Faithful Continual Prayer

Our church was beautifully decorated for the Christmas season as we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church.

Wayne Johnson opened our service with prayer and special prayers were requested for many, including Slim Elliott, Lane Killion, Becky Johnson, Paul Bates and Dorothy. Kitty thanked everyone for their help with the SWC Christmas Parade float, "Come and See The Greatest Gift." We distributed 140 books about the birth of Jesus and the Christmas story to children during the parade. Our Christmas program, directed by Terry Lett, will be during our morning worship on Sunday, Dec. 18.

"A Million Tiny Pieces" was the title of the devotional given by Linda Abercrombie, who read Colossians 1:20. Linda told the story of a box of broken porcelain dolls a mother glued together to keep her daughter's heart from being broken. Just like Jesus puts all of our pieces back together when we are broken. His blood is the glue that brings us peace. Allow God to pick up the pieces and make you whole again.

Janet Chaney gave the history of the Lottie Moon Christmas offering that will be collected through the month of December. She also talked about the Week of Prayer Dec. 4-11 for International Missions.

We joined voices in singing hymns of the season led by Karen and Rick Lett and Tyrel Lett served as ushers and collected the offertory.

Brother Mark began God's message by reading Luke 18:1-8 as he continued the sermon series on prayer.

He told us, "You show me someone with faith and I'll show you someone who prays. Show me someone who prays and I will show yous someone with faith. Jesus is looking for someone who makes prayer a practice, who prays with patience, who prays with persistence and who prays with perseverance. Just like a doctor has a license to practice medicine and a lawyer has a license to practice law, the seal of the Holy Spirit gives someone the license to be a Christian."

He told us that sometimes when we don't know what to pray or when to pray, that's when God takes over and makes our weak prayers strong and effective. Romans 8:26 says, "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Ephesians 6:14-18 talks about putting on the Armor of God and says, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." Brother Mark told us prayer is how we engage in spiritual warfare and God's word is our weapon in the struggle.

"When you give yourself to constant faithful prayer, you let God change your prayer life into a life of prayer."

Brother Mark talked about the patience of prayer and told us you don't have true faith in the Lord without having faith in the Lord's will and His timing. Matthew 26-44 talks about the persistence of prayer. "So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words." 2 Corinthians 12 also talks about Paul praying three times.

The Bible tells us to pray continually and constantly.

Hebrews 6:9 talks about the perseverance of prayer.

Brother Mark asked, "Ever feel like God isn't taking your calls today? Stay with it. If you're going through hell, keep going. Don't pitch a tent and stay there. Jesus is on the other side. There is another side and another day to everything. Keep going. Jesus will guide you out of there."

In conclusion, Brother Mark talked about the partnership of prayer.

Acts 6:4 gives us our job description regarding prayer. "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

Make prayer a practice, pray with patience, with persistence and with perseverance.

We closed our service singing "Silent Night," and Wayne Holly gave the benediction. We then gathered for a luncheon and wedding shower in honor of John Spurling and Jamie Gardner. Congratulations to them and best wishes.

We invite you to worship with us during the season of the birth of Jesus. Share in the joy of the season and put Christ back in Christmas. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11.

Mill Creek is located 3.5 miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90.

Everyone is welcome.

Religion on 12/08/2016