As we launch 40 Day Prayer leading up to the Election Day, today's message focuses on how to pray for our family, church and nation.
Hebrews 3:7-9
So, as the Holy Spirit says:
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.”
40 Day Prayer: praying for family, church and country
The examples of 40 in the bible
Noah's flood: 40 days of rain
Moses: Exodus 40 ears in the wilderness
Joshua: 40 days of spying before entering the Promised Land.
Elijah: 40 days travel to Mt. Horeb
Jonah: warning of judgement after 40 days.
Jesus: 40 day fasting and prayer in the desert, ascension after training disciples for 40 days.
The Meaning of 40
1. Period of Testing
2. Period of Preparation
3. Time of grace
The Purpose of 40
1. Purification
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness
2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2. Perseverance
a. Hebrews 10:36 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
a. James 2:2 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faithproduces perseverance.4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be matureand complete, not lacking anything.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
3, Preparation
a. We need to prepare spiritually by seeking hard.
b. We need to prepare intellectually by studying hard.
c. We need to prepare ministerially by serving hard