Prayer Guide - Attributes of God

Scripture Prayer Guide Using the Word of God Worship God with a Focus on His Attributes

Using the New International Version of the Bible…

He is Eternal

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.-Psalm 90:2

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. -Hebrews 13:8

He is Merciful

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. -Daniel 9:9

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. - Luke 6:36

He is Gracious
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. -John 1:14, 17

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God —  not by works, so that no one can boast. -Ephesians 2:8–9

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. -Titus 3:4–7

He is Holy
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” -Isaiah 6:1–3

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do ; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”-1 Peter 1:15–16

He is Immutable
God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?-Numbers 23:19

I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.-Malachi 3:6

He is Love
 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.”- Jeremiah 31:3

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. - 1 John 4:7–12

He is Omnipotent
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. -Isaiah 40:28–31

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.- Hebrews 1:3

He is Omniscient
LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in — behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. -Psalm 139:1–6

He is Omnipresent
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. -Psalm 139:7–12

He is Righteous and Just
I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. -Deuteronomy 32:3-4

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished —  he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. -Romans 3:25–26

He is Sovereign
The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. -Psalm 135:6

He is Supreme
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.- Deuteronomy 10:14, 17

He is True
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”-John 14:6

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.-John 17:3

He is Unity 

Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.            - 1 Corinthians 8:6
 

Written by Mission Nexus

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Spark Notes (6/3)

On Sunday, Greg gave an introduction to our summer series on worship.

Starting with Luke 7:36-50, Greg pointed out a few things that have impacted his life from this passage. The sinful woman didn't ask for forgiveness, she just began worshiping Jesus with all that she had. She knew who he was - the Messiah who came to take the sins of the world; the one who payed it all. She worshiped Jesus with all that she had - she broke the jar of perfume on his feet and washed his feet with her tears.

She praised Jesus because he is the one who washed us white as snow. We praise God for paying our debts!

Greg then read from 2 Samuel: 13-15 where David danced before the Lord with all of his might. David had such a heart for worshiping God and was not afraid to worship God with all that he had. David danced as the ark of the Lord was carried in. Revival is led in by worship.

To watch the service online, click here.
To listen to the recording, click here.

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Prayer Guide - Religion and Philosophy

Provided by prayerstrategy.org.

Religion

Religion is a fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a group of people. These set of beliefs concern the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, and involve devotional and ritual observances. They also often contain a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Christianity is more than a religion; it is a relationship with Jesus Christ. John 15:9 says, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now continue in my love." John 15:15, "I have called you friends." John 17:24, "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am." John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends"

Jesus summarized the true meaning of religion in Matthew 22:37-40, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbour as yourself."

Some common religious views and faith:

• Bahá'í Faith
• Buddhism
• Christianity
• Fideism
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Judaism
• Sikhism

Philosophy

In the history of Christian theology, philosophy has sometimes been seen as a natural complement to theological reflection, whereas at other times practitioners of the two disciplines have regarded each other as mortal enemies.

Some early Christian thinkers such as Tertullian were of the view that any intrusion of secular philosophical reason into theological reflection was out of order. Early Christian thinkers, such as St. Augustine of Hippo, argued that philosophical reflection complemented theology, but only when these philosophical reflections were firmly grounded in a prior intellectual commitment to the underlying truth of the Christian faith. Thus, the legitimacy of philosophy was derived from the legitimacy of the underlying faith commitments.

The rules for good thinking, how to reason clearly so as to communicate to others good reasons for believing, studying of the principles all good thinkers, at all times, follow.

• Epistemology: The study of knowledge: What is knowledge? What is truth? How do we get knowledge? What are the different types of knowledge?
• Metaphysics: What is existence? Which things actually do exist? Which are the main worldviews – “Philosophy of life”? What is God? Matter? Soul? Cause? Purpose? Substance? Time? Consciousness? Space? History? Etc.
• Philosophical Anthropology: What are Human persons? What is Human intelligence? Freedom? Language? Thought? Emotion? Immorality?
• Ethics: What makes for a truly good life? Which obligations and rights do individuals have? What are the virtues of good living?
• Asthetics: What is beauty? What is creativity? Art? What are the standards of taste?

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Seeking God in Prayer

Sometimes it is hard to define the meaning of the above topics but we can seek God in prayer who is the source of everything which enable us to find the truth. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." [John 8:32] It is the Truth about self, Truth about God, Truth about life.

God desires that we establish a relationship with Him, He always speaks to us even though we don't know it, He has given us our conscience as a voice that tells us what is good and what is bad. He guides us with the Holy Spirit and He teaches us the way to go, He has sent His Son to redeem us and to establish the true way to Him.

Through prayer we can cultivate our faith, we can come closer to God, we can receive the knowledge and wisdom to know Him more intimately and ultimately we can love Him by accepting His commandments and by loving one another.

