Dear family,
During Shake-it-up Summer we have prayed for others in more than one service, particularly in the services designated to Care Company (www.carecompanydc.org ) and TAG (The Antioch Group, www.theantiochgroup.org). This week there was an opportunity to ask for things that are of personal concern to you.
We looked at the amazing last words of Jesus in John 14-16, following the Last Supper when Judas had left to “do quickly” what Jesus knew would be betrayal. Jesus then in a measured way proceeds with what is known as the Upper Room Discourse; three wonderful chapters that invite us repeatedly to ask, as you can see from the scriptures below.
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. -JOHN 14:13
And I will ask the Father, And He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. -JOHN 14:16-17
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. -JOHN 15:7
You may ask me for anything in My name, and I will do it. If you love Me, you will obey what I command. -JOHN 15:14-15
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. -JOHN 15:16
I tell you the truth my Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. Until now you have not asked anything in My name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete. -JOHN 16:23
These chapters culminate in Jesus great prayer of John 17 before He sets His face to go to the Cross. This was His final asking list on earth. In Sunday’s service we took time to write our own asking lists. Writing “Ebenezer… Up till now God has helped me” at the top of a page and “Jehovah Jireh… God who provides” at the bottom, in between we wrote down the things that came to mind that we need to ask God for. It may have been something as large as the salvation of a loved one or as small as some practical thing needing attention, maybe for help in standing against a temptation, or for a physical healing. If Jesus invited, in fact even requested us to ask, then let’s make it an increasingly regular practice.
We also took a few minutes to meditate on the simple four sentence prayer Jesus used to teach His disciples to pray in Matthew 6, the Lord’s Prayer Many of us found that God gave us fresh revelation out these few well-known verses. We were blessed by focusing on a short phrase from this amazing prayer as if for the first time. If you were not able to be in church this Sunday then maybe you would be blessed to by such an exercise.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:10-13
Keep asking because He is going to keep answering,
Celia
P.S. We had the pleasure of hearing some asking testimonies from Anne Doggett and Amy Herbert who led groups of “askers” last week for Urban Hands. Be sure to give the mp3 a listen on our website.
http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)