September 15, 2010
A CALL TO PRAYER
What a powerful three days our Tent Revival was. God used John Ed Mathison to speak some powerful words into our lives. He opened on Sunday and closed Tuesday night with several words that I have been thinking about over the night and this morning.
First, John Ed made the point that as we celebrate the past we must move into the future. He said, “The Church is a movement.” We must not live in the past. I believe it is a God thing that God’s word through John Ed was so close to the theme that has been chosen for our fall Stewardship Campaign: Celebrate the Past – Build the Future. It hit me that the best way we can honor and celebrate the sacrifices of the past is to make our own sacrifices for the building of the future.
The second word that I’ve been reflecting on is Prayer. Sunday morning John Ed asked us what we had been praying for in relation to the Revival. Then on Tuesday evening he pointed out the prayer life of the Acts 2 Church. He asked, “When had our prayers been so vibrant that the building shook?”
His words caused me to examine my own prayer life. What am I praying about? Am I boldly praying believing in a God of might and miracles? Do I place limits on God even before I pray? Am I really praying for God’s leadership in His Church? Am I praying for our nation?
Speaking of Prayer, Derek Belcher shared with me after the service last night (Tuesday) that some were promoting 40 Days of Prayer for the Election. Election Day 2010 is just over 40 days away. I did some searching on the internet and found that the Southern Baptist Convention has developed a 40/40 Prayer Guide for this fall, in preparation for the election. The Prayer Guide is available as a free download. Here is the web address if you would like to download it: www.4040prayer.com. You may have to copy this into your internet search engine to find the download. This Prayer Guide is designed to begin next Monday, September 20th.
Whether or not you use this Prayer Guide, I encourage you to spend time the next six weeks praying for our nation and this election. As you read the suggested themes for the 40/40 Prayer Guide, they certainly speak to where we are: Personal Revival, Church Revival, Revival Among Church Leadership, National Revival, National Renewal, Wisdom for Public Officials, Wisdom to Elect the Best Officials. I believe the Guide has it right; renewal in American must begin with the people of God being revived, which we bring to the Church. A revived Church is the only real hope for America and this world.
There is one other word that John Ed mentioned both Sunday morning and Tuesday evening that I’ve been reflecting on – People Bring People to Jesus. He asked us, who have you brought this year to Christ and His Church. And He challenged us to bring someone over the remainder of this year. Are we going to answer Jesus’ prayer for labors in the Harvest? One of the best ways to do that is to invite.
I’m excited about the message God has given me for Sunday. The staff spent this summer studying the Book of Ephesians. During July, we focused on Ephesians 4, in the message series, Being the Body of Christ. This Sunday I want to return to the book of Ephesians, to the second chapter, to look at the results of grace. Having experienced revival, I believe it is a good time to look at how grace transforms our lives.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
