Earnestly

Fervent Day 10 Seek And Save

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Ephesians 6:19-20
Colossians 4:2-4
1 Timothy 2:1-4

Fervent, Day 10

Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
(Luke 19:10)

Condemned by the Pharisees (the self-righteous and corrupt religious leaders of His time) for dining with sinners, He said His mission was to save those very sinners.
His heart was for their rescue!

In response to the same accusation, Jesus said,
“It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick.
I didn’t come to call the righteous, but the sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

Jesus proved His mission again when, nailed naked to a perpetrator’s cross,
He prayed for God to forgive His killers.

In like manner, the apostle Paul committed his life to the ministry of preaching the gospel to save the lost. His love for Jesus compelled him to give up everything to his advantage and do what Jesus was passionate about. Paul even said he considered his life of no account except to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

Paul described the gospel as the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and himself as the means through which it is spread. For those who believe, the gospel is the aroma of life leading to life, but to those who reject, it is the aroma of death leading to death. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16) The same gospel which gives life to those who believe stands as a judgment to those who reject it. Scripture says he who believes in the Son of God will not be condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already. (John 3:18) Whoever has not put his faith in Christ is considered lost.

Paul was not deterred from preaching the gospel, though many rejected it. He used every means to make the gospel known to and accepted by those who were lost. He said he became “all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22)

In his words, we see a deep sense of urgency in praying for. and ministering to, the lost. He recognized God desires all to know the vast richness of knowing and experiencing Christ as Savior. Therefore, Paul seized every opportunity he had to preach to, and pray for, the lost. Additionally, when he wrote to the churches, he called other believers to pray alongside him.

Paul described how his heart longed for his Jewish brothers and sisters to repent and be rescued, he even wished he could be accursed from Christ for their sake if it were possible! (Romans 9:1-5) He prayed fervently for their salvation, despite the fact that they were the very people persecuting him.

Studying the passion Paul had for the salvation of the lost, I was moved to tears.
I realized I have not given the Gospel the commitment it deserves.
I must confess my concern had only been for my family members. I hardly prayed for outsiders; the best I could do for them was my little contribution for the work of missions. But the fact that someone somewhere could die without Christ
should be a matter of great concern to me.

Every believer should carry an attitude of great concern toward the lost. We may not have the opportunity to travel round the world to preach the gospel, but we can share the hope of the gospel with those in our own communities!

The gospel is an issue of life or death,
an eternity in heaven or in hell.

How would it be if Christ returns, or any of our loved ones die in their sin, without us making any effort for their salvation by sharing Jesus?!
Imagine the pain and sorrow we would feel.
We have a duty not only to be involved in missions,
but to pray earnestly for the salvation of the lost.

Praying for the lost can never be over-emphasized; Jesus Himself asked His disciples to pray earnestly for the Lord of harvest to send laborers into His harvest. (Matthew 9:38) In like manner, the apostles prayed for boldness to declare God’s word. (Acts 4:29) Paul urged Timothy to intercede in prayer for all people, including kings and those in authority, because God desires for all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:1-4)

Not only does God desire everyone to be saved,
but He calls us to join with Him on His mission of sharing this beautiful gospel overflowing with hope and love. (Matthew 28:18-20)

We confidently know our prayers matter for the salvation of the lost.
Therefore, the thought of the reality of hell for unsaved souls should drive us to our knees to pray for the lost with fervency.

Who will you pray for? 


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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Fervent Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Fervent!

Esther Dy 10 Wisdom: The Best Adornment

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 4:12-5:14
Proverbs 3:1-12
Proverbs 1:1-9

Esther, Day 10

“Oh Lord, please give me wisdom and discernment!
I know Your plans for me are far greater than any I could imagine.
I recognize how I need to know Your thoughts in this scenario.
Are You leading me to this?
What does it look like to walk this out?

Lord, I sense the outcome of this present possibility has the potential to impact the rest of my life, so the need to hear from You weighs heavy on my mind today.
Guide my feet, steady my heart, tune my ears to hear Your voice.”

