Prayer Warrior

The last four years are a blur. You entered high school full of promise, but most of you had little idea of what your future held. You have grown into men and women of extraordinary faith and action. And, that faith has challenged us adults in the church. Do we believe what we say we do? Are we ready to act on our convictions like you? Is our faith as innocent and unadulterated as yours?

Often it seems that you instruct us more than we teach you. Nonetheless, we stand behind you, saluting your victories, applauding your awards, and reveling in what God is working through you. You are our “glory and joy.” (Thes. 2:20)

ESCAPE Weekends, FrontLiners, the Panama City trip, Bible Studies, Moody Building renovations, movie nights, guy/girl weekends, Wednesday night worship times, intimate prayer sessions, human videos and dramas, lunches, pranks… The time has flown by.

You are a remarkable class, and we love you dearly. It is with a smile on our faces and tears in our eyes that we send you out as emissaries on mission with our Lord. Bitter-sweet emotions collide within as we watch you go. It is now on your graduation that we, like Paul did for the Ephesians, commend you to God.

Paul loved the Ephesian church, as we have loved you. Ephesus was one of the few places Paul settled for any length of time. When he was traveling to Jerusalem, not knowing what was in store for him, he stopped in Miletus. From there, he called the leaders of the Ephesian church together to encourage them.

They traveled almost 50 miles to hear his last sermon. At the end, he said, “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:31-32)

Like Paul, we have bombarded Heaven on your behalf, through times of joy and seasons of tears. Now as you embark on your new life and begin making your own way, we entrust you to God. His Word has been embedded, etched on your hearts. It is that which will continue to build your faith and character. His Spirit will whisper in your ear, “This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”(Is. 30:21)

We, your church family, will not “cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in [our] prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. [We] pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might.” (Eph. 1:16-19)

You see, the knowledge of God is more than information cataloged in your brain; it comes from wisdom AND revelation. It is critical that you have the head-knowledge (wisdom). It is equally imperative that you have the heart-knowledge (revelation). Your spiritual eyes, or heart, must be opened to see not only His plan for you, but also the  greatness of His glory and His unfathomable power that is your inheritance for completing your assigned mission. It is His strength that comes to bear when you are walking the path for which He sculpted you.

These next few years are critical to your continued faith. So, we commit to pray and encourage you. Specifically, we will pray that:

• You rejoice always in the Lord. ( Phil. 3:1, 4:4)
• You seek out godly friends who will strengthen and support you, and you will get involved in a fellowship of believers for regular worship. (Heb. 10:25)
• God will open doors of ministry for you (1 Cor. 16:9) and “count you worthy of your call, fulfilling every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.” ( 2 Thes. 1:11)
• You will not “neglect the spiritual gift within you.” (1 Tim 4:14)
• Your “speech, conduct, love, faith and purity” will be an example to all. (1 Tim 4:12)
• In your strength you will be made mature. ( 2 Cor. 13:9)

Seniors, as you move on to begin your own lives, remember that this home is always open to you. You are members of this body, part of us. You are “our hope and joy and crown of exultation.” (1 Thes. 2:19) Therefore, as you leave us, “stand firm in the Lord, my beloved,” (Phil. 4:1) but don’t stand alone. (Pr. 27:17) Surround yourself with like-minded believers (Eccl. 4:12) and soak in the Word of God. (Eph. 5:26-27) You see, wherever God may take you, you represent your family, our church and our dear Lord. Be faithful with that trust. (Col. 1:9-12) In the future, we hope to hear your stories so we can continue to bless you and be encouraged by you. (Phil. 2:17-18)

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with each one of you.” ( 2 Cor. 13:14) ♥