Prayer Guide for A Call to Pray and Fast Week 2 - August 25, 2016

Transcription

1 Week 2 - August 25, 2016

2 Last Week Review: Prayer Guide for A Call to Pray and Fast Week 2 - August 25, 2016 Purpose of Cottonwood Creek Church: WE EXIST TO GLORIFY GOD BY LOVING GOD AND LOVING OTHERS Last week we began our 4 Weeks of Prayer and Fasting together as a church family. We methodically took time to understand God s purpose for prayer and read examples from Scripture on how to pray and fast. This week, I encourage you to go through the same routine and begin to memorize, understand better and claim these scriptures for your own. We will also go through the A.C.T.S. Guided Prayer Time. We have changed the verses this week to challenge us to go deeper in our understanding of seeking the Lord in humility and reverence. Why A Call for Prayer and Fasting? To seek God individually with humility (2 Chronicles 7:11-16) To seek God personally through adoration and confession (Psalm 51:1-10) To seek God corporately through uniting of our hearts as a congregation (Matthew 18:20) To seek God s will for us individually, as a follower of Christ, and as a Church (Matthew 6:33) Why do we pray? Luke 18:1 - One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. Acts 6:4 - Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word. Mark 14:38 - Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Philippians 4:6 - Don t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Colossians 4:2 - Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 1 Timothy 2:1,2 - I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Scriptures on Fasting Matthew 6:15-18 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Acts 13:1-3 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away

3 2 Chronicles 7:11-16 OPENING PRAYER TIME: Scripture and Prayer of Humility When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, the Lord appeared to him at night and said: I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there. Philippians 2:1-3 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make My joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, PRAYER of Adoration To adore God is to worship and praise Him, to honor and exalt Him in our heart and mind and with our lips. Luke 12:7-9 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges Me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God s angels. But anyone who denies Me here on earth will be denied before God s angels. After reading this verse, meditate on what it is saying, then PAUSE and PRAY. Guided Prayer: Acknowledge that the Lord is God God knows us intently and specifically, as the number of hairs on your head - so do not be afraid to run to acknowledge Him today as your Lord Give thanks to God and enter this time of prayer - do not deny Him today - praise Him and acknowledge Him today Give thanks to God and praise his name for who He is Respond/Application: (Write your response in the space below) As you pray over the verse above, choose a work of phrase that describes God and respond by praising/worshiping Him. As you fast today, what is God revealing about Himself to you personally?

4 PRAYER of Confession When our discipline of prayer begins with adoration, the Holy Spirit has opportunity to reveal any sin in our life that needs to be confessed. Examine your heart and detect any unconfessed sin. Scripture records that God always requires His people to repent of their sins before He will hear their prayers. Psalm 51:1-10 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so You are right in your verdict and justified when You judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet You desired faithfulness even in the womb; You taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. After reading these verses, meditate on what it is saying then PAUSE and PRAY as you cry out to God for help. Confess your dependence upon Him as your redeemer today. Thank the Lord for listening to your prayers of confession. Respond/Application: (Write your response in the space below) In your prayers, confess not only obvious sins, but less obvious ones as well. The sins of omission as well as the sins of commission experiences. These may be experiences leaving your first love for our Lord: worldly-mindedness, self-centeredness, spiritual indifference, and unwillingness to share your faith in Christ with others, not spending sufficient time in God's Word and in prayer, a poor relationship with your spouse, your children, your pastor, or other members of your church. As you fast today, what area/areas of your life is God asking you to surrender to Him? What area/areas of your life do you need to turn from to hear from heaven today? For the Lord to hear our prayers today, He is calling us to turn from your sin and turn to God. If our desire is to turn to God, then confess your desire to follow Him today and pursue Him in all areas of your life.

5 PRAYER of Thanksgiving An attitude of thanksgiving to God, for who He is and for the benefits we enjoy because we belong to Him, enables us to recognize that He controls all things - not just the blessings, but the problems and adversities as well. As we approach God with a thankful heart, He becomes strong on our behalf. Psalm 50:13-15 Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on Me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give Me glory. After reading these verses, meditate on what it is saying, then PAUSE and PRAY to God with a grateful heart! Voice prayers of gladness and thanksgiving unto His name. Approach God today with a joyful heart, for we are His children, created to worship Him. Respond/Application: (Write your response in the space below) With a thankful heart, tell God what you are thankful for in your life. Are you in trouble today? The Lord will rescue you from your situation. Thank Him for this promise from scripture and claim it today. Worship is a response to God, so with a thankful heart, worship Him for what He has done for you. What has the Lord done for you?

6 PRAYER of Supplication Ask God specifically for His will in all areas of your life. Supplication includes petition for our own needs and intercession for others. SPECIFICALLY, PRAY FOR: Your Relationship With God This week, we are calling you out to be honest in your relationship with God. Please read the following passage and see if there is anything that is prohibiting you from having a right relationship with God today. Colossians 3:1-8 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. What areas in your relationship with God needs attention? Please respond below and have honest conversation with the Lord about where you need His strength, provision and forgiveness in your life. Your Relationship with Others Last week we asked you to evaluate your relationships with others. How did you do? Were you able to respond in worship by spending more time with others and working on your relationships with them? If not, recommit to doing that this week. Read Philippians 2 as our guide for how we are to relate to others as believers in Christ.

7 Imitating Christ s Humility Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Respond to these verses in the space provided below. READ Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Evaluate your relationships and ask God to help you be a friend to those who need a healthy good relationship today. Ultimately, our relationships with one another become our mission field as we are light shining out in our workplace, neighborhoods and more. (John 1:4-5) Pray for your personal witness unto the Lord as you ask God to help you be a light to those around you.

8 Continued Prayers from last week: Our City, Our State, Our Nation READ 1 Timothy 2:1-4 - I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. Pray for current leaders and leadership decisions Pray for the upcoming elections - city, state, supreme court and national Pray for the economy Pray for the morality of our nation In the month of September and October, Cottonwood Creek will be focusing on RELATIONSHIPS. Will you take time to pray for this Sermon Series and pray for the following: Pray for: Your Family (Father, Mother, Children, Relatives, Marriages, Spouse, Future Spouses) Families/Marriages you know that are struggling, splitting apart Students, young professionals and college friends Neighbors, Co-Workers, Close friends Pray for The Church (the Bride of Christ) and the local Church (Cottonwood Creek) Believers to be committed to the Great Commission - Matthew 28:18-20 Believers to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to be On Mission locally, nationally and internationally - Acts 1:8 Unity of the Body of Christ - 1 Corinthians 12:11-13 Believers to be obedient to the Commandments of God - Matthew 15:3 Pastors, Leaders, Deacons of the church - 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Revival for our city, state, country and the world Additional Prayers of Supplication this week: The Least of These and the Fatherless The Unborn Psalm 139:13 The Orphan - Psalm 82:3 The Fatherless - Psalm 68:5 The Widow - Psalm 146:9