Prayer then is an expression of our faith, since by the virtue of piety we are moved to seek God, to please Him and to trust Him in all our needs. Prayer is an act of trust, because we don't see God and yet we come to Him, it is like negotiating with someone who will give us a very great deal. Everything that comes from God is good, so we have nothing to lose when we come respectfully in prayer before Him, but we have so much to win.

Every prayer is listened to, although some prayers are not answered the way we expect. Perhaps we are not praying in accordance with the will of God, perhaps we are unknowingly giving instructions to God. Let us be very humble when we pray.

Therese of Lisieux says: "For me, prayer is a surge of the heart, it is simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy".

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Let Us Pray

(Read also the 30 day devotions that go with this on the website at prayerstrategy.org/prayers-for-religion/ - use the link at the top of the article to open it.)

The 'Jesus Prayer' is very simple: 
"Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

The Lord's Prayer:

Origin: The gospel of Matthew, chapter 6

Our Father, who art in heaven, 
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses*,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, [and] the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. 
Amen.

Prayer for the Salvation of the World:

Father, hear our prayers for the salvation of the world. 
Grant Mercy to all souls that turned away from You. 
Open their hearts and minds with Your light. 
Gather Your children from the east and the west, from the north and the south.
Have mercy O God on those who do not know You. 
Bring them out of darkness into Your light. 
You are our saving God Who leads us in our salvation. Protect us from evil.
Bless and praise You O Lord, hear our prayers and answer us. 
You, our Savior, are the hope of all the ends of the Earth and the distant seas. 
May Your way be known upon Earth; among all nations Your salvation.
We put the world in Your hands; fill us with Your love. 
Grant us peace through Christ, our Lord. 
Amen

Prayer for Human Dignity:

Lord and giver of all life, help us to value each person, created in love by you. 
In your mercy, guide and assist our efforts to promote the dignity and value of all human life, born and unborn. 
We ask this through Christ our Lord. 
Amen.

For Joy in God's Creation:

O heavenly Father, who hast filled the world with beauty:
Open our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works;
that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness; 
for the sake of him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen.

For Peace Among the Nations:

Almighty God our heavenly Father, 
guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, 
and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, 
that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Let us read a few verses from John 16:

8-11 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 
14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 
15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Foretold

16 “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” 
17-18 Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” 
19 Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 
20 “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. 
21 “Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. 
22 “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Prayer Promises

23 “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 
24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. 
26-27 “In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 
28 “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.”
29-30 His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. 
“Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.” 
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 
32 “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 
33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

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2018 Daily Prayer Calendar and Scriptures during June

The day-to-day prayer calendar for all of 2018 has been posted on the website - http://prayerstrategy.org/calendar/

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Spark Notes (5/20)

Taking Our Place in the Story

On 5/20, Justin Vande Water shared with us about local missions.

Vision of God:
- "To make His name know and worshipped in the earth by all nations" Psalm 86:9
-- "To fill the earth with His glory like the waters cover the sea" Habakkuk 2:14

Mission of God: 
- "Be fruitful and multiply" Genesis 1:26-28
- "make disciples of the nations" Matthew 28:18-20
- Who I am determines what I do...I am a missionary! John 20:21

Strategy: How did Jesus carry out the mission of God? (Boots on the ground)
- Prayer. Luke 10:2
- Seek the Lost. Luke 19:10
- Bring the presence, the power and the proclamations of the Kingdom. Luke 4:18, Isaiah 61:1-2
- Depend on the Holy Spirit for growth/development. John 14:12 + 1 Corinthians 3:6
- Gather the Harvest. Acts 2:44
- Empower the ordinary men to continue the task. 2 Timothy 2:2
- Illustrated in Mark 4:26-29 "The Parable of the Seed Growing" : 4 Fields of the Kingdom Growth.
"The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he know not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blad, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." 

It's all about the person and the work of the Holy Spirit:
- "and when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement." John 16:8
-"He saved us, not by works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:5-6
-"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth." John 16:13-15/1 Corinthians 2:13
-"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses." -Acts 1:8

Partnering with the Holy Spirit to fulfill the Great Commission:
-Matthew 28:18-20: "I am with you always..."
-Mark 16:20: "The Lord worked with them..."
-Luke 24:49: "I am sending the promise of my Father upon you..."
-John 20:21: "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. He breathed on them and said, receive the Holy Spirit."
-Acts 1:8: "And you will receive power with the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses..."

Prayer (resting in God, depending on His Spirit) is the beginning and fuel of mission. 
-Our prayer lives are a litmus test of our dependency on the Holy Spirit
-My House shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. Mark 11:17

Action/Obedience
1. When, hwere with whom will you begin/continue to pray for the harvest?
2. Make a list of the people you know that are far from God.
3. Who's one person from you list that you can share the Gospel with this week?
4. For more information, training and practice in the 4 fields for you or your church, please contact Justin Vande Water at Justin@ourprimary.com/(605) 759-3943

For the full teaching, click here. 

