Name. Appointment Time

Transcription

1 Week of Prayer 1st 6th September Name Appointment Time

2 Prayer I have been reflecting on what an encouragement the nights of prayer and the prayer weeks have been over the comparatively short life of our church, but also what a stark contrast they often are with my own/our own daily prayer lives. So often when we think about prayer in Scripture we look to the amazing prayers of Paul in chains, David at his lowest ebb or even Christ Himself in the garden the hardest of times drawing the deepest felt prayers. We may even look to the mountain top rejoicing prayers which fit with how we feel in the best moments of life reflecting that every good and perfect gift comes from above James 1:17 I firmly believe that whilst these are amazing and powerful and helpful examples of where prayer can really help us to connect with our Heavenly Father, and see His hand move in our lives, sometimes we sell prayer short by looking only to its function at times of real, desperate need or amazing, unexpected blessing. Another example from the life of Paul is to...pray without ceasing... 1Thess.5:17 and I think this is the area that we convince ourselves is too hard, or unrealistic. Scripture offers us, I believe, an insight into the real opportunity prayer gives us for truer, deeper relationship with God. We are encouraged to praise God in good times and in bad. We are assured that we have a High Priest who genuinely understands what it is to be human (Heb. 4:14-16) everything from the amazing to the humdrum, to the heartbreaking and seemingly impossible. Jeremiah 33:3 is one of my favourite verses and not just because it is easy to remember. We are encouraged, instructed even, to call to God and expect that He will answer and show us great and hidden things that we have not known. Again, I believe that sometimes we fool ourselves into believing that great and hidden things are only things that arise at times of crisis or decision. I don t believe we should limit God to only being relevant in the extremes of life. I believe that any time God chooses to reveal any aspect of His plan to us, it is a great thing. However, I don t believe that God is in the habit of revealing His plan to those who are not habitually calling to Him and seeking that closer relationship. Scripture speak often about the importance and power of persistence. When Jeremiah 33:3 says call, what is meant is keep calling. When Matthew 7:7 says Ask...Seek...Knock.. what is meant is keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking and, of course Paul urges prayer which is a consistent attitude of heart, audible when necessary/possible but, as with Worship as much a way of life as breathing and walking. That we should through practice and disciplined commitment reach a point where God and His Glory are front and centre in our hearts, minds, speech, everything. This seems so far from where most of us are that it seems near ridiculous and not even worth beginning. Of course, that is absolutely correct if we do what we are prone to do and pursue it in our own strength. 2

3 I had the privilege of opening God s word with my church family a few months ago due to Pastor Scott being rendered speechless and I tried to pick through the armour of God from Ephesians 6 with you all. In this passage we are reminded where our strength comes from (be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might). The passage then lists the amazing provision on offer from God to help us fulfil His instructions to us. I have only a couple of regrets about what I shared that day. One is that I never really pointed out how idiotic we all are for daily choosing not to pick up the full armour and the other is that I never really pressed home that the passage is clear that the main way we access God s strength is by a consistent/constant prayer life (V18). So here are some challenges to me that I am sharing with you, praying that they find a place to settle in your hearts and draw you towards a closer and more meaningful prayer life which would change your relationship with God and your impact for Him in this world. Are you praying? If not, what do you intend to do to remedy the situation? Who in your small group can help? How often are you praying? Without ceasing? Daily? Weekly? How are you praying? Is it conducive to focussed, intentional intercession/ supplication/confession/anything? For whom/what are you praying? Have you committed to pray for individuals? World situation? Specific individuals Salvation? Big prayers or small prayer? Do we believe that He is able to do more than we ask or imagine? I believe that prayer is one of the hardest disciplines of the Christian walk to develop and certainly to sustain. I also believe that it has amazing power and is the key to genuinely developing a closer walk with Christ. Will you commit with me for the duration of the week of prayer and the remainder of 2013 to genuinely pursue God in prayer trusting that as we call to Him who is Faithful, he will answer us and show us great and hidden things that we have not know. Notes 3

4 Higher Ground Babies: Ella, Eilidh, Sebastian (3mths), Piper( 10mths), Elijah (10mths), Hannah ( 1yr) Toddlers: Ben (2yrs) Climbers: Charlie (2yrs), Ishbel (2yrs), Finn (3yrs), Evan (3yrs) So thankful for the new babies that have arrived safely and continued prayer for these families. For Ben and Dani as they wait patiently for baby Arant for safety and wellbeing. Excited to see the Climbers class reach an all time high pray for the concentration of these kids that God s word would be impacting them powerfully. Pray for the helpers and leaders that they would continue in their enthusiasm and be encouraged in their service for the Lord. Thankful for the increased number of people willingly serving in this area, that this culture would continue in the church as we grow. Pray that we would continue to see more families with young children join us and that they would be blessed by this ministry. Pray that God s word would be sowing seeds and impacting all the kids.. even down to the youngest child. Hannah (3yrs), Eve (3 yrs), Lachlan (5yrs), Katie (5yrs) Pray for Hannah and Eve as they settle into this class. Pray that the kids would listen well, concentrate and be excited about having the opportunity to learn about Jesus. That God would continue to grow this class and this ministry for His glory. Pray for the leaders, for enthusiasm and diligence and for those new leaders. 4

