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Harvest Brampton NewsletterOur Newsletter email functions as a paper free bulletin for our church. In this important email you will find all kinds of information about church ministries and opportunities to get involved.
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Home - Newsletters - Harvest Brampton Newsletter - February 22nd, 2011
I WOULD GO TO PRAYER MEETING, BUT...
Attendance at our past few prayer meetings has been amazing,
but I know that some of us are still anxious when they think about the idea of
coming to an event like a prayer meeting. What’s going to happen? Are we really
going to pray for an hour and an a half straight? Will I have to pray out loud
in front of everyone?
In today’s newsletter I’d like to lovingly address and
challenge some of the reasons people choose to opt out of corporate prayer.
I would go to prayer meetings, but I don't know how to pray.
There’s no better way to learn than to listen and observe as
other believers pray together.
I would go to prayer meetings, but I'm afraid to pray in front of other people.
I think some of us are afraid that as soon as they walk into
a prayer meeting someone is going to put a microphone in their face and ask
them to pray on the spot for some obscure tribe in Papua New Guinea. That’s
simply not the case. Many people who come to our prayer meetings don’t open
their mouths at all. They pray quietly in their mind and agree silently with
the people who are praying out loud. At Harvest, we’re all about helping people
grow in Christ by stepping out of their comfort zone. If simply coming to a prayer
meeting is a big step for you, let’s worry about taking that first step and
we’ll patiently help you overcome your fear of praying in front of others after
that (Proverbs 29:25).
I would go to prayer
meetings, but I’m turned off by pseudo-spiritual people spouting off long-winded
prayers.
At Harvest, we don’t believe prayer is a performance. We
don’t hand out awards for the longest prayer or for the prayer with the biggest
words. Jesus warns us not to pray like the “hypocrites” who pray “that they may
be seen” (Matthew 6:5). Isn’t it weird how we take something like prayer, which
is supposed to humble us and bring us low, and we twist it to fuel our sinful
pride and desire for recognition? Prayer is supposed to be simple,
straightforward, and humble. Our prayer meetings are not about us, they’re
about God.
I would go to prayer
meetings but I believe that prayer is something personal.
It is true that Jesus tells us about the importance of
private prayer. “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and
pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6). Private prayer is a very
important component of prayer, but it is not the only component of prayer. We
would be wise to take notice of all the times that we see the believers praying
together in the New Testament (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:42; Acts 4:23-24; Acts 12:5;
Acts 13:3; Acts 21:5). We also can’t ignore that when Jesus taught his
disciples to pray, He told them to pray “Our
Father…. Give us this day our daily bread…. Forgive us… lead us… deliver us” (Matthew
6:9-13). All the requests in the Lord’s Prayer are in the first person plural.
What’s the significance of this? When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray,
He assumed that they were going to be praying together as a group.
The bottom line is that corporate prayer is not just an
option; it’s essential. Our loving Father knows what’s best for us and commands
us to seek Him together with other believers for their benefit, for our
benefit, and for His glory.
So, here’s what you can expect at a Harvest Prayer Meeting:
A time of worship
through song
A time quietly
confessing our sins before the Lord
A time where a few of us
pray out loud with the whole group
A time where we gather
into groups of 3 or 4 to pray for specific needs
A group of people who
are seeking God’s face with passion, humility, and reverence
See you at John Knox Christian School Wednesday night at
7:00 PM!
Prayer Night - February 22nd, 7 - 8:30 PM
Also, remember these upcoming events:
Family Skate - February 27th, 4 - 5 PM
Party With the Pastor - March 25th, 7:30 - 9:30 PM
In Him,
Ted Duncan
Sr. Pastor, Harvest Bible
Chapel
Brampton
Offices are located at:
17 Dean Street
Brampton, ON
L6W 1M7
P: 905.450.0477
F: 905.450.6928
Web: www.harvestbrampton.ca
Twitter: @harvestbrampton
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