What’s The Big Deal

What’s the big deal?

We say grace before most every meal. We teach our children to pray before going to bed. When someone asks for help one of the reactions as Christians is to say, “I’ll pray for you.”

Many times we simply recite a prayer that we had memorized years ago, or just throw out a quick sentence or two like “God, help me get to work on time and let Billy have a great day at school – amen”. One of the many hindrances to a majority of Christians, including myself, is the failure to recognize what prayer really is – a direct, two-way, conversation with the Holy God.

If we were to really believe that praying opens a direct, two-way method of communication to the One that created the Universe would we have the same view towards prayer? As I journey through learning more about our Heavenly Father I have come to have my own attitude towards prayer evolve into more of an actual conversation as opposed to simply asking requests and hoping they’re heard.

As we explore a healthy relationship with God, we hope to see our prayers change – our hearts change and more importantly our church changed.

Come pray with us this Wednesday night at 6pm as we continue our journey to become more like our Lord.

His Heart, Our Humility

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6)

Here at Eastside we have begun a church wide 40 day fast.  The membership has been encouraged to choose one 24 hour period to fast and pray.

If you have committed to participate, thank you!  Your 24 hours of intentional focus on Him could be the beginning of a deeper and more intimate relationship with your heavenly Father.

David tells us that, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)  Peter tells us that, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)  As you humble yourself through the denial of your flesh, know that the Lord will shower you with His grace and at the proper time He will exalt you.

I pray that because of your devoted time with God you will be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1: 9-10)

As you increase in the knowledge of God and His will please let the other readers of this blog know by commenting on this post.  Your brothers and sisters in Christ will be encouraged and edified by what you have heard and learned.

Belief or atheism?

Why is prayer so hard?  We are commanded to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  I have studied this, discussed it and attempted it.  But, I have never been consistently successful at it.  What I am successful at is worrying about my circumstances instead of praying about them.  I am reading an excellent book entitled, “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp.  In it she writes, “Worry is the facade of taking action when prayer really is.”

I know this is true because I have lived it.  In this world of daily frustrations, twenty-first century hurry, economic uncertainty and information overload my first fleshly response is to fret.  It is easier to worry and to stress than to trust.  God says it this way, “This is the work that God asks of you; that you believe in the One Whom He has sent.” (John 6:29)

It is sinfully easy to worry.  It takes diligent work to believe and to trust.  Ann writes, “If authentic, saving belief is the act of trust, then to choose stress is an act of disbelief . . . atheism.”  Do I believe in the Lord?  Yes, but the demons believe.  The real question is, do I have an authentic, saving belief?  An authentic, saving belief  that is demonstrated by a life of trust.

The Psalmist said, “I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come?  My  help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)  Isn’t that what unceasing prayer really is?  Lifting our eyes to the One, the only One, Who is our help in every circumstance, every trouble, every situation?

Prayer or worry?  Belief or atheism?  What does your life demonstrate?

I pray for myself and I pray for you, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above every name that is named, not  only in this age but also in the one to  come.” (Ephesians 1: 16-21)

Affirmation

What or who affirms you? Where does your security come from? We all know the “Sunday School” answer.  We should be secure in the Lord.

But . . . is that your reality?  Is that even possible in this world of trouble and uncertainty?

Read the words of your creator and be blessed:

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.” (Deuteronomy 33:12)

You are his beloved.  You are the one he loves.  His love is universal and at the same time very personal.  He loves all and he loves you as an individual.  He shields you and offers complete rest and security.

We get off tract when we look for security in anyone or anything else other than the Lord.

We are very needy people.  We need assurance, affirmation, encouragement and love day after year after lifetime.  Imagine you are a beggar with a tin cup, seeking donations of love, affirmation and encouragement from the people in your life.  Say, you get a loving compliment from your spouse, a pat on the back from your boss, a word of encouragement from a friend.  Sounds like a pretty good day until . . .  you rattle around those few words of affirmation in your little tin cup.

