Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 14:14
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
John 15:14-16
Prayer Points
Pray for a view of yourself that is based on God’s affirmation rather than life’s undermining.
Pray also for a ‘can do’ spirit to pervade church life: its services, house groups, leadership and business meetings.
Pray for people to discover and exercise their ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pray for people and churches to bear fruit that will remain.
DAY 35 : LIBERATING
When Ann Robinson was interviewed on Parkinson she said: ‘Every day my mother used to tell me, ‘You can do whatever you want in the world!’’ How liberating. Few people grow up with such encouragement. Many grow up with the opposite.
It seems that Jesus Christ had the same liberating and affirming attitude towards his followers. ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men’ (Matthew 4:19).’ ‘You can ask me for anything and I will do it’ (Matthew 18:19). ‘If you have faith even as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain be moved’ (Matthew 17:20). But they often had little faith, didn’t understand about his death and resurrection, or the point of his mission. Nevertheless his choice of them was not mistaken. When the Spirit came, they became the leaders of a world-changing movement.
Likewise Jesus has hand-picked you to be his follower: ‘You did not choose me, but I choose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last’ (John 15:16).
There are no limits, no boundaries, to the provision and purposes of God. Perhaps you are unusually gifted to pray for things to change. Maybe you are to be in a team which does exploits for the kingdom of God. Perhaps you can demonstrate the love of God in practical and extravagant ways. Your potential is immense.
What possibilities are there for your church? With a liberating ‘can do’ mentality the potential for ventures of faith lies open. Risks can be taken, opportunities grasped and great exploits begun. The Holy Spirit working through the Word of God in fashioning our hearts and our congregations is a liberating, city- transforming and world-changing power.
Pray
* Pray for your ‘big issue’
* Pray for your ‘three friends’
* Pray for a new wave of revival.