“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Saved!

“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’  Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”
Matthew 19:25-26 (NIV)

Many people, even some Christians, are filled with confusion when the issue of being saved comes up.  It seems every group has their own theology of how to be saved, what you need saved from, what you are being saved to do, and even how to remain saved.  With so much confusion, one might think that the Bible has little to say about salvation — but that is simply not true.  As with many Bible topics, the difficulty isn’t caused by a lack of information, rather it grows out of a lack of application.  It is easy to grasp hold of a verse or two that we can carry around to be pulled out when we want to talk about what it means to be saved, but rarely does a verse or two do justice to the entirety of any issue as serious as our salvation.  As you pray this week, ask God to  help you have a greater understanding of the salvation that is offered through the name of Jesus.  Pray that you would grow in your understanding, and sharing, of the “whole counsel” of God’s Word in regard to being saved.  Pray that your desire would be the same as God’s — that all people would be saved.  Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please pray each day for God’s help in understanding and accepting the whole counsel of scripture in regards to being saved.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.  

Monday: Saved By Entering Life Through Jesus.  Pray that you would know Jesus as the entrance to being saved.  Pray that you would help others to know that Jesus is that gate through which salvation can be found.  “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”  John 10:9 (NIV)

Tuesday: Saved By the Gospel of Jesus.  Pray that you would understand the “good news” of Jesus — His death, burial, and resurrection — as the firm foundation of salvation.  Pray that you would hold firm to the gospel so that your belief would not be in vain.  “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”  1 Corinthians 15:2 (NIV)

Wednesday: Saved By God’s Grace.  Pray that you would always see your actions related to salvation as your response to God’s grace, not the cause for it.  Pray that both your acceptance and response to God’s gift would lead you to salvation.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”  Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

Thursday: Saved to Know Truth.  Pray that you would seek to live in peace so that the truth of God’s Word which brings salvation would be made known.  Pray that the salvation you have in Christ would lead you to a greater pursuit of the knowledge of truth.  “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:3-4 (NIV)

Friday: Saved Through Courageous Belief.  Pray that you would be courageous in holding fast to a belief in the power of Jesus to save.  Pray that your belief in Jesus would fill you with the courage to remain faithful in all circumstances.  “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”  Hebrews 10:39 (NIV)

Saturday:  Saved By the Resurrection of Jesus.  Pray that you would understand the work God does through baptism as a person is resurrected to walk a new life.  Pray for the power of the resurrection to be at work in your life as you walk in obedience to God’s commands.  “And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”  1 Peter 3:21 (NIV)