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Sunday, August 31, 2014

sermon, "Standing in the Need of Prayer", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, ME, August 31, 2014

August 31, 2014
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series on “All My Day: A Summer of Prayer”
Inspired by Marcia McFee
Sermon 9 of series-
“Intercessory”
Luke 18:1-8 NIV Bible
Ephesians 6:10-18 Disciples’ Literal New Testament

“Standing In The Need Of Prayer”

Let us pray… (Pray for God’s illumination…)

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

All we have to do is just turn on the News or pick up a News Paper and get our news about what is going on in the world in which we live. I’m telling you, it is scary out there. We hear about bombings, war, famine, hunger, disasters, killings…the list just goes on. It is a little overwhelming to me. How can I help? Where is God in all this? What does God want me to do? The list of questions is never ending when I see the state of the world. But God does have a plan and it begins with His people…it begins with Christians…it begins with you and me…

This summer, we are invited to pray “All My Days” and to make a habit of prayer wherever you are. Each Sunday in worship we have focused on one of the steps of the prayer beads. My continued hope is that our Summer Sermon Series “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer” will help us learn a way of prayer that will bring us closer to the maker of all we see.

I hope we have learned a few things as we have been going through the beads on the string.  Let’s see…the Gold Bead…which reminds us to begin with adoration ….the bumpy beady….that is to remind us to let go and let God….the embrace of silence with the “holey Bead” …the steeping stone bead…our journey of faith…the black...the black and white...the grey bead...we are to bring our spiritual struggles to God….and the green bead, represents concern…not worries but concerns. Remember the red bead from last week? We are to pray for the lovable and not so lovable people in our lives…even those who do us harm.

This week…it’s the three purple beads on the string. Now these beads are to remind us to pray even more about those who are standing in the need of prayer. You know…there are three purple beads but I don’t think it should stop at only three. I believe it represents all those people and situations that come up in our lives and we all know it usually is more than just three…

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

The scripture I read this morning is all about praying unceasingly. We are called to continue in our prayer even when we don’t see anything happening. You see…God is always working out His plan. God is always answering our prayers. We have seen a lot of prayers being answered within our church but there are also those prayers that we may never see answered in our life time. But…but…God always answer prayer. He has said it and I believe it. Believing is seeing and through our believing we shall see the glory of God…

In the Epistle of Ephesians, we hear more about this praying without ceasing type of prayer. But it goes even further than that. It tells us the tools we are to have in our lives…it tells us of the “Weapons of Warfare” that God gives you and give me in this battle of Good over Evil. It is found in Ephesians 6:10-18. Let me read to you about our battle armor given to us by God for His glory…I am reading from the Disciples Literal New Testament Bile this morning. I think it really tells us of the strength that we have as we do battle in the world…

Ephesians 6:10-18 Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)
Finally, Put On The Full Armor of God So You Can Stand Against The Spiritual Forces of Evil
10 Finally, become-strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength. 11 Put-on the full-armor of God so-that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil, 12 because the struggle  for us is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evilness in the heavenly-places. 13 For this reason, take-up the full-armor of God in order that you may be able to resist on the evil day, and having worked everything, to stand.
Stand Armored With Truth, Righteousness, And Faith, Wielding God’s Word And Prayer
14 Stand [firm] therefore, having girded your waist with truth, and having put-on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having sandaled your feet with the readiness of the good-news of peace, 16 with all these having taken-up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, 18 praying with every-kind-of prayer and petition at every opportunity in the Spirit, and keeping-alert for it with all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints—

I think in reading this scripture we have a question to ask ourselves. Now…we are told to pray with perseverance for all the saints right? Well…it is my thought that we should also pray for those who are not saints…yet. Who are these would be saints? Who is our brother, our sister, our mother, our father? It is the child in Bangladesh who lives in poverty and hunger. It is those in our family’s that have not yet come to Christ. It is the drug addict that just can’t seem to get to the other side. It is the mother who is raising her children alone. It is those who do us harm. It is those who we love and are sometimes not so lovable. It is anyone or anything that goes against God’s “perfect order” of things. The list is endless.

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

People and situations in the world around us are standing in the need of prayer. Are we going to sit idly by and watch? I was once told by someone who I thought was someone who would pray for others no matter what. I was told that they only pray for someone only if they knew Christ as their personal Savior. I asked them what happens when they don’t. They told me they give them a chance to accept Christ and if they don’t they won’t pray for them. What! If they don’t know Christ how can they come to Him if we don’t pray for them? Maybe God will use our prayer to show His glory to them and then they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Who are the saints? Who are the saints of the future…?

