Year: 2020

We live in a world that continually encourages us to live in our own power and strength.
Pray that every follower of Jesus will recognize that we can only live the way that God wants us to, when we are dependent on his power and strength, as we lean on the Spirit.

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence. Philippians 3:3-4

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6

Pray that people around us [OCCers, other church communities, people in general] who are spiritually asleep will be shaken from their slumber, as the apostle Paul says in quoting what is probably an early hymn

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14

We pray that the light of the gospel of Christ’s kingdom will shine into our lives and out into the world.

The prophet Ezekiel spoke of a day of judgment against Israel.
In that day every person will shake at God’s presence.
Pray that all of us, all over the world, would shake under the realization that we are still accountable to a holy God.

The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign Lord. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ Ezekiel 38:2-23

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,

pray that followers of Jesus, here in Orillia and around the world will be

…thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe Hebrews 12:28

That word “worship” includes serving. We worship God, “with reverence and awe” by being people who are being and doing all that God desires.

Pray that God’s Spirit will powerfully move in the church [OCC, the church in Orillia, and the church around the world] so that everything related to the ways of the world a, the flesh and the devil will be shaken loose, exposed, and repented of by followers of Jesus who are experiencing God’s presence and power in their lives.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. Ephesians 2:1-3 NIV

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31 ESV

Praying during July

Each day during July I will be posting a passage of scripture and a theme to pray, that there be a shaking, filling, boldness, unity and power as we as the church live in light of who we are and who we are called to be.

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. Acts 4:27-33 NIV