More Like Him

Philippians 1:27-28

New American Standard Version

27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents —  which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.

Pastor’s Paraphrase

         So, whatever might happen in the days ahead, be careful that your attitudes, actions, and words will be such that your life reflects well on the message of the gospel of Christ.  In that way, whether God allows me to come be with you physically or simply hear about you though we remain separated, I will be able to have no doubt that you are solid and unified in your stand for our Lord and for the gospel of grace through faith.

          I want to know that you are standing fearlessly against those who would attack and oppose you because you boldly proclaim the Lord’s truth. When they see that they can’t intimidate or discourage you, it will be proof to them that the path they have chosen is one that ends in destruction. I want them to begin to understand that God has saved you and will protect you from what will happen to them.

“How does this help me become more like Him?”

         One of the most challenging tasks for a Dad is to teach his children to ride a bicycle.  One of the greatest inventions ever is training wheels for kid’s bicycles.  These extra wheels give the youngsters time to learn to pedal and steer and all the other necessities of safe bike riding.  But, sooner or later, the training wheels have to come off.  Then the real challenge for the Dad begins.  You run alongside them as they are learning to pedal and, if they falter, you do your best to catch them before they fall. Almost inevitably, there are a few skinned knees and tears but, finally, they are able to master the needed skills and they are off on their own.  This is but one of a long series of steps toward independence that our children will take on their journey toward adulthood.

         There comes a time in our spiritual journey that we need to “take off the training wheels”.  There are those that God sends into our lives as teachers, mentors, and models that help us understand what living for Christ is all about.  They not only help us to learn but many times they catch us before we fall and hurt ourselves or they pick us up when we have fallen and help us to get back on the road of following Him.  However, sooner or later, our dependence on them must diminish to the point that we are able to stand strong on our own.  They can’t walk with us every step of our journey and, even if they could, it would just breed dependence rather than strength.  There comes a time when we must be able to be secure depending only on the Lord.

         If you’re still on “training wheels”, it’s time for you to begin to learn to be strong on your own.  There will come a time when you will be the one that is needed to run alongside a young believer to keep them from falling and to teach them what it means to be strong and secure in the Lord.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Ask the Lord to help you to be strong, secure, and bold in Him.  Pray for the opportunity and ability to help another believer learn how to be strong in the Lord.  Call upon His mighty power to fill you and tell Him that you are available for whenever and however He would choose to use you.

MAGNOLIA’s FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

Join us as we celebrate Pastor Ed & Cindy Seay

Sunday March 10th

10:00AM

MAGNOLIA EVENT CENTER

11659 FM 1488 

Magnolia, TX 77354

09:30am Traditions: Timeless Hymns and Gospel Choruses 11:00am  Resonate: Creative and Intimate Worship Experience 11:00am PIB Comunidad: Spanish Language Services

Philippians 1:24-26

New American Standard Version

24 Yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 And convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. 

Pastor’s Paraphrase

         But as I think about what remains to be done to help you grow in the Lord and learn how to live for Him, I can’t help but believe that God is not through with me here on earth yet.   So I have come to believe that God will leave me here to finish my work with you – helping you to continue to make progress in your spiritual journey and to discover all the joy that God has to give you. I know that my returning to you would not only bring me great happiness but would cause your hearts to overflow with His joy as well!

“How does this help me become more like Him?”

         Do you know why you’re here?  Sometimes we can feel that all we’re really doing is working at our jobs until we’re exhausted so that we can pay our bills and support our family.  Because we spend so much time at our work, we can fall into the illusion that we’re just here to do a job and make a living.  In your heart as a child of God, you know that’s not right.  It just can seem that way because our work can sap us of most of our energy as it monopolizes our time.

         We struggle with that sometimes and we conclude that the answer is to somehow devote less time to work so that we can serve God more.  We can’t wait to get away from the workplace so that we can do something meaningful for the Lord.  That is a noble desire but it carries with it a misunderstanding of who we really are.

         The Scripture teaches us that we are ambassadors for Christ.  That means that we represent Him – not just when we are doing mission work or church things but every moment of our lives.  Too many times, we view our service to God as a piece of our time/energy puzzle that we dedicate to the Lord and all the other things in our life are just stuff we have to do.  Instead, we should understand that Christ is to saturate ALL of our lives because we represent Him in EVERYTHING we do – work, family time, recreation, household chores, and yes, church stuff.

