The Power of Praying Big!

I want to show you something powerful about prayer. More specifically, the power of a praying congregation of people.

Matthew 18:18-20 NIV
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

· In the English translation the words “where two or more AGREE” is actually a case where our language does not do the    words justice.

· The english word agree actually comes from the Greek, SYMPH NE.*

· Doesn’t that look familiar…a lot like our english word Symphony!*

The prayers of two or three gathering in Jesus' name will create a SYMPHONY to God’s ears!

But what does that sound like when we come together as a church in prayer? What type of harmonious beautiful music does that make?

LET ME TRY TO EXPLAIN IT

The prayers of an individual begin as one beautiful prayer to God…He hears it, and his heart cries out for the request. At this point we usually stop, we’re too emabrassed for other people to know what we’re going through so we keep the request to ourselves…DON”T DO THAT! As beautiful as this solo prayer/music is to God, it has not reached its peak of beauty. When you bring your request to the other believers in your community, something powerful happens.

Instruments are added to your melody…a harmony begins to play in the Lords ears. It is undeniable. And as the words are consistently offered in faith to the Lord the music just builds and BUILDS to a point that God decides the time is right to move in your situation, revealing what the answer to the prayers of many will be. In the end, it is GOD who will be glorified

* Do you have a request for your family that you believe is impossible?
* Do you have a request for your job that you’re wanting the Lord to answer?
* Have you been believing that someone you LOVE would come to know Jesus?
* Have you been in pain, or been sick, and you are crying out for God to make you well?

Continue praying on your own, but also turn your prayer requests into a symphony before the Lord!

Always remember, JESUS says, when two or three gather…I AM THERE! (and the sound is beautiful music to His ears)

Click on the link to hear a perfect illustration of this blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXAqVIT65fE

* Symph Ne - Taken from the book PRAY BIG by Will Davis Jr.

The Line

Last week I was flipping through the channels and came across the movie Field of Dreams. I will spare you the details, but if you haven't seen one of Kevin Costner's best movies, go get it!

Now, I will tell you that the basic plot revolves around a character named Ray (Kevin Costner) building a baseball field in the middle of his Iowa corn crop. The reason? The field exists so ballplayers of baseball's past can live out their dreams, just one more time, on the diamond. The catch? None of the ballplayers are alive anymore! They walk onto the field as ghosts from the outfield corn, and some narrator whispers things like, "If you build it, He will come."

I love this movie! Yes, it is a sappy baseball movie, but it has so many great story lines. I could literally use it for so many message clips. Here's just a couple themes.

1. A man who operates on faith
2. A man who steps out of his comfort zone to act on his faith.
3. The importance of second chances.
4. Helping others realize their dreams.
5. The importance of the father/son relationship.

I could go on and on...but I won't.

But there is one particular scene that hit me right in the gut...hard! I have seen this movie so many times, and honestly, I NEVER got it! The scene involves Archibald "Moonlight" Graham. As a young ballplayer he only had one appearance in a major league game and was never allowed to bat. He was released after that game, and would go on to attend medical school and become a family doctor for a small town.

The movie 'Field of Dreams' steps in and gives Moonlight Graham the opportunity to play baseball with many of his childhood idols. As a former baseball player, the idea of being given an opportunity like that is definitely a dream! However, in the middle of Moonlight Graham being given his dream, Ray's (Kevin Costner's) little girl falls from the top of the bleachers and stops breathing. No one knows what to do...Someone call a doctor! Moonlight Graham rushes to the edge of the Field of Dreams and his toes come right to the edge of a line. The line represents a choice. Does he continue to live out his dream, or does he step across the line and follow though on what he is equipped to do.

Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham steps out of his dream and saves the little girl. Why? Because that's what God made him to be...a doctor.

This scene hits me on multiple levels.

I loved to play baseball...but God had other ideas.

I love to sing, write and record music...God had other ideas.

What's interesting is, God gives me little opportunities to play in my own little 'Field of Dreams' every once in a while. Sometimes it's a fun baseball game in a wood-bat league in Nashville, and other times it's a phone call to put a band together for entertainment at a fundraiser. I LOVE doing those things, and when I am in the middle of those "dreams" I can't help but think of what life might have been like if my real dreams had come true.

But then my cell phone rings...My toes walk up to the edge of the line...do I step over and continue the dream or do what God made me to be?

I step over the line...I'm in the real world...I'm a pastor...and I love it.

One of our church members is going through a difficult time and they need prayer...I pray for them over the phone, immediately!

Ray (Kevin Costner's character) would say, "Oh no Josh, you can't go back! I'm sorry, you can't go back!"

My response, "It's alright...This is what I'm here to do."

What about you? What is your "Field of Dreams"?
Aren't you glad God has you right where you need to be.


P.S. You can view the Moonlight Graham clip here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6bD23vEigE

Josh