Mission Control

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV –  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Ephesians 6:18-20 NIV – And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

In Ephesians 6, Paul invites those in the church to join with him in the work of God through prayer so that the gospel can be declared fearlessly to others. Prayer is key in how we can participate in God’s supernatural work of salvation in the lives of others, making history that lasts for an eternity. And God promises to answer the prayers of those who come with humble repentance.  

Pray for that specific person that is on your heart that needs God’s forgiveness and healing.

Prayer: “Father, you alone are the Mighty One who can save. I pray for _____. May you have mercy that _____ can receive your forgiveness and healing. That you would make history that lasts for eternity in _____’s life. In Jesus’ name. Amen”

Let’s worship to “Way Maker” by Leeland (click here).

– EK

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV –  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

“Each of these words is theologically charged. The word ‘humble’ means to subdue one’s pride and submit in self-denying loyalty to God and his will (cf. Lev. 26:41). ‘Pray’ in this context is a shameless acknowledgement of personal sin and a plea for God’s mercy, much like that of David’s prayer of repentance (cf. Ps. 51:1-2). ‘Seek’ is often used in desperate situations in which God is the only possible hope for deliverance (cf. Deut. 4:19-20). ‘Turn’ is the Old Testament term for repentance and signifies a complete change of direction away from sin and toward God (or an ‘about face’ in military parlance, cf. Ezek. 18:30, 32).” [Andrew E. Hill, 1 & 2 Chronicles (NIVAC), p. 400]

“These expressions are best understood as four facets of one attitude that sinners should seek God himself in humble repentance, rather than as four separate steps on a long road to forgiveness. Interestingly, from this point on in Chronicles, these expressions are often linked with repentance.” [Martin J. Selman, 2 Chronicles (TOTC), pp.338-339]

Prayer: “Father, I want to pray the prayers that you would have me to pray. By your Spirit, help me to be humble, to pray, to seek your face and to turn from my wicked ways. May I walk in humble repentance before you each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Let’s worship to “Fire Fall” by Planetshakers (click here).

– EK

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV –  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

1 Timothy 6:12 NIV – Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

In his book, Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce, John Piper says this of William Wilberforce:

“He was not a political pragmatist. He was a radically God-centered Christian who was a politician.”

“There was in Wilberforce, as in all the most passionate saints, a holy dread of losing his ‘reformed taste’ for spiritual reality. This dread gave rise to ‘earnest prayers . . . resolute self-denial’ and rigorous abstinence from anything that would rob him of the greater joys.”

Wilberforce’s life was not given over for a “cause” but was given over to the Lord. What fueled his heart was his faith in Jesus Christ and he found strength and joy in the Lord to endure 20 years of defeats before the abolition of the slave trade and another 26 years before the abolition of slavery. His life was oriented in faithfulness to how he was called for the Lord Jesus to “fight the good fight.”

Prayer: “Father, may I be faithful to you today in all the ways that you have called. Fill me with your joy and strength to ‘fight the good fight.’ In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Let’s worship to “Surrender All” by Jesus Culture (click here).

– EK

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV –  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

1 Peter 2:9 NIV – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

William Wilberforce is known for his work in the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and the abolition of slavery in 1833, but what could be overlooked is how he was part of a people of God called by his name, during his time and for his generation.

God was moving and making supernatural history through his church. Right before Wilberforce’s time, there was the Moravian prayer movement that began in 1722 and had later established Moravian societies in England. Then, there was the Great Awakening revival from 1730 to 1740’s led by Charles and John Wesley and George Whitefield in Britain, who influenced the likes of John Newton. Wilberforce’s faith was greatly influenced by John Newton, his Aunt Hannah and Isaac Milner (an old school master). And later, he received great encouragement from his fellowship with the Clapham sect.

Prayer: “Thank you Father for calling me out of darkness into your wonderful light. Thank you that you have called me to be a part of your church and of what you are doing through your church. May we declare your praises more and more to all those around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Let’s worship to “We Praise You” by Matt Redman (click here).

– EK

Let’s read aloud together the following passage, confession and prayer:

1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Cape Town Commitment IV.6.a – Discerning the Will of Christ for World Evangelism: Prayer
We will pray with unity, focus, persistence, and biblically-informed clarity: for God to send labourers into every corner of the world, in the power of his Spirit; for the lost in every people and place to be drawn to God by his Spirit, through the declaration of the truth of the gospel and the demonstration of Christ’s love and power; for God’s glory to be revealed and Christ’s name to be known and praised because of the character, deeds and words of his people. We will cry out for our brothers and sisters who suffer for the name of Christ; for God’s kingdom to come, that God’s will may be done on earth as in heaven, in the establishment of justice, the stewardship and care of creation, and the blessing of God’s peace in our communities.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, thank you that you chose us to be your people called by your name. Thank you that you invite us to participate in your history making work. We ask that you stir and lead our hearts to love through fervent prayer for the lost to be drawn to you by your Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Let’s worship to this song, “History Makers” by Delirious. Click Here

– EK