Zoom – Prayer – Preparation

Posted by occwebsite
27th Mar 2020

We are going to join with Evangelical Fellowship of Canada [EFC] and the World Evangelical Alliance [WEA] and many churches across Canada and around the world to pray for our Orillia and area, Canada and our world in this time of COVID-19.

We are going to try a Zoom Room Prayer meeting.
Here are the details you need:
Date: 29 March 2020
Time: 6:30pm

  • Click on this link. [The link is now available]
    If it asks for details (I don’t think it will) they are:
    Meeting ID: 539 607 853
    Password: 015390
  • It will take you to the Zoom Room.
  • If you are participating while in a busy room, mute your microphone until you want to pray.
  • Specific prayer items will be added in the Chat Box
  • Join Zoom Meeting

     

     

Introduction

Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said,
“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart. (2 Chronicles 7:12-16 New Living Translation)

God’s promise to God’s people is that of restorative response to humble prayer. God’s people are now scattered worldwide in-Christ, yet wherever we are, there Jesus is in the midst of us (Matthew 18:20). Wherever we are, we are individually the temple of the Holy Spirit and collectively the temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16).

What was promised in the temple of Solomon can be fairly appropriated by those of us under the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. Our very lives are the living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) acceptable to God, as we lay them down in service for others (Romans 12:3 onward; Philippians 2:3-11 onward). So we can rest assured that God will be attentive to our cries for help when we come with the attitude of Christ, in humility and dependence, committed to obedient service, even unto death. For wherever we are, it is set apart as a holy place, for we are God’s holy people in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:18, 2:19; Philippians 4:21; Colossians 3:12; Hebrews 13:12; 1 Peter 2:9; Jude 1:3 among many other passages). Wherever we are, with the attitude of Christ, empowered by the Spirit of Christ, God’s name is, and will continue to be, honoured.

With that assurance, let us join our hearts and our focus before God on this day set aside to pray and fast in faith and hope for God’s mercy and grace in the midst of COVID19 virus troubles. Pray with expectancy that God will indeed hear from heaven, forgive our sins and restore our lands, and all who dwell in them.

Preparing Yourself to Pray

The Apostle Paul, encouraging Roman believers, wrote,

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 New Living Translation)

The world is full of fear and anxiety right now as people struggle to make sense of the potential threats to their physical and economic wellbeing. The best comfort secular governments can offer is an assurance that they are working on the problem and an encouragement to remain calm, rational and kind to one another. Yet, human nature being what it is, people are too easily consumed by self-preservation. Panic purchasing at grocery stores reveals how little we are naturally concerned about the needs of others.

This should not be so with followers of Jesus. We do not copy the behaviour and customs of this world (Romans 2:2). Instead, we have an opportunity to shine like bright stars (Philippians 2:15) as we respond to our circumstances like Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit—living and serving in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).
That begins with coming into and remaining in the presence of God,

  • With belief — the prerequisite for calling on God (Romans 10:14)
  • With humility — in weakness, confessing our need of God and sins that separates us (Isaiah 59:1-2)
  • With desperation — earnest prayer is powerful in its effects (James 5:16)
  • With expectation — that God will hear and rescue (Micah 7:7; Zechariah 10:6)
  • With confidence — that God will hear and respond positively (1 John 5:14)
  • With awareness — that we are not alone, but part of “all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18 for example)
  • With gratitude — alert and thankful for the goodness of the Lord (Colossians 4:2)
  • With peace — not anxious for anything, but trusting God in all things (Philippians 4:6-7)

As we come to this dedicated time of prayer and fasting for God’s intervention in the COVID19 pandemic, let us come in faith and hope. Let us hold fast to the promise of God to servant Israel,

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10).

This is true for us because he has chosen us in Christ Jesus and will not reject us (1 Thessalonians 1:4).