PRIVATE PRAYER
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6
Eight times in the space of this verse is the pronoun used in the singular number and the second person–a thing unique in all Scripture–as though to emphasize the indispensability, importance and value of private prayer. Private prayer is the test of our sincerity, the index to our spirituality, the principle means of growing in grace. Private prayer is the one thing above all others that Satan seeks to prevent, for he knows full well that if he can succeed at this point, the Christian will fail at every other.
Alas, how remiss we have been, how sadly we have failed to discharge this duty, and what irreparable losers are we by this sinful neglect. Shall this year witness a repetition of the sad failures of the past?
It is the exercising of ourselves in secret prayer that distinguishes us from hypocrites who go through their religious exercises merely to be seen of men. The hypocrite places a far higher value upon the applause of his fellows than he does upon the approbation of his Maker.
It is striking to note that God has often granted the freest communications of himself to those who were before him in secret. It was so with Moses on the mount, when Jehovah gave him the Law–and again when he gave him the pattern for the tabernacle. It was while Daniel was engaged in private prayer that God sent his angel to reveal to him the secrets of his counsel concerning the restoration of Jerusalem and the duration thereof, even unto the Messiah. It is in the secret prayer closet that God usually bestows his sweetest and choicest blessings. Cornelius was highly commended and graciously rewarded upon the account of his private prayer. Peter was granted that wondrous vision concerning the Gentiles while praying alone.
Let us now make a few suggestions on how this duty is to be performed. First, reverently. In all our approaches to God, we should duly consider his exalted majesty and ineffable holiness and humble ourselves before him. Second, sincerely. We cannot be too strongly or too frequently warned against that mere external worship to which we are so constantly prone. Third, submissively. Our petitions should ever be presented with the provision, “If it be Thy will.” Fourth, confidently. He bids us “come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy.” Fifth, fervently. It is not sufficient that our tongues babble out a mere form; our hearts must be in this work. It is a striving in prayer. – A.W. Pink
The Lord's Day Services
Sunday, January 20, 2019
10:00 a.m. Sunday school for all ages
11:00 a.m. Morning Service – Dr. Larry Saunders
6:00 p.m. Pre-service Prayer Meeting
6:30 p.m. Evening Service – Dr. Larry Saunders
Weekly Announcements
WEEK OF PRAYER
Monday, January 21st – Friday, January 25th at 7:25 p.m. each night.
Thursday, January 24th
7:25 p.m. Baptismal Service
Friday, January 25th
9:00 a.m. Women’s Morning Bible Study
7:00 p.m. Good News Bible Club
Advance Announcements
Sunday, January 27th
10:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages
11:00 a.m. Morning Service – Dr. Larry Saunders
6:00 p.m. Pre-service Prayer Meeting
6:30 p.m. Evening Service – Dr. Larry Saunders
Fellowship & refreshments following the evening service, Team #4 is on duty.
Tuesday, January 29th
7:15 p.m. Women’s Bible study – Philippians Ch. 1:12-20, Whether by life or by death
Wednesday, January 30th
7:25 p.m. Family Bible Study & Prayer Meeting.
Quiz: Acts Chapters 4 & 5
Friday, February 1st
7:00 p.m. Good News Bible Club
CONGREGATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER
Our congregational week of prayer will be held from January 21-25. Plan to attend each night to pray for God’s blessing on our church and all its ministries. May God be pleased to bless us with salvation and spiritual growth.
MEXICO MISSION SUPPORT TEAM - AUGUST 9th-24th, 2019
Rev. Derrick Bowman under the charge of the FPCNA, is organizing the very first mission team to go and be of assistance to Rev. Jason Boyle, and Brother Lalo Pena, and Marcus Reyes, in Mexico. Below are the specific details of the trip. This trip is not limited to “young people” but anyone over the age of 16 who would be interested in being a part of this Mission Support Team. Details are as follows:
- The cost of the trip is $1,500 which includes travel, accommodations, and meals. A payment schedule is included in the application form.
- We will depart from Winston Salem on Friday, August 9 and return on Saturday, August 24. Our congregation will provide housing for all team members before and after the trip.
- Team members will be responsible for their own travel to and from Winston Salem, NC.
- Applications need to be submitted by Friday, February 22 by regular mail or scanned and emailed to Derrick Bowman at derbow@gmail.com.
- Being able to speak Spanish will be helpful but not necessary for this trip.
- The basic trip itinerary is as follows:
Aug. 9 – Travel to the Puebla City airport in Mexico and then drive to Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico
Aug. 10-14 – Assist Lalo Pena in Cordoba and Marcus Reyes in Orizaba
Aug. 15 – Travel to Mexico City to meet up with Jason Boyle
Aug. 16-23 – Assist with evangelistic outreach ministries at Jason Boyles’ church
Aug. 24 – return home
Mission Statement:
The mission of the FPCNA Ministry Support Team is to strengthen the witness and testimony of local churches and mission works for the glory of God.
Team Member Requirements:
- Each team member must fill out an application form. Attached to your application form you must submit a letter of recommendation from your session, and you must submit in paragraph form your answers to the following questions:
- What is the gospel?
- What is your personal testimony of salvation and have you been baptized?
- What is your current ministry involvement in your local congregation?
- What type of cross-cultural missionaryexperience do you have? (you are not required to have previous experience to be considered for a team)
- Team members must be in regular attendance in a FPCNA congregation to participate in a ministry trip.
- In general, team members must be 16 years of age or older (at the time of the trip). In limited circumstances, exceptions to this rule may be made depending on the location and nature of the trip.
- Dating or engaged couples will not be allowed on the same trip.
- Each team member must read, sign, and abide by the team policy information listed on the application.
- Along with the application, each team member must submit a $100 deposit. Team members will be supplied with a payment schedule. An example is as follows:
$100 with your application (applied toward the first 50% of total trip cost)
50% of total trip cost received by 120 days out
75% of total trip cost received by 90 days out
100% of total trip cost received by 60 days out
