Prayer For Times Of Refreshing With God

Times of Refreshing and the Restoration of All Things

Prayer For Times Of Refreshing With God
And now, brethren, I also know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.

In just few minutes we will hear the choir sing a compositioncalled “Gloria” by John Rutter. You can see from your worship foldersthat the content of the piece is mainly praise: it begins and endswith, “Glory to God in the highest!”

Three Reasons for Singing, “Glory to God” 

What I want to do in preparation is to put in your head and inyour heart three clear, Bible-based reasons for why we should sing,”Glory to God in the highest!” I want there to be truth in yourminds that makes you feel about this music—”Yes, that's whatwe ought to say! That's what we ought do! Yes, God is worthy ofthat! Sing it choir! Sing it!” And we will rise up and join themwith “O Come All Ye Faithful” at the end.

We will take the next five verses in the book of Acts (3:17–21)as the basis of three great reasons for singing, “Glory to God inthe highest.”

Reason #1

GOD FULFILLS HIS HOPE-GIVING PROMISES IN SPITE OF ANDTHROUGH THE OPPOSITION OF IGNORANT PEOPLE.

Acts 3:17–18: “And now, therefore, brethren, I know that youacted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretoldby the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, hethus fulfilled.”

What highlights the glory of God in these verses is that thepeople who opposed Jesus and betrayed him and slandered him andmocked him and crucified him were all ignorant of God's purposes,and what was really happening. Yet verse 18 says that it isprecisely through the opposition of this ignorance that Godfulfilled all his promises that Christ should suffer for sinnersand bear the sins of many.

This means that when God decrees to fulfill some good purposefor us, no amount of opposition from ignorance or godlessness canstop him. He will simply make all opposition and all ignoranceserve his purpose.

That's reason #1 for why we should be full of praise thismorning, and sing, “Glory to God in the highest”: God fulfills hishope-giving promises in spite of and through the opposition ofignorant people.

Reason #2

GOD WIPES AWAY ALL THE SINS OF PEOPLE WHO REPENT ANDTURN TO CHRIST.

Verse 19: “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins maybe blotted out.”

The reason God fulfilled what the prophets spoke about thesuffering of the Messiah was so that the suffering of Jesus would be thetriumph over all guilt. The prophet said, “He was wounded for ourtransgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was thechastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we arehealed.”

So if you repent toward God this morning and turn to trust thiscrucified and risen Messiah, Jesus, all your sins will be wipedaway. It's a beautiful word—the same one used in Revelationfor the wiping away of every tear.

That's the second reason for singing, “Glory to God in the highest” this morning. God wipes away all the sins of all whorepent and turn to Christ.

Reason #3

GOD WILL ONE DAY ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST UPONTHIS EARTH.

Notice, as I read these final verses, three wonderful things aboutthis future kingdom—our future.

Acts 3:19b–21: “19b) . . .

that times of refreshing might comefrom the presence of the Lord [#1, our future will be an age ofrefreshment; we really will mount up with wings eagles], 20)and that he [God] may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus [#2,our future will be with Jesus; finally we will see and know himface-to-face], 21) whom heaven must receive until the time forestablishing all that God spoke by the mouth of holy prophets fromof old [#3, literally it reads: 'until the times for therestoration of all things.' So our future will be in a new world the garden of Eden. Things will be restored. Not just it.But it and better! All pain, all tragedy, all catastrophe, allfrustration, all futility will be gone].”

So that's reason #3 for singing to God this morning. Let me sumthem all up and send us into the Gloria with hearts full of truth.And it may be that what the truth and the music do for you ismake you hungry for prayer about some need in your life. If so, weinvite you to find one of our prayer teams after the service andask them to pray with you about it.

THREE REASONS TO SOAR WITH THE CHOIR AS THEY GIVE GLORYTO GOD.

  1. Reason #1. God fulfills his hope-giving promises in spite of and through the opposition of ignorant people.
  2. Reason #2. God wipes away all the sins of people who repent and turn to Christ.
  3. Reason #3. God will one day establish the kingdom of Christ on the earth.

It will be a time of refreshing. It will be a time with Jesusface to face. It will be a time when everything will be restored tobeauty and goodness and truth to the glory of God.

*********** 

Choral Praise The Sanctuary Choir Dean Palermo, Director

GLORIAby John Rutter

I

Gloria in excelsis Deo (glory in the highest to God)! And onearth be peace among all men who are of good will.

