Day 2 of 10 Days Of Prayer January 2024
Day 2 Of 10 Days Of Prayer January 2024
The Space Between Matters
Eugene Peterson (The Message).
“There can be no maturity in the spiritual life, no obedience in following Jesus, no wholeness in the Christian life, apart from an immersion in, and embrace of, community. I am not myself by myself.”
God “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” Genesis 2:18
According to the National Institute on Ageing the health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Social isolation and loneliness have even been estimated to shorten a person’s life span by as many as 15 years. (https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2022/05/prolonged-social-isolation-loneliness-are-equivalent-smoking-15-cigarettes-day
Acts 20:20 “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.”
Acts 2:46 “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house,”
The Space Between Matters!!!
The corporate celebration is important.
The midweek connect is an essential part of advancing the purpose of God.
Habakkuk 2:14 “… earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,…”.
Fellowship Function Formation
Giligan’s Island — Hogans Heros — Friends — Real Housewives of New Jersey
Johann Hari “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety – it’s connection”
Professor of Psychology Bruce Alexander “For too long, we have talked exclusively about individual recovery from addiction. We need now to talk about social recovery—how we all recover, together, from the sickness of isolation that is sinking on us like a thick fog.”
Experiment: “What happened is—again—striking. The rats seemed to have a few twitches of withdrawal, but they soon stopped their heavy use, and went back to having a normal life. The good cage saved them.”
In the book of Acts we see the working strategy for fulfilling the mission of God.
Jesus left behind a loving community that would manifest His glory to the ends of the earth.
Equipped
Acts 1:3 “He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
Empowered
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Exponential
In a matter of years the church went from conception to a number that could not be counted with significant influence on the community.
Exponential Growth They grew from 120 people to 3,120 in one day, and the Lord added people daily.
Acts 2:41 “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”
Acts 2:47 “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 4:4 “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”
Acts 5:13-14 “Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,”
Acts 5:28 “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
Church in Jerusalem grew to 100,000 in twenty years. Population of 250,000.
Acts 6:1 “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying,…”
Acts 6:7 “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly.”
Acts 21:20 “And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, ‘You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed,…’”. myrias:— an innumerable company
How did they handle all these people coming into the Kingdom? How were they discipled and cared for? 59 One another NT Commands.
Acts 2:41-47 “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Four Needs That Are Met:
1. Spiritual
Word Of God — Study question. Prayer — Engaging God together.
Fellowship — intimate vulnerable application and accountability
2. Physical
Had things in common. Peoples needs were met. Can you help me with some stuff.
Example. Sharing of skills.
3. Emotional
Gladness. Praising God. Favour. People in community are happier than those in isolation.
4. Missional
Favour with all people. Daily people were added. Together serving locally and beyond.
Others impacted by your life.
The Space Between Matters!!!
Professor Peter Cohen argues that human beings have a deep need to bond and form connections. It’s how we get our satisfaction. If we can’t connect with each other, we will connect with anything we can find—the whirr of a roulette wheel or the prick of a syringe. He says we should stop talking about ‘addiction’ altogether, and instead call it ‘bonding.’ A heroin addict has bonded with heroin because she couldn’t bond as fully with anything else.
So the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is human connection.
Prayer Directives:
Thank Heavenly Father for the wisdom of placing us in community. I am not myself by myself. Helps us to make genuine, authentic, self-giving love gathering a high priority in our Impact world.
God Use Me This Year!
Put Me In Places And Situations That Will Unlock My Compassion And Creativity.
Put Me In Challenging Relationships With Those Who I Can Give My Strength To.
Put The Wisdom In Me That Will Cause Me To Be A Solution Wherever I Go.
Bless our Impact family today … Comfort those who are in difficulty … Fill us all with your confidence to pursue your very best!!!
Bless all those in all levels of authority. May you guide their hearts and lives as they serve the people they lead.
AMEN! The Space between matters!! Thank you Lord for community!
Amen love you guys from Bridgewater N.S.
