Answer to Prayers!!!

As i've been praying in preparation for a sermon on Sunday i have felt deep within that this Sunday is important. I am a guest speaker at an old church where the gospel is almost never preached. i fear that perhaps even a majority do not know God...On Sunday I'm going to preach the gospel...but i'm not going to ask people to accept Jesus (they've already done that) - I'm going to invite them to make Him their Lord (thanks to Tozer and Reidhead i have changed my approach to preaching the gospel)...BUT I NEED PRAYER - in all of you is a TREMENDOUS resource...i fear that most in this church are going to hell and they don't even know it. Sunday could be a day of change but it won't be because of me - i need your prayers and i could ask nothing more important than that my fellow brothers and sisters would pray. If you could take even just a few moments out of your day I would be so grateful...I believe in prayer!!!! I'm terrified but I know that i know this is what God wants to me to say on Sunday but if it's just me it's going to fall on deaf ears. If i could make one wish today i would ask for the prayers of my brothers and sisters from SermonIndex - a million dollars would be nice but I WANT prayer and I need it. I can't tell you how important i feel this is. Finney was effective because his brothers and sisters prayed. Today as i pray i have felt desperate for the prayers of my brothers and sisters. every sermon is important to me but i don't usually feel this way about a sermon - oh would you please please pray! even just for a moment...thank you from the depths of my heart. "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!!!"

Those of you who have read my request, I thank you from the depths of my heart...that you took the time to read a thread requesting prayer shows that you care - thank you. the title of the thread sounds very urgent...and no i am not dying - but in truth (i think...heart is deceitfully wicked) i would trade my life for lives changed on Sunday...if only i could express to you how my heart yearns for this. if you read my request please respond so that this thread may stay in view so that others may read it. i hope this is an ok request. Again thank you all.

I love it! Go get 'em champ. My prayers will be with you, and the church that meets in our house will be praying for you on Sunday morning... Krispy

Hey PreachParsly... I didnt know y'all had internet over in Arkansas! When did that happen? :-P Krispy

if you read my request please respond so that this thread may stay in view so that others may read it. i hope this is an ok request. Again thank you all.Brother Stephen, God is going before you, just be faithful. It is His work and He will do it! Lord speak through your vessel Stephen make him a firebrand for you so that your pure words may reach the ears of hearers. Thank you Jesus may you be glorified. Amen.

Thank you all sooo much!! As i read your postings i was moved deeply. I am so encouraged.I'm glad i checked in. I would continue to ask for everyone's prayers!!God bless you!i will let you know how things go.Your brother in Christ,Stephen

At this point the heading of this post is misleading...i am now writing to thank you all SO much for your prayers and let you know how things went.Saturday and through the night were a huge struggle for me. i was so shook up that i fumbled through much of the service prior to the sermon (and yet it i knew God's presence was among us). i was still nervous (almost terrified) until i began to speak, and I have never felt God's presence when i have spoken as i did on Sunday. Where i had been timid before God gave me authority...i had felt such urgency about this sermon and God filled me with such compassion for the audience that at times i almost wept as i shared with them the urgency of this message and the message itself (this is highly unusual for me - i'm normally a very wooden speaker...and trust me i didn't do any yelling - i just felt such compassion for them...but i know it wasn't from me).Well - God answered our prayers! I didn't ask anyone to come forward but i gave the congregation an opportunity to respond in silence. it was beautiful - i know God was working. I prefer not to describe the situation because i believe it a holy thing and i want God to get the glory. But i will say that the angels were rejoicing over at least one soul...there was an overwhelmingly positive response (i don't know if that is good or not) and many shared with me that the message had gotten through - praise God! But one person in particular said that the message was for her...said she had grown up in the church but had never understood the gospel before. Again, i wish i could share more. I want to be respectful about these things. Just know that your prayers were answered beyond (shamefully) what I expected!!!One day we will see the fruit! And may God receive all the glory - I am so glad Sunday was the way it was...i wanted to construct the service in a way that would allow God to work but the service was the most awkward thing you ever saw. The mechanics were terrible; I was a mess (fumbling and nervous)...but God doesn't need either!! THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS! What a treasure you are...knowing that i had your prayers was my greatest comfort. What a resource this is! Let's continue to make use of it. Please share as prayer needs come up (if this is ok with the administrator - i think it will be :-)) and I will be happy to pray for the needs of my brothers and sisters. God bless you all,Your brother in Christ,Stephen