         We represent Him at work with a strong work ethic, a Christlike attitude, and compassion for our coworkers.  We represent Him with our family by caring for them and modeling Christlike humility and grace to them.  We represent Him in our neighborhood by being a good neighbor and demonstrating the love of Jesus to those who see us come and go every day.  We represent Him as we join with other believers in the work of God’s Kingdom through His church.  You represent Him every day in all that you do.  You’re not here just to make a living, you’re here to share His life.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Pray that you would represent Him well today at work, at home, or wherever He takes you.  Ask Him to remind you daily that you belong to Him and to fill you with His presence and His power.  Thank Him for the wonderful privilege of making His Son known to others through your words, attitudes, and actions.

09:30am Traditions: Timeless Hymns and Gospel Choruses 11:00am  Resonate: Creative and Intimate Worship Experience 11:00am PIB Comunidad: Spanish Language Services

Philippians 1:20-23

New American Standard Version

20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 

Pastor’s Paraphrase

         It has always been my earnest prayer and desire that I would never do anything that I would ever regret but that I would rather always be filled with all the courage I would ever need to bring praise and glory to my Lord Jesus Christ – whether He chooses to allow me to continue in this life or to bring me home to glory through death. 

          This is my heartfelt belief – if God chooses to allow me to continue to live, I have the opportunity to let others see Jesus in me with every day of life He gives me.  However, if He chooses to bring my earthly life to a close through death, I will not experience a loss – I will experience the greatest increase of all – eternal life in His presence.

         If my physical life on this earth is to continue, I know that God can use me to accomplish the work that He would have me to do for Him. Yet, if I were asked to choose between remaining here to serve Him or going to Heaven to live with Him, I honestly don’t know which direction I would go. My heart is pulled in both directions! My deepest desire is to leave this world and go to be with Christ – nothing could be as wonderful as that!

“How does this help me become more like Him?”

        One of the most popular Christian songs of recent years is “I Can Only Imagine”.  It has become loved by a generation of believers because it so beautifully expresses the wonder and awe we hold for the glorious mystery of our future heavenly home.  Through the ages, Christians have loved songs about Heaven because we are looking forward with great anticipation to that place prepared for us – that place more beautiful and wonderful than any human language is capable of describing.

         However, if I am given my choice, I would rather wait a while before making my journey there.  Though I look forward with deep delight to an eternity spent praising my wonderful Lord, there are things on this old earth that I want to experience as well.  I would love to see my (at last count) twenty grandchildren all come to know Christ personally and grow into mighty men and women of God.  There is so much unfinished work for the Kingdom of God that I long to do.  There are many things that I hope to experience before the Lord calls me home.

         But the reality is that none of us knows the span of our life on this earth.  The Lord knew the number of our days on this sinful planet before we were ever born but we don’t.  All we can do is trust Him and live each day that He gives us.  You know what?  That’s enough.  

         I’m so glad my earthly life AND my eternity are in the hands of the Lord of the Universe.  Whether He chooses to give me many more years or one more hour of life, it is all in His hands.  What a secure place to be!  I will serve Him with every breath He gives me until He takes me to that place that is so beautiful that – well, I can only imagine!

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Thank the Lord that your eternal future is secure because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and the grace of God you received at salvation.  Praise Him that your today and all your tomorrows are in His hands.  Ask Him to use you however He chooses with every single day of life He gives you.

09:30am Traditions: Timeless Hymns and Gospel Choruses 11:00am  Resonate: Creative and Intimate Worship Experience 11:00am PIB Comunidad: Spanish Language Services

Philippians 1:18b-19

New American Standard Version

18b And in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 

Pastor’s Paraphrase

         So, despite imprisonment and opposition, I keep right on rejoicing in the presence of our blessed Lord for all He is doing!  Because you have been so faithful to obey the Holy Spirit as He led you to pray for me and send help to me, I give thanks and praise to God for how He has used you in my life. This has helped me so much to remain confident and full of faith that God will deliver me from these circumstances.

“How does this help me become more like Him?”

