by Matt Grant

Hello Shoreline. We strived together in scripture and prayer this morning at the Shoreline Campus offices. See below for some excerpts from Pastor Steve’s devotional and this week’s prayer requests.

Our Purpose (Romans 15:30 paraphrased): I urge you brothers, by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayer to God the Father for the glory of the name of Jesus.

Salvation is fully by grace through faith. It is sheer unmerited gift so that no one may boast (Eph 2:8-9). And yet, there is something profoundly crucial and valuable at stake in how we live our lives—every day, every word, every deed . . . . And there is an attitude of battle, determination, and endurance we are to possess if we are to be victors.

Hebrews 12:1-2
¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Corinthians 5:10
¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

1 Corinthians 9:27
²⁷But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Timothy 6:11-12
¹¹But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. ¹²Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called . . .

In John 15 Jesus says that God’s glory is at stake in our daily lives as Christians. We are called to be disciples who bear much fruit to the Fathers glory, or else we are thrown away to wither, and eventually to burn (CLEARLY, something is truly at stake—see perhaps 1 Cor 3:13-15). Furthermore, Jesus says that our fruitfulness is connected to our abiding in Him, His Word abiding in us, and our prayers.

John 15:5-8
⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

What do you think this means?

Perhaps it is that our will becomes conformed to his so that our prayers are in alignment with his sovereign will being done on earth as it is in heaven.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

Perhaps it is that God’s Word in us produces the genuine faith that is necessary for answered prayer.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Perhaps it is that abiding in Jesus and his words abiding in us produce transformation of heart (holiness) resulting in prayers that are heard and answered.

Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Perhaps it is all of the above and more . . .

The question brothers is this: is fruitfulness unto the glory of God worth fighting for and living for every day? How should we then fight?

Strategic Prayers for our Campus 6.4.08

SHORELINE CAMPUS MISSION & COMMUNITY

• Pray that Mars Hill members and attendees will respond to the call to mission in gospel worship by sacrificing their time, treasure, and talents for the strengthening of Christ’s body and His glory.
• Pray for campus admins and staff as we begin to prepare for this summer’s All-Church Baptisms at Golden Gardens in July.
• Pray that God would give the staff and campus leadership creativity and wisdom to provide ways for the body to connect with one another in simple relational ways.
• Pray for our community groups, that they would continue to be well attended and would provide a place for the majority of our body to be known at a deep and real level in order to walk in the light and be blessed, ministered to, and equipped by the body of Jesus.
• Pray that those who don’t fit into the community group model would find other ways of being in community through serving, charter groups (affinity groups), mercy ministry events & opportunities, etc…

PERMANENT LOCATION

• Please continue to pray that God would provide a building for us in the Northend.
• Pray that our relationship with Crista would continue to be a blessing to both organizations.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

• Pray for volunteers and a great turn out for this summer’s VBS program. Pray that many children and families’ hearts would be won for Jesus, and that the event would be a light for Christ in the greater Shoreline community.
• Pray that God would put the call on the heart of people at Shoreline to teach and instruct the children on a weekly basis.

CAMPUS PRAYERS

• Pray for Rick James and his family. His sister has colon cancer that has spread to her spinal column and has been given 6-8 months to live. She has a husband and three pre-early teen daughters. Pray for healing, strength, peace, comfort, and steadfastness in Jesus Christ for Rick’s sister, his brother-in-law, and especially his nieces as they face the real potential for life without their mother. Also pray for Rick and his family as they travel to Texas and the neighboring region this week.
• Pray for the many men struggling with sexual temptation. Pray that they would fix their eyes on Jesus—the author and perfecter of their faith and stand strong in His redemptive power to overcome the evil one.
• Pray for people and their families on our campus that are asking God for faith, but feeling forgotten by God, that they would come to know His faithfulness in their hearts and would know the joy and peace that comes with knowledge of His character.
• Pray for a newly-wed man at our campus who is currently working two jobs in construction who would like to be able to use his mind more in his work and would like to be able to find a single job that could provide the income he needs so that he can cut down to one job in order to be with his new wife.
• Pray for wives on our campus who are victims of spousal abuse
• Pray for the many broken marriages on our campus; marriages near to divorce; spouses who attend church alone w/out their spouse; and wives who desire their husbands to lead spiritually; and husbands who have abdicated their roles.
• Pray for divorcees and single parents on our campus – that they can find the love of Jesus through His body – the church and that by the Holy Spirit they might see their true identities in Christ.
• Pray for those in our body experiencing stressful financial times, those who are looking for work, and those who are having a hard time at work.
• Pray for Ellen Matthewson as she heads in for knee replacement surgery. Pray for her surgery, a quick recovery, and that Jesus will be glorified through this trial.
• Pray for Shoreline attendee, Merry Fitzpatrick (Dir of Relief for World Concern) as she works in Myanmar to organize and mobilize relief teams in the region. Pray for energy and protection.