"Rare Faithfulness"

"Never stop praying" ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17

One of the shortest verses in the entire Bible is also one of the most practical for us in our journey with Christ. In the midst of his final instructions to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul talks about being joyful, remaining thankful, striving to do what is good for others, and rejecting evil. And he also includes the directive to "never stop praying". This could be confusing for some because we've learned to treat prayer like a solemn religious exercise rather than a conversation with our Creator through our Savior (which is why it's important to pray "in Jesus' name"). But I don't think Paul's point here is that we must be in a continual posture of prayer. Instead, I think he's urging the believers to maintain a spirit of prayer, understanding that the Holy Spirit is always with us and we can talk to Him about anything, any place, anytime. Whether you've had a good week or bad week, whether you are happy and joyful or feel like your world is being crushed, whether you have walked in godliness or have fallen into sin, God is accessible to us through the blood of Christ. So, be in an ongoing conversation with Him. Sometimes, that means going to a quiet place. Sometimes it's folding hands and bowing heads. Sometimes it's looking up to the sky. Sometimes it's a gentle whisper in a tough moment. Jesus modeled every one of these during His time on earth. This week at Friendship, we will talk a little bit about prayer but mainly being persistent in it, not giving up or losing heart over a lack of results. The title is "Rare Faithfulness" because that is what our God wants, persistent faith even when most others give up and fall away. Join us for this important message and reminder that God is always our only hope for whatever it is we need!