it means, God, to be truly broken for the lost, 01:37:13.420 |
what it means to pray, Lord God, with a genuine desire to see 01:37:18.420 |
lost souls saved, even the ones we do not know. 01:37:23.420 |
To help us, Lord, to live by faith and not by sight. 01:37:27.420 |
Teach us, you know, especially with our theme this year, Lord, 01:37:31.420 |
as we desire to be a church that really prays. 01:37:34.420 |
For though we are weak, Lord, would You make us strong, 01:37:37.420 |
that we would be vessels used for Your kingdom. 01:37:40.420 |
And help us, Lord, to be a church that exalts and glorifies You 01:37:45.420 |
So again, Lord, we thank You so much for this evening, 01:37:48.420 |
for this opportunity to gather, to worship You, to pray, Lord. 01:37:53.420 |
Would we be a church that truly glorifies You in all that we do. 01:37:58.420 |
So we thank You, Lord, for all that You are to us and all that 01:38:07.420 |
Thank you, everyone, for coming this evening.