Participants:
Series Code: PHTDP
Program Code: PHTDP190007A
|
00:13 Hi and welcome to day seven of the, Ten Days of Prayer;
00:17 a prayer strategy from the Revival and Reformation 00:20 initiative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:23 If you're joining us the first time tonight, 00:26 this is a 30 minute praise and prayer program 00:29 that is going through January 19th. 00:33 And we're just spending some time seeking God 00:36 for a deeper experience with Him. 00:38 We long to be drawn closer to Him, 00:41 and so this is a wonderful opportunity 00:43 for us to pray together. 00:44 And if you want to follow along with the outline. 00:47 that I will be reading from tonight, you can find that at... 00:58 And you can go to day seven and download the outline. 01:02 It's a wonderful resource to follow along. 01:04 And then even after this program is through, 01:06 you can continue to pray for the needs that are on that list. 01:10 And there's several other resources on their website 01:14 such as great scripture that we will be ending the evening with. 01:17 So this is a wonderful, powerful time. 01:20 And if you have, again, just joined us, 01:23 stick with us for the next few days and just see what 01:27 God can do through prayer. 01:29 He wants to hear from you. 01:30 Tonight I want to start with just worshiping Him 01:34 and praising God through a wonderful song, 01:37 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee. 01:38 So feel free to sing along. 01:43 Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; 01:52 Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, 01:56 hail Thee as the sun above. 02:00 Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, 02:04 drive the dark of doubt away. 02:08 Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day. 02:19 All Thy works with joy surround Thee, 02:23 earth and heaven reflect Thy rays; 02:27 Stars and angels sing around Thee, 02:31 center of unbroken praise. 02:35 Field and forest, vale and mountain, 02:40 blossoming meadow, flashing sea, 02:44 chanting bird and flowing fountain 02:48 call us to rejoice in Thee. 02:53 What a beautiful picture that is. 02:56 Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest; 03:04 wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest. 03:12 Thou the Father, Christ our Brother, 03:17 all who live in love are Thine; 03:22 Teach us how to love each other, 03:28 lift us to the joy divine. 03:42 We're reading tonight, we'll start with Matthew 25:40. 03:47 "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it 03:51 to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." 03:54 One of my favorite parts of scripture 03:57 from Matthew 25, the sheep and the goats. 04:00 From, Steps to Christ, page 77, we read, 04:03 "That which selfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, 04:08 ministering to those who are wretched and in every way 04:11 inferior in character and rank, is the work of sinless angels. 04:17 The spirit of Christ's self-sacrificing love 04:20 is the spirit that pervades heaven and is the 04:23 very essence of its bliss. 04:25 This is the spirit that Christ's followers will possess, 04:30 the work that they will do." 04:33 "'Lord, I don't think I can do this! 04:36 You made a huge mistake this time. 04:39 I want to work for You, but not here!' 04:42 This was my cry to the Lord after He placed me 04:45 in an alternative high school for teenagers who needed 04:48 to complete their education certificates 04:50 and prepare for the work world." 04:52 So this is a testimony that is being written here, 04:55 and I'm reading. 04:57 "Many of these children were homeless, victims of abuse, 05:00 or involved in gangs, drugs, and even prostitution. 05:04 I had spent over 20 years teaching in a sheltered 05:06 Christian school environment, and this new assignment 05:09 seemed like more than I could ever endure. 05:12 Students entered the classroom on the first day 05:14 holding up their pants and wearing hoodies 05:17 that covered their faces. 05:19 Trouble broke out within the first hour as one boy 05:22 began to shout threatening obscenities toward 05:25 two other young men. 05:26 Here I was, totally out of my comfort zone, 05:29 with a fight about to begin. 05:31 I was intimidated. 05:32 Their crude language, their music, their explicit images 05:36 displayed on their computer screens made me long 05:39 for my protective environment. 05:41 I didn't belong here. 05:42 I felt like a lamb among wolves. 