The Importance Of Prayer

Associate Pastor Ryan Crawford brought us our Sunday morning message: "But I Have Prayed for You."

We stood for opening prayer and the reading of God's word taken from Luke 22:31-32. A great picture of what Christ was includes his concern, caution, compassion and command for us.

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat."

Given the fact the Lord repeated his name twice, he had something of great importance to say to him. God was concerned for Simon because of Satan. God is also concerned for you and me. John 10:10 reminds us, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal and kill and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. "

The devil doesn't do anything that God doesn't allow. Remember the story of Job? Satan desires us to be sifted as wheat. God tells us that Satan is a roaring lion. God cautioned us that Satan is an adversary.

"But, I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

Have you ever told someone you would pray for them? Did you? Christ has compassion for us. He prays for us. Many of us can repeat the Lord's Prayer. Although, did you know that in John 17 He prays for us, to strengthen us -- the Brethren?

How many times have you fallen in the past eight days? Even when we are down in the valley, God is good. God commands us to have an open conversation with him.

"A good preacher, who preaches on Sunday and Wednesdays, can only do so much," Pastor Crawford told us.

We are to comfort and restore strength for one another. Who have you prayed for this year? Who have you had fellowship with? Have you encouraged anyone? Have you prayed for comfort and strength for your fellow brother in Christ? Have you converted and changed, repented of your ways? This gives strength to the Brethren, to see a person who has failed but gets up.

Have you read your Bible today? If not read, 1 Corinthians 8. This chapter gives comfort to us.

We would love to see you at the First Baptist Church in Pineville Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for Sunday School, immediately followed by morning worship at 10 a.m. We have Wednesday night Bible Study at 7 p.m. Every other Saturday at 2:30 p.m., our church has Nursing Home Ministry at the McDonald County Living Center in Anderson, Mo. Also, for our teenagers we have a Facebook page.

Wednesday evening Bible study begins at 7 p.m.

All Bible verses are from the KJV, The King James Version of the Holy Bible.

If you have no home church of your own, we would love for you to join us at First Baptist Church off the Northeast Square in Pineville, just behind the U.S. Bank. No friendlier, down-home church can be found in the four-state area.

Religion on 01/12/2017