SOAKED IN DISCIPLINES #3

PRAYER
July 13, 2008
with Adam Waters

INTRO: In “You’ve Got Mail,” Tom & Meg seek out conversations with each other online because their significant other only wants to talk about themselves. You know anyone who turns all convos about you back on their own lives?

As a swimmer, I will…
 SATISFY the Spirit’s leading.
 WIN the battles of the flesh.
 INHERIT the Kingdom.
 MANIFEST the character of God.
 As swimmers, we must commit to constant conversations with our spouse (Jesus is the bridegroom of the church).

Training Technique #3
Ephesians 6:18 ~ “Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent n your prayers for all Christians everywhere.”

INWARD: every aspect of yourself…
 To pray is to change. This is a great grace. How good of God to provide a path whereby our lives can be taken over by love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control.
 The movement inward comes first because without interior transformation the movement up into God’s glory would overwhelm us and the movement out into ministry would destroy us.
 Keep it simple to start.
 Are you forsaken? PRAY. Do you want God to know you fully? PRAY. Are you broken/weepy? PRAY. Do you need to let go of something? PRAY.
 Personal times of prayer will form you and draw you closer into covenant with God’s will and not your own!
 DON’T GET STUCK HERE!

UPWARD: involve him in your life.
 We are exiles and aliens until we can come into God, the heart’s true home. Pride and fear have kept us at a safe distance. But as the resistance within us is overcome by the operations of faith, hope and love, we begin moving upward into the divine intimacy. This in turn empowers us for ministry to others.
 TOLSTOY tells the story of 3 hermits who lived on an island. Their prayer of intimacy and love was simple like they were simple: “We are 3; you are 3; have mercy on us. Amen.” Miracles sometimes happened when they prayed in this way. The bishop, however, hearing about the hermits, decided that they needed guidance in proper prayer, and so he went to their small island. After instructing the monks, the bishop set sail for the mainland, pleased to have enlightened the souls of such simple men. Suddenly, off the stern of the ship he saw a huge ball of light skimming across the ocean. It got closer & closer until he could see that it was the 3 hermits running on top of the water. Once on board the ship they said to the bishop, “We are so sorry, but we have forgotten some of your teaching. Would you please instruct us again?” The bishop shook his head and replied meekly, “Forget everything I taught you & continue to pray in your old way.”
 ADORE God… REST in God… COME TO HIS HOLINESS for change… UNCEASINGLY address him… GET INTIMATE heart, quiet, your inmost thoughts.

OUTWARD: maturity comes in this place.
 Transformation & intimacy both cry out for ministry. We are led through the furnace of God’s purity not just for our own sake but also for the sake of others. We are drawn up into the bossom of God’s love not merely to experience acceptance, but also so we can give his love to others.
 The world writhes under the pain of its arrogance and self-sufficiency. We can make a difference if we will. In earlier days, we tried to serve out of our spiritual bankruptcy, and we FAILED. We now know that ministry must flow out of abundance.
 BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX says, “If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than as a canal. For a canal spreads abroad water as t receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus communicates, without loss to itself, its superabundant water. In the Church at the present day, we have many canals, and few reservoirs.” We have determined to be reservoirs.
 Praying about ministry in your ordinary life. Petition GOD’s heart… intercede on other’s behalf. Pray for healing… pray to understand other’s pains. PRAY WITH AUTHORITY against the darkness… you are redeemed!
 YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES… BELIEVE IT! DARE TO BELIEVE THAT PRAYER CAN “RADICALLY” CHANGE OUR WORLD.

WRAP IT UP
Worship is about JESUS… so is giving…
Prayer is about JESUS too!
1. Loving him on a personal level.
2. Loving him in your everyday life.
3. Loving him along with other disciples.
We must be a praying church.
We must have a strong marriage with him.
We must grow in our prayer life.