ECPC Pleadings to our Father

for March 16 – April 5

 

ˈplēdiNG/ – n. the action of making an emotional or earnest appeal to someone.

James 5:16

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

 

Monday

Staff of ECPC – (Tyler, Jason, Justin, Sarah)  God, allow these who lead us to fight the good fight; direct them to fruitful pursuits (i.e. his way, not our way) Gal 6:9 and Eph 4:12 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, …

May Tyler and Jason grow in this sanctification and continue to 1 Tim 6:20 guard the deposit entrusted to them as ministers and servants. May God in the same way guard them and their families from the evil one, Ps 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Outreach – Father, lead us to be faithful witnesses (as a church) to the lost as You turn people’s hearts of stone to hearts of flesh Eze 36:26  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

May our body be bold in proclaiming the gospel to the darkness 1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

We also ask to direct our people to  help out JHGunn with testing and to allow volunteers an opportunity to support teachers and connect with students. 1 Cor 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

 

Tuesday

Children –  Ps 102:28 May God give our children patience, self-control, shrewdness, and may their souls reflect the image of Him who made them as He brings them closer to Himself. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…

We also ask for:

  • 4 more volunteers and wisdom in when to start another class and how do divide up the class.
  • Wisdom in what curriculum/teaching to use after Jesus Storybook Bible is over.
  • Direction in changing the teaching time with regular storytellers and music, bible memory – when and how this will look.

Mercy/Missions – Lord, tell us, where should our money go? Where and how should we invest our time & talent?

*Pray through the following Scriptures:

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:16-20

Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts. Mal 3:5

We also ask for:

  • wisdom on how to organize/structure our giving; guidance on how to support the already-interviewed and soon-to-be interviewed missionaries/ministries; building bridges and relationships with currently supported ministries/missionaries (Urban Eagles, Vickerys)

Ps 22:27-28 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD,and he rules over the nations.

 

Wednesday

Finance – Lord, give wisdom to various ministry “captains” as they work on their budget for the upcoming year. Grant us to be faithful stewards of church resources, having wisdom in benevolent giving, and lead us  in the 2015/16 budget process.

Ps 65:9 You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.

Gen 45:11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’

Welcome – Let us all not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Heb 13:2 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God Rom 15:7

 

Thursday

Women – We ask for the three Bible studies to be God honoring and glorifying.  That the Women’s retreat would be a growing opportunity for our ladies. (And for all the details going into it.) That we would be unified through these different outlets and living life together.   That our love for each other would be attractive to non believers because they would see Christ at work in us.  But not  just for non believers but for the sake of the Kingdom and for the growth of the bride of Christ to be made more beautiful!

God, allow the retreat on March 20-21 to be a renewing time with you Mark 6:30-32  The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.

Also, give the women hearts prepared for the message,  open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out of your Law Ps 119:18, open to fellowship, and for final plans to come together.

Life Groups John 17:26 We ask for perseverance for a long spring season, good judgment on the balance of teaching days versus social gatherings. Gal 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

And long term give us 1-2 new life groups for the fall.

 

Friday

Men – Father, we boldly ask you to make the men of ECPC would Christ-centered men, husbands, and fathers for we know that this is critical to life of the church! Give our men discernment of call for potential officers. Also, may we NOT neglect the non-candidate men!

We lift up to you the upcoming CAMPING trip!!! – – – Intentional manly retreats was a primary part of Christ’s ministry to/with His disciples (The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.   And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. – Mk 6:30-32

Worship Team – May your Spirit guide our church in continuing  to discover “who we are” in terms of worship style. We ask that you bring more people to be involved in the worship service. Make us  forget ourselves in worshiping Yahweh!  God is all-powerful, infinitely wise, and relentless in His love for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That is devastatingly/overwhelmingly glorious!

Rev 5:11-14

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

 

Saturday

Roadies Num 3:36-37 And the appointed guard duty of the sons of Merari involved the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories; all the service connected with these; also the pillars around the court, with their bases and pegs and cords.

We ask Father, for continued endurance, logistical skill, strength and patience as Michael leads this team. Also for more men to join the team and lessen the load and for safety.

As we worship you in an earthly place we hope in our future place of worship – You!  Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb

Preaching 1 Sam 2:35 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.

May you give Tyler and Jason faithfulness. Help them to preach out of the abundance/overflow of Your grace in their hearts. May they repent of any self-serving or prideful ambition.

2 Cor 1:19-22 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes.  For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.  And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,  and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Col 4:3-4 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word,to declare the mystery of Christ, ……that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.