In 2 Chronicles 20 we read that King Jehoshaphat was faced with a vast army coming against Judah. He was alarmed. He resolved to inquire of the Lord and proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
King Jehoshaphat needed a solution to a large problem. He didn’t have one. He said, “We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
Scripture continues, “All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.”
They stood. They waited. The Lord spoke. He said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army for the battle is not yours but God’s.”
The Lord delivered in a mighty way as the people had faith in Him and followed His directives.
Our needs as a church are great. We do not have the answers.
Our bishops have called us to pray, to fast and to seek the Lord for answers. As we heed their call to earnestly pray for GC11 we must take the posture of Judah. We must stop. We must look to the Lord. We must listen for His answer. Let us gain hope from the testimony of Judah. As we look to the Lord in earnest He will answer.
April 4–10
Last week our prayers focused on the need for our churches to have the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit to obey the Word. Let’s continue those prayers as we seek the Lord this week for Ministry Group #2.
The mission of the second ministry group for GC11 is “Every Church — Whole and Complete.” Ministry Group #2 (as the other three) is divided into three teams. Each team has part of the task to prayerfully consider. They are called to come back with action proposals. We pray for their tasks this week.
As you approach these times of prayer ask the Holy Spirit to:
- Help us as a church to have hearts that yearn to be whole and complete — being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19).
- Build faith, belief and desire for the Free Methodist church to be filled and enabled to follow in the footsteps of our predecessors and go outside our comfort zones under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
- Help us not fear what the Lord asks of His church but being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
- Help us to ask as the first believers asked (and experienced) Him to work His boldness in us.
Monday – April 4th Prayer Task: “Ministry Group Two’s Focus”
Ministry Group Two’s Focus: Every church: Whole and Complete “Living in healthy, restored community.”
Scriptural Call for the Church: They all joined together constantly in prayer (Acts 1:14).
Gratitude: Thank the Lord that as He calls the church to wait for the Holy Spirit, He promises an answer.
Pray: That as a church we will take seriously the call to prayer. Pray that as a church we will invite the Holy Spirit and will experience His presence in ways that bring healthy and restored community, as was the case in His answer to the first church’s pleas.
Tuesday – April 5th Prayer Task: “Maximizing Our Giftings”
The Bishops Declare: “Each church has a unique history and context that present it with challenges and opportunities. The task is to effectively activate each church to maximize its corporate gifting and context to become a holy, healthy, multiplying people, effectively ministering in its community.’”
Scriptural Call for the Church: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe and many wondrous and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. … Every day they continued to meet in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-44, 46-47).
Gratitude: Thank the Lord for the wonderful testimony we have from the early church. Thank Him that what we see in Scripture is still possible today.
Pray: That as a church we would choose to devote ourselves to the things that bring maximum evidence of the Lord’s presence within and outside our sanctuary walls.
Wednesday – April 6th Prayer Task: “Affirmation One: The Church’s Mission”
The Church’s Mission: We intend to create missional churches. Truly missional churches are attractive. Missional churches are identified by what they do and how they organize for those activities.
Scriptural Call for the Church: “‘Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.’ … They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit … they presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hand son them. So the word of God spread … Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people” (Acts 6: 3-8).
Gratitude: Thank the Lord for the many ways that Spirit-filled men and women have responded to the Lord’s call and that the word of God has spread.
Ministry Group #2a Members: Pray for the team members as they are planning to come and serve. Pray that they will take time in prayer and the Word, preparing themselves to hear the Lord’s direction for the church.
Pray: Pray that we as the church will listen to the Holy Spirit’s call. Pray that each member’s call will be recognized and affirmed by the church and used mightily by the Spirit to spread the good news of the kingdom.
Thursday – April 7th Prayer Task: “Affirmation Two: The Church’s Health”
The Church’s Health: Our churches must promote clear teaching on what the authentic church looks like and how it functions in the world. A robust gospel will lead to, indeed require, an authentic expression of the church, where true discipleship and disciple making is the main business. We must insist that the gospel changes everything, that making true disciples is our goal (not producing a few or even many conversions), and that making such disciples will renew the church, expand its ministries and impact in the world and, not coincidentally, bring it to health.
Scriptural Call for the Church: “‘Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ After they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:29-31).
Gratitude: Thank the Lord for those who were instrumental in bringing you to the Lord. Thank the Lord that His Spirit brings renewal, transformation and health to all who experience true salvation.
Ministry Group #2b Members: Pray for the team members as they are planning to come and serve. Pray that they would take time in prayer and the Word, preparing themselves to hear the Lord’s direction for the church.
Pray: That we as a church will be able to speak the word of the Lord with boldness and love. Pray that we will be so transformed by the Lord — that our “health” will be a testimony to the reality of Jesus.
Friday – April 8th Prayer Task: “Affirmation Three: The Church’s Constituency”
The Church’s Constituency: Our churches should intentionally focus on the margins, on the poor and needy that few or no others target. Such churches will experience renewal and revitalization. The church may need to redefine its financial priorities to make this possible.
Scriptural Call for the Church: “Is not this kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke. Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood. Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer. You will cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here am I’” (Isaiah 58:6-9).
Gratitude: Thank the Lord for those who will be serving on Ministry Group #2c. Thank the Lord that we all have the privilege of partnering with Him in the work of the kingdom.
Ministry Group #2c Members: Pray for the team members as they are planning to come and serve. Pray that they would take time in prayer and the Word, preparing themselves to hear the Lord’s direction for the church.
Pray: Prayerfully think about those who may not be noticed — those who are neglected and poor in circumstances, position, finances, relationship, etc. Ask the Lord to help your church and the churches of our denomination notice and minister to those people with His compassion and love.
Saturday – April 9th Prayer Task: “Ministry Group #2: Leadership”
Group Leader: J.R. Rushik
Keynote Speaker: Keith Cowart
Exemplars: Brenda Young and Leonard Moore
Scriptural Call for the Church: “Paul asked the Ephesian church, ‘Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should’” (Ephesians 6:19-20).
Gratitude: Thank the Lord for how He is working and will work through these leaders at general conference. Thank the Lord for their willingness to serve in these vital roles in addition to very full ministries at their home churches.
Pray: Ask the Spirit to guide you in thinking about what these leaders will need in order to lead. Pray for their families and for their churches. Pray that they will take time in prayer and the Word to prepare themselves for the role they play in guiding the church to discover the Lord’s direction.
* Action Prayer: Go to www.gc11.org. Select “Contact.” Then select “General” from the drop-down menu. Write these leaders a note to tell them that you are praying for them and their ministry group.
Sunday – April 10th Prayer Task: “Ministry Group Assignment”
Ministry Group Assignment: To develop proposals, including action plans, for presentation to the plenary body regarding the previous three affirmations described above.
Scriptural Call for the Church: “His (God’s) intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (Ephesians 3: 10-12).
Gratitude: Thank the Lord that it was His intention to use the church mightily in making His wisdom known to the forces in the heavenlies. Thank Jesus that because of Him we may approach our heavenly Father with freedom and confidence.
Pray: Ask the Spirit to guide you in thinking about what kind of preparation and engagement will be needed by those involved in this ministry group. Pray that those things will occur as they meet.
Giving the Lord More of Your Sabbath: Take time today and go to Ministry Group #2’s page. Prayerfully read through all the questions they are asked to consider. http://www.gc11.org/group-two
* “Action Prayer”
On occasion there will be an action cue. This is intended to help us, as a church, to incorporate prayer in different ways throughout our day.
Related posts:
