To God’s beloved at Cloverdale Baptist Church:
This is a week we are setting aside for a passionate pursuit of God in prayer!
After this email are notes about it, and we will release a quick video on Thursday night sharing some answers to commonly asked questions, but in essence we are longing for God to work in and through us for His glory. We are seeking a unified pursuit of His presence and power in prayer. We long for Him, and what He desires more than anything else, and we acknowledge our deep dependence on Him (Hebrews 4:16).
WE LONG FOR CBC TO BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER!
Mark your calendar, Our AGM is going to be a live meeting on October 28. Keep alert as to how you can pray for this time together, as well as be an active participant if you are a member.
We have a new memory verse for October. It is sad for me to leave Isaiah 41:10 behind (although if you have memorized it, you will now have it for the rest of your life…), and our new verse is Isaiah 40:31. Look for the release of our Examining the Scriptures, for this precious verse. Make it your goal to meditate on this every day this month, and make it a precious part of your life LONG TERM. I LOVE THIS VERSE!
As elders we are reading, 9 Marks of A Healthy Church, and I am reminded of two things…how important the right definition of success is, as well as how often we need to be reminded about this in our current culture of busyness. If you want to read along with us, grab a copy, and join us in this amazing read.
Last week I promised a book on prayer for the first person who got back to me, and the response was amazing, and many asked for resources on prayer.
Five books that have helped me improve my prayer life are...
Carson, D.A.: A Call To Spiritual Reformation. (Previously entitled Praying With Paul).
Chappell, Bryan: Praying Backwards.
Piper, John: A Hunger For God.
Whitney, Donald: Spiritual Disciplines Of The Christian Life. (I also love his book on Praying The Bible, but his chapter on prayer in his disciplines book worth the price of the book).
Miller, Paul: A Praying Life.
Honourable mention: The Prayers Of Jesus, by Mark Jones.
There are many other great books on prayer (Keller’s worth the read), and on spiritual disciplines (Disciplines of a Godly Man/Woman by Hughes fantastic), but there are my top 5 on prayer. Carson’s book is a must read from my perspective as it teaches us how Spirit inspired prayers can shape ours (It transformed my prayer life).
Please make sure to sign up for a Growth Group. In COVID we can’t meet as a large family, as we long to do, but we can meet in smaller groups, and NOW MORE THAN EVER we need this! So please make your commitment to community smaller and firmer in these times! If you are not in a group, we would love to plug you in, so please call the office!
Sunday Is Coming:
Title: Trusting God: He Is Our Strength
Text: Isaiah 40
Please take the time to read through the entire passage. It is so rich, and I long for us to find in our view of God renewed hope and strength.
- Why do we sometimes feel so weary in life?
- How can we wait on God?
- Why is our view of God so important for real life?
- What does it mean that God notices us?
- How can we serve in the strength that God provides (1 Peter 4:11)?
- The life that God has called us to live is way beyond what we can do in our own strength. As we learn this, how can we also learn to live in the strength He provides?
Fasting and Prayer: October 2, 2020
Thank you so much for joining us in our desire to seek the Lord in deep dependence through fasting and prayer. As we acknowledge our need for the Lord and desire greater intimacy and holiness this leads to far greater impact for the Glory of God and His will for us at CBC.
This is a strange time and the MOST IMPORTANT thing we can do is PRAY!
What do we need to do? We have chosen to set aside October 2; as a day for the church too fast and pray (following the pattern of the NT church) Acts 13.
Try for a 24 hour fast. Usually supper, to supper….eat supper, the night before…then begin your fast…don’t eat until supper of the next day (the day you are fasting). Feel free to drink fluids. Try to start your day in the Word and prayer. Confessing your sins and long for a pure heart of thanksgiving as you enter the throne of Grace. Pray for the requests for the body at CBC (given here) and anything else that comes to mind. Use your hunger pains as reminders to pray and crave for God more than you crave for food. We long for God to move among us helping us to delight in Christ and renew our passion for holiness, truth, mission and authentic love.
Pray as much as you are able, as often as you can and with delight in and freedom in your relationship with the King. Our great desire is for deeper intimacy and broader impact, and we know apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5)
Pray for:
A renewed desire for holiness to permeate our congregation as an overflow of our own lives. Ask the Lord to take you/us deeper and further with Him, and that He will show you/us the things that are standing in the way of a closer walk with Him.
- An awareness of sin
- Brokenness over sin, and helplessness
- Experience forgiveness from sin/healing /fullness of Joy
- Replacing sin in our lives with Christ shaped character
- A renewed passion for the Gospel, and its spreading in and through our lives here and around the world
Specific Requests:
Continued Community Love & Loyalty In A Pandemic: That we would be a family that stays committed to one another, and a place of constant encouragement and unity.
For Our Joint Servant Team Retreat: October 3, we are gathering as elders, deacons and staff to pray for renewed focus and passion in serving CBC.
Personal Revival: that we would be a first love people and in that find selflessness, humility and love for one another.
Corporate Revival: That God would light in us a fire of passion and focus to exalt Him alone. That CBC would be a place loyal to the Gospel, God’s Word, and God’s people.
Mission Accomplishment this year: In the midst of a pandemic we long to be a people who are creative in serving our LORD and one another!
Psalm 127:1; Exodus 17:10-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 6:18; Acts 6:4; Matthew 6:3-15
Other: Spend a lot of time in Thanksgiving for God’s Grace and His Gospel!
A Pattern Of Requests I Pray for Our Church…
- L Love Relationship with God…Core of who we are: Mark 12:28-31
That we would be a church that is relational, and has an experience of God’s love, that makes that relationship with drives and defines everything else!
First love relationship with God. Revelation 2:4
- O One Heart & Mind: Romans 15:5-6; Philippians 1:27
Unity together for God’s Glory!
Deep love for one another that we are known for John 13:34-35; 1 Peter 4:8
- V Vision would be God’s and we will pursue together…HTML
Philippians 1:21; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 1:16; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 3:14-21; 1 Peter 4:8
-That we would accomplish the tasks God has given us!
- E Eager Servants…That we would be a great church full of eager servants.
Ephesians 4:11-16; John 13:1-14
Pray for God to bless us with impact on this world, a church full of people who are full of God.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Oh that God would use us way beyond our potential in unity and passion in our pursuit of His glory together
Privileged to seek God with you in prayer, and with passion for His glory,
Pastor Rob