The Resurrection of Jesus Changes Prayer

Good morning brothers and sisters. What a month so far. I have never experienced anything like this in my lifetime you probably haven’t either.  The NBA season shut down, NCAA March Madness canceled, conferences canceled, schools canceled, work canceled, toilet paper flying off of the store shelves, stock market is going up and down each day, nations are locked down, quarantines, homes locked down, no meetings of any kind allowed. We are living in distressing times.

We have heard from officials that this is similar to the Spanish flu pandemic that infected approximately 1/3 of the world’s population (500 million people) and killed around 50 million people worldwide. Today this virus has infected a little over 300 thousand people with a little over 24 thousand in our country. Every nation has been touched. Let us remember that our all powerful and loving God is not fazed or freaking out.

This is what He says to us;

“So do not be afraid. I am with you. Do not be terrified. I Am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will hold you safe in my hands. I will always do what is right.”  Isaiah 41:10

We are 4 Sundays away from Easter and this will be our second lesson on the Resurrection of Jesus.    The Resurrection of Jesus changes our Prayers.

Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for us and His resurrection changes our prayer lives.

I wonder what God is saying to us as a world and to us a His church?

I Know He is saying that it is time to completely and desperately depend on Him in our prayer lives. We must pray:

1. Prayers for Faith, Wisdom and Common Sense in times of distress    

• Seek a spiritual balance between fear and faith. Proverbs 1:7; The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• A pandemic should remind us of our mortality and fragility that calls for our desperate need for Him “to work all things out for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
• Let us Pray for and listen to our governing authorities at this time. (1 Timothy 2:1ff & Romans 13:1ff).
• Wash our hands just like our mommas taught us to, Stay in your homes and avoid crowded areas unless absolutely necessary, no in person meetings of any kind, quarantine yourself if you are sick, follow all the guidelines each day until March 30.
• Keep abreast of developments and guidelines such as on the website of Riverside County department of health. Pray for these developments and health workers who are on the frontlines battling this invisible enemy.
• Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Those who believe in Me, even though they may die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

2.  Prayers for Resurrection Power in our lives and our world

• Ephesians 1:18-23; Paul prays for God to open the eyes of our hearts to the immeasurable power that He used to raise Jesus Christ from the dead.
• Power to grow in Christ likeness like never before at this time.
• Power to be shielded from Satan’s attacks and schemes.
• The power of His word to transform us into people who pray like Jesus Christ prayed and love others the way He has loved us.
• Prayers of thanksgiving for the health, homes and jobs He has blessed us with and to make us generous as He is generous with us. 
• Pray for and help elderly neighbors with out coming into direct contact with them keeping a safe distance.
• Thank God for Internet technology that helps keep us connected at this time.
• Let us not be overcome with anxiety but be overflowing with prayers of thanks so that God’s shalom which is beyond understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
• Now is the time to sincerely love our neighbors and pray for their hearts to be opened to the resurrection righteousness of Jesus Christ.  Who is that 1 person that you are asking God to save?

3. Prayers for Every 1 I know to Experience Resurrection Righteousness

• Our world is suffering through a physical pandemic and will recover but the Pandemic that can not be overcome by human measures began many millenniums ago in the Garden of Eden and has only 1 cure and His powerful and righteous name is Jesus Christ. Let us remember the incredible blessings of His salvation and share it with others as He gives us opportunity. 
• Prayers of thanksgiving for our union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Romans 6:4-7 … we are no longer slaves to sin because He has made us slaves to Christ. As we share in the Lord’s Supper together we give thanks with overflowing hearts for the righteousness that He bestows upon us in the sacrifice of His Son’s body and blood.
• Let us close with God’s message to the prophet Daniel concerning the resurrection victory that Jesus has won for us.
• Read Daniel 12:1-4;  Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
• May the Lord bless you, may the Lord protect you, may He shine His face upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord smile upon you and give you peace.
• We thank you O Lord for this promise that we have in Jesus Christ. Please make our prayers ones of faith, wisdom, common sense, resurrection power and righteousness of Jesus your Son. Please use us to lead many to Your righteousness. Dear heavenly Father, almighty creator of heaven and earth, please establish your kingdom in our midst, Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us sinners, Dear Blessed Holy Spirit, breath of the Living God, renew and transform us and the whole world into the image of Jesus.                    We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus.