Christmas Benefit Concert prayer items

Pray for the ministries the concert will help...
  - The Pregnancy Center of Toledo
  - My Father's House in Haiti.

Pray that those who attend the concert will clearly hear the truth of Christmas as it is shared in word and song.

Pray that those who are participating will glorify God with their gifts and talents.

Released from the burden of having to maintain my righteous standing with God, I quickly found that I had enormous amounts of passion to put into growing in holiness and ministering God’s amazing grace to other people.  I had never had such energy available for ministry before, because so much of it was consumed with tending to my standing before God.  I also found the grace of the gospel producing in me a huge passion to love and obey God.  In moments of temptation, I enjoyed saying to myself “You know, I can commit this sin, and God’s grace would abound to me all the more as He maintains my justified status…But it is precisely for this reason that I choose not to commit this sin!”

The Gospel Primer (p. 96)

LORD, God,

I want to live a life that is built upon the finished work of Jesus Christ.  Help me to be strengthened by you and not motivated by guilt. 

Especially during this time of the year, help me to live in the joy of Christ's righteousness and not the bitterness of self-righteousness.

AMEN.

The woman caught in adultery.

Remember Pastor Snyder's sermon this past Sunday on John 8:2-12.
And consider section of The Gospel Primer (p. 74-76)

...This is my status
and these are my flaws
Apart from Christ Jesus
and his saving cause:
I carry sin's guilt
and am gripped by sin's power
Held fast to its
various lusts every hour,
Deserving of flames,
both within and without,
And sliding toward Hell
as I toss all about,

Too reprobate* even
to play a small part
In clearing my record
or changing my heart
To pacify wrath
and be worthy of grace,
To make myself lovely
and win God's embrace.
Completely condemned by
God's Law in its whole,
I've nothing to offer
to ransom my soul.

But wonder of wonders
so great to behold,
My God chose to save me
with method so bold.
What I could not render,
God fully has done,
And doing, He rendered it
all through His Son.
He sent Christ to die
on the cross for my sin
To suffer my anguish
my pardon to win. 

*reprobate:  adj.  under God's judgment, extremely sinful, lost in sin

Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving

An old favorite, "Praise and Thanksgiving" from The Valley of Vision (formatting mine):

O My God,Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects, my heart admires, adores, loves thee, for my little vessel is as full as it can be, and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for

• the soul thou hast created,
• for adorning it,
• for sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;
• for the body thou hast given me,
• for preserving its strength and vigour,
• for providing senses to enjoy delights,
• for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
• for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
• for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
• for a full table and overflowing cup,
• for appetite, taste, sweetness,
• for social joys of relatives and friends,
• for ability to serve others,
• for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
• for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
• for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
• for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
• for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to thy creatures. Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

Taken from a blog by Michael McKinley

Ephesians 4:17-24 Prayer

God,
Remind me through you word who Jesus is and who I am in Jesus Christ.
I know that my life without You was dark, selfish and futile.
I want my joy to be found in you!

I want to put off my old self which belongs to my former manner of life
and is corrupt through deceitful desires.

Renew a right spirit in me.
Make me more and more like you.

A Culture of Evangelism begins with...

personal, passionate, evangelistic prayer.

Evangelistic prayer "pleads with God to be glorified through drawing specific unbelievers to Himself" (Rom. 10:1; Colossians 4:3)
Evangelistic prayer "petitions God to provide opportunities to present the gospel."
from Evangelism by John MacArthur p. 169.

May we pray prayers that glorify God and his sovereignty as it relates to the unbelievers salvation and my situations.

Missions Conference

"Some who demonstrate a passion for accurate doctrine, place a question mark over their love for God by evidencing no active love for lost sinners.  This absence of missionary effort is appalling.  Nevertheless, if being moved by compassion for sinners is essential, it is MORE essential to be moved more profoundly still by a love for God." (emphasis mine).
Walter Chantry

God,
We want to be motivated first and foremost by you and a desire to glorify your name.
As we consider this year's mission theme "Proclaiming Jesus - No Boundaries,"
help us to remember
your love, which is evidenced throughout history and seen in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus
and
your power, which cannot be contained by human hands or governments.
We pray that a culture of evangelism would grow in our church
that this would be demonstrated in the way we pray for our missionaries.
that this would be demonstrated in the way we pray for our family and friends.
and may these prayers and realizations of who you are move us to action.
Amen.

