Prayerwalking: Praying On-Site With Insight

Prayerwalking: Praying On-site With Insight

Luke 10:1-3

Mar. 26, 2006 FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction:

A On Wednesday (3/23/06), New York City Department of Transportation workers discovered a cache meant to aid in survival efforts in the event of a nuclear attack.

1 The cache was located on the top-floor of a three-story space inside the bade of the Brooklyn bridge.

a The cache consisted of empty water drums, boxes of medical supplies, & high-calorie crackers.

b The dates on the supplies are dated 1957 & 1962, two significant dates of the Cold War between the U.S. & the former Soviet Union.

aa 1957, The Soviets launched the first satellite into space.

bb 1962, was the year of the Cuban Missel Crisis.

c One of the containers was marked, "To Be Opened After Attack By The Enemy." (Source accessed on 3/23/2006 on www.cnn.com/2006/us/03/021/coldwar.trove/?section=cnn_mostpopular)

2 You, me, the Church, and Chester are under attack by an enemy.

a 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:10-12 (KJV)

b The enemy we’re facing will not be defeated with missles & guns; or overcome with drums of water, medical supplies, or high-calorie crackers.

c Our God is greater than any gun!

d This enemy that is attacking will be subdued by the prayers of the people of faith in this town.

B Today, we are going to hear the message, "Prayerwalking: Praying On-Site with Insight."

1 Jesus sent praying people to prepare a way for Him prior to His arrival in that city. (ETS)

a Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. 2 And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 "Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Luke 10:1-3 (NASB)

b Our prayers for Chester can be used by God to prepare a way of welcoming for Jesus’ arrival. (ESS)

2 I hope you’ll commit to participate in the two-week prayerwalking project, which begins today. (Objective)

a Who will prepare a way for Christ by being a part of the prayerwalking project? (Probing Question)

b I want you to look at two facts of prayerwalking that will hopefully help you commit to this project. (Transitional Sentence)

I The first fact of prayerwalking is...the reason. Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. 2 And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 "Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Luke 10:1-3 (NASB)

A Jesus sent the 70 out with a vastly different agenda than the 12 apostles.

1 The apostles’ job was to preach first the Kingdom of God. And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. Luke 9:1-2 (NASB)

a Jesus called the 12, (Luke 6:13), but He also called 70 laymen.

b Jesus was entrusting the expansion of His kingdom to not only ordained preachers, but also to ordinary believers.

c Sending them as lambs, not sheep, in the midst of wolves (v.3)

aa Uneven fight!

bb Split up

cc I’ll fight for you!

2 He sent the 70 to "every city & place" He was going to visit.

a Their mission was to pray for blessing, for the sick, for more laborers in Christ’s kingdom.

b They were to start seeing the people through Jesus’ eyes.

aa Brokenness, loneliness, emptiness, lostness, of the people in the town.

bb Praying allowed them to see these people the way Jesus did.

3 The 70 were sent to increase the receptivity of the townspeople to Jesus’ arrival (raise awareness)

a "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me." Luke 10:16 (NASB)

b Jesus came to cities by invitation, not invasion

c The 70 prepared the cities for His arrival