Lakeview Christian Center

Praying Psalm 1

The Way of Wisdom

“Blessed is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers” (Psalm 1:1)

-Our church to be a wisdom-saturated community
-Biblical soberness to guard against the temptations of “Lady Folly”
-The language and flavor of the world to become increasingly foreign to us
-Not submitting to the “counsel of the wicked” & the world’s philosophy of life
-People who cherish godly wisdom and pursue Biblical thinking

Delighting in God’s Word

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he mediates day and night” (Psalm 1:2)

-Children of God grounded in the truth of God
-God’s Word to have a washing and sanctifying effect on our lives (Eph. 5:26)
-Communion with God in the Scriptures to be a daily priority
-Our functional Christianity to be “Word-centric” (not based upon human ideas but on God’s self-revelation)
-God’s Word to bring nourishment & vitality to the Spiritually weary (Ps. 1:3)

Praying Psalm 96

Sing a New Song

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day” (Psalm 96:1-2)

-God to bless this morning’s time of worship with His presence
-Those reluctant to worship expressively would be freed to celebrate God
-Anthem of salvation (v. 2) & exploring the “glories of Calvary” through song
-God to give us a “new song” — a fresh understanding, experience, & appreciation of who He is & what He has done
-Our corporate worship to display the greatness of god & the magnitude of grace

Declare His Glory Among the Nations

“Declare His glory among the nations; His marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods” (Psalm 96:3-4).

-God to use us in spreading a passion for His name
-God to bless Sovereign Grace’s efforts to extend the church to the most unreached people
-Lord “to be feared above all gods” (v. 4) in nations trapped in idolatry
-Young & old in our church to sense a burden for local & global missions
-All in our church to experience the joy of declaring God’s glory among the nations

Awakening Prayers for Awakening

“Revival is a season in the life of the church when God causes the normal ministry of the gospel to surge forward with extraordinary spiritual power… Revival is seasonal, not perennial. God causes it; we do not. It is the normal ministry of the gospel, not something eccentric or even different from what the church is always charged to do. What sets revival apart is simply that our usual efforts greatly accelerate in their spiritual effects.”
–Ray Ortlund, When God Comes to Church, p. 9

Personal & Corporate Revival:

“…He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5-6)

-Softened hearts ready to receive the Word
-Fresh vigor and empowerment in the battle against sin
-Awakening of boldness in personal witness
-Experience of the presence of the Spirit in daily living
-Church community characterized by self-sacrifice & service
-Gospel central in the life and ministry of the church

Revival in the City:

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (Phil. 1:12)

-Influx of visitors present for our Grand Openings
-Gospel to shine through us into the Lakeview community and beyond
-God to bless this city with the gift of repentance
-Nominal Christianity & dead religion replaced by vibrancy & Gospel truth

Returning from Exile

“Return, faithless people. I will cure you of your backsliding” –Jeremiah 3:22

[1 Peter 2:1-3]

Revival for Spiritual Disciplines in Exile

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (v. 2-3)

-Awakening from lethargy & spiritual coldness
-Nourishment for souls starving for the Word (Deut. 8:3)
-Repentance from a posture of prayerlessness
-Returning to practices of giving that have been placed on hold

Restoration for Relationships in Exile

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander” (v. 1)

-Renewal for marriages in functional divorce
-Faith for parents who have given up
-Hearts of wayward children drawn to the home
-Restoration for friendships destroyed by bitterness