A Pastoral Word. . .
Rev. Bill Archer
May 11, 2023
A sermon I heard years ago from an old country preacher left an indelible mark on my life. The topic was prayer. The outline was…
Prayer before Preparation
Prayer before Purpose
Prayer before Power
The foundational teaching was prayer always comes first. When we prepare to do God’s work, prayer is the first piece of preparation. He explained that prayer is the first step and prayer is the next step.
Finding purpose for our lives will never be accomplished unless we commit to pray first. He talked about “critical conversations with God” as being the cornerstone of finding one’s purpose in life.
In his winsome down-home way, he impressed on the congregation (and me) that without prayer God’s power will not be available to us (me). If we want God’s power to move in and through our lives and church, we must be willing to spend time alone and corporately in prayer.
He closed his sermon with the following scripture from Jeremiah 29:12-13, Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
When we pray, we find God in our preparation. When we pray, we find that God gives us our purpose and meaning. When we pray, we find God’s power to fulfill his calling in our lives. The goal of prayer is to find and connect with God.
On Wednesday May 24, 2023, at 6:30pm the Redland Family will gather for a “Concert of Prayer.” Your staff believes this gathering will be the critical precursor to preparation, purpose, and power as we move through this time of transition.
On this evening we will gather as the Redland community to remember God’s goodness and rejoice in his greatness, We will spend time in personal confession and repentance. We will together lift requests and petitions before our Lord. We will also spend designated time praying for our Pastor Search Committee and the process that God is leading us through.
We hope you and your family will plan to attend. We expect this worship/prayer time to be an appropriate setting for children, but if you prefer, childcare will be available.
At the most critical juncture of his life on this earth, Jesus, while in the garden, asked His disciples to stay and pray with Him. (Matthew 28:36-40)
Before the first “Great Awakening” of 1730’s and 1740’s Jonathan Edwards called the people of God to pray.
Prayer before Preparation
Prayer before Purpose
Prayer before Power
The foundational teaching was prayer always comes first. When we prepare to do God’s work, prayer is the first piece of preparation. He explained that prayer is the first step and prayer is the next step.
Finding purpose for our lives will never be accomplished unless we commit to pray first. He talked about “critical conversations with God” as being the cornerstone of finding one’s purpose in life.
In his winsome down-home way, he impressed on the congregation (and me) that without prayer God’s power will not be available to us (me). If we want God’s power to move in and through our lives and church, we must be willing to spend time alone and corporately in prayer.
He closed his sermon with the following scripture from Jeremiah 29:12-13, Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
When we pray, we find God in our preparation. When we pray, we find that God gives us our purpose and meaning. When we pray, we find God’s power to fulfill his calling in our lives. The goal of prayer is to find and connect with God.
On Wednesday May 24, 2023, at 6:30pm the Redland Family will gather for a “Concert of Prayer.” Your staff believes this gathering will be the critical precursor to preparation, purpose, and power as we move through this time of transition.
On this evening we will gather as the Redland community to remember God’s goodness and rejoice in his greatness, We will spend time in personal confession and repentance. We will together lift requests and petitions before our Lord. We will also spend designated time praying for our Pastor Search Committee and the process that God is leading us through.
We hope you and your family will plan to attend. We expect this worship/prayer time to be an appropriate setting for children, but if you prefer, childcare will be available.
At the most critical juncture of his life on this earth, Jesus, while in the garden, asked His disciples to stay and pray with Him. (Matthew 28:36-40)
Before the first “Great Awakening” of 1730’s and 1740’s Jonathan Edwards called the people of God to pray.
Many have heard of the recent happenings at Asbury University in Wilmore Kentucky. A significant weeks long revival broke out as students had simply gathered to pray.
We do not know what the Lord has in store for Redland in the days ahead, but we do know that prayer will be the key that unlocks our preparation, purpose, and God’s power during this interim time.
Let us join with the Psalmist. My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 (NLT)
See you on Wednesday May 24, at 6:30pm.
Pastor Bill
Let us join with the Psalmist. My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 (NLT)
See you on Wednesday May 24, at 6:30pm.
Pastor Bill
Posted in A Pastoral Word
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