This was the last week of 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting, and every day’s prayer focus was about someone/thing other than ourselves.
THIS WEEK’S FOCUS WAS: INTERCEDING
Here is the third and final week’s mini-message notes.
{scripture is from The NIV Bible unless otherwise noted}
Day 15 – Chris Hodges
This was a Sunday message, and the third part of the series “Breaking Free” where Pastor Chris spoke about overcoming sexual strongholds like porn, adultery, etc. You can watch the whole message anytime by clicking here. Similar to the previous week’s, I’ll let you download the message notes for yourself.
Day 16 – Mark Pettus
Word of the day: leaders
Matthew 21:22 – “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.””
Matthew 6:7-8 – “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
It’s time to ask, it’s time to seek, it’s time to knock on the door.
We have to take off the “American” glasses and put on the Christian glasses.
Romans 13:1 – “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
1 Timothy 2:1-4 – “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
We’re not called to just submit, but to pray.
Day 17 - Chris Hodges
Word of the day: awakening
2 Chronicles 7:14 – “ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
1 Samuel 7:3-6 (a verse about fasting for a national revival) – “So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.”
- Rid ourselves of gods (anything that’s become a greater love than God)
- Commit ourselves to God
- Serve God
How much of prayer is “God, serve me.” Why not pray, “God, what do you have going on?”
The #1 agenda on the heart of the Lord is that the lost would be saved.
Day 18 – Layne Schranz
Word of the day: the church
Colossians 1:24-29 – “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”
We are here to serve the church, not for the church to serve us.
Acts 16:5 – “So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.”
Pray ____ over the church:
- Strength
- Growth
You are the church!
Matthew 5:14-16 – ““You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Day 19 – Dino Rizzo
Word of the day: missions
Luke 8:26-27 – “They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.”
Jesus was not stationary. He was always on a journey.
How do we pray around that?
- People are valuable
- People are eternal
- To the degree that I believe in eternity and to the degree that I believe in Heaven & Hell is to the degree that I will serve, that I will go, that I will give, and that I will pray.” -Dino Rizzo
- Jesus is THE answer
Day 20 – Chris Hodges
Word of the day: healing
What in your life needs to be mended, cured, and made whole?
Sin + Sickness = Satan’s twin evils
Salvation + Healing = God’s twin mercies
Psalm 103:1-3 – “Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases”
Why doesn’t everyone get healed? Because we make it too complicated.
Are all our sins forgiven? Yes. Then why do we still sin?
Sickness has no power over you – just like sin has no power over you.
How? You seek the healer (get closer to Jesus)!
James 5:13-15 – “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”
Day 21 – Chris Hodges
Word of the day: victory
The sacrifice of Jesus allows us to pray and fight FROM a position of victory, not FOR it!