05:44 Like the disciples on the turbulent sea, I cried out, 05:47 'Lord, save me!' 05:49 I had been reading Jeremiah for my devotions, 05:52 and the Lord brought to mind these words, 05:54 'Do not be afraid of their faces, 05:56 for I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord... 06:00 'They will fight against you, but they shall not 06:02 prevail against you, for I am with you,' 06:05 says the Lord, 'to deliver you.'" 06:07 That's found in Jeremiah 1:18-19. 06:13 "Sending up a prayer for help, I pressed the Lord 06:16 to fulfill His word given to Jeremiah 06:18 and to bring calm into the room. 06:20 Then, with an unnatural courage, I told the students, 06:26 'I will not allow this kind of behavior in this classroom. 06:29 Each of you must take your seats and quietly 06:31 begin working on your assignments.' 06:34 Imagine my surprise when they quietly complied. 06:38 I glorified God in my heart, praising Him 06:40 for His goodness and mercy. 06:42 Over the next few weeks, I continued to plead 06:44 with the Lord to take me out of my work situation. 06:48 I believed I didn't belong there. 06:50 He answered my prayer in an unusual way: 06:53 by showing me the condition of my own heart. 06:57 I was working with a student at the computer 06:59 when he asked me a strange question, 07:02 'Jodi, you came from a Christian school, right?' 07:05 When I answered, 'Yes,' he said, 07:09 'Then why are you here with us?' 07:11 His question pierced my heart. 07:13 The Lord impressed me, 'You are not ready 07:16 to minister to the world. 07:17 Not until you move beyond your built-in prejudice and fear 07:22 will you be able to reveal My love to these children. 07:25 You are here to make a difference in their lives, 07:28 to reveal My character to them.' 07:30 God was right! 07:32 I wasn't ready to minister because I did not have love. 07:37 Well I said, 'I guess I just want to make a 07:39 difference in your life.' 07:41 Later that afternoon the same scenario happened, 07:44 this time with a young girl. 07:47 What difference could I make? 07:49 It began with little things, such as providing a healthy 07:52 breakfast so they could start the day 07:53 with at least one good meal. 07:55 I won their confidence by listening to their stories 07:58 and entering into their sufferings, 08:01 and by becoming a friend and a mentor. 08:05 When the 2004 tsunami struck Asia, the students 08:09 wanted to find out what I thought of the tragedy. 08:11 I told them that the tsunami was a sign of Jesus' soon return. 08:16 One of my students, who boasted that he was raised in church, 08:20 said, 'Doesn't it talk about that in Revelation?' 08:23 I invited him to read a passage. 08:25 The students were very sober when I explained that 08:28 Jesus was warning the world to get ready. 08:30 I added that if anyone wanted to know how to prepare 08:33 for Jesus' coming, I would be happy to tell them. 08:36 Later that day a girl came into my office and said, 08:38 'Please, I want to know.' 08:41 So I told her of Jesus' love for her and her son, 08:44 and led her to receive Christ as her Savior. 08:47 Throughout that year I had several opportunities 08:49 to present Jesus to 'my kids' and lead them to accept Him." 08:55 From, Conflict and Courage, page 278, we read, 08:59 "God never leads His children otherwise than they would 09:02 choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, 09:06 and discern the glory of the purpose which they are 09:09 fulfilling as coworkers with Him." 09:15 You see, God has a plan. 09:21 And if we're willing to surrender our lives to Him, 09:26 then we have to be willing to be put in any kind of 09:29 situation that He sees fit. 09:33 So when you pray for that open door, 09:41 you may not get to choose what that door is. 09:45 But be faithful to follow it. 09:49 Walk through the door. 09:52 Lord, I want to praise You 09:57 that You are sensitive to our sufferings. 10:02 And I praise You that You have given 10:07 people into our lives who have nurtured us in the faith, 10:12 leading us closer to You 10:15 and into a deeper relationship with You, Jesus. 10:18 Thank You for those people. 10:23 And I praise You for Your never-ending faithfulness to me, 10:31 and to all of Your children. 10:34 You are a faithful Father. 10:39 I praise You, Lord. 10:48 I praise You, Lord. 10:50 I praise You, Lord. 10:55 And now, Father, we ask that You would please show us 10:59 sins to confess openly and sins to confess privately. 11:10 Lord, there's people that we need to 11:14 openly go to and admit that we have wronged them. 11:22 Give us the boldness to know who those people are. 11:27 And give us the boldness to admit. 11:37 And for those sins that are just between me and You, 11:42 God, I'm sorry. 