15 May 2007
Living on a prayer
When it all comes down to it, any ministry worth squat needs to be able to honestly say this.
Think about it.If you attend a church where the leader is charismatic, influential, bold, promises the sky and the moon and helps people raise their life game to an ‘A’ level, BUT does not pray. You are wasting your time. Find a lake house, a couple of jet skiis a dog named Fifi, and spend your weekends there — you’ll make a greater impact for God!
On the other hand, if you attend a church where prayer is the constant focus, the leader preaches on it every other week, they have nightly prayer meetings, 6,000 prayer small groups, 487 books written on prayer BUT actually don’t pray…you are once again wasting your time.
However, if you attend a church where the vision is Ginormous (there’s that word again), they are willing to charge Hell with water pistols, nothing is impossible is their motto…BUT, they don’t really pray. You—
Well, you get the picture, right?People talk alot about vision these days, but I need to tell you, the only ones worth following are those straight from the heart of God.
And you’ll never get that without prayer.
Today, your pastors at Southbrook got away to seek God’s face alone and collectively regarding the many giants we are facing as He continues to allow Southbrook’s influence to grow far beyond what we ever dreamed or even imagined.
We pray anyway and we pray a lot as individuals and at staff meetings, etc., but sometimes things get so intense and the giants look extra big and when that happens your prayer needs to get big too. And gang? When you witness the things we’ve seen lately at SCC you quickly get beyond your self into territory unknown. In the immortal words of Captain Kirk from the original Starship Enterprise, “We are about to ‘boldly go where no man has gone before.’”
Because of this, your leaders are fervently seeking God’s heart and direction. My mission today was to pray and spy. Well, really just to pray, but I sneekily (it’s a word now, baby!) snapped a few shots of our team in their time alone — better to ask for forgiveness than permission!
Others were there as well, but by photo number five they were on to me so this is all you get.
And one of them ‘one upped me’ informing me that it might be a good idea if everyone knew you were there as well, Kirk!
For that, you will just have to trust. Who do you think took the pictures?
I’m proud of them. They get it. They know we are nothing without Christ. He is our true captain. He leads the way. And we need Him to do so now more than ever as we enter the territory of the giants.
4 Comments currently posted.
jt says:
Michael says:
That is how Nehemiah started the great ministry God had laid out for Him. It was through prayer. He knew the giants in the way, but he prayed that God would move. Of course, God moved, and even when the enemy tried its best, God did not stop. Why? Nehemiah was diligent and dedicated in prayer.
Kudos, of course, but you did not do it for the kudos. You went in prayer because of your weakness, knowing God’s strength. So, really, shame on y’all for showing us that you are weak. (That is what the world would say. Using God as a crutch again, eh! - Little Canadian after the Southern.)
I am convinced that God is holding back the REAL blessings of heaven until we get the message of Christ’s life more fully. He wasn’t about the awesome worship, though James and John were the sons of the rock bank “Thunder”. He wasn’t about the powerful preaching which was relevant and high-tech with video clips and the like. He wasn’t about the outreach ministries. He wasn’t about small groups, youth groups, men’s groups or women’s groups. Jesus LIVED it everyday with a life of prayer, service and passion for all men to know the Truth. He lived it all the way to the cross.
God does not need us to be martyrs or putting ourselves in harm’s way so we can earn patches like the Boys’ Scouts. He does not need us to sign up for ministries so we can be seen in neon yellow shirts or have name tags to show people we are somebody. God does not even need us, period. But,
He wants us. Christ’s message was God wants us so badly that He would give His Son to have us again. Love. Unconditional love.
Taking the time to pray is awesome. God will direct those who are truly seeking Him and His Will. I know that from experience. He wants to give us so much more, but Pastor Rob, He does not need you praying more. He wants us, the people who call Southbrook home - the people who call Him Lord, more importantly, to bend our knee in prayer and proclaim our weakness and His strength. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, …” Anyone want to see the rest of His Promise!!! (By the way, I don’t want the money. I want the lives of believers strengthened and the lives of unbelievers transformed.)
Kate says:
So why is God moving at Soutbrook? well, the pictures of our leaders being before God in prayer is one huge part of the answer.
thanks guys, and gals, for setting the example. Thank you for the reminder of the real mover and shaker at Southbrook. thank you for the reminder of the number one thing we need to do if we want to really see God move in our lives. and I really do. and I believe he is really going to move in Southbrook too- so long as we keep going before him. so let’s go!
Kate says:
So why is God moving at Soutbrook? well, the pictures of our leaders being before God in prayer is one huge part of the answer.
Thanks guys, and gals, for setting the example. Thank you for the reminder of the real mover and shaker at Southbrook.
Thank you for the reminder of the number one thing we need to do if we want to really see God move in our lives. and I really do. And I believe he is really going to move in Southbrook too- so long as we keep going before him. so let’s go!
I hear you loud and clear! How awesome it is to get a glimpse of our staff that God has called to this time and this place to serve Him in this ministry.
Big props to you and the staff for humbling yourselves to spend a day in prayer. What an example for us all! Can’t wait for this series to start!