Our 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting are almost over! To conclude this special season in the life of our church, we are having an all night prayer gathering from 8:00pm Friday, November 17^th until 7:15am Saturday, November 18^th. Learn more and sign up on the event page for a time to come pray with us.

Prayer is…a renunciation of human means. It is not merely the point beyond which I could not go, the limit of my power which dissolves into impotence, but it is indeed a stripping bare, the abandonment of all human apparatus in order to place myself, without arms or equipment, into the hands of the Lord, who decides and fulfills.

Jacques Ellul

That is another statement worth reading again. Ellul articulates the “dependent” nature of prayer so eloquently. And while I would not agree with all that Ellul proposes in his theology, his words here are nonetheless spot on and true.

(And, may I say, as I have sought to deepen our grasp of prayer through the voices of those who have thought deeply about it, I have quoted some whom I don’t agree with on all points. And yet, all truth is from God…and what I have put before you is true. Let’s read these quotes with a measure of maturity, discernment, and gratefulness that God does not require perfection in the instruments and voices He chooses to use…including my own, and ours. —Lloyd)

Begin with Adoration

This week we are going to continue to let the great hymns of the Church teach us about adoration. After reading the lyrics to this hymn, use it like an Old Testament Psalm, allowing the words to become your own words of adoration and praise.

All Creatures of Our God and King

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

Refrain

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.

Refrain

And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!

Refrain

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

Refrain

Francis of Assisi (1225)

Continue with Confession

This week, we will trust the Spirit to use Proverbs 28:13 to prompt our confession. Remember the power of sin is its secrecy. You are not alone in your sin, and confession brings not condemnation, but forgiveness in Christ. If the Lord so prompts you, confess your sin to a Christian brother or sister, for in so doing you will experience the grace and love of Christ…and freedom (James 5:16).

Proverbs 28:13

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

As the Spirit brings any sin to mind, confess it (agree with God that it is sin) and turn from it (repent). Thank God that He forgives our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness on the basis of the finished work of Jesus and the promise of 1 John 1:9.

Now offer words of Thanksgiving

Start by adding one to two things to the list of things you are grateful for that happened in 2017.

Continuing with Psalm 116:12…

We render thanks. Consider the “benefits” of God toward you, and thank him specifically for them. For example, another benefit of God toward us is that He is the source of every good gift (James 1:7). “God, thank You that what You give is only and always good…”

Conclude with Supplication & Intercession…

Remember, supplication is making our own needs known to God and asking that He meet them. Intercession is making the needs of others known to God, and asking Him to meet them. Both are petitions and are “the heart of prayer.” God invites and delights in our asking.

Let’s begin by praying for those we know who do not yet know Christ…

Secondly, let’s continue to pray for people who may think they are Christians, but who have not personally put their trust in the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

Now, considering your own needs, is there something you need from God for this day? Ask Him…

Including today, we have six more days in our 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting. This season of seeking was prompted by at least two things. First, over the past several years we have come through some pretty tough waters, from a lawsuit to several leadership changes. We wanted this time of prayer to acknowledge our dependence and need for God.

And secondly, on March 8^th, 2018 we will celebrate 20 years since our first “public” worship service at the Franklin High School cafeteria. As we look back on 20 years, we are grateful. And as we peer into the next 20, we want to begin on our knees.

We want to be in lock step with the Holy Spirit. While anchored in the unchanging Word and unstoppable purposes of God, we recognize that the next 20 years will require us to adjust to the challenges and changes of our local and global context.

And so as we finish out the final six days, let’s join together to pray for some of the most critical and pressing challenges and opportunities before us…

1. Pray for clarity and direction around mission and vision.
2. Pray for God’s wisdom and clarity for how best to structure our church and strategies with the three existing campuses.
3. Pray that God would lead this process and put His called and qualified men into roles as new elders, and wisdom for the existing elders as some will rotate off the board, and some will remain for a season.
4. Paul knew contentment in much and in need. May we do the same. We are experiencing a significant decline in giving, and we are taking appropriate steps of stewardship and planning. God knows our needs and all we have is His. Pray that we will all walk in this season of financial challenge with faith, wisdom and generosity, trusting God to provide for His work, His way and in His timing.