21 Days of Prayer Day 19 -Thursday - January 25 - Intercession - Our children and our students

21 Days of Prayer Day 19 -Wednesday - January 25 - Intercession - Our children and our students

This is just not a prayer focus, but a calling on our church to reach, disciple and send out our children and our students.

Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 5 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. 6 And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.  2 Timothy 2:1-7 (NLT)

Paul was writing to his spiritual son Timothy. Paul knew death was on the horizon and he shared his last words to Timothy.  Paul writes to Timothy because he had a burden to see that Timothy carries the torch - to continue to take the gospel to the next generation.

Paul gives Timothy as 3 powerful images: Soldiers, Athletes and Farmers.

Soldier - know their purpose

They knew their purpose and their mission.  Students should know their purpose to please God and to fulfill their mission in reaching others. 

Athletes - Grow to their potential.

Paul told Timothy to pass this on to other trustworthy people.  That’s why we have and encourage small groups. We want them to grow in their potential and to pass this on to others. 

Olympians had to commit to this strong level of training.

Farmer - Serve with Perseverance

Farmers know one thing - it is not easy. Kingdom work is hard work. Students will work hard, sow seeds, and keep serving because they know that at the right time they will reap a harvest.  Farmers know there is a harvest and we pray that our students will serve with perseverance and experience reaping a harvest.

21 Days of Prayer Day 18 -Wednesday - January 24 - Intercession - Our Church

21 Days of Prayer Day 18 -Wednesday - January 24 - Intercession - Our Church 

I love my church.  Planting BLC Newaygo has been such a miracle in my life.

What a great mission - Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Your Purpose so You can Make a Difference.

I love my church!

I love Sundays at BLC!

I love our Dream Team!  I love Elevate Kids. I love BLC Kids.  

I love stepping into God’s presence - our Worship!

I love my church.

I love Saturday Prayer at BLC - I love my Church.

I love small groups -  I love SERVE Day

I love that we belong to ARC and are planting Churches

I love raising up leaders and taking them to the Grow Conference.

I love my church.

Jesus loves His Church.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not ]prevail against it.  Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)

3 things to reflect on about our church.

My Church is Built on Jesus.

This church is built on Jesus and lifting His name on high.

My Church is Just Getting Started

Jesus said the church will be built. 

Every generation needs to rise up and take the challenge.  Peter was a small stone, a brick on the foundation of Jesus’ church.  

We are all bricks that are on the foundation of Jesus and His church. 

We are just getting started.

My Church is an Unstoppable Force

The gates of hades will not prevail.

The church is the active one. Hades cannot withstand the unstoppable force of the church of Jesus Christ.

We will plunder hell and populate heaven.

The power of the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus, will drive us forward.

I love my Church.

21 Days of Prayer Day 17 -Tuesday - January 23 - Intercession - Missions

21 Days of Prayer Day 17 -Tuesday - January 23 - Intercession - Missions

I recall playing in a basketball game. I was on defense and someone else was near me, who had the ball for a wide open shot. I could have rotated over to cover that player but I didn’t - I stayed in my area thinking that’s someone else’s responsibility.

How many of us are missing miracle opportunities, because we think it’s someone else's area to cover.

Our prayers are to only nurse our wounds, but to reach our world

Ask me,  and I will make the nations your inheritance,  the ends of the earth your possession. Psalm 2:8 (NIV)

We don’t ask - because you don’t feel it’s your area - you don’t think it’s your responsibility to cover  that area.

So we don’t pray for homelessness, human trafficking, or people in other areas of the world that apart from Jesus

It may be outside our physical area, it’s still a spiritual assignment we need to cover in prayer.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Now that you’ve received power, I’m giving you a new assignment.

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  Acts 2:41-43 (NIV)

Through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord turned around the mission and effectiveness of the disciples.

The miracle that happened there, turned the world around.

We must know His presence is with us.

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;   I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters,  I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,  they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,   you will not be burned;   the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God,  the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3 (NIV)

He’s always there with us. 

We must know His faithfulness towards us.

They knew He would be faithful. That He would come and bring the Holy Spirit. They had seen what He had done in the past and that He will do.

They saw Him feed 5,000 people. They saw Him heal people. They saw Him bring the dead to life.

You can’t make me doubt Him because I know too much about Him.

His faithfulness never fails. 

We must know His authority can turn things around for us.

They knew He had the authority to turn things around.

You’re praying but it seems like things are moving in the wrong direction.

What you thought was a setback God can turn it around and put you in the right direction of His blessings.