Go to our missionary page and click on the different missionaries to see how you can be praying for them.
http://www.emmanuelbaptist.com/missionaries

Proclaiming Jesus - No Boundaries

Pray for the upcoming mission's conference

And consider this section from the Gospel Primer entitled "a Heart for the Lost"

The more I rehearse and exult in gospel truths, the more there develops within me a corresponding burden for non-Christians to enter into such blessings.  This is also what seems to happen to the Apostle Paul while writing the book of Romans
In Romans 5 Paul exults in his righteous standing before God.  In chapter 6 he speaks of the freedom from sin which Christ has accomplished in the lives of believers, a freedom which Paul later confesses had not yet become fully realized in his own daily practice (chapter 7).  Nonetheless, coming into chapter 8, he recounts the fact that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  With increasing flourish, he rehearse numerous gospel themes throughout the length of chapter 8 and he climaxes the chapter with a triumphant exclamation regarding the endless love of God which enables Christians to conquer overwhelmingly in all things.
What effect do such gospel meditations have upon Paul?
What emotions do they in him besides the obvious joy he feels while reciting them?
Paul bares his soul at the very beginning of chapter 9:  "I have great sorrow" he says "and unceasing grief in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ, for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh"
Coming down from the heights of gospel meditation, Paul's heart is devastated by a burden for his fellow Jews to experience the saving power of the gospel.  His burden existed long before he started writing but it is undoubtedly intensified by his rehearsal of gospel truths in Romans 5-8, a rehearsal which inevitably leads his thoughts toward the plight of those outside of Christ.
 Hence, if I wish to have a "Romans 9" kind of burden for non-Christians, I should become practiced at celebrating the gospel as Paul does in Romans 5-8.  Over time, my joy in the gospel will become increasingly tinged with grief, and this grief stained joy will lend a God-inspired passion to my ministry of evangelizing the lost.

My Inheritance in the Saints.

 The gospel is not just a message of reconciliation with God, but it also heralds the reconciliation of all believers to one another in Christ. Through the death of Christ, God has brought peace where there was once hostility, and He has broken down the racial, economic, and social barriers that once divided us outside of Christ. (Ephesians 2; Colossians 3:11; Galatians 3:28: Revelation 5:9)

Also, when God saved us, He made us members of His household (Ephesians 2:19) and He gave us as gifts to one another (Ephesians 1:18).  Each brother and sister is a portion of my gospel inheritance from God, and I am a portion of their inheritance as well. We are significant players in each other's gospel narrative, and it is in relationship with one another that we experience the fullness of God in Christ (Ephesians 3; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Peter 4:10; Ephesians 1:22, 23).

Hence, the more I comprehend the full scope of the gospel, the more I value the church for which Christ died (Ephesians 5:26), the more I value the role that I play in the lives of my fellow-Christians, and the more I  appreciate the role that they must be allowed to play in mine.

Culture of Evangelism

Three quotes 

• The most loving thing we can do for others is to help them grow in godliness.
• "The most relevant message we can give the world is repent."  Pastor Duke
• "We have the word of God, the Spirit of God and the community of God.  Together we can develop a culture of caring that far exceeds anything the world has to offer."  Garret Higbee

As we continue through this series "Reconciled," may each of us see that this ministry of reconciliation and culture of genuine care for others is directly related to our goal of developing a culture of evangelism.

Think about what a great witness biblical reconciliation is to a lost, dying, selfish world.

Pray that you could live out the biblical truths from these messages among your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors.   

Prayer focus 1 Peter 3:13-17 read this verse and make it into a prayer.

Grace of God teach me...

"As we practice renouncing sins, sanctifying grace teaches us how to replace the passions of this world with godliness.  As a result,we grow in charitable thoughts, patience with our spouse, self-control instead of angry words, love, joy, peace...a virtually unlimited array of godly motivations and actions that look increasingly like the character of Christ..."
 from When Sinners Say "I Do" (p. 142)

LORD,  help me to grow in charity, patience, self-control, love, joy and peace.
I want to focus on your undeserved grace and not my unmet needs.
Help me to remember the truth of Titus 2:11 and 12.

Scripture memory and prayer

Think about adding scripture memory to your prayer life.
In thinking about our current series "Reconciled" wouldn't it be better to have your mind filled with God's truth about His glory as opposed to worldly philosophies that emphasize your personal rights.

The following quotes are from 100 Bible verses everyone should know by heart by Robert J. Morgan help show the importance of scripture memory.

"Bible verses are high powered does of truth that mainline God's wisdom into our reasoning.  They convert the soul, teach the simple, rejoice the heart, enlighten the eyes (Psalm 19:7-9).  They teach, reprove, correct, and instruct, making us profitable in every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)."