11:47 I love You, and I never want to break Your heart. 11:55 You've been too good to me for me to let You down, 12:03 to sin against You. 12:10 Lord, forgive us for doubting Your leading. 12:13 Forgive us for trying to find our own way 12:16 out of a challenging situation 12:19 when You may have put us there for a reason. 12:25 Lord, I know I've called the shots in several situations, 12:34 and it hasn't turned out well. 12:40 Because I didn't let you do it. 12:45 So forgive us for doubting. 12:48 You are leading us. 12:52 Forgive us for not trusting that You are leading us. 12:56 Forgive us for trying to find our own way 13:00 out of a challenging situation. 13:05 And God, forgive us for when we allow fear or prejudice 13:10 to keep us from sharing Your love with others. 13:17 God, I'm reminded of walking the streets of Nashville and 13:24 going to the other side of the street to 13:27 get away from a homeless person, even, 13:35 so I didn't have to confront them. 13:40 God, give me another opportunity. 14:02 Lead me, Lord, I will follow; 14:09 Lead me, Lord, I will go. 14:16 You have called me, I will answer; 14:25 Lead me, Lord, I will go. 14:33 Lead me, Lord, I will follow; 14:39 Lead me, Lord, I will go. 14:47 You have called me, I will answer; 14:56 Lead me, Lord, I will go. 15:06 Now we come to a time of supplication and intercession. 15:13 I pray that, I ask that you would pray for the Holy Spirit 15:17 to place actual faces in your mind, 15:26 that when you see them, you will be reminded 15:30 to pray for them. 15:36 Lord, we pray for Your protection for vulnerable 15:39 children and teens. 15:44 God, I ask that You would guard them 15:46 from those who seek to exploit them. 15:53 Lord, may those who are caring for homeless children 15:58 have hearts of compassion, gentle hands, and kind words. 16:08 Lord, I pray for the family members of children 16:10 who are in rebellion against authority. 16:15 God, give them Your grace to deal with the 16:17 situation compassionately. 16:25 Lord, I know Your Word said, 16:27 "Suffer the little children to come unto Me." 16:38 Fill us with compassion. 16:43 For children, even when we see that they are disrespectful, 16:46 and we think, "Oh, they need to be reprimanded," 16:57 God, remind us that maybe they just need to be loved. 17:05 Maybe they just need to be grabbed up and hugged; 17:14 reminded that they are of great worth to You. 17:21 Because that's what You did for each of us. 17:24 And now You call us Your children. 17:30 Thank You for Your love. 17:36 Lord, I ask You to raise up urban missionaries 17:40 to plant churches for the 806 people groups in the 17:43 20 countries of Inter-European Division. 17:48 806 people groups, Lord, 17:51 who are in need of hearing about You. 17:56 Raise up missionaries for those people. 18:02 God, I ask that you would please raise up an army of workers 18:05 to plant churches for the 948 people groups in the 18:10 38 countries of Inter-American Division. 18:16 Oh God, people need to hear about You. 18:23 And You've got people all over the world that need You, 18:27 but right here in America, for those who are watching 18:31 in America, we pray for the inner cities, 18:40 Lord, that You would raise up an army of workers. 18:48 And God, we pray for the heart burdens 18:51 of our own church members. 18:58 Those who have heavy hearts who are 19:00 praying for a lost child, 19:08 praying for one who has gone astray, 19:16 Lord, encourage us and motivate us and 19:21 enable us to love that child. 19:31 Father, for the broken-hearted mother and father tonight 19:35 that are at their wits end, 19:41 God, given them strength to hold on. 19:44 Not to give up, but to trust that You are 19:50 faithful to Your word. 19:55 And as bad as they want to see that child brought back to You, 20:00 You want it even worse. 20:04 Or even better. 20:09 Thank You, God, for the promise of eternal life, 20:13 and for the promise of Your love. 20:18 Grateful, Lord, that You are such a loving heavenly Father. 20:25 Father, You alone know every situation 20:30 that those who are watching, our friends, and our family, 20:34 our co-workers, You know every situation 20:39 that they are experiencing. 20:44 And You are moved with our hurts. 20:54 So God, I ask that You would guide, 21:04 guide those watching, that are praying along, 21:07 guide them in Your path and bring them close to You. 21:32 Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; 21:38 snatch them in pity from sin and the grave. 21:45 Weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen; 21:52 tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. 