Lord thank you for the Church. We love the corporate worship time but we love getting together in the more intimate settings to go deeper in our journey with one another. Bless our leaders! Use me! Put me in places where I will be challenged to shine and put my faith in action. In Jesus Name!!
I have personally seen incredible growth and transformation on all levels in the lives of so many who participate in small groups! Miracles, answered prayer on a weekly bases and stories of lives made whole! People becoming aware of who they really are as a child of God and how God’s goodness and grace is always working in their lives … and never stops working even if they don’t feel it. My faith continues to grow exponentially because of the testimonies I have the privilege of hearing just because I was present in a small group. Impact small groups allow you to be yourself … even if you feel like not sharing or are not comfortable in small group settings you will be amazed at how you still are impacted weekly in your own unique way… all are welcome. My favourite part of small groups is at the end when undoubtedly someone always comments …”I’m so glad I decided to come to this group even though I didn’t feel like it after the day I had”. The burden they felt from the day they had was lifted off of them because they chose to yoke themselves or join themselves with the church community in a small group instead of trying to carry that burden by themselves. Even if they didn’t mention in the group what that burden was, just being present and soaking up the love an anointing God promises will be there when we gather was sufficient to make that change. I would encourage everyone to be part of small groups, this treasure of life God has offered unconditionally for the body of Christ, His family here on earth…. as it is in heaven!
“Put the wisdom in me that will cause me to be a solution wherever I go.” I love this directive.
Praying with everyone today!
Thank you so much for sharing. Self made is a myth. we need one another to grow and flourish. Iron sharpens Iron , the Bible says.
Amen from the Warmington clan!
I pray for Gods wisdom for myself and all who would seek Him and learn from Him. His Holy Spirit is in us and upon us. Thank you Father for using us to build others. To create community and to spread Your love among all we touch. Praise your Holy name.
Praying for everyone at Impact this morning. I’m grateful for the community we have.
Even hearing the piano intro on the start of each day of prayer gets me excited! . We are definitely “people who need people”. My experience in taking part in small groups has really shown me how the Holy Sprit can knit us together Prayers answered, comfort received and a feeling of family most definitely results. Thank you Lord for the rows in corporate worship as it is so awesome to praise Your name. Ah, but the circles of small groups and the experiences that occur in them is so precious too!
Thank you Lord for this caring community! 💓
Small groups are awesome! Intimacy, vulnerability, and connection equals growth!
Lord, rows and circles……rows and circles. These words continue to resound in my mind and my spirit since Pastor Karl spoke them in Sunday’s message. Both are good. Both present the opportunity to come together to worship You, God, and to learn and grow. When a row is pliable, it can then be shaped into a circle where there is intentional connection, a deeper intimacy, a vulnerability and caring, the opportunity to look across the circle into another’s eyes and truly see that person. Father, I love the small group circle. Jesus, in the comfort of our ‘row’, make us pliable and willing to be ‘formed into’….willing to join…. a small group circle to both receive and give. There is nothing like a small group community/family! Amen!
We thank you Heavenly Father for these small groups. We thank you for the fellowship that we share and thank you for the lessons that we learn from everyone. Thank you God for continued growth and partnership with you and our community. We thank you for the multitude of opportunity to fill the space in between with healthy fellowship and love.
Thank you for this.
Amen🙏🏼
Amen guys, love you all ❣️❣️
Father you “alone” are the Almighty God Who desires nothing more than for “us… your family” to be the majority! You remind us daily that we are never alone, Your Spirit, Your love, Your Name, Your blood remind us everyday how much we are valued and worth dying for. Because of your ultimate & extreme sacrifices of love for us, it brings us confidence and joy “knowing” that we’re not just an insignificant part your plans… but You have created in us and for us a place of power, love and family….. we thank you for the privilege and honour to walk along side of You as children of the Most High, partners in the preaching of Your Word which brings salvation, and soldiers in Your army of love and grace. The space between “always” matters!
Amen, praying for all the leadership and members in this community and excited for the amazing connections this community will continue to build