Frontline Prayer - Sanctuary OPEN on Sept. 25th
The sanctuary WILL BE OPEN
THIS Friday ~ SEPT. 25th!
So, join TOGETHER in prayer at 10 a.m. for the spiritual needs at TFN, in our personal lives, in the lives of those God may be leading us to bless, in our imediate neghborhood, and in our neighborhoods as well as pray for the spiritual work God is doing & wants to do in all of us!!
On Friday's that the santuary is CLOSED, pray WHEREVER YOU ARE!
If you need a little fodder for your prayers, read the "thoughts" that are provided following this announcement.
Many times in our lives we find ourselves weak and unable to deal with what we are experiencing. Such times are DIFFICULT, and we often wonder if we will survive. At times like that, texts like this Psalm may do little to encourage us; in fact, such words could even make us wonder a little more about “well, where is God for me?” The GREAT news is that others have found themselves in similar places and God carried them thru … People like David, people like Paul, people like Jesus:
- David “bled” his struggles through the Psalms.
- Paul shared his difficulties with the churches he wrote and eventually with us and all others who have read his letters.
- Jesus cried out to His Father through tears and sweat drops of blood.
The real news is that these (and many others) have been at the point of being overcome. The more real news is that, from a human point of view, some were overcome and defeated; look at Paul, look at Jesus, look at many others in Hebrews 11:32-40. However, the GREATER news is that even when it appeared they were defeated, God was their rock, their fortress, their deliverer, their salvation, and more.
- David kept resting in the reality that God defeated Goliath, and many of David’s other enemies.
- Paul found the secret of being content in knowing he can do all things through Jesus, Who was his strength and that God provides all of our needs through His glorious riches in Jesus.
- Jesus kept trusting His Father and following the path that was set before Him; YES, Jesus was crucified but He did so with a purpose … to bear our sins, bury them in eternal death, be raised from the dead, never to die again, and offer us the gift of eternal life over the death that sin brings.
NONE of that was easy … for Jesus! for Paul! for David! for YOU! But take heart, as Paul wrote:
8 I pleaded with the Lord three times for it (his “thorn in the flesh”) to leave me alone. 9 He (God) said to me, “My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I’ll gladly spend my time bragging about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power can rest on me. 10 Therefore, I’m all right with weaknesses, insults, disasters, harassments, and stressful situations for the sake of Christ, because when I’m weak, then I’m strong. - Philippians 4:8-10
Paul was strong in his weakness because God was the strength of his heart, soul, mind, and body!
For us, this struggle of life often overwhelms and the things we see and experience can take “control” of how we live in the midst of the overwhelming realities of life. However, in this physical journey, there is a coinciding spiritual journey and when we are followers of Jesus, we are BLESSED to be Children of the Heavenly Father and know His Protection is over us, and we are called to participate … actively … in His Protective Plan. Here is what Paul wrote about this struggle in life:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. - Ephesians 6:10-13
After we don the full Armor of God, this is how Paul tells us to “stand”:
pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. - Ephesians 6:14
So, let our prayers today be to align our bodies, minds, and spirits with the spiritual reality of God’s protection, deliverance, salvation, etc. in our spiritual lives so that we are more effectively experiencing His protection … and victory … in every other aspect of life.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield[a] and the horn[b] of my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalm 18:2
On this day twenty-five years ago, I remember where I was between 8 & 9 a.m. EST. I was in my basement living area turning on the news just to check out the day. Like all other Americans and millions of others around the world, I was distraught by what I was watching. The only response I could muster was to pray … open the doors of the church, contact as many as I could to let them know the church was open, and put a make-shift sign in front of the Wallingford Church of the Nazarene to let people know that we were open for prayer.
These 25 years later, the Church of Jesus in its physical form of buildings MUST REMAIN OPEN for prayer and the “Body of Jesus” … YES, you and me and all other believers … MUST REMAIN OPEN to and ENGAGED in prayer!
OH, THANK THE LORD that He is our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer, our Refuge, our Shield, our Horn of Salvation, our Stronghold and SO MUCH MORE!
In this spiritual & physical journey called life, we are BLESSED to be called to be Children of the Heavenly Father and to know His Protection is over us. As well, we are encouraged by Paul (and others) to pray as he wrote to the Ephesians:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. - Ephesians 6:10-13
After we don the full Armor of God, this is how Paul tells us to “stand”:
pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. - Ephesians 6:14
So, on this 25th Anniversary of 9-11, Church of Jesus Christ …
- Give THANKS for the Lord, Who is our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Refuge, Shield, Horn of Salvation, Stronghold, and SO MUCH MORE!
