Weekly Message / Prayer Request

Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship

“Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 1:9-11 NIV

The power of prayer is probably not discussed enough in our daily discourse. All of us tend to discuss the power of prayer when we see something tangible in our lives where we can put our finger on it and say—prayer really made a difference here…

And I am sometimes very culpable at this as well because prayer is a difficult topic to discuss unless you have something to discuss. Therefore maybe in our conversation on prayer the ultimate truth of its power is lost because we tend to focus on the results of prayer, not on the fact that prayer itself is powerful.

It is much like the blue sky I am sitting beneath right now as I write this message. The sky is blue not because of the air. It is blue because sunlight is refracting through the air to make it look blue. This is a very subtle difference, but it is important because either my focus can be on the blue sky or my focus can be on the light which is causing the sky to look blue. Therefore I either look at the result which is a blue sky or the power at work which is the light.

So there is something very special within this passage from the Apostle Paul on the power of prayer. Twice he makes reference to the prayer of many people helping him get through various trials. Both of these are referenced to a confidence that they will be answered prayers.

Paul is very focused on the power of prayer here in this passage because he makes no reference to any specifics to his deliverance of a deadly peril of some kind. The results are not even discussed and instead Paul goes straight into sharing his personal testimony on the reason for writing them (the Corinthians).

I personally believe the Lord wants all of us to understand the power of prayer and know that it has power regardless to any visible results. For there is a world unseen which is being moved within our midst every moment of every day because our wrestling is not of flesh and blood; but it is with the principalities and the powers of this world in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

James the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ said in his epistle:

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16b NKJV

or in a different version,

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b NIV

Brothers, this is difficult to focus upon because all of us pray for healing and for many visible things of this world. And the Lord desires to hear all of our concerns and bring them before Him in our prayers. Therefore praying for a loved one who is sick should never be set aside because our Lord wants to hear us because he loves us so much…

But we must understand that prayer is full of power and is making a difference even when it does not produce results which are visible to us. The Lord himself encouraged us to continue praying even when we are discouraged by its results (Luke 18:1). For the mere presence of prayer changes everything because God answers all prayers according to His will (John 15:7).

Therefore let us make prayer the backbone of this fellowship and that of the Church. May a prayer life begin to take shape that is based less upon any result of prayer, but based upon its power and its effectiveness in a world that is unseen.

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I look forward to meeting with you on Wednesday at 7:00 pm. We are going to be diving into discipleship during our time in the Word. Please be aware that we are going to be meeting in room C214 which is on the academy side. I look forward to spending time together in the Word, prayer, and fellowship with all of you as we journey together down the road of life…

Mark


Prayer requests

Jeff – pray for more quality time with children and family

Monte – pray that he may find a job and hear God’s wisdom and guidance as he deals with some financial trouble

Ramon – pray that he will make the right decision about a car purchase

Mark – pray for the health of our unborn child, pray for financial discernment as we continue to adjust to our financial situation, pray for the church that ministries will begin to find new volunteers to help out

Larry – pray for financial security as he works on building a new house near Arlington

Carmine – pray that he can find peace with his coworkers

Gary – pray for sister-in-law who has serious infection in organs, pray for wife Terry who may have to have surgery here in the near future to take care of a serious health issue

Tim – pray that he will focus time according to His will and not fall into the trappings of idleness

Steve S – pray that friend can do well with his new employment, pray for friend’s newborn child

Greg – pray for church as we begin to set forth in a new direction

Ernie – pray for his wife that she may remain healthy, pray that his daughter will be able to work with mortgage company in order to keep house, pray for Mitch Nelson’s son who has a two-inch hole in his heart and awaiting a heart transplant, pray for the Nelson family who lost a daughter to leukemia a few years ago in their peace during this period

David – pray the Lord’s will can continue to have a larger impact in his life, pray that new members will begin to find this group, pray the Lord will use this group for His purpose

Mike – pray that his interview will go well with the City of Everett

***Pray as Northshore begins a new chapter in its ministry to people who desperately needs to hear the gospel message


Continued prayer needs

Keith – pray that their youngest daughter will be able to do well in college, pray that Nate will be able to find a job

Craig – pray that he will be able to continue to seek God and find Him throughout his life

Kelcy – praise for mother who is doing very well after neck surgery earlier this year

Bret – pray for his older estranged son who is getting married

Gary Cercone – pray that daughter Jennifer and grandson will receive continued blessings from the Lord

Norman – praise for the health of daughter in dealing with her seizures

Dick – pray for strength in new employment

Joe – pray that his condo may sell and that he may finally be settled here in Mukilteo

Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life


Future Meetings

Wednesday, May 7th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 on the academy side of the church

Wednesday, May 14th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church

Wednesday, May 21st, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church


Memory Verse

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:11-12 KJV