These are my notes in preparation for our 9/18/2011 church meeting.
Leader: Tim Harris
Assignment
This will be a prayer-focused assembly. We'll pray through our list of requests. Please write down ONE non-health-related prayer request that would change your (or others') life. Think BIG.
(We seem to often limit our prayer requests to those things we perceive to be "reasonable." It's as if we have a small perception of "the possible" with GOD. On the heals of Wednesday's faith discussion—remember the faith conduit/valve illustration—let's pray BIG things and EXPECT GOD will answer.)
My Notes
Remember Joshua's prayer in the battle of Gilgal?
1 Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king—and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. 3 Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.” 5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.”
7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9 Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. 10 So the LORD routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.
12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel. 15 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
(Josh. 10:1-15 NKJV)
We must ask in faith, without doubting.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
(Jam. 1:5-8 NKJV)
Our motives for asking of GOD must be pure.
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
(Jam. 4:2-3 NKJV)
If we pray according to His will, we should expect GOD to answer, "Yes!" As we consider Joshua's prayer, Joshua knew it was GOD's will that the Israelites kill their enemies, and GOD had promised Joshua He would be with him and never leave him. Therefore Joshua should have fully expected GOD would answer Joshua's BIG prayer as he prayed it. You and I can, and should, expect the same thing when we pray according to GOD's will.
Pray Over our New "Big" Requests
My "Big" request for today is that GOD will bring about a strong spiritual revival within the United States, the entire world, and in our city. More specifically, I pray GOD will use us to reach so many people that we can't even gather in the same house.
Our country and the entire world is falling further into wickedness. We need GOD to raise up leaders and evangelists who will preach the TRUE gospel throughout the whole world.
Pray Over our Existing Prayer Request List
Lord's Supper Thoughts
- When Jesus ascended to heaven He sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD (Mark 16:19; Heb. 1:3, 10:12, 12:2).
- When we pray, Jesus serves as our mediator between us and GOD:
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time...
(1 Tim. 2:5-6 NKJV)
24 But [Jesus], because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
(Heb. 7:24-25 NKJV) - Think about how special this is! When I pray I have GOD (Jesus) going between my sinful self to GOD. And, of course, there is the bonus that the Holy Spirit also intercedes because we don't know how to pray as we ought (Rom. 8:26).
- All of this happens because Jesus gave Himself for you and me upon the cross as our Passover lamb. Praise GOD!
