For this last week of emphasis on prayer, we take a look at an interesting story. A man stood in the gap by praying for his nation. His prayer teaches us some things. Then, there is a surprise ending to the rest of his story.
Category: Podcast
Powerful Prayer
We are going to continue focusing on prayer for a few weeks here on the blog and podcast. Today, we’re looking at a certain kind of prayer. The kind that really has the attention of God. What does that powerful prayer look like? Find out in today’s message.
This message is from Steve Carpenter at our Atoka Campus. If you missed the message or want to hear it again, listen on-line or tune in to our podcast.
Margin for Prayer
Everything good starts with prayer and everything good comes from it.
Prayer is the engine of the church. Not only is personal prayer vital for growth and progress in our walk with Jesus, but it is the ordained power source for the church. In the New Testament, we see the church literally praying constantly. They prayed in times of struggle. They prayed in times of joy and celebration. They prayed when thy had to make decisions. They prayed for the world around them that others might see the mighty works of God among them.
In this message, we studied the requirements for this kind of powerful prayer and the results of this kind of prayer. As a church, prayer has to be at the top of our list of values. In fact, we are introducing a brand new “plumb line” for Gateway:
Everything good starts with prayer and everything good comes from it.
May we strive to be people of consistent, humble, faithful prayer that flows out of lives of obedience and integrity. If we pray this way, only goo can come as a result! As the early church prayed together, the experienced the presence of God, new passion and energy to make disciples, and a harvest of should for the sake of His Kingdom. May prayer be the engine that Gateway runs on!
This message is from Steve Carpenter at our Atoka Campus. If you missed the message or want to hear it again, listen on-line or tune in to our podcast.
Margin for Love
In 1966, a song came out by Jackie DeShannon entitles, “What the world Needs Now.” The words go like this:
What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of what the world needs now is live, sweet love. Not just for some but for everyone.
Perhaps the words to that song have never been truer than they are right now. In fact, our nation and world seem more divided and violent than ever before. Domestic violence, hatred, and racism are still plaguing our world. Angry posts and hurtful tweets are the norm when it comes to social media and politics . . . well . . . .
Even though the free love of Jackie DeShannon’s day is not the answer, there is a love that our world desperately needs. It is the love of Jesus expressed through His people.
“And walk in love, as Christ had so loved us and given Himself for us, and offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:2
Would you be willing to make room in your life for real LOVE? It truly is what the world needs NOW.
This message is from Steve Carpenter at our Atoka Campus. If you missed the message or want to hear it again, listen on-line or tune in to our podcast.
Margin
A margin is something that creates room around the edge or border of something. We see this in a sheet of notebook paper. It simply denotes “space” that is open or clear.
One of the great challenge in life is to create open and clear space in our lives for the most important things. Our daily lives get cluttered and busy and the most important spiritual things get crowded out.
As we start out the new year, what better time than now to create some margin in our lives; some clear open space for the things God desires most.
Don’t think this will be easy. It is the enemy’s greatest desire to keep us busy, even with good things, so that we miss the best things. There are some things that we will have to set aside to create margin in our lives; even things that we may like a lot! We will have to do things differently, and we will have to make hard choices as to how we will spend our time. Are you ready to create some margin in your life?
The rewards are out of sight! Creating margin for the things of God always results in drawing closer to Him and finding deeper purpose in the life He’s given us. Even Jesus has to create margin to walk with the Father. Do you have the same need?