Let’s remind ourselves once again of the vision statement for GC11: The Whole Gospel for the Whole Person in the Whole World.
Our bishops state, “The gospel is the good news that answers all that has gone wrong. Every person is claimed; every part of reality is targeted for reclamation and restoration. Every one of God’s people is engaged as part of God’s response to the brokenness of the world. Every arena of activity offers a potential front on which this comprehensive good news may work. The whole gospel, fully operational, will change the whole world.”
As we go to prayer let us ask the Lord to unify our hunger for this as a church. Let us join together in asking the Spirit of the Living God to fall on us — molding us, filling us and using us as His church.
June 27 – July 3
We must have the Holy Spirit’s presence and empowering to go forward as the part of Christ’s church called Free Methodists. We must continue to pray fervently for a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let us:
- Ask the Holy Spirit to give us His persevering and passionate presence.
- Ask Him to direct our thoughts and shape our desires as individuals and as a church — that we would be unified through Him.
- Ask Him to help us as we read Scripture — that we may incline our ears and hearts to hear and obey.
- Prayerfully consider this week’s prayer tasks, allowing the Spirit to convict, instruct and encourage us with new thoughts and directions in our desires and prayers.
Monday – June 27th Prayer Task: Dynamic Partnership
Scripture: “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord–Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here–has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17).
The Lord gave Ananias His special gifts. First He gave him a word of knowledge about Saul’s situation. Then the Lord gave Ananias instructions to partner in restoring Saul’s sight. The final partnering came when the Lord gave him the ability to pass on the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants us to partner with Him in the same ways. He wants many to be healed and given the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Pray: Lord, we read the story of Ananias and we believe. You used him in a marvelous way to reach out to Saul at a crucial time in his life and the life of the church. We are hesitant to believe You want to use us in similar ways. May we grow in faith to believe that You want us to partner with You to bring healing and impart the presence of the Holy Spirit to those who are new to believe. So we say together, Come Lord Jesus, fill and use Your church. Amen.
Tuesday – June 28th Prayer Task: Blessing
Scripture: “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31).
We want to have peace. We desire strength and encouragement through the Holy Spirit.
We want our numbers to grow. But do we really? Are we willing to live “in the fear of the
Lord” in order to receive the blessings that flow from the “fearful” obedience?
Pray: Ask the Spirit to guide you in thinking about what it means to live “in the fear of the
Lord.” Pray that the Lord would grant us hearts to respond to Him in such a way that our
“fear” would bring Him glory — that our lives would be blessed with peace, strength and
encouragement – and that the kingdom would grow numerically.
Wednesday – June 29th Prayer Task: Greater Things
Scripture: “… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
“… 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” (John 14:12).
The apostles testified to what Jesus did. Jesus promised that when we have faith in Him we will do even greater things “than these.” We need the Holy Spirit to help our faith include these “greater things.” We need the Holy Spirit’s power to do them — to extend healing and deliverance to a world in great need.
Pray: Lord, we confess our lack of faith. We read your Word and know that Your promises are true. Help us in our unbelief. Help us, Holy Spirit, to be broken out of our comfortable belief and to let you bring us into Your empowerment. May our desire to see Your kingdom increase. Lead us to allow You to work through us in whatever “greater” ways You desire. May Your kingdom come. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Thursday – June 30th Prayer Task: Anointed Words
Scripture: “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message” (Acts 10:44).
Many “words” are going to be spoken at General Conference 2011. Let us remember to pray for those preparing to speak.
Pray: Lord Jesus, we are praying that you will do a new work at GC11. Our speakers need to be your vessels. We pray, Holy Spirit, that you would have full access to each speaker’s heart, mind and preparation. We also pray for the groups that will be meeting. Prompt, inspire, create and loosen Your words in each conversation. Halt, interrupt, correct and eliminate any words that would bring division, destruction or discord. We want Your life to be given. Holy Spirit, come upon us all. Amen.
* Action Prayer: Get a small group from your church and/or other FM churches in the area and pray together for this day’s task.
Friday – July 1st Prayer Task: Astonishment
Scripture: “The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles” (Acts 10:45).
Those who had been in the church were astonished at who received the Holy Spirit. That astonishment can lead to division if not covered by the Lord’s loving Spirit.
Pray: Ask the Spirit to guide you in thinking about ways we can be astonished. How can our astonishment be used for the glory of our Lord? Pray that our astonishment would be sanctified and used to strengthen and not weaken the church. May diversity and love be evidence of the kingdom’s coming.
Saturday – July 2nd Prayer Task: Worship
Scripture: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’’’ (Acts 13:2).
An atmosphere for the Lord to speak is created when we worship. Let us worship “in spirit
and truth” as we gather at GC11 so that the Holy Spirit can speak and be heard.
Pray: Ask the Spirit to guide you in thinking about our corporate worship. Are we willing to fast to make sure our hearts are clear and that truth is in the center of our worship? How can we pursue unity so that the Lord is exalted? Pray these things for our worship at GC11.
Sunday – July 3rd Prayer Task: Joy
Scripture: “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52).
This verse comes right after Paul and Barnabas were expelled from the region by the Jews. The work of the Lord was being done. The Word was being proclaimed. Converts were multiplying. Almost “the whole town” turned out to hear these two apostles speak. But they were expelled by the religious establishment. However, the believers were still filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Pray: Dear Lord Jesus, help us to be fully attentive to Your word and Your presence. Help us not to doubt You because of different ways You might work through others. May we so hunger after Your Spirit that we will know Your voice and presence when You show up. Thank you that no matter what our circumstances, when we are following You and not the desires of men, joy and power are present. May we be a church filled with joy and Your empowerment, that “whole towns” would desire to hear the message of salvation. Amen.
Giving the Lord More of Your Sabbath:
Use the words below from “Breathe on Me Breath of God.” Meditate on these words as an individual. Then meditate on them and sing them for us as a church. Thank the Lord that He wants to be among us and work in and through us by the presence of His Holy Spirit.
Breathe on me (us), breath of God,
Fill me (us) with life anew,
That I (we) may love what thou dost love,
And do what thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me (us), breath of God,
Until my (our) heart(s) is (are) pure,
Until with thee I (we) will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breathe on me (us), breath of God,
Till I (we) am (are) wholly thine,
Till all this earthly part of me (us)
Glows with thy fire divine.
Breathe on me (us), breath of God,
So shall I (we) never die,
But live with thee the perfect life
of thine eternity.
* Action Prayer: On occasion there will be an action cue intended to help us incorporate prayer in different ways throughout our day.
Related posts:
