Community News: 7/31/2024
Community –
As you’re reading this communication, would you pause with me and pray? Here are some scriptures that can help guide our prayers for this church:
A Prayer for Love: Philippians 1:9-11
“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 for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
A Prayer for Wisdom: Ephesians 1:15-19a
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
A Prayer for Strength: Ephesians 3:14-21
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 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, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
A Prayer for Fruit: Colossians 1:9-12
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
A Prayer for Goodness: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
A Prayer for Salvations and for Strengthening: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”
Scripture is full of rich and vibrant prayers for Jesus’ people. Like our sister churches in the first century, may Community be filled beyond measure with love, wisdom, strength, fruit, goodness, salvation, and strength. Keep on praying with me in this, as I believe that these are prayers that God delights to answer!
Remember, “prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work” (Oswald Chambers).
Lord, have your way — in our hearts, our lives, and our church.
Onward –
Pastor Brett
P.S. Don’t forget to join us this weekend as Janet Logan and Becca Guerrero share about Spiritual Styles. This may be a breakthrough in how you experience God – and how you help kids do the same! Friday Night will be a longer workshop-style presentation (6:30pm), while Sunday’s presentation will fit within our usual teaching time (9:45am). See you then – and invite a friend!
