Cypress Church

Objective: Prayer is our avenue to ask of God. But what and how do we do that. Jesus gives us three areas to ask for God’s provision; Pray for Reliance in our Need, Pray for Restoration Through Forgiveness, and Pray for Rescue from Temptation

Christmas is all about Jesus; Savior, Redeemer, Might God, The LORD, and we are to make room to worship Him. The wise men’s story give us three ways we can make room to worship Jesus this Christmas; Moved to Worship, Exclusive in Worship, and Postures of Worship.

A wonderful part of God’s story is He has provided a Savior who us Christ the Lord, Jesus who was promised and prophesied of from great separation of sin. Jesus is everyone’s messiah and we should make room for Him, to Choose like Mary, Investigate like the Shepherds, and Embrace like Simeon and Anna.

The proto-euangelion, the first prophecy of God’s plan to send a redeemer at the same time creation is being cursed. Christmas is the “fullness of time” where this promise begins to come to fruition. For those who don’t know Jesus, they will have a chance to receive Him. For those who do, this is a great opportunity to delight in what Jesus has done for us. It is death giving way to life.

We all want to make room for great experiences and those opportunities that enhance life. Jesus is worth making room for this holiday season and all throughout life. How do we make room for Jesus? Believe in God’s Story, Hope in God’s Story, Acknowledge Jesus as LORD, and Worship Jesus our Immanuel. It will make all the difference in the world!!

One key element to participating in God’s call is clarity. Paul had that clarity and we can to as we seek clarity through revelation (of God through His Word and His Spirit, of self though others and experience), and we will gain clarity as we live out our assigned unique call (found through Confession, Conflict, and Conformation).

God is at work all around us – sometimes in unlikely ways (enter Saul) – but He wants to use us as He draws people to Himself (like he uses Ananias and Barnabas in Saul/Paul’s life). If we’re to live on mission, it begins with being truly converted AND being brought into community. Paul was a successful rogue agent to a degree, but the church was strengthened (31) as he became part of it. Ananias and Barnabas were key people who risked to bring him in.

Surrender is key for us to get on with God’s mission and God calls us to belonging in His Spirit as we go. Paul gives five coaching points, actions to surrender to belonging in The Spirit: Surrender to the Team, Surrender to Joy, Surrender to Maturity, Surrender to Unity, and Surrender to Acceptance…the encouragement is ‘let’s do this’

Due to our sin saturated world and the opposing nature of Christ, suffering is a reality as a follower of Jesus. But suffering does not have to be empty or meaningless. Suffering can bring about great and needed change in us and most certainly glory to God if we Seek Wisdom not Foolishness in Suffering, Find Identity in Christ in Suffering, and Experience Christ’s Strength in the Weakness of Suffering. This is how we surrender to Christ’s suffering

Generosity is a character of Christ. We surrender to the generosity of Christ by believing (taking action) based on the truth that: Generosity Takes Risks, Generosity Reflects Righteous Joy, Generosity Brings Increase, Generosity is Worship.

The motivation to surrender to Christ’s mission comes from; A Fear of the Lord, The Love of Christ, observing New Life in Christ, and by the reality we have been Entrusted this Mission.

The Lord has called us to ministry (2 Cor. 3:6) of the Gospel, a service fulfilling His plans and purposes and life-changing message of what Jesus has done. In this ministry it is easy to find more glory in self than in Jesus, to keep the glory on Christ we are to surrendered to Christ’s Ministry as we…Have a Jar of Clay Mentality, Hold to a Jesus Perspective in Troubled Times, and Give Attention to Life Change.

God has a call on our lives. The choice comes, will we surrender to His call or not. But why should we surrender? 1 Corinthians 1:1-7 gives us three reasons; God’s Call is Compelling, God’s Character is Reliable, and God’s Comfort is Empowering

The Dreaded Encounter … Prayer of Confession

Flooding God … Prayer of Praise

Move / Stand / Kneel? A Standing Ovation for God … Prayer of Physical Expression

Praying Like Elephants … Prayer of Remembering