        Sometimes there are people in our lives that go through terrible ordeals.  As we hear their painful story, we want so badly to take some kind of action that will alleviate their suffering and bring a solution to their dilemma.  All too often however, there is nothing we can do to “fix” their problem.  The only thing we know to do is to let them know that we care about them, give them whatever godly counsel we know to give, and pray for them.  We sometimes come away from our conversations with the feeling that we just haven’t done enough because their hurt and struggle remains.  I just hung up the phone from such a difficult conversation.

         I’m sure the Philippians must have felt that way toward Paul.  There may have even been some among them that thought they should plan a “jailbreak” (not a good idea)!  Perhaps they even felt that the encouragement, financial support, and prayers that they gave to him were somehow insufficient – that they should figure out some way to do more.

         In reality, they did exactly what God intended them to do.  It was not time for Paul to be delivered from prison yet.  Though they did not know it at the time, his release would come later.  However, their love, care, support, and prayers were used by the Father to lift Paul’s spirits and give him continued confidence and courage.

         That friend that you are concerned about – the one that has come to your mind as you have read this – you likely cannot “fix” their problem.  What you can and should do is love them, assure them of your continued support and encouragement, and pray to the One who has the answer to every question and solution to every problem.  Then know that what you have done and will continue to do is enough because it is all God has enabled you to do for them.  He’ll take it from there.  Be assured you have left your friend in the right hands!

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Praise the Lord for His all-sufficient power to deal with today’s and every day’s problems.  Lift up your friends in prayer that are going through difficult trials and hardships.  Pray that they would see the Lord’s faithfulness “peaking through the clouds”.  Thank Him for His faithfulness to you.

09:30am Traditions: Timeless Hymns and Gospel Choruses 11:00am  Resonate: Creative and Intimate Worship Experience 11:00am PIB Comunidad: Spanish Language Services

Philippians 1:15-18a

New American Standard Version

15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed.

Pastor’s Paraphrase

         I want to talk with you about a matter that I know is of concern to you. You are right that there are some who are preaching the gospel whose hearts are filled with envy toward us and look at themselves as somehow in competition with us. But it is also true that there are those who are preaching who wish nothing but the best for us and have good and pure hearts. They have a love and appreciation for us and they know that I am in prison because I have taken a stand for the Lord Whom we both love and serve. 

That first group, without a doubt, is doing what they are doing with selfish motives and their hearts are not right before God. In reality, they are glad for these troubles that I have had and they want to do whatever they can to make things worse for me so that they will feel more important.

         But, dear friends, what does it really matter what their motives are? God is so much bigger than their petty agenda. What really matters is the message! Whether they are preaching for the right reasons or not, they are preaching the right message – the message of forgiveness of sin through Christ Jesus. So, I just leave them to God and celebrate that others are hearing the message even if it is from flawed messengers.  

“How does this help me become more like Him?”

        I heard a saying some time ago that gives me great hope and encouragement.  “God uses cracked pots!”  One of the great lies of the enemy of our souls is that we simply aren’t worthy for God to use us.  We’re not smart enough, talented enough, articulate enough, spiritual enough or whatever!  He tells us that until we “get our act together”, we shouldn’t even think that God could use someone like us.

         The group that Paul refers to in this passage that operated out of selfish motives needed a major attitude adjustment!  They were proud, ego-driven, and envious.  How anyone could have wished the great apostle ill and called themselves a follower of Christ is unimaginable.  Then to presume that they could be used as a messenger of the gospel seems unthinkable.  They really were “cracked”!  Yet, despite their spectacular shortcomings, God chose to use them because, though they weren’t perfect, the gospel was!

         That helps me to know that, as messed up as I sometimes am, God can still use me.  No, indeed I am not worthy but grace means that he can take a “cracked pot” like me…and you, and use us for His glory!  So, the next time the enemy starts telling you how “cracked” you are and that you should sit down and be quiet – remember that God can and will use you despite all your “cracks”.  So, stand up and speak up for Him!  It’s not about us – it’s about the gospel!

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Pray that the Lord would help you to recognize the accuser when he tries to lie to you.  Ask the Lord to remind you that He can and will use you despite all your faults, flaws, and failures.  Thank Him for His grace that covers over our sin with the blood of Jesus.

