MESSAGE

FROM THE

WORD

PRAYER AND THE 40 DAYS OF PURPOSE

Acts 2:38-46

Series:  40 Days                                                                                               Message # 5

            Throughout history God is moved in unique and sovereign ways.  Because His hand moves in different ways and in different methods, His people have sought to design methods which would make it easier to plan out God’s move.  If we could just figure out the five keys to move God’s hand, we could change our world.  Because of this the church has sought all sorts of programs to plug into the flow of God’s blessings.  However, God never limits Himself to a program. 

            That sounds like a strange way to open a message on recruiting people to plug into the 40 Days of Purpose program.  Give me a moment and I will clarify this statement.  No program releases the power and the blessings of God; including the 40 Days of Purpose ministry.  However, God has used the 40 Days of Purpose ministry to revitalize and rekindle His purposes in churches across our nation.  The reason for this is simple.  If all that 40 Days of Purpose turns out to be is another program, it will go nowhere.  God does not respond to programs.  However, if 40 Days of Purpose is an organized means to cause God’s people to be and do what He wants them to be and do, then God’s blessings are available.  As we have discussed this ministry with our leadership and talked to pastors in other congregations who have implemented its recommendations, I believe that this is the key to the success of “40 Days”.  There is nothing new in this ministry.  The issues we will be discussing and the principles we are going to try to implement are things we have discussed before.  Many of you have already applied these principles in your life.  We are going to look at such issues as memorizing scriptures, inviting your neighbors to examine the claims of God, seeking to worship God, calling our members to a deeper walk with the Lord and taking time to pray for God’s Holy Spirit to bring revival to His church.  None of those are new. 

            What the 40 Days of Purpose ministry does is to present already revealed information in a way that it all makes sense.  All of us have sat in a church service and suddenly seen the light bulb go on to a spiritual reality.  It is probably a principle that you have heard over and over again and you might even feel foolish for not understanding it before.  However, you get it now and it will change your life. 

            As we prepare to implement this ministry on September 25, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss the question of why we are bringing this ministry to our church.  The primary reason for our involvement is because it is consistent with our mission’s statement which states, “FAITH CHRISTIAN CHURCH SEEKS TO BRING PEOPLE INTO A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST BY STUDYING HIS WORD, ENJOYING HIS PEOPLE, PRACTICING HIS PRESENCE, AND CARING FOR OTHERS”.  This comes out of the results of Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.  We read,              ACTS 2:36-46            God blessed this ministry in a very special way.  I do not believe that God only wanted to do this once.  I think that God wants to do it over and over again. 

            In beginning our thoughts, I am going to take the topics out of order.  I began last week with the first phrase, that our goal is to bring people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Normally I would continue this series by preaching on the next phrase, “STUDYING HIS WORD”.  You know I think Bible Study is important.  When God’s word is unleashed, His power is released.  However, this is not the power source of the Church.  The power source of the church is prayer.  We read,            ACTS 2:42      In our Mission’s Statement, this falls under the topic of ‘PRACTICING HIS PRESENCE…” and includes prayer, worship and the Lord’s Supper.  For our study this morning I want to look at the role of prayer in the plan of God.

            FIRST, WE SEE THE EXAMPLES OF POWERFUL PRAYER.  To show this fact, we need look no farther than the last chapter.  We read             ACTS 1:14       The power of God being released on the Day of Pentecost can not be separated from the Upper Room prayer meeting held in chapter 1.  I want to look at the verse which follows our passage.  We read  ACTS 3:1           It would have been very easy for the Apostles to conclude that they had done a great work and rest on their laurels.  They didn’t, they kept praying and God continued to work.