Your needs will never be completely met by other needy people.

The Lord is the only one who will never tire of your neediness.  He is a well of love and security that never runs dry.  He is never depleted.  He is always sufficient, always able, always full of grace upon grace.  He will fill your cup until it it overflows!

In your need run to him.  He is waiting with open arms.

In all things?

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 107:1)

In prayer we give thanks to the Lord for his many blessings.  It is easy to thank the Lord for the “good” things. But what about when life gets hard?  When your lose your job,when you miscarry the baby you prayed for for so long, when your child rebels, when you get a frightening diagnosis?  Is God still good during the tough times?  Is He still there or has He forsaken you?

You know the answer.  God is always good, He will never forsake you.  But, how do you pray when you are at your lowest, when you are desperate, when you are hurting?

Remember God the Father “who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

Remember God the Son who left his rightful place in heaven and became flesh and dwelt among us.  Remember that “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)  Remember that he “bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24)

What else need he do to demonstrate his goodness, his love for us, his worthiness of our praise and thanks?  If trust must be earned, hasn’t God earned our trust by his death on the cross?

Trust him in all things, in all circumstances; “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  Pray with the Psalmist who wrote:

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalm 42:5)

 

 

 

Never Alone

At first glance, prayer is a solitary endeavor.  You, your prayer list and the Word.

But then there is Romans 8:26 . . . “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness for we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

And Hebrews 7:25 . . . “Consequently. he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Even in this, even in the solitude of prayer, the Lord doesn’t leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13: 5).  You, your prayer list and the Word; but never alone.  He is with you.

 

According to His purpose

Paul tells us in Ephesians that “He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in  the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:5-6)

What a glorious thought!  Not my will, but His will.  Not my purpose, but His purpose.  The sovereign, all-powerful Lord of all creation knows me.  He has a purpose for my life.  How glorious!

I can not thank Him enough, I can not glorify Him enough, I can not love Him enough.  What David wrote so long ago is still true today,

“I give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing Your praise; I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word.” (Psalm 138: 1-2)

What is even more precious is the next verse:

“On the day I called, You answered me; my strength of soul You increased.” (Psalm 138: 3)

Call out to Him in thanks, He will answer and strengthen your soul.

 

 

 

 

Joined Together Constantly in Prayer

The following is a submission from Shannon Rush:

As I was recently studying Acts 1:12-26, the Lord revealed what I believe are some parallels between the very first church and Eastside.  The disciples, some women and Jesus’ brothers were gathered together in Jerusalem, as Jesus had instructed, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 5, 14).  Jesus had given them their mission in Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Scripture tells us that, as they waited for the Holy Spirit, they prepared for their mission by specifically doing two things: 1) they prayed together; and 2) they selected God-appointed leaders.

 

First, Acts 1:14 says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer.”  Before the disciples were ready to be Jesus’ witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth, they joined together in prayer.  No doubt individual prayer is crucial to the fulfilling of God’s will, but here in Acts God chooses to highlight the absolute importance of being joined together constantly in prayer.  Secondly, in verses 20-26 the disciples considered who might take Judas’ spot among them.  Then they prayed over the decision, asking God to reveal which man He wanted in the position, and they obeyed God’s direction in selecting the man He had appointed.  By preparing their hearts through prayer together and by their obedience in selecting God-appointed leaders, the disciples were ready to receive the Holy Spirit and immediately move out into the mission Jesus had given them.

 

Eastside Baptist is not altogether unlike this first group of believers.  God has given Pastor David a fresh vision for how He wants to work in and through Eastside to reach our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the world.  While we already have the gift of the Holy Spirit, there is still some preparation that must be done as a church in order to fulfill the vision God has given.  Over the last several months, Eastside has been preparing by selecting God-appointed leaders, and we have truly been blessed by the godly men He has chosen.  We have also been challenged to join together in prayer through special prayer services as well as in the weekly Wednesday night prayer time.  We are certainly in a time when we desperately need to be joined together constantly in prayer as God reveals His appointed leaders and together we move forward to fulfill the mission God has for Eastside Baptist Church.

