Friday 9 August 2013

Jesus Challenge:

Think and pray about the gospel opportunities you have in your week. Focus on one area and think through how you might ENGAGE in those opportunities with those who don’t know Jesus. If you are struggling for ideas try talking to another mature believer about how to ENGAGE.

 

Read: Exodus 32:7-14

If two of your family members or best friends were in an argument, how would you feel about stepping in and trying to mediate between the two? I imagine you'd feel torn or hesitant to get involved. You know both parties and you don't want to affect either of those relationships. Enter Moses, standing between an angry God and the Israelites who had just committed the grave sin of idolatry against God. In the midst of this situation, Moses rises to the difficult challenge of mediation between God and the Israelites. There are few things we can learn from Moses. Moses knows God; Moses mediation and appeal for the people of Israel stems from his knowledge and relationship with God. He appeals on the basis of God's character (vs 11), he appeals on the basis of God's honour and glory (vs 12), and he appeals on the basis of God's promises (vs 13).

 

Prayer plays an integral part, not only in our own personal lives, but in the lives of the people, society, and nations around us. As Christians, we are in a position to stand between God and the world, to intercede, to petition, to seek God's gracious hand on their behalf. Just as Moses interceded for the Israelites, so we too should be interceding for the nations.

 

Moses' model for prayer is a call to step up, not only in our prayer, but in our relationship with God. How might your prayers change if you knew the heart of God? How might your thoughts change if you knew the promises of God? How might your actions change if you made the honour and glory of God your priority?

 

When Jesus entered the temple and drove out the market stalls, He quotes Isaiah (Isaiah 56:7; Mark 11:17):

 

My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. His house, the Church, is to be called a house of prayer for all nations. I wonder how things might change in your local setting if the church was a house of prayer, not just for its members, but for the community, the city, the state, the nation, and the world. If you would dare to dream what God might do if His people would humble themselves and pray for the nations…

 

Prayer:

Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

 

Adoration:

 

Confession:

 

Thanks:

Supplication:

¥ Praise God for His provision to the team, including Anneke Timmers, who recently travelled to Uganda and South Africa to share the Gospel. Praise God for keeping the whole team safe and well during the trip. Praise God that they were able to share with the locals both spiritually and financially. Pray that God would grow the seed they planted in the lives of the locals.

¥ Pray for Loretta, an African woman who looks after 32 children who have AIDS. Pray that God would strengthen her and encourage her in her very difficult work. Pray that she would find her rest and relief in God. Pray for her husband who has been forced to travel to India for work and only sees Loretta a couple of times a year. Pray that God would raise support for this couple and that they would be encouraged in their ministry.

 

 

Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. What is your concept of prayer? What is your motivation for prayer? Does the way you pray reflect these things?

2. Are your prayers personal? Do you share your deepest fears and challenges with God? Do you share the ups and downs of your day? What stops you from personal prayers?