We praise Your name, and we bless Your great name! We adore Yourname, and we glorify Your name!

Thank You, Lord, we give You thanks for Your mercy. Giving allthe glory to You, Lord. Gloria in excelsis Deo!

II

O Lord God, King of glory God our Father, the Almighty King. Youare the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ.

O Lord God, Lamb of God, You are the only Son of the Father, OLord God, Son of the Father, You are the Almighty King of Glory!

You bear the sin of Your children, Lord, have mercy on us.

Hear our prayer as we cry to You for mercy. You intercede beforethe Father, Lord, have mercy on us.

III

For the Lord is high and holy You are the only Lord God andFather of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And with the Holy Ghost in glory to the Father. Amen. Gloria inexcelsis Deo! Amen!

Источник: //www.desiringgod.org/messages/times-of-refreshing-and-the-restoration-of-all-things

6 Keys for Breakthrough Prayer in Times of Need

Prayer For Times Of Refreshing With God

Breakthrough! It speaks of overcoming an obstacle that is in our way—or of prevailing over a need, a restriction or an opposing enemy. Breakthrough can also mean an achievement or discovery that leads to significant progress. [1]

1.  Seek God’s Agenda First

‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.’ (1 John 5:14-15)

Daniel was a godly man who read the scriptures—including the prophecies of Jeremiah. He recognised that Jeremiah prophesied about the times that Daniel was now living in and began to seek God for the answers. He knew it was time to birth that prophecy in prayer.

We need to know that we are praying God’s purpose for our lives. This means firstly praying according to God’s revealed will in the Scripture. Upon that foundation, we can also seek an intimate relationship with Father God in which we can hear His purpose for our lives and situation—and pray that. [2]

2. Don’t Settle for Second Best

Hannah was childless, and it grieved her. Wanting to reassure her, Hannah’s husband offered his love and personal gifts, thinking these could please her. But Hannah would only be satisfied with one thing—a baby. As a result of Hannah’s prayer, a future prophet and priest was born. Samuel would bring the nation back to God. (1 Sam 1)

When God has placed something on our hearts, then Hannah we will be tempted to settle for the ‘status quo’ or second best. But that is the very time to passionately press in to God for the answer.

3. Pray from the Heart

Hannah cried a wordless prayer of deep groaning—and God answered it. (1 Sam 1:12-16, Rom 8:26-27)) Nehemiah shot up a prayer whilst he was going about his daily occupation. (Neh 2:1-5) These seemingly simple prayers, carried from the heart, changed nations.

There are no right and wrong ways to pray. Just real prayers.

It’s time to put aside formulas, and not to be intimidated by someone else’s style and eloquence. The prayers that God answers are real prayers from the heart, regardless of time, place or technique.

4. Pray with Praise and Thanksgiving

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Phil 4:6)

Paul and Silas were in a difficult situation. God called them to evangelise a city, but they were stuck in a dungeon, held in stocks. As they prayed in the night and offered up hymns of praise, God sent an earthquake to open the prison doors. (Acts 16:22-29)

When used in addition to prayer, praise is a powerful cutting-edge weapon for breakthrough. (Ps 149:6-9)

5. Don’t Give Up

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1)

Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days before an answer came. An angel appeared who had been battling in the heavenlies for the entire time Daniel had been in prayer. Daniel’s persistent prayers provided fuel for what God was doing on his behalf. (Dan 10)

6. Find Others who will Agree with You

Jesus said, “…if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt 18:19-20)

Esther is known as a woman whose courage saved a nation. However, prior to approaching the King, Esther called on Mordecai, all the Jews of the city, and her own attendants, to fast before God for 3 days. Esther knew that the real power lay in God answering the prayer of those who had joined her in the fast. (Esther 4:16)

When in need of a breakthrough, find others who will join you in prayer, because there is multiplied power in agreement.

Notes:

[1] //www.thefreedictionary.com/breakthrough

[2] For issues of guidance, see Personal Guidance for the Important Decisions of Life

Related Posts:

Is it Time to Birth your Prophetic Word in Prayer?

Need a Breakthrough? Uncover the Mysteries of Heaven

Release the Resources of Heaven Through Prayer

Your Prophetic Word and Spiritual Warfare

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

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Источник: //www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2013/03/05/6-keys-for-breakthrough-prayer/

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