 

Persist

The act of praying is the very highest energy of which the human mind is capable; praying, that is, with the total concentration of the faculties.

-Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Prayer is hard.  Hard to do consistently, hard to understand, hard to be effective at.  Prayer is work.  Prayer is also fruitful but the fruit of prayer can not be measured, or tallied or put into a spread sheet.

I recently read an excellent book on prayer by Michael Catt entitled, “The Power of Persistence”.  He writes: “While we all acknowledge that we could do more praying than we’re doing, we also know it is a discipline that must be developed.  It’s easier to read a book on prayer than to pray.  It’s easier to attend a prayer conference than to pray.”  So true!

So often, my intentions are good but the business of life and, to be honest, the pull of my flesh  crowds out my time with God.  Praise God that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with goanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8: 26)  I am not faithful to pray as I should but he is always faithful to intercede on my behalf.

Maybe prayer is a part of what Paul called being a living sacrifice.  He wrote: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)  Prayer is a sacrificial work.  It is a sacrifice of time, of effort and of our will.

I urge you beloved to persist in prayer.  Remember that God’s mercies “never come to an end; they are new every morning;” (Lamentations 3:22b-23a).  He is a God of “grace upon grace” (John 1: 17) and “perfect patience” (1 Timothy 1:16) who is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1: 9b).

If you are like me and have neglected your time with God, confess your prayerlessness and start anew.  “Lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1b).

Confess, be cleansed and “delight yourself in the Lord”. (Psalm 37: 4a)

A Memorial Day Prayer

Submitted by Betty Parsons

Memorial Day Prayer
(Adapted from a prayer by Colonel Richard J. Yeaton)

Gracious Heavenly Father, as we assemble on this Memorial Day Weekend to worship you, we pause to remember our dead, and honor their sacrifices, who have died in the course of preserving and extending our God-given freedoms.  Stir within us the embers of our past when we respected and honored You as a nation and believed in a heritage of freedom that is embraced through obedience to Your Word and Your way and attending to your gracious gifts of faith and peace.  Provoke us by Your Holy Spirit that once again the American Dream will include the seeking of Your Divine will and presence among us.

We pray for our president and for every elected and appointed official that they may take heed to Your Word and that you will give our leaders the wisdom and courage to uphold our constitution, which established a great republic based on Your absolute laws and not a weak democracy based on the changing whims of human reasoning.

We thank you for the dedicated men and women who serve in our armed forces and we give thanks for those who have gone before them, and we are grateful for all who have put themselves in harm’s way to protect the liberties we enjoy today.  Bless and protect those who are currently serving in such places.  Give them courage and wisdom and compassion to undergird their strong sense of duty.

As each Memorial Day carries with it a conscience bought with the blood of countless men and women who fought and died for this nation, help us to remember with gratitude and pride their sacrifice and that of their families.  And in this remembrance, help us to reach deep within to recall what this nation was founded to be, and can be – One Nation under God.  Give each of us that sense of conscience that reaches up to demand a course of national resolve that protects the innocent, cares for the needy, and ultimately brings all glory to You.

We pray that You will rebuke Satan for the deception of his lie that we can all “be as gods” in deciding what is right and applauding what is evil.  May our leaders cast down every law, policy, and personal example which weakens marriages and families, and denigrates Your moral standards.  And help us, who give our leaders their power, to also undergird them with prayer and that each of us will understand and follow the principles of Your Word.  May we realize that ultimate authority comes from You, our Sovereign Lord, and that one day we will all stand before You to give an account of our stewardship as citizens of these United States as well as of our personal lives.

We lift all these petitions to You most gracious God, based on the promise in Your Word, that if we will humble ourselves, pray and seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways, You will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land.  All these things we pray in the strong name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.