Category: Prayer

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

The life of a prayer doesn’t have to end when it’s answered. Paul is asking his readers to reflect on how God has moved in their lives, and pray that that would multiply. Part of the practice of prayer is reflection – this helps turn our prayer life into a dynamic relationship with God, rather than a list of to-do’s for God.

When we reflect on what God has done and how he has answered our prayers, we begin to see that the impact of that answered prayer could be far bigger than we ever imagined. Part of the work of the Spirit is using that answered prayer to minister to the whole body, the whole community. When we spend time in reflection with the Lord, we’ll see how the Lord’s faithfulness to us is meant to be multiplied.

This is witnessing, isn’t it? We share what we experience of God – in real time. Witnessing is more than telling our salvation story, though it’s not less than that. We’re meant to continually witness to what we have experienced of God, trusting that he will multiply his faithfulness. An answered prayer is bigger than we realize.

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

“Finally, brethren, pray for us…”

A closing prayer, or, as in this passage, a closing request for prayer, seems unremarkable. It’s almost perfunctory, routine, rote. It’s expected in a customary sense, like the credits rolling after a movie concludes. Some people remain in the theater to look at the names scrolling by, though for most, that list serves as the signal that the movie has ended (unless there’s a surprise post-credits scene, but whatever). When understood in such a way, a prayer is simply a marker of finality: “This concludes our communication.” But Paul’s closing request for prayer was no formality. It was a solicitation of energy from the spiritual realm – power to continue gaining a hearing for God’s goodness, and strength to recover from the discouragement evil brings. A call for prayer is a plea for heaven-sent confidence.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (day two) May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. vs. 5

Perhaps you have seen greetings and salutations taken from scripture that make their way into our Christian vernacular. Pastor Chris signs his emails with ‘grace and peace’ which is a phrase you will read in many of Paul’s letter. Verse 5 should perhaps become a benediction for believers as we communicate with one another. Our prayer should constantly be to help others know and experience the love of God. To walk in the knowledge that they were created and known by the creator of the universe. This blessing further admonishes them to be steadfast like Christ. To be true to the call; unswerving in devotion, and pure in intent. Let’s all learn this prayer, and begin blessing others with it.

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

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty, and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 in our New Summer Re:Verse Series: “Prayer.”

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

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

Did you notice what Paul didn’t ask them to pray for? He asks them to pray for words and boldness, all while he is imprisoned in Rome. Why doesn’t he ask them to pray for his release or to end his suffering? But Paul makes no mention of these personal needs.

It’s not that Paul didn’t want out of prison, but that he believed God was using him in the midst of his suffering. Paul doesn’t lose sight of God’s Kingdom purpose in his life, regardless of his circumstances.

I ask myself, will I look through my circumstances to see what God is doing, or will my circumstances keep me from seeing what he is doing?

Praying it’s the former.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:17-20 (day five)
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

Does this verse stretch your perspective and approach to prayer like it does for me?  Notice the repetition of the word “all”. Four times.
John Bunyan called this “All-Prayer”. Speaks to: Variety- praise, petition/supplication, confession, intercession. Consistency- not just in a set “prayer time”, but moment by moment throughout the day we remain in dialogue with the Living God. Persistency/Intensity- determined, disciplined, and tenacious. Community- the believers we work, worship, serve, sing, play, fellowship, study, and live with.

The “Who, How, When, and Why” I pray gets challenged and corrected by the Re:Verse passage this week!!

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

“I’ll pray for you” is a common phrase around church. When we hear of a prayer request from someone in our Bible study class, or as we’re chatting in the hall on the way to worship, we respond, “I’ll pray for you.”

Many of us do bring that request to the Lord later in our prayer time. Sometimes we intend to but forget along the way. And sometimes, if we’re honest, the words are barely out of our mouth before our minds have moved on to the next thing. But if we’re not careful, we can make the phrase “I’ll pray for you,” into simply a nice sentiment.

Paul wasn’t asking for nice sentiments here. He’s assuming that his readers understand that prayer is the most powerful thing we can offer someone. When we put on the full armor of God, pray through the power of the Spirit, and partner with Jesus who intercedes for us at the very right hand of God, our prayers hold more power than this world knows what to do with.

Let’s consider the power that prayer holds this week, and pray for each other in that way. And if you’re worried you’ll forget someone’s request on the way home? Pray for them on the spot. Let us be a praying people.

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

“Be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”

Some folks will tell others what’s really going on in their lives; many – perhaps most – will not. There are reasons for this: shame, fear, regret, confusion, distrust, or the like. Sometimes groups – even a church – will place a high value on conformity, which dissuades people from inviting each other into their questions, doubts, heartaches, and failures. How then can a church care for one another? Paul says to remain alert. Tune in to a person’s words, both spoken and unspoken. Is someone speaking about God’s goodness and yet clenching his or her fists? You have a clue about how to pray for that person. And that’s true when someone sees such body language in you. As we pay attention to each other, we can pray for each other.

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

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit vs. 18a

This is a very short re:verse passage. Each day this week, take some time to reach each phrase and verse slowly. Re-read and let these words work in your heart. As I did this today the phrase from verse 18 struck me: pray at all times in the Spirit. What do you think that phrase means? It seems to place a conditional awareness to the one praying. The pray-er must be in a state that is sensitive to the Spirit. Does this indicate a state of preparation?  Do we need a time to prepare to pray? Forgive me if I pose more questions than answers, but I do believe it informs us that we are not to be flippant to our time of prayer. It does require of us a quieting, a slowing, a stopping the noise of our minds and the world. How can we pray in the Spirit if we don’t allow the racing in our hearts and minds to stop and surrender? Slow down. Wait for the Spirit. Pray