09:30am Traditions: Timeless Hymns and Gospel Choruses 11:00am  Resonate: Creative and Intimate Worship Experience 11:00am PIB Comunidad: Spanish Language Services

Philippians 1:12-14

New American Standard Version

12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. 

Pastor’s Paraphrase

         As I begin this letter to you, there is something that is very important for you to understand from the outset – what I have experienced, being put in prison, has not turned out to hurt the cause of the gospel but actually has helped to make it known more clearly. Because of what has happened to me – as unjust and unlawful as it was – everyone here serving as a part of the military guard at the palace has learned that I am in prison here for no other reason than my love and faithfulness to Christ. Not only the guards, it has been made clear to everyone in the entire palace. 

          As a result of my imprisonment, most of the Christians here have been filled with a new sense of passion and courage to speak out for our Lord. They are doing so with amazing courage and boldness. Any fear that they might have had has disappeared as they have witnessed how God has taken care of me.

“How does this help me become more like Him?”

         Whether or not people can see Jesus in us is not so much a matter of what happens to us in our lives but rather our attitude about it.  Every one of us, as a part of our journey with Christ, will have times when everything is going great and other times when everything seems to be falling apart.  It is the attitude we choose to have in the “falling apart” times that will demonstrate to others whether what we have in our relationship with the Master really makes a difference in our lives or not.  

         When I think of great saints like the Apostle Paul, Corrie Ten Boom, Paul Wurmbrand, and others who were imprisoned for their faith and yet gave God glory, I feel so weak and unworthy to be His representative.  Then, I realize that God has not called on me to be imprisoned but He expects me to reflect Him in whatever situation He brings to MY life.

         I doubt that many of you who read this today are in prison for Christ.  But the reality is that every one of us either is or will experience very difficult times in our lives.  Believing that God intends to bring good out of every experience of our lives, the attitude we demonstrate in the midst of difficult times will either reveal Christ in us or not.  Our attitude and response will either be a witness and encouragement to other believers as Paul’s was or it won’t.  We will either choose to see God’s hand of grace, mercy, and redemption in the midst of pain and struggle, as Paul did, or we won’t.  We have no control over our circumstances but our attitude is up to us.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Pray that the Lord would help you to understand that He is in control of every event, circumstance, and situation in your life.  Repent of times in which you have chosen self-pity instead of believing that He had a redemptive purpose for what you were going through.  Ask Him for the kind of faith that would give you strength and complete trust in Him no matter what He allows to happen in your life.

09:30am Traditions: Timeless Hymns and Gospel Choruses 11:00am  Resonate: Creative and Intimate Worship Experience 11:00am PIB Comunidad: Spanish Language Services

Philippians 1:9-11

New American Standard Version

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 

Pastor’s Paraphrase

         Here is what I pray for you – that you may be filled and overflowing with love that is more than just feeling or emotion. I pray that your love will be rooted in an ever deepening understanding of spiritual truth and a supernatural ability to discern what is wise and right.

         I pray this for you so that you will be able to make the right decisions – the ones that would please our Lord – in each and every situation so that, when He returns, He will find your hearts to be pure and your record unblemished. I pray that the fruit of the Holy Spirit would grow from your lives because you are rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ and that your lives would always be such that He would receive praise and glory because of you.

“How does this help me become more like Him?”

         Our lives are, to a great degree, the product of the decisions that we make.  We face hundreds of decisions every day.  Many of them are trivial and of little real consequence.  Some of them can change the very course of our lives.  For the Christian, the right to make the major decisions of our life on our own was surrendered the day we came to the foot of the cross.  When we gave our life to Christ, we laid down the right to determine the course of our lives on our own.  We exchanged the challenge of trying to make the best decisions we could make for seeking to understand what God’s will and plan for our life in every decision would be.

         To make the decisions that our Master would have us to make at any given point in our lives, two essential things are needed – an understanding of Biblical truth and its practical application to life situations and a relationship with the Holy Spirit that enables us to hear His voice and understand His direction.  God leads us to make the right decisions in our lives by impacting both our minds and our hearts.  Some things He speaks clearly with His Word.  Other things He speaks softly to the innermost places of our hearts as we wait on Him and listen for Him.  He’s never spoken to me in an audible voice but when I am yielded to Him and willing to wait for His direction, He leads me in a way that I know is from Him.

