|
Prayer and Scripture Resources
August 29-30 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, "Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance."
From My Perspective
(Actual prayers written in Cedar Hall in response to the grains of rice from Firestarter 2)
Father God, I am amazed at how something as simple as a grain of rice can reveal so much! Lord, use this experience to plant a seed—a seed of change and growth! Lord, we need your love and guidance now more than ever.
God—I love you. Please help everyone in this town be safe. I love you God.
Oh, Father! I claim to see you, and Satan fooled me into thinking I was. Please forgive me for not using the talents you’ve given me to forward your kingdom! Use me, oh God! Help me ignore the calls and expectations of the common society! I want to focus on your work and teach my children to do the same. Change my heart, oh God!
The rice...all the rice. I feel bad for all the people who need you. Lead them to you Lord, for you are the holy one. Thank you. Amen.
When I feel so insignificant, I shut down from all the great things you have for me to do—YOU THROUGH ME. I am nothing without you, Father. Thank you for giving me reason to live. Use me, as You will.
God—you have given me a work to do. I don’t want to become fearful or overwhelmed. Help me to trust you with every day of my life.
O Lord, please give me a heart of compassion; a heart of flesh instead of stone.
Lord—let it be so that whatever breaks your heart, breaks my heart as well. Please help me to remember that the center of the universe is YOU, not
me. We seem so blind, not knowing the injustices which occur every minute of every day. It is a sobering reminder that I am extremely blessed…and I don’t deserve it. I’m warm…I have clothes on my back…my belly is full…the things I am concerned about day by day are no match for the suffering of humanity. They have to worry about such basic things when they shouldn’t have to. Enable me to change that.
God—help me to believe that my prayers make a difference.
August 22-23 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, "With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
From My Perspective
Josh Mann, Youth Pastor (Middle School)
This week my wife and I said goodbye to a few students that we have had the privilege of watching grow up over the past five years. In fact, this year’s graduating seniors were the students I first connected with when I came as an intern back in February of 2004. Saying goodbye has been awful; I’ve hated it. There are a few sticking around, which is nice; but this process has been much more painful than I was anticipating. To my credit, I haven’t spent more time with any particular students, I don’t know any particular students better and I don’t believe in any particular students more. Good, bad or indifferent, our fingerprints are all over the lives of these kids. Youth pastors dream of being used by God to reach, restore, and raise up students to influence the world for Him. We have found that to be incredibly strategic and meaningful. The hard part is releasing those same students into whatever and wherever God is calling them. I’m learning that a measure of grief at the time of release is appropriate, as it honors the significance of people, friendship and time spent together. The reality is that other people can leave an impression on our lives in ways that are impossible to forget. I count it a privilege to have been used in the lives of young men and women that I hope my children will someday grow up to be like. In all this, my thoughts have shifted to the parents of these students. I honestly cannot imagine what it is like for the parents of these students who have watched them grow from the moment they were born. They changed their diapers, coached their teams, met with their teachers, taught them how to read and paid who-knowshow- much for who-knows-what every step along the way. Parents, you truly rock. Being counted among you as influencers in the life of your kids is simply not right in comparison to how much you’ve done and how relatively little we’ve done. Nonetheless, what a joy it has been to love and encourage your children.
To all our parents—good job. Well done. May you be free to grieve seasons past and embrace seasons new.
To all our students—you are loved and liked. Love God. Love others. Work hard. Be nice. Change the world.
Not currently serving? Don’t hate kids? Love Jesus? On behalf of the 100’s from birth through high school, what are you waiting for?!
August 15-16 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
Colossians 4:2-4, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should."
From My Perspective
Josh Mann, Youth Pastor (Middle School)
• I love our church.
• I love that right now both eight-year-olds and eightyyear-olds are worshipping together.
• I love that we learned a chorus in Russian a few weeks ago.
• I love that our church is a resource for other churches in conflict.
• I love that two former lead pastors still call this their church home.
• I love that our church has a strong heritage and history dating back almost ninety years.
• I love that our church is passionate about the future.
• I love that our church has a map of the city to pray over that is the size of my first house.
