Dear Pray! Network Friends,
Please pray that I would "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (see 2 Timothy 2:1)
I need God's grace today like never before! And I need to believe that all the grace that I will ever need is in my Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that I would "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
Please pray that I would commit what I have heard from the Bible to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
(see 2 Timothy 2:2)
Much of my ministry time this year will be spent on something I'm calling the "2013 Leadership Development Initiative". Please ask God to make me a better leader in His kingdom and to use me to develop new leaders for Evanston Baptist Church and the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Northwestern University throughout 2013.
Please pray that I would share in suffering
(see 2 Timothy 2:3-7)
as a good "soldier" of Christ Jesus (to please the recruiter, not tangled up in "civilian affairs")
as a spiritual "athlete" (crowned because he "competes" according to the rules)
as a hardworking "farmer" (who ought to be the first to get a share of the crops)
Please pray that I would keep my attention focused on Jesus Christ.
(see 2 Timothy 2:8-9)
He is risen from the dead!
He is descended from David.
Paul suffered for this gospel, to the point of being bound like a criminal.
But God's Word is NOT bound!
Please also pray that...
I would remind God's people of the truths in the Bible (see 2 Timothy 2:10-14)
I would charge God's people to not quarrel about words (see 2 Timothy 2:14)
I would do my best to present myself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth (see 2 Timothy 2:15)
I would avoid irreverent, empty speech (see 2 Timothy 2:16-18)
I would remember that God's solid foundation stands firm (see 2 Timothy 2:19)
I would purify myself from dishonorable things so that I might increasingly be God's instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work (see 2 Timothy 2:20-21)
I would flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (see 2 Timothy 2:22)
I would have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies and that I would not be quarrelsome but rather kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting my opponents with gentleness (see 2 Timothy 2:23-25)
God would grant repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth to people in Evanston who are currently opposed to the gospel and to my ministry. Pray that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will (see 2 Timothy 2:25-26)
I'm confident that God will answer these prayers as you pray them!
Why? Because of what is written in 1 John 5:14-15...
"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."
(1 John 5:14-15 ESV)
Yours in Christ,
Scott
Scott Kelly, pastor
Evanston Baptist Church, Evanston, Illinois
evanstonbaptistchurch.org
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