Memorizing scripture gives us:
1.  clearer thoughts
2.  steadier nerves
3.  healthier emotions
4.  purer habits
5.  happier homes
6.  greater respect
7.  eternal optimism

As those who have been saved by grace, sinners reconciled to Holy God, we should seek to solve conflicts biblically.

Consider the truth found in Ephesians 2:11-18
¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
 ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

God,
Thank you for coming to me while I was a sinner. 
Help me to remember your amazing grace as I deal with conflict in my life.
Amen

09.22.11 @ 1:16 PM

E-KIDZ.

Pray for the children and families Emmanuel has the opportunity, privilege and responsibility to minister to.

Today at 1:16 PM there will be some specific information about our midweek children's ministry on our website www.emmanuelbaptist.com/children

First Night

Tonight was the first night for many of Emmanuel's Soul Care groups.

Some of these first meeting will be awkward. 
But remember this quote...
"We have the word of God, the Spirit of God and the community of God. Together we can develop a culture of caring that far exceeds anything the world has to offer."  Garret Higbee

Culture of Caring = Sincere in His Love

As brothers and sisters in Christ we need to be caring for one another.

Real simple prayer today...
God,
Help me to love like you love!
Amen.

More, More and Smaller for the glory of God

In relationship to yesterday's prayer request:

Be praying for MORE GROUPS, MORE LEADERS and SMALLER GROUPS.

Also, here is an excerpt from the Christian Love prayer in Valley of Vision:

Thou art the end of all means,

for if they lead me not to thee,

I go away empty.

Order all my ways by thy holy Word

and make thy commandments the joy of my heart,

that by them I may have happy converse with thee.

May I grow in thy love and manifest it to mankind.

May every that we do at Emmanuel lead us to Jesus. 
Earlier in this same prayer the writer says 

"By grace I am a freeman and would serve thee, 

for I believe thou are art my God in Jesus,

and that through him I am redeemed, 

and my sins forgiven.

Lord, we pray that we would be about GLORIFYING YOU by MAKING DISCIPLES.

over 300 people...

We now have over 300 people signed up for Soul Care groups.
Last night Pastor Duke mentioned our need for Soul Care group leaders so we can
have the number groups we need to have
while also making sure the size of these groups will help accomplish our goals for the groups.

Specifically, pray that new leaders could be identified and trained as soon as possible.

Also, pray for Pastor Duke as he begins preaching a new series "Reconciled."

LORD, as we begin this new ministry of Soul Care groups help each of us to remember that we need to be encouraging one another and building one another up.
May we remember that these Soul Care groups are merely models to help us fulfill our mission of making disciples.

Help us to prayerfully consider how we can be more about Galatians 6:1-5.

9.11 service

Pray we would remember WHO is our hope.  Jesus Christ.
Remember this in light of Psalm 33:20-22

Pray we would be thankful for God's provision in our lives.
These include police, firemen and rescue workers.
Remember this in light of Romans 13:1-7

Final Week of Come Home...

09.07 - The Heart of God
09.14 - A Sinner Repents (the younger son)
09.21 - A Father Rejoices (the father)

This week we will be looking at the older son, the religous lost.

Almighty God, loving father who is holy and loving,

It is only through the work and righteousness of Christ that I am saved. 
Remind me of this truth each and every day.

You owe me nothing.  Help me remember this truth in good times and bad times.

The Lord's Supper

As you prepare for communion this Sunday morning,
consider this prayer from Valley of Vision called the Precious Blood

Blessed LORD Jesus,
Before thy cross I kneel and see
the heinousness of my sin,
my iniquity that caused thee to be 'made a curse'
the evil that excites the severity of divine wrath.
Show me the enormity of my guilt by 
the crown of thorns,
the pierced hands and feet,
the bruised body,
the dying cries.
...

Yet thy compassions yearn over me,
thy heart hastens to my rescue,
thy love endured my curse,
thy mercy bore my deserved stripes.
Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths of humiliation
bathed in thy blood,
tender of conscience,
TRIUMPHING GLORIOUSLY AS AN HEIR OF SALVATION.

Colossians 1:11-14

Pray Colossians 1:11-14 for our church and friends...

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 

Pastor Duke is going to be focusing on the parable of the prodigal son in August with a series of messages entitled "Come Home."

 

Be praying for him as he prepares to preach and for us, as a church, as we hear and apply God's word.

This is our updated prayer page

In an effort to make things more accessible check out this page.