June 1, 2008 Sermon Notes

Pastor Matt Anderson -- June 1, 2008
“One Prayer for the World”
One Prayer series, part one

God, may Your kingdom come.

Prayer – a catalyst

for God and for us

God’s Kingdom – the world made right

the Message (Mt. 6.10): “Set the world right .”

*see Genesis 1 and Revelation 21

A question worth reflection: Whose kingdom are we building?

How do we know?

Are we choosing and displaying more…

love instead of hate?

forgiveness instead of revenge?

generosity instead of hording?

humility instead of pride?

“Our prayers desperately need our flesh to back them up.” –unknown

 

 

A morning thought…

As a child, I remember singing the song, “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands.” The older I became, the more I realized the meaning of those words and how big the world really is. But more than that, I have come to recognize how big God is.

God dreamed up the world. God created the world. God loved the world. God gave His Son for the world. God designed the Church. God holds the world and the Church in His care. God continues to provide for our world. How can we not stand in absolute awe of this infinite Being who is both the benefactor and the provision for our lives?

Jesus stands praying in the center of our world: “I’m praying not only for them (the disciples) but also for those who will believe in Me because of them and their witness about Me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, so they might be one heart and mind with Us. Then the world might believe that You, in fact, sent Me. The same glory You gave Me, I gave them, so they’ll be as unified and together as We are—I in them and You in Me. Then they’ll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that You’ve sent me and loved them in the same way You’ve loved Me” [John 17:20-23, The Message]. The unity of believers (the Church) is ushered in on the wings of prayer into a waiting world. His Kingdom is here and now!

–George R. Skramstad, 2008