Prayer Letter - 8 August 2005

To: Prayer Partners
From: Pastor Lucenay

Think about the name of Jesus. Repeat Jesus’ name several times and seek to focus your thoughts on Jesus and Jesus alone.

Isaiah went to the temple to worship. When God revealed Himself, the first thing Isaiah did was cry out, Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty (Isaiah 6:5). Isaiah saw the Lord, and the impurities in his own heart humiliated him.

Malachi wrote of the one who would come to prepare the way for God’s messenger. He will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver (Malachi 3:2, 3). The smelter’s fire was used to remove impurities in the metal. The launderer used lye soap to wash the dirt from clothes. The concept of God’s work in cleansing the people who will be used by Him is clear. The fire purifies, destroying all that is impure. The soap penetrates the cloth to remove that which makes it unclean.

John the Baptist preached. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near (Matthew 3:2). Jesus’ first sermons dealt with repentance as He proclaimed the time has come. The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news! (Mark 1:15) Later Jesus said, I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). Peter’s sermon at Pentecost charged the people to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38).

Repentance expresses a deep feeling of regret as well as a change of mind and life in which a person turns from his/her own selfishness and turns toward God. Christians know unbelievers need to repent. However, the call to repentance is not just for unbelievers. Believers need to allow God’s Spirit to do daily the cleansing work in their hearts. In the letter to the church in Ephesus Jesus, says you have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first (Revelation 2:4, 5). The same call to repentance is repeated in letters to other churches (Revelation 2:16, 21-22; 3:3, 19).

The Holy Spirit of God stirs in our hearts and lifts our lives as we allow Him freedom to operate in our lives on His terms, not ours. God calls on His people to deal radically with sin. As we consider the charge to repent, let us allow the Holy Spirit to search every area of our lives for that which is not of God. God’s assignment to us is to let everything in our lives reveal Jesus. Simply put, what is there about you that does not reveal Jesus as Lord of your life?

John writes, if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives (1 John 1:8-10).

Take a few minutes with God. Humble yourself before Him. Ask Him to show you any place in your life where you need to confess self-centeredness and sin. Let God purify your heart. Let God wash your soul clean.

Give thanks to God with a grateful heart. Express your gratitude to God for:

• His deliverance in your life (think of different ways God has delivered you)
• His encouragement in your life (think of different ways God encourages you)
• His presence in your life (where do you most often sense His presence)

Ask God to help the people you know who are:

• facing personal struggles
• experiencing marital problems
• struggling with their children’s difficulties
• seeking to help ailing parents
• sick or injured or who are helping a family member or friend who is not well

Think about the people in your life who do not know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Ask God to open their hearts to the gospel. Allow God to work in your life in any way necessary so that you can best reflect the light and hope of Christ.

Let us talk to God about our church:

• thanking God for the wonderful experience in Vacation Bible School, for the workers and for the children who came
• asking God to help us build relationships with the families of the children who came to VBS
• praying for every aspect of each worship service, seeking God’s desires in our lives
• opening ourselves to see and hear and care about the needs of others as we gather
• requesting a sense of holy expectancy when we come together
• seeking inspiration, protection and guidance in the lives of our pastor and staff
• exploring ways to meet the space needs of the church
• searching for God’s guidance to the right principal for our kindergarten
• celebrating a great summer of youth ministry with Kristen (she returns home in a week)
• anticipating a wonderful ministry of music under Angie’s leadership
• expecting God to bring new searchers, believers, Christian friends, to us each time we gather
• thanking God for the way He is guiding our people to support His work.

Let us ask God to guide us in praying for those who are:

• persecuted for their faith
• hurting because family members are experiencing persecution
• struggling because they are believers and their family members oppose the faith.

Today’s letter comes to you on Nancy’s and my 36th wedding anniversary. I thank God for the gift of this very special lady in my life. I thank you for your prayers for us as we continue the journey with joy. We are filled with gratitude for the privilege of sharing God’s work with you at KIBC.

We close our prayer time as we began this time of prayer, with the name of Jesus. Please repeat His name several times and quietly rest your heart before God.