PRAYING THROUGH THIS SEASON WEEK 3 As we see God answering our prayers, we look forward to being able to look around in awe and say together: This is the Lord s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:23)
What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Joseph Scriven What a friend we have in Jesus All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear; May we ever, Lord, be bringing All to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright, unclouded, There will be no need for prayer Rapture, praise, and endless worship Will be our sweet portion there.
As we prepare to make the transition from two campuses to one, unified campus in Montgomery County, we desperately need the Lord to prepare our hearts. In order to make any lasting, spiritual impact, we must be completely dependent upon His power and wholly submitted to His will. Jesus put it this way to his disciples: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5) That is our desire in launching this new, unified campus. We want to bear fruit in Montgomery County for the glory of God. And yet, this is a major change for all of us. Some of us thrive in the midst of change. We love the thrill of the unknown and we are reenergized by the possibilities that await us. Others of us feel a sense of anxiety when we know change is coming. What will happen? How will this affect me? What changes will be made and what if I don t like those changes?! So, during this period of transition, we believe that the most effective and reassuring thing we can do is seek God together. This prayer guide is designed to enable us to move forward on our knees as Pastor Lon often says. Each week leading up to our first united worship service in the new building, we will provide a daily prayer guide with reflections on Scripture and ways to pray. Feel free to use this in your personal and family prayer life, and even in your discipleship groups.
MONDAY 6/8/15 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment All of us are prone to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. As it relates to Christian fellowship, there are some specific ways this can manifest itself, ways that erode the strength of Christian unity. We can think more highly of our preferences than we ought, and therefore approach the local church as consumers who feel entitled to particular products and services. We can think more highly of our cultural background than we ought, and therefore alienate others who are different than us. We can think more highly of our spiritual maturity than we ought, and therefore become condescending and judgmental towards others. But God calls each of us to approach Christian community with humility. What does this humility look like? In Philippians 2, Paul describes humility this way: in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (vv3-4). In Romans 12:10, Paul calls us to outdo one another in showing honor. Humility is not merely thinking of ourselves too highly, but thinking of ourselves too often. In a very practical way then, we express humility by proactively and eagerly serving the best interest of the whole community rather than simply pursuing our own personal interests. This kind of humble, servant attitude grows as we think of ourselves with sober judgment. The gospel is the lens through which we accurately see ourselves. This is why, in Philippians 2, after exhorting believers to be humble toward one another, Paul immediately draws their attention to the unfathomable humility of Jesus, who laid aside his divine privileges in order to sacrificially serve our most critical need. When we see just how sinful and underserving we are and yet how gracious God has been toward us in Christ, it will become unreasonable and even undesirable for us to hold ourselves in higher regard than other people around us. 1. Where have I put my own interests ahead of the interest of my Christian community as a whole? 2. In what ways have I been prideful in my relationships with people inside and outside of the church? Do I need to confess that and ask for their forgiveness? 1. Pray that the Holy Spirit would show each of our congregants the pride in our hearts and enable us to grow in humility. 2. Pray that humility would so characterize our church that outsiders would notice and be attracted by it.
TUESDAY 6/9/15 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:4-5) The analogy Paul uses here is obvious. Our physical bodies have many different parts that all function together in unity. Today we will reflect on our unity and over the next two days we will consider how that unity gets lived out. On Friday, we will reflect on how our differences function to make the body work effectively. Consider the two phrases in verses 4-5 that describe our unity: one body in Christ and members of one another. These are not merely aspirations. These are spiritual REALITIES that are already true of us as a church. And yet, we must work hard to express and enjoy these realities. We are one body in Christ. This means that the essence of our bond is spiritual, not physical or social. Specifically, Jesus and his saving work are what bind us and make us family. Our primary affiliation is not race, socioeconomic status, political party, life stage, or similar hobbies. In fact, our community should be inexplicable apart from the gospel. When people see how diverse we are and yet observe how deeply involved we are in each other s lives, they should be a bit confused and intrigued. Married couples doing life with singles. Young adults spending time learning from and caring for the elderly. Asian-Americans and African-Americans regularly sharing meals and discussing life. The strength of our unity will point to the source of our unity, which is Jesus. We are members one of another. Another way of saying this might be: we belong to one another. This is very counter-cultural because our society values autonomy and individualism. We are encouraged to be our own authority and we are conditioned to believe that our personal rights trump everything else. But in Christ, we are called to take responsibility for the health and holiness of others in the church and called to allow them to do the same for us. Formal church membership is one way we commit ourselves to accept that responsibility for one another. But that also gets lived out in our Sunday gatherings, groups, and our informal fellowship with one another. 1. As we become one, unified campus, how can I be intentional about investing in relationships with different people? 2. Who am I opening myself up to in order to allow them to invest in my spiritual health and holiness? 3. Am I a formal member of McLean Bible Church? If not, why? 1. Pray that God would bless our congregation with authentic, life-giving relationships. 2. Pray that MBC Montgomery County would be a place where new people will be welcomed into relationships with others in our church.
