Daily Dose of the Word of God - Beyond Sunday Ep. 45

Jeff Klein, Pastor of Outreach

Transcript

Jeff Klein  0:08 

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose in the Word of God. It's Monday, July 1. This is Jeff Klein, with your weekly reminder to take your faith and move it Beyond Sunday.

Jeff Klein  0:20 

When it comes to prayer, most Christians have a limited focus. The first emphasis when it comes to prayer is related to our personal devotions. Most Christians try to spend some time alone with God in order to build a relationship with him. The second emphasis is often a list of requests or asks we have for God - things we need God to do for us. Thirdly, is the sick people around us. Whenever you ask for prayer requests at church, it usually results in a list of illnesses or conditions that people are suffering from and need help with.

Jeff Klein  0:53 

Don't get me wrong, these are important kinds of prayer and should be included in our prayer lives. But, have we ever considered how prayer plays a part in the Great Commission? If the enemy of God (according to Corinthians) has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel in the glory of Jesus Christ, then we will need to pray for God to take off those blinders. When Jesus states that no one can come to him unless the Father draws them (in John chapter six), then we better be praying for the father to draw them.

Jeff Klein  1:28 

I love Paul's prayers to the churches that he writes letters to. In Ephesians, we find this prayer: "I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight, so you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called his holy people, who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe in him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms."

Jeff Klein  2:14 

Is there someone you need to be praying for? Someone who's been blinded by the enemy? Someone who needs to be drawn toward Jesus? Someone who needs you to pray this kind of prayer that Paul writes in Ephesians? Someone that needs you to pray this because it's their only chance of coming to know Jesus personally? Do you have someone you need to pray for every day? Is there somebody to add to your prayer list to go beyond the simple devotions, requests and illnesses? To pray for the mission of God around your life? Maybe you should add that to your prayer list this week - do it for a month every day and see what happens.

Jeff Klein  2:54  

Let's pray. Jesus, we know that your mission work can't be done without your power and your presence. We're sorry Jesus for trying to do it on our own. Please give us a heart to lift these people up around us who desperately need you. Your name we pray Jesus, amen.