• I love that God has involved us in bringing life and hope to cities in the Middle East.
• I love that Marion-Polk Food Share loves our church.
• I love that in our church women let men lead…and men let women lead.
• I love that a STEPS group gave me grace and truth to be more honest than I’d ever been and find more freedom than I’d ever found.
• I love that Democrats and Republicans call this their church home.
• I love that across the street we are building a bold experiment that will change this community…and us.
• I love that there are ribbons on the cross on our platform.
• I love that a friend, who does not believe in God and hates church, came four weeks ago…liked it…and is coming back.
• I love that right now there are sixty million grains of rice in Cedar Hall representing people and problems from around the world.
• I love that our church isn’t the only church.
• I love that our church isn’t perfect and doesn’t pretend to be.
• I love that I need this church and that this church needs me.
August 8-9 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
2 Corinthians 12:7-10, To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Reading
Even when His answer’s “No”
Jesus loves me! This I know!
In our weakness His power He shows
For the Bible tells me so.
When we take a turn that’s wrong
All of us to Him belong.
When the journey seems too long
We are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
From My Perspective
Josh Mann, Youth Pastor (Middle School)
Take a moment to think about how and when you ended up in the Salem/Keizer area. Did your parents or grandparents move here? Did you come for school or work? Have you lived here for one year, five years or thirty years? How often do you think about the fact that you living here, in 2009, is not a random coincidence—or perhaps that thought has never occurred to you? Did you know that God wanted you to live here, now, as a part of His greater plan to draw you and others to Himself?
Read Acts 17:26-27: “He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that people would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”
God has planted you here, for such a time as this, in accordance with His plan to draw people everywhere to Himself. Reflect on the fact that God wants you to be a part of His strategy for people to “seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him”. You are here on purpose, for a reason; your life is not an accident—it is significant.
When you are ready, use a marker to write the year that you moved to the Salem/Keizer area on the canvas.
In case that last sentence didn’t make sense, allow me to explain. You are partway through the self-guided firestarter experience in Cedar hall. Since we couldn’t bring the canvas in here, you are going to need to head over there to make your mark and continue on the self-paced journey. Enjoy!
August 1-2 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
From My Perspective
Josh Mann, Youth Pastor (Middle School)
Volunteers who put in nine, ten and eleven month cycles of service get a much needed break each year during the month of August as our church family gathers together with a slimmeddown menu of ministry offerings. (Our sincere thanks and appreciation to the worship department, connecting ministries, nursery and a few others that go strong all twelve months long.) However, even though Cedar Hall services, the 6:30 pm Saturday service, His Kids, Student Ministries and shepherding groups all wind things down to rest and prepare for the fall, there is one thing in particular that is ready to ramp up.
It only seems fitting to end a summer-long series on powerful prayers by exploring their practical aspects through three firestarters coming to Cedar
Hall this August. They are each two weeks long and are designed for individuals, couples, families or groups to creatively engage in prayer on topics and in ways that are experiential, creative, fun, unique and, hopefully, powerful.
Firestarter I
The prayer for this weekend’s message begins by describing Jesus’ compassion for the specific people and places in His path. Jesus’ posture toward His city was one of compassion. What is yours?
“Don’t begin by traveling off to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is near. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.”
Matthew 10:5-8, The Message
I invite you to find a time in the next two weeks to engage and ignite at firestarter I in Cedar Hall on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm; Wednesdays, 9:00 am - 7:00 pm; Saturdays, 4:30 - 6:30 pm; and Sundays, 7:30 am - 12:30 pm.
July 25-26 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
Philippians 1:9-11, And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
From My Perspective
Steve Fowler, Acting Lead Pastor
This week in Northern Iraq, there are three men from Salem Alliance Church working hard to help remodel the Community Center you helped purchase. English classes are full, and dozens of Kurds walk into the center not knowing how close they are to hearing the best news anyone could hear. Down the road from the remodel (where the three men from Salem Alliance are working), classes are full in a rented facility. This fall they will move into their new building that you made possible for them. You are playing a significant role as you partner with God in the work He is doing in the Middle East.