- Give THANKS for Jesus, Who is our Salvation, Truth, Wisdom, Righteousness, Peace, Life and SO MUCH MORE!
- Give THANKS for The Spirit, Who is our Guide, Comforter, Presence, Counselor, Power, and SO MUCH MORE!
- Give THANKS for the protection, peace, renewal, strength, comfort, direction, etc., etc., etc., that God gives us in all or life’s situations.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. - Ephesians 6:10-12
As you pray with your eyes on God, remain alert to our spiritual opposition and as you put on the Full Armor of God, pray these prayers (and others as The Spirit leads you) for our teachers, school staff, students, and parents.
A Prayer on Behalf of Students
Dear Lord,
THANK YOU for the many blessings that You have given to all our teachers, paras, staff, school administration, students, and parents on a daily basis; open the eyes of their hearts and minds to see more of these blessings each day.
As the students return to the classroom and away from the watchful care and love of their parents and families, bless their families with the assurance of Your Love and Care that is with both them and their students as you are called many teachers, paras, staff, and school leaders to provide this care which goes beyond academics.
As the students return to school and reunite with existing friends and meet new ones, as teachers, paras, staff, and leaders recovene to teach & lead students, guide all of them in their relationships to be encouraging and helpful, not just to ones with whom they are close but especially to those students and co-workers who may be excluded by so many others.
Lord, Jesus, prepare hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits of all for this school year and its challenges and blessings … academic, physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual. Above all else, for those Who have Your Light & Life within them, help them be Your Light on their respective campuses. Show them where they are needed to share Your Love with others.
Father, cover their entire schools with Your Protection, Grace, and Love for the sake of their physical safety, their educational progress, their relational, emotional, and mental health, and the possibilities of many to see more of Who You are through those who know You.
For those who know You, use them and guide them this year and assure them each step of the way that You are WITH them because You live IN them!
All because of Jesus, AMEN!
As we close this year's Easter Season and transition to the Day & Season of Pentecost ~ the reality of His Life among us, His Life WITHIN us through the Holy Spirit, continue to THANK THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY for The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, adding REJOICING for the Presence and Ministry of the Holy Spirit!
THANK THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY for The Resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Without the Resurrection, there is NO LIFE in Christ … because He would not be alive, but because He did rise from the dead, He is alive and the hope of all of God’s promises are true! Such as these promises we have reiterated over these several months:
- Our lives … YOUR LIFE … can be “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3)
- We … YOU … can be, will be, ARE … blessed by God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ …
- Chosen before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight …
- Loved …
- Predestined to be adopted …
- Redeemed through His blood …
- Forgiven of sins …
- Lavished with His Grace …
- Given revelation of His Will purposed in Christ …
- Marked in Him with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit ~who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance of the final redemption in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14, portions)
ALL because of the Resurrection!
AMAZING!
The “Seal” … The Holy Spirit is the source and resource of wisdom and revelation Whom Paul declares he continually prays that God … the Glorious Father … will give the believers in Ephesus.
Why?
So, they may know Him (The Father & The Son) better!
How does that happen?
It happens just as Paul continues to voice his prayers for the people:
- That their eyes … our eyes .. your eyes … “may be enlightened that you may know the hope to which He has called you,”
- That they ... that we ... that you ... may know “the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people,” and
- That they ... that we ... that you ... you may know “His incomparably great power for us who believe” which is the same power “He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:15-21, portions)
Again … ALL because of the Resurrection!
Praise the Lord!
Without the Resurrection, there is no life in Christ, there is no connection possible, beyond a mental one, with a teacher who lived 33 years …nearly 2000 years ago … BUT because He is ALIVE, His promises are true and all things have been placed under His feet. As Paul wrote:
… He (God the Father) raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for The Church, 23 which is His Body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way. ~ Ephesians 1:20-23
… AND … God invites you to participate in this power. Listen as Paul prays again for the Ephesian believers:
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~ Ephesians 3:14-20
Pray prayers of REJOICING because of the TREMENDOUS POWER God has given to all who believe Him and receive Him through the Resurrection of Jesus and because of the resultant, gifted & continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit WITHIN us! Pray for this reality to become an ever-present reality to you … and to MANY OTHERS!