         I don’t know what significant decisions you are facing at this juncture of your spiritual pilgrimage but I encourage you to fill your mind with Scripture and godly counsel as you seek the right path.  Then I challenge you to surrender your will to Him and then listen carefully to your heart.  He will never lead you contrary to Scripture but He will move you in ways that will be in harmony with His truth.  As you face life’s decisions, I pray for you both wisdom and discernment – to know His truth in your mind and His will in your heart.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Ask the Lord to continually deepen your understanding of His Word and how it applies to your life. Pray that He would break down any barriers of resistance in your heart to His plan and direction for your life.  Pray for the ability to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit when He speaks to your heart to give you direction.

09:30am Traditions: Timeless Hymns and Gospel Choruses 11:00am  Resonate: Creative and Intimate Worship Experience 11:00am PIB Comunidad: Spanish Language Services

Philippians 1:7-8

New American Standard Version

7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Pastor’s Paraphrase

         It is no surprise that I love you all as I do because God has placed this deep affection for you in my heart. It makes no difference that I am shackled in a prison cell for my passionate defense of the truth of the gospel because, whatever my circumstance, you are my faithful partners in this wonderful blessing of God’s grace. The Lord, Who fully knows my heart, can help you understand how deep my affection is for you and how great my desire to see you again really is.

“How does this help me become more like Him?”

         Everybody needs friends.  Nobody enjoys being truly alone.  Relationships with others are a basic need of all of our lives.  We all long for friends with whom we can just be ourselves with no need of pretense or constant fear that we will say or do something that would cause them to judge or misunderstand us.  It is a wonderful blessing to have friends who you just enjoy being around and who don’t expect anything from you except your friendship.

         The value of those kinds of friendships takes a quantum leap when it is shared between committed believers.  Not only do you have the bond of enjoying each others company but you share a common focus and value in life – a love for and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.  They understand what is important to you and they know how to celebrate with you when times are good and love you and pray for you when times are tough.  Those kinds of friends are pure gold and we all need them.

         The Apostle Paul, the great giant of the early church, also needed such friends.  He had them among the Philippian believers.  He loved them and was thankful to God for them.  They cared about him not only for what he had done for them but as a person as well.  They proved their love and support for him in both tangible and intangible ways.

         If you have those kinds of friends, thank God for them.  Pray for them and let them know how much you appreciate them.  Let them know in spoken and unspoken ways that you will be there for them no matter what.  Let them know that you are thankful to be their friend whether you are grilling steaks in the back yard together or crying with them over the death of a family member.  Help them to somehow understand that you count it an honor to be their friend.

         If you don’t have such a friend – keep praying for one.  Most of all, be ready to BE that kind of friend when God sends someone to you and makes that “friendship connection” that you just sense is from Him.  It’s an old saying but its true – “to have a friend, you must be a friend.”

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Thank the Lord for the true friends that He has given you.  Pray that you will be an encouragement to them in their walk with Christ and every other area of their life.  Ask Him to give you natural opportunities to let them know how much you appreciate them and value their friendship in Christ.

09:30am Traditions: Timeless Hymns and Gospel Choruses 11:00am  Resonate: Creative and Intimate Worship Experience 11:00am PIB Comunidad: Spanish Language Services

Philippians 1:1-6

New American Standard Version

1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Pastor’s Paraphrase

         Paul and Timothy, servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, greet you with the blessing of God’s marvelous grace and indescribable peace of our Savior, Lord, and Redeemer. This greeting and letter is sent to all of you in Philippi who have been made holy by the grace of God through your faith in Christ Jesus. We send this with special greetings to those among you who have been called by God to be pastors and deacons of His church in that great city. 

          Every time God brings you to my memory, my heart is filled with thankfulness to Him for you. I pray for you and, as I do, I am filled with joy because you have been my partners in spreading the good news of Christ. I am so blessed that our partnership remains to this very day. 

         One thing I know for certain – that our great God, Who began a complete change in your life and soul when you accepted His Son as your Savior, will be faithful to continue that process of spiritual revolution in your heart and life until it is fully completed on the day that Jesus returns to this earth.