5 Ewan ( 6yrs), Matthew (7yrs), Holiness (7yrs), Iona (8yrs), Henoc (9yrs), Lauren (10yrs) So thankful for the size of this class!! Such an answer to prayer. Praying that we would see real life transformation in these kids, that they would understand their sin, and the amazingness their saviour. Pray for the leaders for wisdom and clarity in all that they share with these kids. Pray for the new leaders as we are undergoing a lot of change in those serving at present. Pray for attentive hearts and minds to all that God would teach them. Thankful especially for how well Holiness has settled in and pray that he would continue to grow. Pray that the worship time would continue to improve and reflect genuine worship to the Lord that they kids would concentrate and enjoy the privilege of worshiping not be distracted during this time. Prayer for wisdom, for those who lead it. Prayer for the overall vision and direction of the children s ministry is that it would be God centred and glorifying. That we would be encouraging the kids of all ages to KNOW Jesus, GROW in Jesus and to SHOW Jesus. That we would all continue to seek to be diligent and striving after excellence in all that we do. That the kids would know that: They are loved! Fathom Pray for Shiloh as we have started our teens ministry that many more would come along. That we would have the leaders needed. Thanks for the provision of Darien being part of it for the past few weeks That Shiloh would enjoy and benefit from being in the service and hearing God s word preached. Pray for Dani as she produces the pulpit curriculum for this ministry.. Pray that God would do mighty and awesome things through this ministry that we would be blessed with great fruit. 5

6 Notes 6

7 Small Groups The mission of Harvest Bible Chapel Glasgow is: To glorify God through the fulfilment of the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20) in the spirit of the Great Commandment (Matt 22:36-39). The Central Purpose of Harvest Small Groups is to disciple people towards maturity in Christ by helping them walk with Christ. A key component of this discipleship is connecting with other believers around the four key elements found in our Small Groups: Word of God, Mutual Care, Praying Together, Reaching Out. When praying for the Small Groups Ministry pray for each of these key elements. Word Of God Give thanks to God for His Word recognising where it came from, all that it useful for and what its purpose is 2 Tim 3:16-17 Pray that the Bible would always be central to all we do and through Small Groups our love of Gods Word would increase Praying Together Pray that our pillar of 'Believe firmly in the Power of Prayer' would be evident in our Small Groups Eph 6:18 That we would be constant in recognition of our reliance on God in all things and be bold in our prayers remembeing that there is 'great power' in it - James 5:16-17 Mutual Care Pray that through the Small Groups we would care for one another in recognition that we are all parts of one body 1 Cor 12:21-26 That Small Groups would be a place where we share one anothers burdens, speak truth in love and encourage one another as we seek to grow in Christ Reaching Out Pray that as we grow in Christ together we would seek to serve Christ and seek to fulfil the Great Commission Matt 28:18-20 Pray for opportunities to serve in compassion ministries together with your small group. That we would be able to serve the people of our communities, build relationships and share Christ with those that don't yet know Him 7

8 Praying for the Small Group Ministry Your Small Group Leaders Give thanks for your group leaders and their faithfulness and commitment to the ministry of Discipleship. Give thanks for the specific ways God has used them to minister to you. Pray that they would be protected from the 'schemes of the devil' (Eph 6:11) and that God would be the source of strength that sustains them as they seek to disciple and encourage their group members. Others in your Small Group Give thanks for the signs of Gods grace in the lives of those in your small group praying by name for specific evidences e.g. growth in faith, increasing in love, perseverance in trial 2 Thess 1:3-12 Pray they would be joyful in hope, patient in trials and constant in prayer Rom 12:12 Pray that God would make them 'worthy of his calling' and Christ would be glorified in them - 2 Thess 1:11 8

