If God is in control, why should we pray? By Sue Wolfe—From Christopher Ash

way, and leave us out of it? … Wonderfully, he has chosen to govern the world in fellowship with Christ’s people … as fol-lows:

First he chose to work in an-swer to Jesus’ prayers. At the grave of Lazarus, Jesus says, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me …” (John 11:41-42). God the Father chose to raise Lazarus in answer to the prayer that Jesus had prayed, and in no other way! Had Jesus not prayed for Lazarus to be raised, the Father would not have raised him. God, by his Holy Spirit, moved in the heart of Jesus his Son, so that Jesus would pray this prayer; and then God answered it, because God the Father and Jesus the Son walk in perfect fellowship.

Next, he puts the Spirit of Je-sus into the hearts of followers of Jesus, so that we too begin to pray according to God’s will.

Of course, there are times when we ask for other things, and then we cannot be sure

"“… If God controls each

and every event, from the tiniest to the greatest, and has already decided what will happen, then why pray? After all, if it’s going to happen anyway, what possible differ-ence can your prayers or mine make?

The answer is that it’s not going to happen “anyway”; it is going to happen in one particular way. The Bible does

not tell us that we can strong-arm God by praying whatever we want to pray, as if our wills were constraining God’s will. No, it tells us “that if we ask anything according to [God’s] will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14)

God has chosen to do what he wills to do in answer to the prayers of Christ’s people, when we ask for what he wants. …Why could he not just do what he wants any-

The Prayer Ministry believes that God is at the center of our lives

and that we maintain a relationship with Him through prayer.

Prayer Ministry

10 questions with...Pastor Cliff

1) Where were you born and raised? Richmond, VA

2) How many siblings do you have? 3 brothers and one sister. Two twin adopted brothers.

3) What is your favorite home cooked meal? Meatloaf.

4) Which flavor of ice-cream do you prefer? Pistachio.

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Update July 2017

Issue 4

This issue is lovingly dedicated to Greg Fontecchio

1967—2017

how he will answer; for our prayers may not be according to his will. Our prayers do not change God’s will or chal-lenge his control; but they draw us into loving fellowship with him in his wonderful government of the world.

Our prayers mean that God, by his Spirit in your heart and mine, is moving us to pray. He instructs us from the Bible about what pleases him; He puts into our hearts a longing for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven; and then we pray, as He has

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If God is in Control, why should we pray?

5) What do you usually do when you have leisure time on your hands? Play my trom-bones.

6) Name 3 people (living or dead) that you would like to share a dinner with. Jesus, Moses and David.

7) After the Bible, what is your favorite all-time book? J.R.R. Tolkien’s the Silmarillion.

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Team Volunteers:

Holly Bender

Kevin Clark

Bob Delaive

Linda Delaive

Ruth Doyle

Carol Goldman

Greg Handel

Mary Ann Handel

Sharon Johnson

Karen Leahy

Mary Jane Lightbody

Pat Marsh

Laurie Martin

Cindi Mitchell

Kim Mu-Chow

Judy Nichols

Lisa Pisano

Paula Scully

Sue Wolfe

You can contact Linda Delaive: through the main email address for prayer: prayer@newenglandchapel.org

If you're on Facebook, stop by our new community page, https://www.facebook.com/

YourGoldenBowl . Check out the page, give it a "Like," and please share with your friends. Post your favorite encouraging verses, favorite quotes, favorite prayers and other relevant content. This page is all about inspiration and spreading the word of the power of prayer. This is a mod-

erated page, so your post may take some time to show up. Thank you! (As always, specific prayer requests are handled through the NEC Prayer Ministry. Send a Prayer Request.)

8) What would constitute a perfect day for you? Get up early and dig at an archaeo-logical site all day. Then get cleaned up and tour the area.

9) How do you want to be remembered? As being faithful.

10) How can The Prayer Ministry support you with prayer? Strength to build good rela-tionships within NEC and the capacity to communicate clearly to all.

10 questions with…Pastor Cliff

Prayer keeps us from losing heart. This is why prayer is essential. Some-

times we assume that we pray more than we really do. The child of God is to live in constant communion with the Lord Jesus Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit. To live in constant communion with God is not impossible. Prayer is not always going into a closet, prayer is not always being on your knees, and prayer is not always with your hands up in the air, and prayer is not a work.

It is not hard work to pray, and if you think that it is you have a wrong view of prayer. My friend, prayer is simply talking with God. Constant communion with God is absolutely possible. God has made us so that we can continually turn our thoughts to Him and walk in an attitude of prayer. Prayer is a privilege and a benefit of being a child of God. Prayer ushers in the mighty workings of an Almighty God, and my friend, we need to pray without ceasing.

“pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV)

The Power of Prayer From Abiding Above on Crosswalk.com

moved us to pray. And then He does what He wants to do, and has chosen to do … He has chosen to do it only when we pray for it. … Our God-shaped desires and yearnings actually shape what hap-pens! There is no higher privilege.

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