God answers prayer! However, He only answers the prayers we pray!
Our world, country, state, city, churches—even we as individuals—are all in need. We need God to move. What moves God? The prayers of His people!
While today is the day Bellevue has chosen to seek God in prayer and fasting, we also want to be mindful that May 5 is The National Day of Prayer. Bellevue is participating in this by praying form 12:00-1:00 p.m., live in the Fellowship Hall and online at www.bellevuelive.org. We hope you will join us!
“And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place”
(2 Chronicles 7:14-15).
I am gripped by the words of Mark Batterson, “Prayers are prophecies. They are the best predictors of your spiritual future. Who you become is determined by how you pray.” (The Circle Maker, p. 14). God is watching and listening to see if we pray and if we do, how we pray. Not merely the words, but do we pray from our heart and in faith? If we do, He has promised to answer! “His eyes are open and His ears attentive.” However, if we don’t pray, if we just go through the motions, if we don’t pray in faith—things remain the same.
Oh, and as important as fervent, believing prayer is, it must come from a humble and life.
Jesus commanded, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is gloried by this, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:4-8, emphasis added).
We often drift. We get so caught up in the busyness of life trying to figure out what is next that we don’t “keep the main thing, the main thing.” Apart from an intimate relationship with Jesus, we will do nothing and accomplish nothing. You can draw a man no closer to Christ than where you are.
“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase” (Acts 9:31).
“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; butI will instruct you in the good and right way” (1 Samuel 12:23).
“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask thatyou may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects,bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9–10).
“As we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what islacking in your faith” (1 Thessalonians 3:10).
(If you know a pastor or a church in the Memphis area who would like more information on how to be involved in this, contact Bill Street, Minister of Evangelism, Discipleship, and Prayer at bstreet@bellevue.org or call (901) 347-5750.)
“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that’” (James 4:13-15).
“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).
They will be making foundational decisions that will shape the rest of their lives.
Rather than simply reading the words of Bro. Steve’s Prayer for Memphis, please take time to verbally pray for our city using this prayer as a guide.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Memphis. Thank You for strategically locating our city in the middle of this nation, so we can be a catalyst for revival and spiritual awakening. Please pour out Your Spirit on Memphis,Shelby County, the Mid-South, and beyond. Help every Christian and every Bible-believing, Jesus-loving, Gospel-preaching church to Love God, Love People, Share Jesus, and Make Disciples. Demolish every demonic stronghold of pride, violence, racism, poverty, crime, sexual immorality, drug abuse, sickness,religious formalism, fanaticism, legalism, liberalism, and traditionalism. Replace them with love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control, blessing, mercy, grace, hope, healing, liberty, and freedom. Destroy the stronghold of religion in Memphis that has a form of godliness but denies the power thereof. Give us churches that believe in the Bible and preach salvation only in Jesus Christ. Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in Memphis on Earth as it is in Heaven. Bring pastors, lay leaders, and congregations together as we pray for this city. Bless our governmental leaders, schools, and economy. Please send good jobs to Memphis. Keep casinos, strip clubs, and occultic activity out of Memphis. Do a work of revival in Memphis that can only be explained by Your presence and power and do it all for Your glory. Call Your people to fervent, united, visible, extraordinary prayer. May the latter glory of Your Kingdom in Memphis be greater than the former, and please grant Memphis Your peace. Do exceeding and abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
We have been commanded to pray, “for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2).
President of the United States:
Vice President of the United States:
Supreme Court Justices:
Governor of Tennessee:
Tennessee Senators:
West Tennessee Congressmen:
“For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’”
Hebrews 13:5–6NLT
Easter Praise Report
Thank you for your prayers leading up to Easter this year. We want to take a moment to reflect on how the Lord moved at Bellevue on Resurrection Sunday. Over 10,000 people attended our Easter services, and of those who attended, over 900 were guests! We also want to rejoice over the 130 adults and 19 children who made salvation decisions this year! Thank you for your prayers leading up to Easter, and we ask that you continue to pray for those who are newly saved or have yet to give their lives to the Lord.
Bellevue Ministerial Assistants
This month, Bellevue's summer Ministerial Assistants will begin serving within different departments of our church. Pray their time at Bellevue and in Memphis produces good fruit and draws them closer to the Lord, other believers, and God's plan for their lives.
National Day of Prayer
Thursday, May 5, 2022 | 12:00 p.m. | Fellowship Hall
We believe in the power of prayer and petition before the Lord. Join us for the National Day of Prayer as we lift up the leaders of our country and call on the name of the Lord for spiritual awakening in Memphis and beyond.
Camp Ocoee (Middle School Camp)
May 30–June 3
As our middle school students venture to camp for the week, pray for their safety, relationships with others, and spiritual development.
Applying Biblical Truth
"My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation." Psalm 62:1
Applying Biblical Truth
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
Applying Biblical Truth
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16
Applying Biblical Truth
“In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following." 1 Timothy 4:6
Applying Biblical Truth
“But Peter said, ‘I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!’ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.” Acts 3:6–9
Use these resources to pray for Bellevue, Memphis, and the world.