August 2, 2015

This weekend, I am officiating at wedding of a precious young couple in New Jersey and then preaching at the Gateway Church in New York.  I apologize that I will not be with you, but I am very grateful for the prayerful support of the Cathedral Congregation in all of our ministry endeavors.  Dr. Hannah Harrington will be bringing a powerful message from the Word of God this morning.

We have been talking about praying for our nation and community.  One of the great passages of Scripture regarding the role of God’s people in the spiritual life of a nation and community is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God tells Solomon:  

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 AMP - If I shut up heaven so no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

The Word of God tells us that we are responsible to pray for our nation and our community.  Before there is forgiveness, there must be repentance.  Before there is healing, there must be mercy.  Before there is revival, there must be PRAYER!  We must make prayer a PRIORITY in our lives and ministry.  In 1 Timothy 2, The Apostle Paul gave instruction to Timothy concerning prayer.

1 Timothy 2:1 VOICE - So, first and foremost, I urge God’s people to pray…

John Wesley once said, "God does nothing except in response to believing prayer."   Far too often, prayer is an afterthought…an “oh by the way, I guess I should pray about this.”  We make our plans, write our budgets, negotiate our contracts, and preach our sermons…but have we prayed?!

• Before we plan, PRAY!  
• Before we work, PRAY!  
• Before we do ministry, PRAY!  
• Before you take that new job, or promotion, PRAY!  
• Before you do anything, and in everything, PRAY!  PRAY!  PRAY!