This week we continue our series "The Lord is There - Our Mission in Community," with an encouraging word on prayer from Pastor Jody. We are encouraged this week that if we want to see renewal and His kingdom come in our community, that we need to start with prayer.
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Sermon Notes:
Big Idea: Prayer is the foundation for renewal in our community.
Key Scriptures:
Matt 6:5-13
Gen 2:15
Psalm 8:4-8
Isaiah 9
So what is prayer really?
Prayer is a relationship – it’s about connectedness to God. Prayer is a conversation with God.
Prayer is communion – a way of being with God, and ultimately, it is the place where we experience God’s deep love for us. And prayer is where God births in us a deep love for others
– for our friends, families, neighbours and our community.
Prayer is the foundation of the Christian life.
The Challenge: We live in a world where “MY Kingdom” is often more important and central to us than seeing God’s Kingdom come.
Question: What does ‘your kingdom come’ mean?
– God’s kingdom refers to His rule and reign coming on the earth. It exists perfectly in heaven but it’s under opposition here on earth.
The Invitation: To Imagine a better Kingdom than the ones we are creating for ourselves & to move from ‘my kingdom come’ prayers to ‘Your kingdom come’ prayers
Question: What would it look like to see this prayer realised? To see the kingdom of heaven breaking out in our midst – God’s rule and reign returning to the earth?
Application: Living and Praying For Kingdom Renewal – How do we position ourselves to partner with God in this?
1/ Start in surrender – commit to a deepening life of prayer – asking for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in our lives, families, and community. Come under his rule and reign.
2/ Follow Jesus’ example – Jesus was a man of prayer – he got up early and stayed up late, he wrestled in prayer, he wept in prayer, he contended in prayer, he prayed before making big decisions, he was still in prayer even on the cross.
Find regular rhythms of private and corporate prayer to participate in. E.g anchor it to a practice – prayer walk around your neighbourhood / prayer chair, pray in a garden – a quiet place.
Prayer in your Discovery Group, Prayer and Fasting, Pray at work, at school – United Prayer Events etc
3/ Contend with Jesus for renewal – let God break your heart for what breaks his. Let him stir you to a new level of faith and conviction.
“Do not let your prayers be all about your own sins, your own wants, your own imperfections, your own trials, but do let them climb the starry ladder and get up to Christ himself, and then, as you draw nigh to the blood-sprinkled mercy-seat, offer this prayer continually, “Lord, extend the kingdom of thy dear Son.” Such a petition, fervently presented, will tend to elevate the spirit and tenor of our prayers.” (Charles Spurgeon)