Maybe…just maybe…as we pray for people and situations out of our “realm of friends” there will be a change in the way things are going in the world. Perhaps if we widen our scope of prayer God will use us to bless others.  Church of Jesus Christ…we have a mission from God and that is to pray for others without ceasing…even pray those in who are not part of the body of Christ. We are given the tools we need within His Armor and strength to conquer all things if we just are persistent like that widow who was looking for justice…just as our sisters and brothers are looking for justice in their lives and have no way out. Perhaps we can pray them out of their situation and the glory of God will be seen here on earth as His glory fills heaven. Maybe…just maybe… Who is standing in the need of prayer waiting for you?

Let us pray…pray about those needing our intercession…

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
Amen

====
August 31, 2014

Luke 18:1-8 NIV Bible
Ephesians 6:10-18 Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Sermon 9 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Three Purple Bead – People You Love
children’s message
-          Mystery Box –  
-           
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “Standing in the Need of Prayer”

by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 31, 2014
&
1 John 3:11-18
“More on Love and Hatred” (NIV)
Luke 6:27-36
“Love for Enemies” (NIV)
Hymn – “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”
Sermon 8 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Red Bead – People You Love
children’s message
-          Mystery Box –  a stone with the word “unforgiveness” on it…
(from exercise from book study, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)
-          God wants us to forgive; God has forgiven us;
-          ask for forgiveness; forgive even if they haven’t asked
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “The Loveable UnLovable”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 24, 2014
&
John 17:6-19
Christ’s prayer for his disciples
John 17:20-25
Christ’s prayer for all believers
Sermon 7 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Green Bead – Your Special Concern
children’s message
-          Mystery Box – picture of our cat Moe sleeping
-          God wants us to be at rest, at peace
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “A Weight Upon the Heart”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 17, 2014
&
prayer of the people printed in the bulletin,
including the following prayer:
“For our church that it may be safe for all people
and an active witness to the truth of Jesus Christ.”
Genesis 32:22-28 Common English Bible
Psalm 139:1-14 NIV Bible
Sermon 6 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Grey, Black and White, Day and Night Bead – Spiritual Struggles
children’s message
-          Mystery Box – dog treats and squeaky ball
-          God gives us treats
-          God wants us to play
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “G.W.E.” (God Wrestling Entertainment)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
August 3, 2014
&
Romans 10:12-15 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Luke 12:12-15
Luke 12:1-6 Common English Bible
“The Long and Winding Road” The Beatles
Sermon 5 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Stepping Stone Bead – Journey of Faith
children’s message by Ellen Alward Dickinson
reading story – A Black Bear and Four Boys
and sermon, “A Long And Winding Road”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
July 27, 2014
&
Psalm 37:5-7 (Common English Bible)
1 Kings 19:9-23 (NIV Bible)
Sermon 4 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Bead with a Hole - Silence
children’s message by Pastor Ruth Foss
-          Mystery Box - a blank space
-          God starts with a blank canvas,
God fills in the picture until a masterpiece
is created and we come home
and sermon, “Is Silence Really Golden?”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
July 20, 2014
&
Psalm 33:30-22
Psalm 25:1-3
Romans 8:30-32
Matthew 11:28-30
Sermon 3 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Bumpy Bead – Letting Go
children’s message by Pastor Ruth Foss
-          Mystery Box – a broken set of prayer beads
-          God can make something beautiful of all the broken pieces:
-          Dad can you fix this? Yes I can…
and sermon, “In the Letting Go We Find”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
July 13, 2014
&
June 29, 2014
Psalm 105:1-6 Common English Bible
Exodus 15:1-3 The Living Bible
Psalm 89:1-18 The Message Bible
Closing Hymn – “As the Deer”
Sermon 2 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
children’s message by Pastor Ruth Foss
-          Mystery Box
-          Sabbath rest, time with God outdoors, in nature
and sermon, “All My Adoration. . . !”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
June 29, 2014
&
June 22, 2014
Matthew 6:5-14
“Jesus Teaches About Prayer” (NCV)
(including Lord’s Prayer)
Romans 12:12
Ephesians 6:11-18
Sermon 1 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
children’s message by Ray Foss
-          God fills in the words we pray
based on Upper Room Daily Devotional for June 9, 2014
Romans 8:26 (NRSV)
Romans 8:22-27
Upper Room Daily Devotional
“Guided by the Spirit”
by Milly Ibanda
for March and April 2014
-          spontaneous prayer, wait for God’s answer
(based on Shanequa’s prayer for a puppy July 21, 2006)
opening and welcome by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “Stop, Look and Listen”
by Sally Drew
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
June 22, 2014

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 32,050+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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