“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Go and Make Disciples!

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on the work God has called us to do as we go about life.  It can be easy and convenient to think about discipleship being a task for someone else, but God calls each one of us to be a disciple and to make disciples wherever we go in life.  The good news is that God not only tells us what we ought to be doing, He gives us the ability to do it through His Spirit.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in being a disciple at all times and places.  Pray that you would not only follow the instructions of Jesus, but that you would teach them through your words and actions.  Pray for the wisdom necessary to teach accurately the things of God.  Pray for a submissive spirit that consistently pursues the things of God and that seeks to share those things everywhere you go.  Pray that you would be a worker in the kingdom harvest as God adds to His kingdom daily.

“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 to help you understand and fulfill the Great Commission.

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: Authority.  Pray that God’s authority would be taken seriously by all believers — especially in regards to fulfilling His commission.  Pray for a submissive spirit that seeks to honor the authority of Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would see in you the value of following God’s authority.  “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”  Matthew 28:18

Tuesday: As you Go.  Pray that God would help you to see the opportunities in your daily life to proclaim a living faith in Jesus.  Pray that the message of Jesus would be evident in your life so that you would have many opportunities to give an answer for the hope that you have.  “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’”  Matthew 10:7

Wednesday: Make Disciples.  Pray that everything about you is surrendered to Jesus and that you would not “cheapen” the cost of discipleship.  Pray that you would always be learning from the example of Jesus and then teaching out of that relationship.  “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  Luke 14:33

Thursday: Immerse into Christ.  Pray that you would recognize, and help others recognize, the importance of dying with Christ in order to be raised with Christ.  Pray that you would view and teach baptism with the same level of importance as Jesus did.  Praise God for the work He accomplishes in us when we are buried and risen with Christ.  “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”  Romans 6:3

Friday: Teach Faithfully.  Pray that your teaching remains impartial and true to the Word of God.  Pray that your growth as a disciple of Jesus would help you to teach His Word accurately.  “‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.’”  Matthew 22:16

Saturday:  Constant Presence.  Pray that you would recognize the constant presence of God and never replace Him with a temporary god.  Pray that the people around you would see a constant presence of God in you.  “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”  Hebrews 13:5