The Everyday Prayer

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 – 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (day six)

But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Perhaps the most basic reason for prayer is that God does; he does all the work. He strengthens, he guards, he does. Paul believed that God had a vested interest in preserving the Thessalonian church-the full expression of God’s love resulting in the spread of the Gospel.

Remember, we pray because God is faithful. He is faithful to do above and beyond what we ask for his namesake. There is no greater commitment than that.

Church, we pray because we are in good hands. God does. He is committed to finishing what he has started.

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

“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;”

Paul is asking these believers to pray for the gospel to grow God’s Kingdom in strength and number in the days ahead. To guide their prayers, He reminds them of how that had happened in them and to them.  The gospel had a distinctive intensity and energy. They witnessed it. Experienced it. Believed it.

This Monday begins Youth Camp for our students and their leaders. A week that has been near and dear to my heart for decades. Those of us that have attended Camp before- remember how personal and powerful the gospel was?  Preaching. Worship. Bible Study. Fellowship. Salvation. Conviction. Repentance. Rededication. Surrender to ministry. Call to deeper faith.

As you remember your camp experiences, will you join me in praying for the students and sponsors from FBCSA in the days ahead? “That the word of God would spread and be glorified just as it did with you.”

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.