            This policy continued.           ACTS 12:3-5               God delivered Peter is a miraculous way and the church had a hard time believing it was true.  As the church began to expand, the gospel began reaching out into Asia Minor, which is Turkey and Greece today.  A Jewish convert by the name of Saul was used by God to advance the church in a powerful way.  The work was not without opposition.  They came to Philippi and were arrested for converting a demon possessed girl.  Their response to this was amazing.  We read                 ACTS 16:22-26                 We are not told what they prayed.  We do know that they shared their faith with the jailer, because he came to Christ as a result of this event.  When trials come your way, what is your response?  Is it prayer and praise, or gripe and complain? 

            This is not just a principle in the New Testament.  We read             JAMES 5:17,18             Elijah was one of the great heroes of the Old Testament.  He stood against a corrupt king and queen even at the risk of his life.  He was a great example of faith and courage during a dark time in the history of Israel.  His greatest claim to fame; he prayed.  There is another example in the Old Testament I want to look at.  After the Jews were taken captive in the Babylonian Captivity we read                      NEHEMIAH 1:1-6          He prayed that God would restore the city of Jerusalem to its rightful glory.  We read               2:1-4            What a great story.  Nehemiah prayed that God would raise someone up to deliver Israel.  When God opened the door for Nehemiah to be that man, his first response was to pray.  When we pray for someone to “do something”, we had better be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, because God may chose us.

            SECOND, WE SEE THE PURPOSE OF POWERFUL PRAYER.  If you were to ask the average person to list the purpose of prayer, most people would state, “to get stuff”.  This is one of the reasons for prayer, but it is way down the list.  Jesus stated,              MATTHEW 7:7,8                   This is why the Bible commands us to “LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN…”  We are to ask God for what is on our heart.

            Second, we pray to line up with God’s will.  The purpose of prayer is not to change God’s heart, it is to change ours.  This is what Jesus did in the Garden as He poured out His heart to the Father and prayed, “NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE…”  Jesus saw prayer as the means by which He gained power to do God’s will.  He did not see prayer as the means of changing God’s will. 

            Third, we pray to discern God’s leading.  Acts tells us                ACTS 1:23-26    They prayed over who would replace Judas and then flipped a coin.  I don’t know if I would do that today.  However, God did answer.  When we don’t know, we should pray a lot.  If we still don’t have clarity and a decision has to be made, it is not inappropriate to just do what you believe to be best. 

            In the book of Genesis, Abraham and Lot developed some tension because their flocks were getting in each other’s way.  We read   GENESIS 13:4-12            Abraham gave Lot the choice of prime real estate and he look what was left over.  The key to the story is verse 4.  It tells us, “ABRAM CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD”.  In other words, he prayed for God to bless and direct.  When Abram gave Lot the choice, it didn’t really matter what he did, God was going to bless whichever way it turned out.  We erroneously conclude that God has a single plan for us.  The truth is, there are many dimensions to God’s will.  If I turn left at the light, His plan might involve one action.  If I turn right, it might involve another.  Unless God specifically prompts you to turn one way, we need to understand that God’s primary plan is that we be available to serve Him.  When we are uncertain as to which way to go, we serve Him where we are.

            Fourth, we pray to release God’s power.  This is the most difficult point of all.  We all tend to be self sufficient.  We want to figure everything out and do it our way so we get the credit when it all works out.  Prayer changes that.  When we work, people notice how smart, creative, or hard working we are.  However, when we pray God works and gets all of the credit.  We saw this when Peter was released from jail and when Elijah caused the rain to stop.

            Throughout history God has involved Himself in nations when His people have prayed.  The formation of our nation is a good example.  We certainly see this in the history of God’s people in the Old Testament.  We read                 II CHRONICLES 20:1-17             The proper response to fear is prayer.  When we pray, we release God’s power and people see how powerful He is.  This is the plan of God throughout history.  Over and over again we read that God’s desire is to bring glory to Himself.  “FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY…” is how the Lord’s Prayer concludes.  Paul wrote to the Ephesians            EPHESIANS 3:20,21 Isaiah wrote          ISAIAH 42:8             God is not interested in sharing His glory.  That sounds a little egotistical, but the reason is pretty clear.  Glory should only be given to those who deserve it.  When it comes to God, only He is worthy of glory.  Anything else is idolatry.

