Lakeview Christian Center

Praying for Everyone

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Intercessory Community

-Intercessory prayer to be an essential component of our lives
-Valuing corporate and personal prayer and avoiding its neglect
-Prayers that are not self-focused but Kingdom-minded and Gospel-centered
-Supporting others through prayer and bearing their burdens (Gal. 6:2)

Prayers for All People

“Big general prayers become powerful when they are filled up with concrete, radical Biblical goals for the people we are praying for” —John Piper

-Homeless & neglected in the city to find rest in Jesus Christ (Matt. 11:28)
-Missionaries in foreign countries to rejoice in tribulation (James 1:1-4)
-New Orleans business owners as well as blue-collar workers to treasure Jesus Christ as precious (1 Peter 2:4)
-Those in governmental authority to be gifted with supernatural wisdom and peace that leads them to the gospel (1 Tim. 2:2)
-“All of the saints” (Eph. 6:18) to be guarded from the enemy, preserved in doctrinal purity, and matured into Christ’s image for God’s glory

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
-Anthem of salvation (v. 2) & exploring the “glories of Calvary” through song
-God to give us a “new song” — a fresh understanding, experience, and appreciation of who He is and what He has done
-Our corporate worship to display the greatness of god and 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

Leading & Following

“Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee”
—Charles Wesley

Followers

“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him” (Mark 2:14)

-Hearts of submission to Christ and to leadership
-Sheep who know the Word of their Shepherd and respond to His voice
-Followers of Christ who conform to the image of Christ
-Delighters in God and in the nearness of His presence
-Church to be a culture of leading & following

Leaders

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. …Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things” (Hebrews 13:17-18)

-The Pastoral team (Keith, Peter, Matt, Jeff, Pete)
-Covenant Group leaders & extended leadership team
-The raising up of new leaders
Pray for……
…Spirit empowerment for God’s calling on their lives
…Strength to lead in the church and in the home
…Trust in God for daily responsibilities
…Faith in God as they meet resistance
…Protection from the attacks of the Enemy

The Explicit Spirit

The Spirit’s work this morning

“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31)

-Illumination of the preached Word
“…no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11)
-Conviction of sin (John 16:8) and assurance of the Gospel (Rom. 8:16)
-Manifest presence in our gathered worship (1 Cor. 14:25)
-Awakening sinners with the miracle of regeneration (John 3:8)
-Distributing gifts throughout the body (1 Cor. 12)
-Freeing prisoners in bondage to sin (2 Cor. 3:17)
-Glorifying Christ as Lord of all
“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3)

The Spirit’s ministry every day

“…[We] walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. …For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God ” (Romans 8:4, 14)

-Dependency on the Spirit for every moment
-Spirit-filled lifestyle of obedience, wisdom, and self-sacrifice (Eph. 5:18)
-Boldness in personal witness and every-day evangelism
-Continually renewed by the Spirit and washed by the Word (Titus 3:5)
-Lives characterized by love and joy (Gal. 5:22)