WEDNESDAY 6/10/15 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. (Romans 12: 9-10) Yesterday, we focused on the reality that our unity is rooted in Christ, rather than in any other natural affiliations. Today and tomorrow, we will consider how that unity gets lived out. Further along in Romans 12, Paul give some very specific descriptions of biblical unity in action. As we serve one another in the body of Christ, we must do so grounded in love. The picture of love painted in the Greek is brotherly love that is unfeigned, undisguised, and sincere. Think about your Christian community. Are you close enough in community to say that you love them with a brotherly love? Are you devoted to one another? Do you give preference to one another? Paul David Tripp says it this way in his book Instruments in the Redeemer s Hands: Relationships within the community of faith are meant to reveal the person and the work of Christ to a watching world. This unity has a greater goal than enjoyable friendships. The goal is for the world to see and know Christ. As we prepare for our campuses to come together, we want the world to SEE and KNOW Christ by our community of faith. How do we accomplish this audacious goal of loving sincerely and with brotherly love? We have all we need in Christ to display His glory to the world. John 17 portrays Jesus praying for the disciples: The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. Through the Holy Spirit we have the glory of Christ that allows us to experience the love of Christ- the SAME before the foundation of the world love that Christ experienced from the Father! 1. If the world were to observe my Christian community would they see and know Christ? If not, what are some specific ways you would like to see your community reflect Christ. 2. In what areas of my interaction with others in the body of Christ do I need to seek to love more sincerely? 3. Are there relationships in which I need to seek forgiveness and healing so that I can love sincerely? 1. Pray that MBC Montgomery County would be a body that exemplifies the goal for the world to see and know Christ. 2. Pray for areas in the body where love needs to be more sincere. Pray that we will learn what it truly means to be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 3. Pray that we would truly find evil horrific and cling to what is good.
THURSDAY 6/11/15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. (Romans 12:15-16) Yesterday we talked about a sincere love. Today we are going to look at how that might apply specifically to this time of transition for our two campuses. Paul commands belivers Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (v15). As we acknowledge the merge, there is great cause for rejoicing. God has provided a building that provides the opportunity for two campuses to come together and be one body. Strategically, our resources will be combined and concentrated in an area of Montgomery County which has much need of the Gospel. There will be a sense of reunion, as people will no longer have to choose between two places of worship. However, there is also weeping due to losses that both campuses will experience. Some of those are the transition of staff, a redefining of identity into one body, a further distance to travel for some of our congregants. And as we move forward, we will be called to individually lay aside our agendas for the greater good of the Gospel. As our two bodies come together, there are truths we can glean from these verses. In loving one another sincerely, we are called to enter in to the season of rejoicing and weeping of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should approach each other with humility and be willing to lay our opinions aside to simply be present for one another. As we lay aside ourselves, we make room to walk alongside one another. Even aside from the merger, there are many people in our church who are experiencing overwhelming joy and overwhelming loss. We need to learn to love with a love that enters in to these places. This type of love walks alongside, perseveres, seeks healing, reconciliation, and sacrificially lays down self so that others can know Christ. As we learn to truly walk alongside one another as one body, we can rejoice in the one thing that Paul chose to rejoice in Christ proclaimed. Philippians 1:18 states What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice. 1. Reflect on your experience at your campus. What are some specific ways you rejoice in how God has used your present campus to help you grow in your relationship with Him? 2. Do you rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep or are you primarily concerned with your own feelings and circumstances? 3. How can you see Christ being proclaimed even in the difficult circumstances in your life personally or if you consider this to be a hard season for our church? 1. Pray that God will help us to be a body that truly enters in to the lives of others 2. Pray for those who are in a season of sadness or loss- either during this transition at our campuses or personally in their lives. Pray specifically that they will experience healing and see Christ proclaimed.
FRIDAY 6/12/15 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them (Romans 12:6) We have reflected on the humility necessary for us to really experience the kind of Christian fellowship the Lord desires. We have reflected on the unity that we have in Christ and how we are to pursue one another in light of that. But that unity does not erase the ways in which God has uniquely wired each of us. In fact, that diversity is by divine design. On Day 1 of this week s devotional, we read from Romans 12:3 where we see Paul use a similar phrase as the one above in verse 6: the grace given to me. This grace is not referring to the grace of salvation. It is referring to the grace of participation in the local church. God enables each of us to contribute in unique ways to the effectiveness of the church. Paul contributed by exercising his apostolic authority through teaching. None of us are apostles, but we are empowered and gifted by God s Spirit to play a significant role. In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul gives a more detailed description of how this plays out in the local church. The leaders of the church are to equip the congregation, primarily by teaching them to understand and apply God s Word. As the congregation is equipped, they are supposed to actively serve the church in various ways (i.e. do the work of ministry ). The result is that the congregation grows, numerically through evangelism as well as spiritually through the various serving and discipling ministries of the church. It is important to notice that the whole body grows as each part does its work (v16). The growth of the church is not solely the responsibility of the pastor! The pastors are merely parts of the body functioning in concert with the other parts of the body. From parking volunteers to pastors, the Holy Spirit is using us to accomplish His great purposes in and through our church. 1. When I look at my life (my schedule, budget, and skills), am I appropriately invested in the growth of the church and advancement of its mission? 2. How can I personally contribute to the growth and maturity of the church? 3. How have I experienced the benefits of others ministry in the local church? 1. Pray that God would give each congregant (including our youth!) clarity about how they can play a role in our church family. 2. Pray that God would supernaturally enable our church leaders to effectively equip the congregation.