I stood in awe yesterday, almost speechless as we closed out the ONE PRAYER series.
You see it was a great time of learning, listening and growing. Prayers asking God to make us effective, dangerous, wake up and finally one. Eye opening to say the least.
What I was in awe over were the prayers that our precious people were praying for their church. I asked a question after I shared my one prayer and those we had heard. I asked, "if you could pray only one prayer for the church, what would it be?" The answers didn't shock me. They humbled me. I am still basking in the light that comes from listening to people who have been with Jesus. This is a sweet time for our family, our church family, as God brought 2 churches together to make 1 unified and excited body of believers. The future is awesome.
The message on Sunday began with a bang. Seemed like we had most of kinks and problems worked out until...Craig Groeschel's Lord, Make Us One message stopped right at a pivotal point. When we got it running again, it stopped at almost the same point. Got it going again (3 different sources) and it locked up again. What did we do? I jumped into His message (check out the podcast later today on our website). God showed up, and I was in awe.
Ephesians 4:4-6 (nlt) --- For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
We have to learn not only that God has made us one with Him, but He has given us one objective. We serve a God who has simplified the process and called us to focus in one single direction. To focus on Him. This message (as you will see more pieces later this week in devotions) talked about God calling His church to see our enemy, to be people of loving understanding that we are family with some specific goals.
I want to ask you that same question. "If you could pray only one prayer for the church, what would it be?" Think about it. Talk to God with it. Seek Him.
Let me give some more to chew on and to really think through. Here are the words of Jesus. But first let me remind you that our enemy is always trying to distract us, to take our focus off of God. You are about to be hit with that again. So, read these words from Jesus and spend some time asking God to make your church one. That is, ask God to make the church a more powerful force for Him than we have seen in our lifetime. Jesus set us up that way. Read on:
John 17:20-24 (nlt)
20 "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
NOTE -- Praise the Lord as God has saw fit to bring the House of Prayer and The Community Fellowship together. Tomorrow July 1 is the official day for this to happen. We will be having a time to move items from the HOP to The Community Tuesday evening at 5 pm at the HOP. Please come and help with this effort...more great things to come!
Join the ONE PRAYER conversation at www.oneprayer.com. The Community Fellowship and over 1,500 churches are focusing on God together for four weeks. Spend time praying, fasting, sharing and seeking God. It will change your life and your focus. Join us.
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