7-4-15 I'm Praying for You...

See what you missed if you weren't there??? I invented a game!!! Mingo (or Bingle) (A game combining Bingo and Mingling!) So, we should know all these facts about the women we study with each week!

Has been to Alaska	Is more than 55 years old	Has been horseback riding in the past year	Loves to garden	Has ironed a piece of clothing in the past week
Read more than one day of Whispers at one sitting this week	Has never had stitches	Prefers real books over electronic books	Would like to get involved working in the Welcome Center J	Is allergic to cats
Considers herself shy	Loves to scrapbook	Born in the same state as you	Does her devos in the evening	Changes her sheets weekly
Has more grandchildren than you	Sings off-key	Can say the alphabet backwards	Born in the same month as you	Is left handed
Played the flute once	Loves to get a massage	Has changed a flat tire	Can bowl 125 or more	Knows how to play poker

5 Bingo

Border Bingo

Blackout Bingo

Week 5

Intercessory Prayer

Wiki-In Christianity, intercession or intercessory prayer is the act of praying to God on behalf of others. In Western Christianity, intercession forms a distinct form of prayer, alongside Adoration, Confession and Thanksgiving.

in-ter-sesh'-un (pagha`, "to make intercession"; originally "to strike upon," or "against"; then in a good sense, "to assail anyone with petitions," "to urge," and when on behalf of another, "to intercede" (Ruth 1:16; Jeremiah 7:16; 27:18; Job 21:15; Genesis 23:8; Isaiah 53:12; Jeremiah 36:25). 

***Why should we pray for each other?

God says to.  Writers of the Bible did.

Luke 11:5-10 - Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this illustration: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' He would call out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and we are all in bed. I can't help you this time.' But I tell you this -- though he won't do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you what you want so his reputation won't be damaged. " "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks."

1 Timothy 2:1- I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.  Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

Ephesians 6:18-20 – 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. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

James 5:16 – Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

1 Peter 5:7 - Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.

CUP ILLUSTRATION--I don't know if this will make any sense at all to write out, but I'll try.

1.   My name is Stella and I am doing OK—except in that one area:  gossip. You know, that one area that is like a dark closet. God can come in and do whatever he wants in all areas of my life, but not that one. I need to feel important to others and I just can’t give up that. It’s my one vice. Maybe someday, but, for right now, can’t we just ignore that one? Pour water in me and it just falls right out.

2.   My name is Georgia and I am just about at the end of my rope. Nothing big like anyone dying or being persecuted or anything. It’s just the little things. Kids fighting, stoplights, burnt toast. These things pick, pick, pick away at me and I think I’m about to go crazy!! I don’t even have time for two thoughts in a row! Pour water in me and it springs many leaks.

3.   My name is Bertha and people all think I’ve got it all together. I go to church, I go to Bible study, volunteer at the school. I keep my home clean, scrapbook, bake bread from scratch, and iron all my husband’s shirts. But it’s all a show. It feels like the bottom has come out from under me. Pour water in me and it falls right through.

4.   My name is Fern and I am a very new believer. My past has been terrible—drugs, drinking, men. You name it, I’ve probably done it. I want to turn my life around, but sometimes it feels like such a big job. I just don’t know where to start. Pour water in me and I will overflow, but I am not able to hold it all.

5.   My name is Adeline and, until recently, I was engaged to be married. But he broke it off and it was like he cut my heart out. I cry all the time now. Nothing seems like it is right anymore. This is affecting every area of my life. I can’t concentrate. I cry…a lot. I feel like a part of me is missing. It just hurts to pray. Pour water in me and it comes out my broken heart. 

BUT...when we put all the cups together (i.e. praying for each other) the water does not leak out. 

***What to pray?

What they ask you to pray. (IF YOU SAY YOU’RE GOING TO PRAY, YOU MUST PRAY!!!)

Changes MY attitude and maybe changes them.

***Ephesians 1:15-23 – For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

—  Give thanks for them

—  God will give the spirit of wisdom and revelation – to know him better

—  Eyes of their hearts enlightened – to know hope, riches of inheritance, and His power

***Ephesians 3:16-19 – I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

—  God will strengthen them with power

—  Christ will dwell in their hearts through faith

—  They may have power to understand the immensity of Christ’s love.

***Philippians 1:9-11-And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.

—  More love

—  More knowledge and insight

—  More discernment of best and pure and blameless

—  Filled with fruit of righteousness

***Colossians 1:9-12 – For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

—  God show them His will

—  They live life pleasing God:  bearing fruit, growing, being strengthened, enduring with patience.

***2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 – Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

—  They’d spread the message of the Lord

—  Delivered from wicked and evil men and the evil one

—  Hearts ponder God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

***Philemon 1:4-7 – I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

—  Praise for the good we know

—  Praise for love

—  Active in sharing faith

***How to do it:

Church Prayer List???

Index card prayer list

Prayer notebook

Prayer cards near toilet or kitchen sink

Monday	Pray for Your Family Take time to pray for each member of your family, immediate and extended. Entrust each one to the Lord. Whether a believer or not, pray that He draws them "ever one step closer." Be as specific as you can as you pray that He will meet them at their point of need.
Tuesday	Pray for God's Family Pray for the church, starting with your local church. Pray for your pastor(s), ministry leaders (e.g., elders, deacons, missionaries, teachers, nursery workers) and their families. Now think of the church around the world. Pray that the Gospel would be preached "as of first importance" (1 Corinthians 15:1-11).
Wednesday	Pray for Your Community Think about the groups where you are an "insider" and pray for the people you see regularly — those you live near, work with, bump into at school or the store, and so forth. How have they asked you to pray for them? Pray that the Lord will meet each one at his or her point of need, both physically and spiritually, according to His will.
Thursday	Pray for the Nation Pray for the revival of God's people, and that we'll be "Jesus in jeans" as we truly love and serve. Pray for those in authority. Ask God to bring to mind local and national spiritual and political leaders, and pray for each. Pray about national issues and challenges, such as the economy and its impact on everyday families.
Friday	Pray for the World Pray that God will use His people to help others "to know Christ and to make Him known." Pray that Christ followers would respond with Jesus' love, grace, compassion and wisdom to social struggles — add to your prayer list specific needs. Pray for the persecuted church. Finally, pray for the advance of the Gospel everywhere. (Matthew 24:14)
Saturday	Pray for the Helpless, Hopeless, Hurting and Lost Pray for the down-and-out. Start with the world, draw closer to your nation, closer to your state, and closer still to your own community. List the names of and pray for the physically and spiritually afflicted. Pray specifically for ministries that are reaching out to the helpless, hopeless, hurting and lost.
Sunday	Pray for Personal Guidance Pray for your own personal needs. Pull away and pray for yourself—that you will walk with God through every aspect of your life — your personal, family, work, community, and church aspects of your life. Say, "Speak whatever to me, Lord, I'm listening!"

Focus on the Family

Put your hand up to your chest, thumb near your body.

Thumb-Pray for those closest to you--your family, close friends.
Pointer-Pray for those you see around you--people you know, neighbors.
Tall Finger-Pray for those who stand above, the leaders--the President, the mayor, pastors, Bible study leaders.
Ring Finger-Pray for the weak and helpless--the disabled, the elderly, small children
Pinkie Finger-Pray for you, the smallest and most insignificant.