9 Notes 9

10 Lifting high the name of Jesus through worship His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 147:10-11 The Worship Team would be fully reliant on Christ, not own abilities Sunday morning worship to be life changing worship We would be living life in a manner worthy of the gospel An increasing hunger for God s Word Thanksgiving for the continued sacrifice made by the worship team Thanksgiving for the number of talented individuals with humble hearts within our relatively small congregation. And prayer for even more of them! Several tenets guide our worship. We seek to: Lift high the name of Jesus Christ -- John 4:22-26; John12:32; John 14:6Lead God's people to lift their hearts and voices to Him, giving Him praise and thanks in music and lyric (Nehemiah 12:45-46; Psalm 66:1-4; Psalm 95:1-2); Prepare hearts to hear the Lord speak through the proclamation of Scripture (Psalm 95:6-9; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42); Emphasize fresh and contemporary expressions while retaining traditional elements that recognize the richness of our heritage in the faith (Deuteronomy 32:7; Psalm 33:3; Isaiah 46:8-9; Matthew 13:32, Ephesians 5:19; Revelation 5:9); Pursue excellence in worship, knowing that God is worthy of our best (Exodus 12; Deuteronomy 17:1; Psalm 33:3, 1 Timothy 4:14-15; Hebrews 11:4). God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24 10

11 Notes 11

12 Overflow GIVE THANKS Over the last year we have seen the Lord give us amazing opportunities to get known and established in our community. He threw open the doors at the primary school for Scott who had the opportunity to take a school assembly and share with the children about the holiday club. We had children from the community come along to the holiday club and was just so exciting hearing feedback from their parents about their child memorising scripture, remembering and telling parents what they had learned and of course playing their holiday club worship cd at home. The family fun day was a great day with real opportunity to chat to the people who came along and get to know the people in our community a bit better. We participated in the annual community event bungo in the lanes. We had stalls and the worship team did an amazing job playing and singing worship songs all day. Give thanks to our amazing God for the opportunities He has given us over the past year and that we can build on these foundations to have a real impact on our community with the Gospel. Please Pray. That as a church we would continue to passionately desire to seek out ways to live out our faith and display the love of God. That as a church we would be so filled with compassion, that word of our love and care spreads throughout our community, and even around our city. That the Lord- would continue to move in the hearts and lives of our church and save us from ever becoming settled with what He has blessed us with but always to have hearts to reach out with His Glorious Gospel to those around us. That the Lord- would lead us in this coming year and recognise opportunities He is giving us to reach out to people with His love and compassion. Pray that relationships would strengthen with the pupils and teachers in the schools Pray for the overflow team that we would be looking for opportunities to serve in the community Pray that the Lord would do amazing things this year in our hearts as individuals, in our church and in our community. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 12

13 Notes 13

14 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." Romans 12:5 Areas for thanksgiving: Fortify 'Stepping Up' - A call to courageous manhood. It has been a great blessing to find a DVD/Study that is relevant to men seeking to deepen there walk with God. The feedback from the men at Fortify has been really positive. Fortify has been made a real priority by most of the men who come to Harvest with us regularly having 20+ in attendance. The use of the office for the first part of the year allowed us to break off into small groups, spending time in focussed discussion and prayer with other men. Having Guys from Harvest willing to take a turn presenting the DVD material, teaching from the Word and giving testimony. A new location for Fortify to meet on the south side of Glasgow. Please pray for the following three areas of growth in each man's walk with God: That their faith in Him would be demonstrated in their obedience and trust in Him regarding all areas of their lives. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. That Knowledge of Him would be increasing and enlightening in there walk Ephesians 1:17-18 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, That Loving God would become a priority, and in turn that love would overflow into other relationships both with others at Harvest but more importantly with people who don't yet know Jesus as their saviour. Matt 22:37 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. John 15:12 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 14

15 Notes 15

16 Flourish Flourish WISE series 2013 Excited to be studying some women in the Bible with our Harvest ladies. Looking at all God would teach us through their lives. Pray for humble teachable hearts and a desire to be pointing each other to Jesus in all situations and circumstances in lives. Pray that we would encourage one another to love and submit to our husbands and disciple our children in the ways of the Lord rather than submitting to the ways of the world. Thankful for all the ladies who have and are going to be teaching us, sharing testimony and just generally joining in with this ministry and being a blessing to others. Pray that a longer term venue would become apparent. Pray that the worship would really serve to lift our eyes to the Lord in an undistracted and adoring way. Pray for continued vision and direction and growth for this ministry. Pray that the Lord would be glorified above all other things. Friday Flourish Thankful for all the God has been teaching us over the past 6 months as we have looked at Trusting God by Jerry Bridges and John ch Pray that God would continue to transform our hearts into his likeness and that this would be useful tool for this. Pray that this ministry would serve and be utilised by those who are unable to get along to small groups regularly. Ask that the Lord would continue to provide people who would be willing and available to look after the kids. 16

17 Notes 17

18 Multiply Vision: To learn more about what it looks like to be a disciple. To grow in boldness and prayer and to be equipped to share testimonies, the Gospel, and disciple other believers. Mission: To glorify God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission. In short: Disciples making disciples. Matthew 28:19-20 Multiply prayer points: -There would be a genuine heart and desire in our young adults to see lives changed by the Gospel - There would be growth in the area of what it looks like to be a disciple as well as make disciples - That there would be the fruit of action seen very evidently in the lives of the young adults as a response to personal knowledge and growth. - That there would be a boldness of invitation to the Multiply get togethers. 18

