Praying In Unity
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE: SEPTEMBER 3, 2023
PRAYING IN UNITY
Pouring Out Through Prayer Series (Message #3)
Rev. Jason Noh
Opening: God partners to fulfill His will where His people pray together.
“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:19-20)
1. PRAYING IN UNITY STARTS WITH REPENTANCE.
“No one can have God for his Father, who does not have the Church for his mother.” (St. Cyprian)
“And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, ‘If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’” (v.3)
2. PRAYING IN UNITY MEANS COVERING ONE ANOTHER’S WEAKNESS.
“And the people of Israel said to Samuel, ‘Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.’” (v.8)
“For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance” (Philippians 1:19)
3. MOVING FROM GOOD TO GREAT THROUGH PRAYING IN UNITY.
“Then Samuel said, ‘Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.’ So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, ‘We have sinned against the Lord.’ And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.” (v.5-6)
“As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them in to confusion, and they were defeated before Israel.” (v.10)
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18-19)
Closing: When our community is spiritually united, we come alive.