The sound of my pen moving across my journal pages filled the air around me as I wrote these words and poured out my heart before the Lord. While an element of me felt somewhat overdramatic at my thoughts, another part resonated so fiercely with the significance of this season I knew not to take my journaling lightly.

When I no longer sensed any more words to pour out before Him, I set my journal aside and opened my laptop to begin working on this Journey Study. Have you ever had one of those moments in which the Lord heard and answered you before you even prayed?
This particular assignment has been in my hands for several months and it is today I opened my Bible to truly soak in the verses.

There, nestled in the middle of the Old Testament, I found another brave soul navigating the journey placed before her, a journey where literal life and death hung in the balance. Had Esther kept a journal, our words may have paralleled one another in unique ways.

In the three short chapters leading up to where we find ourselves in chapter four, Esther has lost the only family she’s known, won the longest version of the Bachelor ever, become queen of a nation and wife to a very powerful man ruled by the law of the land, and successfully kept her true heritage a secret from all in the palace. While that is enough fodder for multiple full-length movies, the plot thickens. Haman, an Agagite, who has a serious vendetta against the Jewish population in Susa and has been aggravated by one specific Jew (Mordecai) who refuses to cower before him, has gained the ear of the King. Enjoying his position, and fueled by his hatred for Jews, manages to convince King Ahaseurus to send out an edict stating all Jews to be attacked on a specific day. In essence, a mass genocide has just been approved and declared to the entire country. Esther, who is a Jew, and all of her kinsmen suddenly have targets strapped to them as the day draws closer.

This is where we find ourselves as the curtain opens on Esther 4:12. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, sends her a message that sums up her past while prophesying her future without an altered course of action. “If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for a such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

Esther responded by fasting and praying for three days before going to the king. She knew the law stated that anyone who approached the king without being summoned, would likely be killed.  Rather than dismiss Mordecai’s pleading message, her immediate response to his message spoke of a beauty that went more than skin deep.
Esther understood the value of wisdom and sought it earnestly.

It was her first beauty treatment in preparation to go before the king.
When was the last time that we thought of seeking wisdom
as an element of beauty?

In Proverbs, listening to father’s instruction and a mother’s teaching is referred to as “a garland of favor on your head and pendants around your neck.”  (Proverbs 1:9)
Seeking wisdom and instruction brings beauty and leads to beautiful outcomes
when applied to a life.

In Esther’s story, she followed Mordecai’s instruction and sought the wisdom of the Lord. Through that process, the Lord poured out a courage and discernment that granted her favor with the king. Her interactions with the king and Haman resulted in an edict giving Jews permission to defend themselves on the day of their would-be-massacre.

Esther’s beauty was a key piece of the puzzle in finding herself living in the palace and married to the king. However, it was not her outward beauty that enabled her to advocate for her people; it was the beauty of her wisdom. Her time spent in the presence of the Lord, seeking His guidance, made all the difference.

The Lord’s wisdom comes through reading His Word, spending time talking with Him, and seeking the direction of mature Christians to name a few key resources. Proverbs 3 tells us to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways and He will make our paths straight.
Isn’t that a beautiful promise and thought?

Do you find yourself in a similar season of needing the wisdom of the Lord?
Seek His wisdom and submit yourself to His direction.
Be astounded at the beauty He brings forth and wear His wisdom well!


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Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Esther Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Esther!

Anchored Day 15 Prayer Wrestlers

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 4:7-18
James 5:13-18
1 Peter 4:7-10
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Ephesians 6:13-20

Anchored, Day 15

Tychicus

Onesimus

Epaphras

Archippus

Nympha

I’m going to guess that NONE of these names appear in the top 100 for baby names of 2018, or the past 5 centuries for that matter.
However, these 4 men and 1 woman are included in a much more important list,
one that hasn’t changed for thousands of years despite the changing trends of the times.

Don’t feel bad if you can’t pronounce their names.  I can’t either.
In fact, I’m embarrassed to admit, I often glaze over name lists because they don’t mean much to me without a personal connection.
But Paul had that connection.
And he loved them.
Deeply.

