Sunday, July 7, 2024

We Look to Jesus - Prayer Reflection

The Bible shows us that in this life we will have trials. God works within times of trouble to test and deepen our faith and trust in Him. Satan works to tempt us away from our faith and trust in God, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy anything God is doing in and through us for His kingdom purposes. This is true in communal trials and trouble also.

As a pastor we do not choose our assignments. God brings them to us. Our job is to help God’s people look to Jesus, understand and stand upon God’s Word, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work in all of our lives, that we would be a true gospel witness.

In light of the circumstances our church is walking through with Pastor Don’s conviction 28 years ago being publicized, our church is going through a difficult trial. I believe we are being tested by God and tempted by Satan.

As one of your pastors, I want to help us turn our hearts and eyes to Jesus today, seeking to be found by God to have a resilient faith and unwavering trust in Him to accomplish all He desires through our season of trial and trouble.

The Prophet Isaiah, describes what the coming Savior’s presence and work will look like.

Isaiah 61:1-3

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me (Jesus),
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

This is what our Savior looks like, what He does in our lives. It is to Him we look in times of trial.

May our Savior fulfill this among us and our circumstances as a church and people

We will continue to be a church that Looks To Jesus – He is our Hope and Salvation, He has the Words of Eternal Life, He is our Healer, Redeemer, and the Joy of our life now and eternal.

How do we Look to Jesus? Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

The Greek word for Seek carries the meaning of; to look for, meditate on, strive after, think about, and to crave or desire). WHO? God first, no other. His righteousness, not our own. When we do this He says, “all these things shall be added to you.” What things? All of our needs.

We are to look to Jesus by seeking Him first and His righteousness at all times, expecially when in trial and trouble.

How do we Seek God First? The Bible tells us our primary way of seeking God is through prayer. Prayer is our turning to God and listening to God, Our placing of trust and dependance on God.

I want us to be a prayerful people, putting our hope, trust and faith in our Savior. I desire this at all times for us as a church, but I am especially calling us to do so in our time of need.

In John 17 Jesus prays for the disciples and all believers. Here is a brief synopsis of what He prays for.

John 17 – Jesus’ Prayer for the Disciples and all Believers

· Protection – keep them from the evil one

· Truth & Holiness – you (God) would sanctify them in the truth

· Joy – that the joy of Christ be filled in them

· God’s Will – that the scriptures would be fulfilled

· Unity – that they may all be one with God and each other

· Abide – that they may be in us and us in them

· Witnesses – that the world may know you sent me

· Mission – that they would be with me, aligned w/God’s redemptive plan

· Sight – that they see my glory

· Love – that the love of the Father may be with them and in them

Reflection Response

Using these themes of prayer, take a some time to pray for our church, your heart, others who are hurting.

1. Pray for God’s Protection

· Against the evil one’s lies, deceptions, attack on the gospel

· We would seek, speak, and stand upon Truth

· For God’s will to be accomplished

2. Pray for Our Sanctification & Our Witness

· We would seek to abide in Christ

· We would cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work in us

· We would be Humble and Repentant

· Our Gospel centered response and witness

3. Pray for Don and Heather & Our Church Body

· Restoration and Renewing work of God

· Healing of hurts

· That we would love like Jesus

· That we would be in unity with God and each other

Closing Prayer

High King of Heaven,

May your name be magnified and glorified through all that is happening in our lives and as a church. May your kingdom come among us. May your will be done with here in our earthliness as a church as it is in heaven. Provide all we need spiritually and keep us aligned to your heart, the truth of Your Word, and anchored in the Gospel for us all. Forgive us of our sins. Help us to forgive those who sin against us. May we be humble, repentant and dependent upon your sanctifying work in us and through us. Protect us from the evil one’s temptations and deliver us from all that is evil. We ask all of this in Jesus name, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen

Share what God has done in your heart this week with your community group and/or friends.

Grace and peace on this journey together,

Chad Hollowell
Executive Pastor