Last week one of the students from the center came to one of our international partners and said he had a dream. In the dream an eagle told him, “You are going to hell.” He responded, "Why? I am a good person." The eagle said, "Watch,” and a brilliant light replaced the eagle. In the light, a piece of paper was folded and pieces of it were torn off. The eagle’s voice said, "You are going to hell" as pieces of the torn paper formed the word H E L L. “You are afraid of this," the eagle in the dream said. The eagle continued to speak, “Because of your fear, look at the remains of the paper (the part that was not torn).” The paper was opened and it formed a cross. Zach said that after the dream he cried for ten minutes. He was very upset, so he went to his mom (he's about 30, but lives at home) and told her about the dream. She said, "You're a good boy. You won't go to hell."
Zach (still troubled by the experience and without a clue to what the cross meant) came to the center and shared his dream with a team member. Through some conversation and an explanation of the message of the cross, Zach has begun a journey of following Jesus.
I don’t know how a story like this strikes you. Dreams? Eagles? Acts 2:16-17 says, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’” Peter quoted Joel to explain the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the Spirit of Jesus is still wooing people to Him.
Thanks to your generosity and prayers, Zach has a place to go to and people to talk to about his new friendship with Jesus. Thanks to God, we can be reconciled to Him through His Son, Jesus the Christ, who suffered and died on the cross. His death and resurrection has delivered life to us. Thank Him today.
July 18-19 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
Scripture Reading
Romans 8:35-39
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?
Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love.
Death can’t, and life can’t.
The angels can’t, and demons can’t.
Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow,
and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.
Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prayer
You loved me,
Before I could even call out Your name.
You pursue me,
Even as I run the other way.
Your love keeps going.
Your love exceeds all
That I’ve ever known.
Remove my beliefs that I must earn Your love
Cause me to rest and receive Your love
Help me to grasp how wide and long and deep
Is Your love for me.
From My Perspective
Steve Fowler, Acting Lead Pastor
Take this next week and pray with me these biblical prayers. Use them to launch yourself into some great “God conversations.”
Monday
Jesus, I keep asking that you please give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation so I may know you better. (Ephesians 1:17)
Tuesday
Father, would you enlighten the eyes of my heart so I may know the hope of my calling, the riches of my glorious inheritance in the saints, and the incomparably great power that is for me because I believe. (Ephesians 1:18-19)
Wednesday
Lord, fill me and your people with your presence. “How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?
What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Lord, fill us; and may your presence be upon us. (Exodus 33:15-16)
Thursday
“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your people. I confess the sins we, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you.” (Nehemiah 1:5-6)
Friday
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you.” (Psalm 63:1)
July 11-12 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
Psalm 63 “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.”
Reading
Luke 11:1-2, 5-13
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
2 He said to them, 5 "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 12 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 13 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 18:19-20
19 ...I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
Luke 6:27-28
27 But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
John 14:12-14
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Matthew 6:9
9 This, then, is how you should pray.
From My Perspective
Steve Fowler, Acting Lead Pastor
Weeks ago as our preaching team was meeting, Brian Condello shared a simple idea that he uses to help lead his own family
to be a family that prays. The Condello family will at times write the names of people, places, missionaries, etc. on small strips of paper, fold them up and fill up a napkin holder in the center of the dinner table. At meal time one of his daughters picks out a piece of paper and reads who or
what they will pray for that day. Then the Condello family prays. It’s simple, effective and a great way to teach your family to pray. Naturally, you don’t have to have children or be married to do something like this; so why not give it a try? If you struggle knowing how or what to pray for, a folded piece of paper with a note may serve as a terrific reminder.
Here are some ideas for you. You could pray for safety on the Broadway construction site. Pray for our Middle East Partners in the Community Centers in Kurdistan, Aqaba and Amman. Pray for the peace and welfare of Salem, Keizer and the surrounding area. Write out the Biblical prayers we’ve been talking about, “Lord would you give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation so I may know you better,” or “Holy Spirit, enlighten the eyes of my heart so I may know the hope of my calling, the riches of my glorious inheritance in the saints and the incomparably great power for us who believe.” Pray for our church during this transition as Pastor John moves into a different role. Pray for healing for John. Pray for people who don’t know Jesus.