These were his brothers and sisters in Christ, his family.
These were partners with him in spreading the gospel, encouraging other believers, and building the first century church.
THEY were foundational to OUR faith today.

As I prepared for this Journey Study, something in the description stuck out to me BIG time:
What if our prayers were being used by God to sustain our pastors, church leaders, and families around us?

What if MY prayers were essential to the work God is doing in and through my
church, neighborhood, family?!

Talk about conviction!!!
Am I praying like MY prayers matter?

Am I getting on my knees daily,
praying fervently and earnestly for my
pastor,
children’s teachers at school,
neighbor down the street who has battled cancer,
pregnant sister-in-law?

Or….
Am I so caught up in making supper, doing laundry, cleaning up messes, and managing life I get distracted (read lazy) in my prayers?
And because of my ho-hum approach to prayer,
what if OTHER people’s lives are being affected?
NEGATIVELY?

Paul ends his letter to the church in Colossae with a list of people who have partnered with him in ministry.
They have encouraged him personally,
prayed fervently and intentionally for other believers,
opened their homes to host church,
traveled far distances to deliver letters,
and risked their lives for the sake of Jesus.

We all know about Paul, world-famous-preacher.
Authored over half of the New Testament.
Traveled abroad establishing churches across ancient Asia.
Discipled new believers, training them to lead churches.
Paul’s work is foundational to OUR faith today, his legacy spans millennia past and future.

BUT….
His work was IMPOSSIBLE without the Spirit of God using faithful men and women of the church, their SUPPORT, their SACRIFICE, and their PRAYERS.

Paul intentionally named those who served with him, purposefully making their stories and sacrifices known.

Instead of skimming these lists, what if we slowed,
taking time to remember these men and women of faith?!

Suppose we put OURSELVES in their shoes?
Suppose we recognized God putting these people in Paul’s life, partnering with him to grow the church and altering its entire future?
Suppose He is putting US in specific places at specific times for SPECIFIC reasons to ALSO grow the church and alter its future?!!

What if, like Tychicus, we “encourage the hearts” of those around us?

What if, like Onesimus. we share with our fellow believers the activity of God in our churches, neighborhoods, schools, and families?

What if, like Nympha, we open our homes for “church services” that look like potluck dinners, roasting marshmallows around a campfire, discipleship small groups, football watch parties, or school’s out for the summer ice cream celebrations with the purpose of sharing Jesus?

What if, like Archippus, we work diligently to fulfill the ministry God has plainly given us?

What if, like Epaphras, we wrestle in prayer as if our prayers TRULY mattered?!
What if we “struggle on the behalf of others in our prayers”?

Whose eternity might be changed?
Pastors, neighbors, co-workers, family members,
bank tellers, grocery store clerks, Facebook friends, Instagram followers,
and the stranger holding up a cardboard sign.
Eternity changed….
As we determine to pray for EACH to “stand mature and fully assured in the will of God.”

 What if?!!

Recently in an interview, Tauren Wells shared his pastor’s challenging question that prompted his song When We Pray:
“Whose lives would be changed if your prayers were answered?”

Are we praying like hearts and souls depend on prayer?
I know I’m not.

And thus, the Body of Christ is suffering!

BUT we can change that!
Today.

Tauren Wells’ noted:
We actually have the power to change the realities in which we live through prayer. It’s something the believer must harness and exert in our lives if we’re really going to change the world around us.

If your pastor were to write a letter like Paul’s, would YOUR name be included as one diligently serving, encouraging, supporting, uplifting, or contributing to the ministry of the church?  Would you be listed as sacrificing to make the gospel known?

An encouraging note to your pastor.
Kind words to your child’s teacher.
A “blessing bag” for the man on the street.
Coffee with a hurting friend.
A Facebook message to a new mom struggling to find purpose.
A supper invitation for the new family.
The prayers you pray on the behalf of others.

The prayers you cry through tears,
whisper in fear,
secretly journal,
scream in frustration,
or mutter under your breath…
They All Matter.

Be consistent, earnest, fervent, and BOLD in prayer,
as you wrestle for God’s Kingdom to come!

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Anchored Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Anchored!