Pastor’s blog, Sunday, 26th August, 2012

On Filed under Dear Church Family..., Grace Reflections
Ian Thompson
Ian Thompson

Dear Church,

And when he had entered the house, his
disciples asked him privately, “Why could
we not cast it out?” And he said to
them, “This kind cannot be driven out by
anything but prayer.”
Mark 9:28-29

When Jesus came down from the mountain where He had been transfigured,
He was immediately faced with arguments and failure. His disciples had
been unable to cast out the demon that was causing such suffering to the
boy and his family. Jesus initially rebuked them for their unbelief, but then
in these verses explained that their ineffectiveness was because they were
not using the right tools for the job. To change the image, they were not
fighting with the right weapons. Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us that we are in a
battle. We must use the weapons we have been given if we are to prevail.
Prayer goes with each one of those weapons, because Paul says that as we
use them we are to pray at all times. The disciples failed because of their
lack of prayer. We too must realise that prayer is the weapon that will make
us effective in the cause of Christ. We are to use it all times. It is mighty on
its own, but it also has the effect of sharpening every other weapon God has
given us. Graham Kendrick and Chris Rolinson wrote these words

All heaven waits with bated breath
For saints on earth to pray
Majestic angels ready stand
With swords of fiery blade
Astounding power awaits a word
From God’s resplendent throne
But God awaits our prayer of faith
That cries ‘Your will be done.’
© 1986 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music

Yours in Christ,
Ian Thompson (Acting pastor)

Pastor’s blog, Sunday 12th August, 2012

On Filed under Dear Church Family..., Grace Reflections
Ian Thompson
Ian Thompson

Dear Church,

Why is prayer so important to us at GCC? 

As children of our Father we are called into a relationship with Him.  Relationships cannot survive where there is no communication and prayer is first and foremost the way in which we conduct our relationship with God.  In prayer we express our love for Him in praise and worship and thanksgiving.  In prayer we keep a right humility before our great creator by acknowledging our need of Him and crying out for his strength and wisdom: in prayer we know we cannot save ourselves.  But God approaches closer still by calling us to partner with Him in His great mission to save lost people.  God has so ordered this world to make prayer the means by which His power is brought into the lives of men and women.  Jesus told his disciples that the harvest was plentiful (Matthew 9v37) but then called on them to ask God to send workers into the harvest field.  The power and the resources are from God.  But somehow in prayer we are called to direct that power where it is needed.  Imagine a workman pouring concrete into some foundations.  He is directing a huge pipe and the ready-mixed concrete is being pumped through it.  As long as he keeps alert and directs the pipe where it needs to go, all is well.  But if he is distracted or sleepy then disaster will soon occur.  So it is with us.  In prayer we wield a conduit through which flows the incredible power of God.  If we wield it well, the power of God will flow to where it is needed.  If we are lax or sleepy, the power of God may not reach those who so desperately need it.  Over the next few weeks we are going to be looking at some of the great prayers of the Bible in our Sunday evening services.  Please join us if you can.  But if you can’t, then pray, and direct the power of Heaven to where it is needed!

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Matthew 9vv37-38

Yours in Christ,

Ian Thompson (Acting pastor)