outside the gate

Hey All.

Is it just me, or was Monday night incredible!!!

We had a great time and a packed house as we began studying  “The Prodigal God”.

This next post was written by Dave Maniquis. Dave is planting with us. I’m sure you’ll enjoy hearing his thoughts on the importance of prayer.

Here it is:

Reception Sunday was no doubt a special day for everyone in the Core Group of God’s new local expression of His church.  The presentation of Restoration or, if you like, the installation of Restoration (there’s a plethora of alliterations for Restoration; oops, you see what I mean!), and the request for more families to be called forth for participation was so important.  Prayer, as always, had to imbue the need that day. And, of course, it needs to be the focus of God’s people, His praying people, us, the Core Group–the Restoration congregation (oops!).  Paul Miller, in his book A Praying Life, speaks about how Paul’s expression of “unceasing prayer” brings out the “most frequent description of how he prayed and of how he wanted the church to pray.”  The point is that prayer is not just formulaic, but the actual experience of dependence on the God the Father, for the things needed for His people—the church.  Interestingly, Paul echoes the theme of “unceasing prayer” in so many ways.  Here’s some that Miller cites:

• Without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers. (Romans 1:9-10)
• I give thanks to my God always for you. ( 1 Corinthians 1:4)
• I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. (Ephesians 1:16)
• Praying at all times in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18)
• We have not ceased to pray for you (Colossians 1:9)
• Continue steadfastly in prayer. (Colossians 4:2)
• Always struggling on you behalf in his prayers. (Colossians 4:12)
• Constantly mentioning you in our prayers (1 Thessalonians 1:2)
• We also thank God constantly for this.  (! Thessalonians 2:13)
• As we pray most earnestly night and day. (1 Thessalonians 3:10)
• We always pray for you.  2 Thessalonians 1:11)
• I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. (2 Timothy 1:3)

So, you have prayer in general for the church and within it is included each local representation of it.  And, to the young churches?

• Be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12)
• Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Miller goes on to say that inasmuch as Paul placed such weight on the significance of prayer, “it is not surprising to see examples of continual prayer in the early church.”  And this is Paul, not mention Jesus’ emphasis on prayer and the principle of dependence on God the Father for every need.

I suppose the question to ask is: Does anyone feel more moved to depend on God after last Sunday?  Has the importance of prayer for God to call forth more families for Restoration stirred your heart to do so with continual intention; in the belief that God can provide what we ask in His manner of doing so for His divine missional purposes, in His timing, and for the goodness of Restoration Church?    Concerning prayer, Luther wrote that, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance.  Prayer is laying hold of God’s willingness.”

Are there any thoughts about our praying for more families/individuals to join us and how it is guiding you; affecting you?

~ by Anthony Orzo on May 26, 2010.

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