March/17/ 2019
Matthew 9:35-38 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Three things about the harvest in this prayer…
1. The harvest was PERSONAL to Jesus
verse 36 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Luke 19:41 “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.”
2. The harvest was PRIORITY to Jesus
John 4:35 NKJV “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”
Luke 14:23 “Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.”
3. The harvest will PERISH without workers
Romans 10:13-15 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
What does that prayer look like? Three things
1. God open our eyes
verse 36 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them.”
2. God break our hearts
verse 36 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Luke 10:33 NLT “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.”
3. God move our feet
Luke 10:2-3 “He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you.”
March/03/ 2019
Book of Prayers
Part 2
Restore My Heart
Psalm 51:10-13 NLT “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.”
Notice a few of the ways our hearts can drift:
1. Distracted heart
James 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
verse 10 “Renew a loyal spirit in me”
2. Discontented heart
Verse 11 “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence…”
3. Discouraged heart
verse 12 “Restore to me the JOY of your salvation”
Ecclesiastes 5:19 “To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--this is indeed a gift from God.”
4. Distant heart
2 Samuel 11:1 “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.”
Matthew 26:57-58 “Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance”
Verse 12b “and make me willing to obey you. 13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.”
February/24/ 2019
Book of Prayer
Part 1
Prayer of Jabez
1 Chronicles 4:10 “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.”
Four things that Jabez prayed:
1. Jabez prayed for BLESSING.
1 Chronicles 4:10 “Oh that you would bless me...”
verse 10 “God granted his request”
Genesis 12:2 NLT “I will bless you...and you will be a blessing to others.”
2. Jabez prayed for INFLUENCE.
1 Chronicles 4:10 “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory...”
Ephesians 1:18 “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
Psalm 2:8 “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”
3. Jabez prayed for PRESENCE.
1 Chronicles 4:10 “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me…”
Exodus 33:15-17 “Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked.”
Acts 11:21 “The Lord’s hand was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”
4. Jabez prayed for PROTECTION.
1 Chronicles 4:10 ““Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm.”
1 Peter 5:8 “The devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”
John 10:10 “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, BUT I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest!
