Weekly Message / Prayer Request

Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 1:3-11 NIV

No matter where we stand together as Christians, we are bound together by one Spirit in unity. From the east to the west, there is one God; sharing His love to one people; sending His Spirit to minister for one purpose.

Those who stand before the Lord giving Him praise in a small town in Ohio stands together with those worshipping the Lord two-thousand miles away. The Church is one regardless upon denomination. The ‘blood of the Lamb’ is the essential which binds all who believe.

The Apostle Paul makes note of this when he preaches ‘partnership in the gospel’ here in this passage to the Philippians. He understood this important part of the Christian doctrine and even preached it from a prison cell in Rome. This would be the last place anyone would think unity could exist because his life was isolated, removed from society.

Yet he knew there was a bond of unity which united him with others. It was Christ which bound him with others in one God, one love, and one purpose.

The Word proclaims to each one of us: “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV

As the future becomes the present, we must not only eliminate any division which divides churches who stand united two-thousand miles apart; but we must eliminate the divisions which exist with our own Church.

Unity strengthens us as the body of Christ and allows the purpose God set forth for the Church to become a reality. Division is the barrier to the mission God has ordained each one of us to complete.

Therefore we must start unity building through love and allowing it to complete its work in each one of us.


Prayer request

Ernie – pray for continued health with wife and her difficulties of her knee, pray for dear friends facing a financial crisis, pray for his own health

Tim – pray that Tim will be able to effectively guide and talk with son Dan

Dick – pray for strength as he helps lead others through any division in the church over those ushering

Chad – pray for friend’s mother-in-law which is battling cancer

Norman – pray for daughter with clinical tests this week trying to determine cause of siezures

Kelcy – pray for family in the sudden death of his uncle

David – pray for the ability to become an effective witness

Mark – pray for family in Ohio that they may be strengthened by the love of Christ, pray for stronger unity within family in Ohio, pray for finding the best healthcare for future child

***Pray for relationship building throughout the Northshore Christian Church

Continued prayer needs

Carmine – pray for strength in working two jobs and finding time within others, pray for relationship with family

Gary – pray for strength in working with IRS, praise and prayer for staff infection, pray for stepdaughters in their struggles

Ramon – pray for safe travels to California, pray for continued healing with wife, pray for sister-in-law

Larry Miller – pray for strength and guidance in leading marriage ministry at Northshore

Randy – pray for release of addictions of the flesh

Michael – praise for Michael finding a Church in Alabama for himself and family

Chris – pray that he finds Christ and His purpose


*** pray also for the men’s ministry in developing Godly leaders

Future Meetings

Wednesday, October 31st, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at the Northshore Christian Church (call Mark for directions) Topic: “Power of Prayer”

Wednesday, November 14th , 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting with site and topic to be determined (we will establish location at October 31st meeting)

Challenge

Live life in the ‘unity of the Spirit’ in our minds so it may translate out into the Church…