by Matt Huey

This week the men from West Seattle gathered to pray. We opened by talking about the conversations we had with nonbelievers this week. We then turned our attention to Psalm 73:21-28 (below):

“21) When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, 22) I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. 23) Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24) You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25) Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26) My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27) For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28) But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”

We then talked about the pains of sin how ultimately it is against God and grieves God. There is pain for us as we suffer separation from God and discipline (For those who are believers). We talked about how in the Hebrew Sin is like having a kidney stone which can bring a man to his knees. At the same time we have a God who holds our hand to help us walk through this.

Ultimately we do all of this because we want God to be glorified and we want to participate leading to joy in our hearts. We are made to treasure God above all things and that is when real changes takes place.

We then broke into smaller groups and spent a consider amount of time confessing our sins to each other before praying for the Church and the ministry of the Church.

Questions:

• What sin are you allowing to fester in you inner being?
• Do you see your sin as something that is against God?
• Do care about how you grieve God with your sin?
• How could you ask Jesus for help to walk through a particular sin?
• How can you treasure God and his eternal glory in such a way that you run from your sin?

Prayers this week:

• Continue to pray for a spirit of humility and unity among the leadership and staff at Mars Hill
• Pray for a spirit of unity in the Church and that people would respond to the Mission of our church out of an identity in Jesus. Pray that the believers at Mars Hill would take tangible steps to mature in faith and bear fruit (2 Peter 1: 5-9).
• Continue to pray for the 1 Peter Series.
• Pray for those who are suffering that they will lean into the promises of Jesus and find strength and joy.
• Pray for the Tuesday Redemption Night and the Wednesday evening “Equip” classes. Pray that people will grow through the process and remain faithful to attend and do the work.
• Pray against Satan, his tricks, and divisive attempts to hamper the mission of Mars Hill and lead people astray from the truth of the gospel.