There are endless ideas of how to pray. Brainstorm as a family or with others. Read a newspaper, and you’ll find specific ways to pray for those who have experienced loss, are grieving or who are in need. Jesus stated that His Father’s house was to be a house of prayer. He was talking about the temple in Jerusalem. That temple has moved. As Paul stated in his letter to the Corinthians, “You are the temple of the Holy Spirit.” Imagine what would happen in Salem/Keizer as individual “houses and temples” pray all around our city. When all these “houses” come together, we gather to do what we have been doing all week. May we be a praying people, and may Jesus be pleased by what He sees and hears.
July 4-5 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
Nehemiah 1:5-11, "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.' They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
Reading
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51
Assurance of Pardon:
In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus,
we are assured that there is no sin so terrible
that God cannot forgive,
no hurt so terrible that God cannot heal.
God accepts, God forgives, and God sets free.
Receive the forgiving love of God.
Thanks be to God.
The God who challenges us
is also the God who encourages us.
The God who confronts us
is also the God who accepts us.
Be assured that God is with us even now,
accepting, guiding, and forgiving.
Thanks be to God.
To all who turn from sin in sorrow,
to all who turn to God in hope,
this is God’s Word of grace:
We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.
This gift we have from God.
Thanks be to God.
From My Perspective
John Stumbo, Lead Pastor
One month ago my family and I attended a concert at the First Methodist Church here in Salem on the corner of State and Church Streets. Our son Drew was singing in a concert put on by one of our local public high schools. It was a pleasant evening with secular and sacred choral selections performed with excellence.
I couldn't help but enjoy the irony: a public high school performing sacred Christian music in a local church located at the intersection of Church and State.
On this Fourth of July weekend, let me make just a few comments. First, let's relax America. Church and state can peacefully coexist. A healthy faith promotes the well being of the state (Jer. 29), and a healthy state protects the well-being of people of faith (Rom. 13).
Second, I want to express a "thank you" to many in the Salem Alliance family who serve us through governmental occupations. Many of you have roles we'll never read about in the paper (and you're probably glad) but are significant to the positive functioning of the state, county and city. Your work is necessary and to be commended.
Finally, as we gather this weekend both here as a congregation and as families, let’s sincerely bow our heads in gratitude to God who allowed us to live in a city, state and nation such as ours. When you look at world history and the other regions of the world today, you have to acknowledge that we are an exceptional minority. Very few have had the privileges that we enjoy. Let's use this weekend as a chance to thank our Creator. Gratitude should be one intersection of church and state.
June 20-21 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
Ephesians 1:18-23, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."
From My Perspective
John Stumbo, Lead Pastor
Worry is one of those vices that we know has no value, but some of us resort to it habitually. Why? There must be some reason that we would choose to go to a place that is unhelpful and unhealthy.
As I've reflected on this in recent days, I'm concluding that the reason I accept worry as a legitimate tool is because it gives me a sense of control. There is no truth in it, of course. Although inaccurate, this is what worry convinces me of––if I stew over the issue, I haven't lost control. It is somehow in my grasp. Dumb, but powerful.
What are we to do with worry when it arises within us? The spiritual answer, of course, is found in Phil. 4:6, "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Some of us have discovered a remarkable ability, however, to completely destroy the effectiveness of this solution by co-mingling worry with prayer. You've heard of prayer-warriors; some of us are prayer-worriers. Prayer was never intended to be the mere verbalizing of our stress. How often, after prayer, have we wondered if we talked to God or just ourselves about the matter?
The solution to worry is more difficult than a mere "just pray about it." We're told two verses later that we have the power to choose what we think about. "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is admirable––if anything is excellent or praiseworthy––think about such things." (4:8) We decide what thoughts we will allow to roam around in our heads, and we would be better off if we chose thoughts from this list. As you noticed, worry isn't on it.
Interestingly, these two verses surround the promise that the "peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (4:7) As we often find in Scripture, we have our part and God has His. There are some things only we can do (pray, choose our thoughts carefully) and there are some things only He can do (grant peace.) Wise are those who differentiate between the two.
