<img src="Noel Dear Main Logo 2.png" style="width:600px; border: none; box-shadow: none; background: none;"> *Dr. Noel Dear's Sermons, Bible Studies, Articles, & Devotions* ([[Pastor Noel's Resources|Home]]) # Pineywoods Pride Festival – Prayer Meeting October 6, 2025 - ## Why are we here tonight? - Not... - To start a protest... - To spew hatred... - To condemn... - We love our community... - We are the church! - And Jesus said, "My church shall be called a house of prayer..." - And we fight not against flesh and blood... - The prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective... - ## The situation... - Saturday, October 11 at Millard's Crossing - PineyWoods Pride Festival - Basic info (from their own advertisements)... - *(We don't need more than this for our purposes.)* - First annual... - Sponsored by the Pride Alliance of Lufkin... - "We will have games, vendors, food, entertainment, music, and more! We have also partnered with The East Texas Psychic Fair to bring you a fun array of healers, tarot experts, & astrology guides!" - From their official schedule of events... - Six drag queen performances... - One aimed especially at children... - One adult costume contest DJ'd by a famous drag queen... - One kids costume contest also DJ'd by the same famous drag queen... - Multiple performances and entertainment components... - Clergy members available to talk to people... - At least one local church is promoting the event and hosting a booth. - Best I can tell from some literature I found, there will be ministers present to perform wedding ceremonies (not certain about this). - This is NOT a Millard's Crossing event... - I'll let them speak for themselves, but my understanding is that they are not happy about this event. - ## How should we think of the people involved in this event? - We are not mad... - We are not mad at the people leading this event... - Though we stand firm on God's word about the sinfulness of it. - We are not made at the people who will attend the event... - We love those people. - They are all created in the image of God. - They are all in need of the same gospel we are in need of. - We stand opposed to the lifestyle celebrated by this event... - Because of the word of God... - Because of the glory of God... - Because of the effect of this event on our community... - Because of the effect of this event on these people... - ## What should we do about this? - We should pray... - We should not just give lip service to prayer. - Too often, Christians act like prayer doesn't really matter... - We act as if it is secondary... - Prayer is often our most powerful weapon... - **[[Mark 9.29]] | And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.”** (CSB) - **[[Ephesians 6.12]] | For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.** (CSB) - **[[James 5.16]] | Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.** (CSB) - **[[James 5.17]] | Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land.** (CSB) - **[[James 5.18]] | Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.** (CSB) - Prayer is how many or most of us came to repentance... - ## What should we pray for? - #### Pray that the event DOES NOT HAPPEN! - Spread the facts before the Lord... - How Hezekiah handled the letter from Sennacherib... - **[[2 Kings 19.14]] | Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers’ hands, read it, then went up to the Lord’s temple, and spread it out before the Lord.** (CSB) - **[[2 Kings 19.15]] | Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: Lord God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you are God—you alone—of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.** (CSB) - **[[2 Kings 19.16]] | Listen closely, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see. Hear the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God.** (CSB) - **[[2 Kings 19.17]] | Lord, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands.** (CSB) - **[[2 Kings 19.18]] | They have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but made by human hands—wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.** (CSB) - **[[2 Kings 19.19]] | Now, Lord our God, please save us from his power so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are God—you alone.** (CSB) - The Lord's response... - **[[2 Kings 19.32]] | Therefore, this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city, shoot an arrow here, come before it with a shield, or build up a siege ramp against it.** (CSB) - **[[2 Kings 19.33]] | He will go back the way he came, and he will not enter this city. This is the Lord’s declaration.** (CSB) - #### Safety for all those who lead or attend this event. - #### That those celebrating evil might have their eyes opened to see the gospel. - **[[John 16.8]] | When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.** (CSB) - **[[Acts 2.37]] | When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said… ‘Brothers, what should we do?’**(CSB) - #### Pray for God's name would be honored in this community. - **[[Psalm 115.1]] | Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your faithful love and truth.**(CSB) - **[[Habakkuk 2.14]] | For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory as the water covers the sea.**(CSB) - #### That lies would be exposed, and that what calls itself “light” but is darkness would be unmasked. - **[[2 Corinthians 4.4]] | The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers…** (CSB) - **[[Ephesians 5.11]] | Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.** (CSB) - #### That children and teens in our community would be shielded from confusion, and that families would be strengthened in truth. - **[[Proverbs 22.6]] | Start a youth out on his way; even when he grows old he will not depart from it.** (CSB) - **[[Matthew 18.6]] | Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck…** (CSB) - #### Pray for a spiritual awakening in East Texas. - **[[Psalm 85.6]] | Will you not revive us again so that your people may rejoice in you?** (CSB) - **[[2 Chronicles 7.14]] | If my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face… then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.** (CSB)