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Praying into Pentecost

The Pentecost is May 20.  Join us in praying as the Pentecost approaches, that the Holy Spirit would flood over our churches, towns, region, country, and world. 

The Church needs the Holy Spirit
St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:17 that "The Lord is a Spirit..." That is why when the Holy Spirit is given to us, we are able to love God so freely as to sacrifice voluntarily the selfish love of the world: "...Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty".
Our faith in the Holy Spirit is our belief that God, who is Love, can share with us something of His own divine love.
We speak of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as the supernatural instincts or impulses that urge us to put the virtues of faith, hope, and charity into practice. We have the fruits of the Holy Spirit that give us a deep supernatural satisfaction in doing the will of God.
We believe that the Church Is One, Holy and Apostolic. These characteristics, inseparably linked with each other, indicate essential features of the Church and her mission. The Church does not possess them of herself; it is Christ who through the Holy Spirit makes His Church one, holy and apostolic, and it is He who calls her to realise each of these qualities.

The rising tide of prayer precedes the flood of God’s Spirit

• The apostles devoted themselves to prayer as they awaited the outpouring at Pentecost (Acts 1:14).
• Their friends gathered for prayer when Peter and John were released from custody  "and when they had prayed the place was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 4:31).
• The blinded Paul fasted and prayed as he awaited the filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:11, 17, 19).
• Cornelius and Peter were both praying when God spoke to them (Acts 10:9,30).
• The church was earnestly praying when God moved to release Peter from prison (Acts 12:5).
• The teachers of Antioch were worshipping and fasting when the Spirit set apart Paul and Barnabas for the mission that changed the world (Acts 13:2).

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Prayer For Our Justice System

PRAYER FOR OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM

Read also the bible verses that go with this at prayerstrategy.org/prayers-for-justice/

Almighty God, you are a God of justice and righteousness.
We pray for the justice system in our country. Lord, you are just and you are merciful God.
You have given our government authority to establish and maintain justice in this nation.
Your justice is perfect; Your word speaks to us to respect and submit to the decisions of our government, but we also can appeal for consideration and reconsideration.
We want to see Your Kingdom in every part of the sphere of Law and Justice,
we do not ask for an avoidance of justice, but for the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
We pray for those struggling with legal issues; bring them peace and confidence.
Let justice prevail in all areas of the departments of law and justice in this country.
Give our judges sound minds and good conscience to deliver decisions based on biblical and moral values.
Show them more of you and your ways.
God, you are the best and final judge of all.
We trust you now and always.
In Jesus’ name. Amen

Scripture: Isaiah 58:6-9

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

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Spark Notes 5/6 - Reaching the Unreached

This week, we learned about the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and current state of the world in regards to being reached by the Gospel.

The Bible is one big story from Genesis to Revelation about God and His glory and there is a theme that runs through the entire story of God's heart for all nations and the purpose He has for His people.

In Genesis 12:1-3, we read that we are blessed to be a blessing.
Exodus 9:16 says that God's name would be proclaimed in all the earth.
Exodus 19:4-6 talks about a kingdom of priests, a holy nations, that is, Israel's calling, opportunity, an response. Then we learn about Jesus, the Messiahs for ALL people.

Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, John 20:21, Luke 24:27-29, Acts 1:8 all commissioned, sent and empowered to tell people about Jesus ad make disciples of all nations.

Acts 9: 1,4 - The Church at Jerusalem is scattered, then in Acts 13:1-3, the church at Antioch sends people out. 1 Peter 2:9 again talks about a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. We learn about the top line blessing means bottom line responsibility. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 says that we are ambassadors with a message. This is the Church's calling and opportunity, so what is the response?

"Make Disciples of all nations" / Greek word for nations is ethnos + ethic groups or people groups.

There are about 17,000 total people groups in the world (total population is 7.5 billion). There are about 7,000 unreached people groups (with a population of 3.2 billion people). There are about 3,000 unengaged people groups. And estimated 2 billion people have never heard the Good News.

Romans 10:13-15 says, How will they heart about Jesus unless someone tells them? Matthew 9:27-28 note that more workers are needed! And we know that the end will come! (Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10).

The "10/40 Window" - where 95% of the unreached people groups are in the world today.

3% of all cross-cultural missionaries are working among the unreached.

Our highest motivation should be to see the glory of God in all the earth. John 4:35 tells us that the fields are ripe for harvest! The most beautiful part is that in Revelation 7:9-10 we are given a foretaste of what is to come.

For resources on how to pray for the unreached and to get involved, visit joshuaproject.net
For more statistics, watch this video.

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