June 13-14 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
Ephesians 1:15-17, “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better."
From My Perspective
Steve Fowler, Acting Lead Pastor
The “Fire the Soul” series we have begun will have its greatest impact in us and through us as you and I take what we hear on a weekend and make time to process what God says to us. One of the best pathways to allow this to happen is to pray what we will be hearing. This will be easier than normal.
Here is why. Each of the messages in this series will root itself in a biblical prayer, and you can make it part of your conversation with God. Sometimes it is difficult to start a focused conversation with God. If you struggle knowing what or how to pray, these biblical prayers can get you started if you take the time. If you don’t struggle, that’s terrific! Wherever you find yourself, use these biblical prayers to ignite your soul. Here are a few ways you can pray this week:
“Jesus, I know you, yet I desire to know you better. I ask that you generously grant me the spirit of wisdom. Enlarge my understanding of you and empower me to wisely explore the depths of who you are.
Jesus, I know you, yet I desire to know you better. I ask that you will generously grant me the spirit of revelation. There is much I don’t know about you, and I need revelation to grow my friendship with you. I really want to know you well. As I sincerely seek you, I ask that you uncover things that are hidden and reveal yourself to me.
Jesus, help me. I am slow to learn, so prone to forget, so weak to climb; I am in the foothills when I should be on the heights; I am pained by my graceless heart, my prayerless days, my poverty of love, my sloth in the heavenly race, my wasted hours and my unspent opportunities. Please make it my chiefest joy to study you, meditate on you and gaze on you. May I never seek in the creature what can be found only in the Creator.”
- a Puritan Prayer
June 6-7 Weekend Services
Scripture Focus
Revelation 3:14-20, “These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
Reading
Lord, help me,
for I am often lukewarm and chill;
unbelief spoils my confidence,
sin makes me forget You.
Let the weeds that grow in my soul
be cut at their roots;
Help me to know that I truly live
only when I live for You,
that all else is insignificant.
Your presence alone can make me
holy, committed, strong and happy.
Abide in me, gracious God.
From My Perspective
Steve Fowler, Acting Lead Pastor
Several years ago while traveling in Northwest China, I came across a village called Shen Dou. As our van pulled into a courtyard, a group of forty believers were gathered outside and waiting for us. We were traveling and had stopped in to encourage and be a blessing to them. The opposite happened. Here’s what I wrote in my journal that day. “We drove the van up a slippery, narrow muddy road and met the believers. As I got out of the van, I instantly noticed a woman with her eyes shut crying and talking. She was blind. She grabbed my hands as did many others. They clung to us like we were long lost relatives. It wasn’t long before they lined up with hymnals in hand and began to sing. I don’t know the name of the song, but the sweetness of the melody was tangible. As they sang, tears flowed and rolled down their faces. The tears were contagious. What a powerful sight and sound. What passion. What spiritual heat. I took a picture of a man my age on my digital camera and showed him. He threw his arms around me and smiled. As we wrapped up our visit after eating more hard boiled eggs than I eat in a year, a man prayed for us. When it was translated, I was told, “He prayed that our hearts would be hot.” A hot heart...hmmm. How’d he know how to pray for me?”
That day is etched in my memory. I have often prayed the prayer the Chinese villager, who I will most likely never see again this side of heaven, prayed for me, “Lord, make my heart hot. Fire my soul!” Just as Moses could not forsake the sight of a burning bush, so a nation cannot mistake the sight of a burning man (L. Ravenhill). What would happen if a church burned? John Calvin called the entire church “the fellowship of the flaming heart.” Missionary martyr Jim Elliot asked, “Am I ignitable, O God?” Charles Spurgeon exhorted pastors saying, “Your work, brethren, is to set your church on fire.” Again he proclaimed, “Keep up the fire within, and add fresh fuel to give it a more fervent heat.” He sternly warned Christians against a lukewarm, indifferent relationship with the God of fire.
As we begin this new series, “Fire the Soul,” would you consider praying a prayer an unnamed Chinese villager prayed for me? Lord, grant me a hot heart. Pray it this week for you as well as for Salem Alliance. Lord Jesus, grant us hot hearts.
| 
