"Building a Church Through Outreach"
A Year With No Limits
-Part 3-
ELCOG 1/13/08
Text: Mark 11:17
Last week I began preaching on the theme for this year: A year with no limits. Last Sunday morning I ministered on the topic: a year with no limits in out-reach and then Sunday night the message was a year with no limits on God’s power. Today, I want to focus on the subject of prayer.
We must understand that as Christians prayer is a major part of our life source. Prayer is the communication that keeps our relationship with Christ active. Prayer is essential for your growth spiritually. In your walk with Christ if you are not growing then you are dying.
The current General Over-seer, Dennis McGuire, of the Church of God and the International Executive Committee has called the Church of God to prayer. Dennis McGuire preached a message in regional conferences with the theme: A World in crisis deserves a church in revival. A church in revival must be a church in prayer.
I want the East Lauderdale church to experience real revival. I want you in your walk to be revived in your compassion and I want you to be renewed in your relationship with Jesus. I want this community to experience revival. I want the fire of God to burn bright ant strong in this church. I want this to be a year with no limits in His power and in revival. I am tired of stagnant water drawing bugs. I want a Holy Ghost revival to begin in this place where the bugs flee and people come to knowledge of the saving power of Jesus Christ.
In order for this church to experience real revival and real growth this church must be a church with no limits in prayer. I believe that in the critical times that we live; there is no greater power than the power of prayer to affect and change the world. This church must be a house of prayer: not a house of gossip or a house of complaining or a house of whining or a house of regretting, but a HOUSE OF PRAYER. If we are going to walk in the power and presence of God, then we as a church must pray!
Dennis McGuire tells the story of an atheist who lived in a certain village that was not a terrible person, but he had no interest in going to the only local church because he had grown up in it and knew it to be boring and traditional. One day the church building caught on fire and all the people of the village ran to the church to try to put out the fire including the atheist. Some called out, "Hey this is something new for you; it’s the first time we’ve ever seen you running to the church!" He replied, "It’s the first time I have ever run to church because it’s the first time I’ve ever seen the church of fire!"
Remember what happened to the early church, as recorded in Acts 4, after its leaders has been arrested and charged not teach or preach in the name of Jesus anymore. Upon their release from the chief priest and elders, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that had been said to them. Notice what the people did:
Acts 4:23
23And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
Acts 4:24
24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Instead of complaining or having a church meeting to plan of relocating they decided to pray. They did not plan a boycott of the local leaders, they did not stage a picket line or a demonstration, but rather, they went to the Lord in prayer. Can I encourage you to walk off the picket line and go to the prayer closet? It’s time to pray. If you want to demonstrate, do it by having a year with no limits in prayer. Return to prayer as a source of activity. The best way to clothe yourself for battle is to pray.
1 Thess. 5:17
17Pray without ceasing.
Luke 21:36
36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
1 Tim. 2:8
8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Now, let’s look back to Acts 4 and notice what the people prayed:
Acts 4:29
29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Acts 4:30
30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
They prayed that Jesus would give them the strength to keep on preaching and that God would stretch forth His hand to heal and that He would signs and wonders. Church, it is time that we return to prayer. It is time that we gather together and lift up a united voice that God would help us preach the gospel to this community. This must be a year with no limits in prayer!
Now, notice the result of their prayer. Notice how God answered:
Acts 4:31
31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
This is the type of experience we need today. We need God’s power to fall. We need this place to be shaken. We need the out pouring of God’s spirit, but this will not happen if the church limits itself in prayer. We must pray!
James 5:14
14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
James 5:15
15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
James 5:16
16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
There is still power in prayer! God is still moved by prayer. Let us do more than say grace, but let us plead with God and intercede for people that His power will fall and people will be saved. This must be a year with no limits in prayer! Soon I will be calling this church to 21 days of prayer. Let’s get serious about His power. Let’s get serious about prayer. This must be a year with no limits in prayer!!