21:59 Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; 22:05 Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. 22:15 Rescue the perishing, duty demands it; 22:21 strength for thy labor the Lord will provide. 22:28 Back to the narrow way patiently win them; 22:33 tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died. 22:41 Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; 22:47 Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. 23:13 Lord, now we thank You, 23:21 for Your unfailing love and Your compassion toward us 23:24 that never ends. 23:26 It's unfailing. 23:32 Thank You for Your unfailing love and compassion. 23:36 Father, we thank You for always watching over us 23:39 with tender regard. 23:48 Thank You for understanding, oh Father, 23:51 and pitying us in our weakness. 24:00 Lord, You are so faithful. 24:06 Thank You for being the perfect example 24:10 of what a father should be. 24:16 Loving and compassionate, always watching over us, 24:22 full of pity and full of understanding. 24:31 Psalm 82:3-4 says, "Defend the poor and fatherless; 24:37 do justice to the afflicted and needy. 24:40 Deliver the poor and needy; 24:42 free them from the hand of the wicked." 24:46 Isaiah 49:25 says, "But thus says the LORD, 24:51 'Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, 24:55 and the prey of the terrible be delivered; 24:58 for I will contend with him who contends with you, 25:02 and I will save your children.'" 25:09 And the great promise we have from James 1:27 25:15 says, "Pure and undefiled religion before God 25:18 and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows 25:22 in their trouble, and to keep oneself 25:26 unspotted from the world." 25:29 So that's a great definition of pure and undefiled religion. 25:38 Do you find yourself being a part of that? 25:41 Visiting orphans and widows in their trouble? 25:45 And to keep oneself unspotted from the world? 25:53 There's more. 25:55 More promises for a changed heart. 26:00 This is my prayer. 26:03 From Jeremiah 24:7, "Then I will give them a heart to know Me, 26:08 that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, 26:11 and I will be their God, 26:13 for they shall return to Me with their whole heart." 26:18 Deuteronomy 30:6, "And the Lord your God will circumcise 26:23 your heart and the heart of your descendants, 26:26 to love the Lord your God with all your heart 26:28 and with all your soul, that you may live." 26:35 Ezekiel 36:26, "I will give you a new heart 26:40 and put a new spirit within you; 26:44 I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh 26:47 and give you a heart of flesh." 26:53 Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this very thing, 26:57 that He who has begun a good work in you 27:00 will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." 27:05 Thank You, Lord. 27:08 And thank You, Lord, for 2 Corinthians 5:17 that says, 27:12 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; 27:18 old things have passed away; 27:20 behold, all things have become new." 27:27 Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; 27:34 it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; 27:37 and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith 27:41 in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." 27:50 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, "Now may the God of peace Himself 27:59 sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, 28:06 soul, and body be preserved blameless 28:11 at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 28:16 Is that not powerful? 28:20 "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; 28:23 and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved 28:27 blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 28:35 Thank You, Holy God, for Your Word, for Your promises, 28:40 for moving in our lives, for convicting us, for forgiving us, 28:47 for accepting us, filling us with grace to love each other. 28:58 So for that one that you're praying for, 29:02 I just encourage you to call, or email, or write them a note. 29:08 Do something to let them know that you are 29:12 praying for them and you're interceding for them, 29:14 you care for them. 29:17 It's important for us to let others know 29:18 that we're thinking about them. 29:24 And if there's an organization in your area that is helping 29:28 homeless people, reach out to that 29:33 organization with a check or volunteer some hours. 29:41 Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and help. 29:48 And be sure and join us tomorrow night 29:52 where we'll pray again. |
Revised 2019-02-13