“How does this help me become more like Him?”

         You are where you are spiritually today in great part because of people God sent into your life who have had an impact on your walk with Him.  If you think back to years past, I’m sure you can think of several believers who made a real difference in your life.  They modeled for you what the Christian life was all about and they cared about you and encouraged you.  For a season of your life, they were partners with you in growing in the things of God.  Your life is different because of them and the memories that you have of those things you shared together are special to you.

         Just as they made a difference in your spiritual life and helped you to learn and grow in the Lord – so God is calling you to have an impact in the lives of others.  Yes, I know, you don’t feel qualified, worthy, spiritually mature enough, etc., etc.   Those people who impacted you weren’t perfect or completely mature either.  They were somewhere in the process of spiritual growth just like you are. But they made themselves available to God to make a difference in someone’s life for Christ and you were the recipient of the blessing.  

         That’s all God wants and expects of you – to be available to Him and let Him connect you with others that you can love, encourage, share with, pray for, and care about for Him.  But, let me warn you – God WILL USE people who make themselves available to Him to be a blessing and encouragement to others.  The good news is that the lives of people God leads you to will never be the same and neither will yours.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Pray that God will lead you to someone that you can impact for Christ and help in their walk with Him.  Tell Him that you are available to Him and ready to be used.  Confess your feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy and then surrender them and allow Him to replace them with the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit.  Then just wait and watch to see what God will do.

09:30am Traditions: Timeless Hymns and Gospel Choruses 11:00am  Resonate: Creative and Intimate Worship Experience 11:00am PIB Comunidad: Spanish Language Services

Ephesians 6:19-24

New American Standard Version

19 Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 

21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 And I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. 

23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible. 

Pastor’s Paraphrase

         I also ask that you would pray for me so that when I am called on to speak on behalf of our blessed Lord, I will know exactly what He would have me to say and that I can clearly make known the greatest secret of the ages – God’s marvelous plan of redemption through Christ. It is because I am proclaiming this message that I have been imprisoned here. Pray that nothing would inhibit my courage to make this message known as I should.

         Tychicus is one of my dearest friends and brothers in the Lord and he has served the Lord faithfully by my side. I am sending him to you and he will be able to fill you in completely on what has happened to me and what God is doing through me in these days. My reason for sending him to you is to give you this report so that you might be fully informed and that it would bring encouragement to your hearts.

          I pray the peace of the Lord upon you, my dear brothers, and send to you the love of Christ that comes from our faith in Him. I ask God’s grace to be given in abundance to everyone who shares with us a love for Christ that will never die in our hearts.  

“How does this help me become more like Him?”

        One of the greatest things that you can do for your church is to pray for its pastors and their families.  I believe that their spiritual power and effectiveness in ministry is in direct proportion to the prayers of God’s people for them.  I cannot tell you how many times I have stood in the pulpit to teach God’s Word and felt the hand of the Holy Spirit upon me and I know each time it is because the people of God have prayed for those moments when I would stand before them to bring them God’s truth.  So, I do not apologize for asking you to pray constantly for all of your pastoral staff, their spouses, and their children.  Pray for their walk with the Lord, for unity and harmony in their families, for their physical health, and for spiritual wisdom and power to fulfill their callings for Christ.

         As a pastor, I am aware of so many people who love us deeply and pray for us constantly.  There are no words to express how much that means to me and my family.  Every one of our pastors feels the same way.  Just like the Apostle Paul, we treasure and covet the prayers of every one of the family of faith.  Only Heaven will reveal the difference your prayers will have made in every one of our lives, ministries, and families.  God bless you for your faithful intercession for those who are called to serve the Lord alongside of you.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Pray that the Lord would give you a constant burden to pray for pastors, missionaries, and others that serve Him on a full-time basis.  Ask Him to reveal to you those who have a special need for intense intercessory prayer at any given time.  When you feel the leadership of the Holy Spirit to pray for one of God’s servants, take His call seriously and lift them up faithfully to Him.

09:30am Traditions: Timeless Hymns and Gospel Choruses 11:00am  Resonate: Creative and Intimate Worship Experience 11:00am PIB Comunidad: Spanish Language Services