Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Luke 2:22-38 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord” and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Boiler Room:
Spurgeon's "Boiler Room"
Five young college students were spending a Sunday in London, so they went to hear the famed C.H. Spurgeon preach. While waiting for the doors to open, the students were greeted by a man who asked, "Gentlemen, let me show you around. Would you like to see the heating plant of this church?" They were not particularly interested, for it was a hot day in July. But they didn't want to offend the stranger, so they consented. The young men were taken down a stairway, a door was quietly opened, and their guide whispered, "This is our heating plant." Surprised, the students saw 700 people bowed in prayer, seeking a blessing on the service that was soon to begin in the auditorium above. Softly closing the door, the gentleman then introduced himself. It was none other than Charles Spurgeon.
Taken from, Our Daily Bread, April 24
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) is known as the ‘prince of preachers.’ He was a Baptist minister in England who saw enormous blessings from God upon his ministry. It is not an exaggeration to say that thousands came to Christ through his preaching. Some of services drew as many as 10,000 people at a time!
But Spurgeon never took credit for the success of his ministry. Instead, he always pointed to the hundreds of people who came before services and prayed for God’s blessing. He said any success he had came from God in answer to their prayers. Spurgeon was often fond of calling these prayer gatherings the church’s “boiler room.”
In Spurgeon’s time, steam was the power source of the day. Boiler rooms were the powerhouses, the driving forces of everything from vast machines in factories to household heating systems. Boiler rooms, however, were not pleasant places to visit. They were functional, dirty, and hot; often tucked away in the basement. Likewise, Spurgeon saw the prayers of his people as the spiritual power behind his preaching and ministry.
This is why he told his fellow pastors, “Brethren, we shall never see much change for the better in our churches in general till the prayer meeting occupies a higher place in the esteem of Christians.”
-From the blog https://prayingforrevival.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/spurgeons-boiler-rooms/
This is available to you every Sunday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the church.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
The ABCs of fasting:
When you otherwise would be eating, set aside time that you are praying about these areas:
1. Areas you need to ADVANCE your service to God i.e. - Miracles on the job front
2. Areas you need a BREAKTHROUGH from God - Your provision from God i.e. - Breaking sin habits Financial breakthroughs Relational breakthroughs
3. Areas you need to be CONSECRATED in a whole new way Your heart before God
Luke 2:39-40 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
To grow in strength, you need a plan:
Writing out a mission statement before the Lord:
What are goals that He is giving you this year for: 1) Your time with Him 2) Your service in and through the church 3) Your finances (budgeting) and giving
Your relationships: 1) Marital or romantic - How do you need to go to the next level? 2) Pro-active child rearing 3) Covenant relationships
Your academics/career: 1) What new ventures do you need to pursue? 2) What learning opportunities are available to you? 3) What new responsibility can you take on to be a blessing to the school/company?
Your health: 1) Eating 2) Exercise 3) Rest
What do you need to do to achieve these things: 1) Daily 2) Weekly 3) Monthly 4) By the end of the year Your place in this city:
Jeremiah 29:4-7 (NIV) This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
We envision being a house of prayer for all the nations to the glory of God.
We envision sharing the Good News of Christ’s death and resurrection with thousands of unchurched friends and people in the greater Chicagoland area, many of whom will accept Him as Lord and Savior.
We envision developing people – new believers as well as established believers – into fully functioning followers of Christ through Bible study, worship services, community groups, special events, and leadership training.
We envision being a church that lives and models biblical community: a safe place where we are accepted, loved, shepherded, encouraged, forgiven, and are built into disciples of Jesus Christ.
We envision helping all our people – youth as well as adults – to discover their divine designs so that they are equipped to serve Christ effectively in some ministry within and outside our church.
We envision welcoming numerous members into our body who are excited about Christ, will experience healing in their family relationships and marriages, and grow together in love.
We envision being a people who care for the orphan, the widow, the victim, and the poor through practical means that help to rebuild lives.
We envision training and sending out missionaries, church planters, and church workers all over the world. We also see a number of our people pursuing short-term missions service domestically and abroad. We see our people ministering to unreached people groups and serving the least Christianized cities of the world.
We envision training marketplace Christians to be fully devoted followers of Christ who help transform culture by bringing the kingdom of God to every sphere of industry and influence.
We envision being a generous people. We see the people of God giving radically to the advance of the gospel in the city and the nations because of the love of God in their hearts.
Second City Church- The Church Awakens Sermon Series 2015