Stand Ready in Prayer and Perseverance [Sermon Series STAND] Pastor Bonnie Rajoon

``Prayer keeps the gospel flame burning bright. Prayer sustains courage in the face of resistance. Prayer unlocks boldness when silence feels safer. Prayer empowers ordinary people to speak an extraordinary message. And we have an extraordinary message, and we serve an extraordinary God. And when we pray and we come before him, our ordinary words and our tears seem to get strength and life, and we say, God, we can go on for another day. [01:20:49] (41 seconds)  #PrayBoldly

The most important piece of our armor in the spiritual battle when the evil day comes is prayer. You see, prayer activates the armor of God. Without prayer, the armor is just a fancy accessory. You could hang it up and just go on your own. But when we enter the battle fully dressed, without prayer, we still leave ourselves open to the attack of the enemy. [01:02:07] (28 seconds)  #ArmorThroughPrayer

Jesus did not respond to his accusers. You don't have to respond to everything. You don't have to say everything. Sometimes you just need to be quiet. He was wearing the shield of faith, but Jesus asked his disciples to watch and pray. He had on the armor. I believe he had on the armor, but still he asked his disciples to watch and pray with him. [01:22:43] (24 seconds)  #WatchAndPray

Who is God asking you to pray for today, moms? Dads as well. All of you who are here, who is God asking you to pray for, to stand in the gap for? Because when we start doing that, that's how we are united as a community. That's how we know each other's heart. We are stepping into someone's battle. [01:07:29] (24 seconds)  #PrayForOthers

to get on our knees and pray. First response before we do anything, before we defend, before we talk, before we make decisions, get on our knees and pray. This is what Jesus says, I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly. The armor that Jesus wore to withstand evil and the evil day is the same one he offers to you and he offers to me. [01:23:50] (34 seconds)  #PrayBeforeAction

Paul is praying, and I am praying. Pastor Dave prays that all the people of grace and all of the people that we know will understand the greatness of God's power. The same power that raised Christ from the dead. It is that same power that when we pray in the spirit, it is already at work in us. [01:12:07] (27 seconds)  #PowerInPrayer

Our mission and serving takes us into enemy territory. That's why we need to pray. It takes us into a hostile territory sometimes. I would often hear pastor Dave pray praying and saying, we need to walk when we walk past the barber shop, past that deli. You know which deli it is that doesn't really sell. Delhi stuff sells something else. And we pray. [01:15:53] (29 seconds)  #PrayerOnTheFrontline

Praying at all times mean that we always have that consciousness that God is with us. He's present with us. That's what it means. If you whisper a prayer as you do your laundry, as you take care of the kids, as you put them to bed tonight, as you wake up for work in the morning to face the day. That consciousness, that awareness, that the presence of God is always with us. [01:18:36] (25 seconds)  #PrayThroughoutTheDay