Fasting & Prayer Update 2
In every season of our lives we are shaped and influenced by the people around us, and we also influence those people. We may see it as a ‘sphere of influence’ or the ‘people on the path of life’ as some describe it. We all have opportunity to influence others with the Good News of Jesus; family members, neighbors, strangers we meet, co-workers, past and present.
At our Monday night prayer meeting we gathered together in a large group, praising and worshiping God. We then broke into small groups for a Spirit led time of lifting up the people in our lives who have not responded to the love of God. It was a very powerful time as each person prayed for the unsaved, lost, needy people that they know. As a pastor it was one of the most amazing things I have experienced, to hear all the different prayers being offered up to God. Prayerful men and women stepping away from life’s routines and standing in the gap for the people they know. We can influence people with our appearance, with our conversation, with our resources but there is no greater influence than to stand between heaven and hell and pray for God’s will to be done. I believe that in the past someone stood in the gap for you and for me and they influenced our lives. In a very real way they introduced us to Jesus through the power of prayer. Likewise we have the privilege, and responsibility to do the same for those around us. Consider what Jesus said when He prayed for the first generation of believers as recorded in John 17:20; “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word”. Others will believe in Him because of your words! Be encouraged! Be awakened!
It is my hope and prayer that we would each rejoice in and respond to the privilege He has given us, and that we would engage in the spiritual battle that is taking place by taking back the time (Eph.5:16,17), bending our knees, turning our hearts, and through prayer influencing the people in our lives. In closing I ask that you meditate upon the verses below, making this a personal prayer of your own, believing God to bring it about. 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
Prayer point: Pray for those in your life who have not responded to the love God offers them through Jesus Christ. Set aside time to see people differently, with faith, see them as Jesus sees them.
(Even His disciples saw things differently than He did, Matthew 14:14,15)
In His Grace,
Pastor Dan