            THIRD, WE SEE THE RESULTS OF POWERFUL PRAYER.  During the beginning of the 20^th century, God lead a small group to begin praying for His hand to move in Wales.  Shortly thereafter, the Holy Spirit began to move, beginning in the coal mines.  So powerful was the move of God that the small animals used to haul out the coal had to be retrained because the miner’s language changed from cursing and the animals didn’t understand the commands.  The move of God was even seen in the social life of Wales as testimonies and gospel songs began to be shared during half time at soccer games.  The practice of hymns at halftime is still practiced today, although most fans don’t believe what they are singing.

            In our own nation six men began to meet for prayer in New York City in 1858.  They specifically  prayed for the abolition of slavery.  God began to move and the result was a powerful move of God just prior to the Civil War.  Offices shut down as hundreds of thousands of people met at noon time to pray.  No preaching, no singing, just prayer.  By the end of the Civil War, one million new believers had joined evangelical churches in the state of New York.

            Let me share one Biblical example.  We read             II CHRONICLES 20:18-22          We read the first part of this chapter earlier.  Sending in the choir is not exactly a great battle plan.  It is however, how God receives glory.  The people prepared for war, sought the Lord and watched as He routed the enemy.  There were other times in which God did require battle.  This is why we need to be discernful.  God does not answer our prayers in the same way each time. 

            What happens when the people of God take God at His word and pray?  Let’s go back to a previous passage.  We read         JAMES 5:17,18                 What happens when we pray?  Much is accomplished.  Obviously, physical needs are met.  Throughout the ministry of Jesus and the Apostles physical needs were met in answer to prayer.  Confidence in God’s working in the lives of others increases as we pray.  Paul wrote                  PHIL. 1:3-6                Paul’s confidence that God would complete His work was a result of his commitment to pray for them.  Spiritual maturity is a result of prayer.  Not just our prayer life, but our prayers for others.  We read     COLOSSIANS 1:9-12           Prayer is the vehicle God uses to open doors for His work.  We read            COLOSSIANS 4:2-4             Prayer is a means for social order.  When the people of God pray, culture is changed.  We read            I TIMOTHY 2:1-4          Did you notice why we pray for political leaders?  It is so that we might be at peace in our culture.  The Old Testament gives this same admonition.  We read                    II CHRONICLES 7:14              When the culture decays, God holds the church responsible.  In the same way, God gives the church the means to revitalize any culture into which it is placed.

            How does this all fit into the 40 Days of Purpose?  God has given our congregation and every other congregation in Simi Valley the task of reaching every single person in this community with the gospel of Christ.  We read                II PETER 3:9             When Jesus returns to take His church home with Him, He wants to leave no one behind.  There should be no one driving on the 118, playing golf at Simi Hills or Wood Ranch, no one studying at Moorpark College, or watching television at home.  We all know that we are a long way from accomplishing the task for which God has formed us.  The ministry of 40 Days of Purpose is to reach a few more than we have reached in the past.  However, on the surface 40 Days is nothing more than another program and God doesn’t bless programs.

            It is our responsibility to take this program and breathe life into it.  That takes place when we begin to pray.  When we are devoted to prayer, God takes whatever we are doing and brings energy to it.  We read               ROM. 8:26,27                   The Holy Spirit takes our feeble efforts and breathes life into them.  This is the difference between a move of God and an activity planned in our own desires.

            The 40 Days of Purpose Campaign will begin and end.  The important aspect is what will take place during and after.  We want God to move in a great way.  That will only happen as the people of God intercede.  We read                  MATTHEW 9:36-38           The most critical aspect of this entire campaign is to  begin now to ask the Lord of the Harvest to do His work through us.  The 40 Days Ministry began last week with a prayer meeting.  It will only accomplish God’s best if that becomes the heart and soul of these next few months.

The message is from the teaching ministry of Glen Jackson, pastor of Faith Christian Church in Simi Valley, CA.