19 Notes 19

20 Harvest Rochester Wisdom in leadership as the church grows Pray that discipleship would not suffer because of growth but rather everyone would grow deeper in their relationships with each other and God. Pray for the leadership and execution of small groups and serving teams as many changes are taking place Holiness and protection-keep focused on the cross New birth in the church 20

21 Notes 21

22 Preaching the authority of God s Word without apology My request as you pray about the preaching during this prayer week is that you pray heart prayers. Hopefully it is helpful to have you be reminded or to understand what preaching is as a means to inspiring you to pray great things this week then week after week as God s Word is held out and pressed down upon people s lives. The preaching of God s Word is... Powerful. Don t forget that. It has power to transform lives. I believe it can do that every Sunday. Do you pray for our services like that? I urge you to. Pray that our services would be times of tremendous transformation. Pray that people would come with an expectation that they will hear from God. Pray that every week our church family would be shaken to a deeper affection for God, longing for holiness, passion for the lost and thankfulness for God s grace. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 Reviving. Pray that each of us would know what it is to undergo a personal revival. Pray that our response to God s Word would be joyful, faithful and our appetite would be marked by a great hunger for what God would do in our lives. Pray that our love for God would not grow cold but that the preaching in the church would stoke the fires of passion for God s glory, God s will and God s presence. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes... Psalm 19: 7-8 Eternity-shifting. If you are not praying this for the preaching then you are praying less than you should for the preaching of the church. Pray that lost people would come with a hunger to hear and pray that God would soften their hearts to receive His Word. I like what John Piper says on this and feel the weight of which he speaks when he describes what to expect from his preaching: If you're used to a twenty-minute, immediately practical, relaxed talk, you won't find that from what I've just described. I preach twice that long; I do not aim to be immediately practical but eternally helpful; and I am not relaxed. I stand vigilantly on the precipice of eternity speaking to people who this week could go over the edge whether they are ready to or not. I will be called to account for what I said there. That's what I mean by preaching.' Pray along those lines for your family, friends, people you might invite and anyone who would visit. That the preaching would be eternity shifting. That we would have people coming every week hungry for what their soul lacks and eager to hear of a saviour for their souls. And it shall be said, Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way. For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57: Tiring: I admit it. I get tired. Please pray for me. I feel the joyous weight of what i get to do every week. I want to preach every week as if it will be my last with all the urgency, passion and clarity that will be helpful to the people who are entrusted to my care. Part of that care is expressed in a faithful consistency of preaching God s Word where people are able to see how it connects and changes their lives. God is kind to allow me to do it, pray that God would keep me faithful and fuelled for the long haul. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:

23 Notes 23

24 This Year s preaching series More Than- Romans 8 1 September- 13 October Join us as we spend seven weeks in Romans 8 unpacking some very specific ways that the Gospel applies to your life. We want to press home the full implications of the cross upon your heart, to help you see the full extent of God s love for you and His provision for you through Jesus. Called Further: Acts October- 8 December Picking up from where we left Acts a year and a half ago we see that our faith is not a stay at home faith but a call to heroic faith. It involves us moving out and stepping out for God s glory. We won t always feel heroic but we will always have God s help. Out of the Ordinary- The Sermon on the Mount 29 December- 13 April What does the Gospel like in real life? How does what happened on the cross help us to make sense of some difficult decisions or issues and help us make things right with difficult people? That is what we are called to do and Jesus lays it right out for us in Matthew

25 Notes 25

26 Vision Pray that the church would grow strength in depth through: A season of new people coming and becoming part of the church People finding ways to serve in the church, working for Christ alongside one another. Deepening relationships that serve god s glory in one another s lives Pray that the church would take every opportunity to spread the Gospel through: Good relationships with Shawlands Primary and opportunities in school Bible club and chaplaincy Follow-up with holiday club families Other opportunities in the local community Pray that wisdom would be given when thinking through our facility needs: Our ongoing desire for a more permanent location Office and ministry space needs Strong relationships with Hutchesons Grammar and opportunities to witness to the staff. Pray that God would give us opportunities to be involved in church planting: That God would raise up a generation of Senior Pastors with Biblical convictions and passion That we would be allowed opportunity to serve other people with things we have learnt Pray that our church family would be marked by: Unity Patience Perseverance Forgiveness 26

27 Notes 27

28 Proclaim the authority of God s Word without apology (2 Timothy 4:2) Lift high the name of Jesus in worship (John 4:24) Believe firmly in the power of prayer (Ephesians 6:18) Share the good news of Jesus with Boldness (Ephesians 6:19-20) 28