Opening New Doors, Day 15, 'Pressing On'

On day 15 of our '40 days of prayer', I suspect that a smidge of pastoral encouragement is in order.   Why?  Because unlike the 3/4 mark, where the 'come on, you're nearly there' works, or the 1/2 mark, where the 'congratulations, you've made the hump' does the trick, the 1/3 mark, it just needs something of, well, substance.  Here is when we ask, 'should I have started this?'  Or, 'is it too late to go back?'  And it is here that we could use that critical encouragement, saying, 'whatever you do, don't look back.'  For yes... the look back is still a killer.  Remember Lot's wife?  

For this reason we should turn to a pastoral reminder, one of personal testimony from the Apostle Paul himself.   On day 15 of our journey we should heed his words of, "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on... (Philippians 3:13b)  Simple?  Yes!  But, oh so true!  

So, use this outline on the critical day 15 of our journey in prayer.  As you take the step of faith asking God, "Lord, what do you want to do through me in regards to our church Opening New Doors?"  consider Paul's personal, pastoral admonition.  Forget what was.  Look to what is yet to come.  And press on.  This outline works.  Especially on Day 15.  

Pastor Sam 

Prayer - I Wonder?

Prayer is not something we are prone to do, unless...  and... I've observed only two kinds of people in this -  those who do and those who don't.   

The early church was encouraged to pray always.  They were admonished to pray for the apostles (leadership), to pray for one another (the church - its unity and its healing), and to pray for the spread of the gospel (the work).   Frankly, though, that was about it.  These three things were their prayer-issues - and they were asked to pray for them regularly.  Our list is much larger.  We ask God for health - good - and we ask Him for success, peace, and prosperity - hmmmmmm?   So that, I confess, today, to wondering at the disparity between our prayer list and the injunction and instruction of the early church on the same.  

Which brings me to this question.  What would happen if our prayers were less selfish and more about the ministry and effectiveness of the gospel and the gospel spreaders themselves? (see above)  Would God be surprised to find His church praying for its success and power in the land?   Now don't get me wrong.  We can, and perhaps should, pray for our needs and the individual success and happiness of friends, family and others.  But it just strikes me as strange, today, to consider the disparity between what we often pray for and what the early church was instructed to pray for instead.   

So I wonder, what would God think if His church prayed for... the Kingdom?  You know, the way He taught us to - "Thy Kingdom Come Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven."

I wonder?