Author: Rick Henderson

Re:Verse passage – John 17:20-26 (day seven)

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word.” John 17:20

Jesus was praying for YOU. These were Jesus’ last free minutes on this earth. In less than twelve hours, He would be on the cross, and He spent this time praying for you. Before you read on any further, go back and read  all of John 17 with you and the cross in mind.

Isn’t that amazing?  As you read over those words, they penetrate your soul. The selflessness. The care. The love. Have you ever heard anyone pray for you like that? These are prayers you would hope to hear from a parent, spouse, or very dear friend. Doesn’t it feel good to be so loved? It also challenges you: do your prayers show this type of love? Are your prayers for those you love this selfless? Do you reciprocate that same love in your prayers to Him?

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 3:14-21 (day seven)

“to Him be the glory in the church” Ephesians 3:21a

After a beautiful dialogue on how and what happens in us when we pray, Paul concludes this section with an even more beautiful doxology. The focus of the dialogue was on the “inner man” so one might think that this doxology would follow suit. Yet, the calling is actually for us to give Him glory together in the church. Prayer and worship can be immensely personal, but the external expression of what happens internally is magnified on the corporate level.

John Piper says it like this, “The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by valuing God, treasuring God, prizing God, enjoying God, being satisfied with God above all earthly things.”

Sunday morning is our “in the church” moment, but is not the only time we worship in the week. Sunday morning is an opportunity for us to respond together in joyful adoration to the God in Whom we have found complete satisfaction. Though our personal prayers and journeys may be different, we can all lift our eyes and voices together as one to say, “God is good. To Him be the glory!”

Re:Verse passage – Luke 18:1-8 (day seven)

Now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? Luke 18:7

You are precious to God. He hears your prayers. Even when you feel like a broken record, repeating the same prayer time and time again, God is working. How do we find this assurance when we can not see the prayer being answered? The assurance is in our salvation. You have been chosen by Him before the beginning of time. You are His child. Unlike the judge who begrudgingly provided justice for the widow whom he had no personal connection with, God will provide justice for His children whom He has a vested interest in. He chose you! Continue to ask. Continue to seek. Continue to knock, and rest assured, your Father will open the door when the time is right.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 11:5-13 (day seven)

Two weeks ago I preached in Logos and referenced the synoptic parallel of our passage out of Matthew 7. I had referenced a young man from camp that  I had advised to pray to God persistently to feel the presence of the Lord. God answered that prayer! “Persistent praying pays off!” I said.

Afterwards, I was approached by a woman who had said she begged God for years to give her peace and to feel His presence, but it never came. Why does God sometimes not answer our prayers of persistence even when they are pure and patient?

Our persistence doesn’t change God; it changes us. God uses our persistence to mold us, shape us and tune our hearts with His. Sometimes the persistence doesn’t pay off in the way we might expect, but the persistence will always achieve the purpose it was set out for: to perfect the pray-er.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:26-27 (day seven)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good. Romans 8:28a

Have you realized how closely connected these passages are? I have typically separated these verses in my mind as two separate acts, but that is not the case. The Holy Spirit is interceding in your prayer life to help get your prayers into God’s good plan.

Has God ever answered your prayer in a completely different way than you originally prayed for? In those moments the Holy Spirit shows you how God’s good plan working in and through your prayers. Could it be that the “we do not know how to pray as we should” statement could also be in reference to when our prayers are not in line with the will of God? Even then, the Holy Spirit intercedes and molds those prayers so that all things work for our good within His plan.

Re:Verse passage – Acts 2:42-47 (day seven)

Last week I asked you to pray for camp. Your prayers were felt! We had an awesome week, but as I read this week’s passage every day, it felt like I was reading about Impact Camp. I had a first hand look into the New Testament church. For those who have been to Impact Camp before, does reading this scripture give you a mental image from camp? Even for those who grew up in other churches, does that bring you back to moments of joy from your camp experiences? Maybe it was Glorieta, Alto Frio, or a beach camp where you felt the Spirit moving in a mighty way. Something interesting happens when you bring hundreds of teenagers together to worship King Jesus. The power. The emotion. The energy. The presence of the Holy Spirit is visibly evident and active. Camp is a picture of the New Testament church, which I would also say, is a little taste of Heaven here on earth.

And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:47

Just like the New Testament church, the Lord added to our number this week. We will tell their stories soon and we will fill the baptistry with students! Praise Jesus!

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (day seven)

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified.

As Scott asked you to pray on Friday, I want to invite you pray for our students at Impact Camp, just as this scripture commands.

We will be taking 114 students to camp (a record since I have been here). Many of you have watched these students grow up through the halls of these church. You may have even changed their diaper in the nursery. If you know these students, I ask that you pray for them by name. Would you pray that they will encounter King Jesus this week and their life will be forever changed? We are also bringing many first time guests and friends of our students. Would you pray that the lost would meet Jesus for the first time and submit to Him as King? Would you pray for our awesome sponsors and leaders to be filled with the energy and love of the Holy Spirit as they guide these students through the week? Would you pray that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly this week, but also as we return and tell of all the great things King Jesus did for us? Pray with us!

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:17-20 (day seven)

Put on the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:11

In football, we had lots of different types of protective equipment that we had to wear. In a general week of practice, there were varying levels of required padding depending on the physicality of that day, but at least once a week, we were in “Full Pads.” That meant we wore every piece of equipment that we would in a game. We did that so we knew how it would feel when we got there. If you waited until game day to put on the pads, you wouldn’t be ready to handle the hits that were headed your way. You wouldn’t know how to use your equipment. You would fail.

Many Christians wait until they are in the middle of the “game” to try to put on their armor. They have already been hit a couple times and decide they need to do something to get back in it, so they throw up a few “Hail Mary’s” and expect it all to work out. It usually fails.

So how do we put on the full Armor of God now to get us ready for the battle in the future?

With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit. Ephesians 6:18