Devoted to Prayer
Notes
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42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Recap Series
Recap Series
Apostles’ teaching - Be a learner, come prepared, your pastors and teachers loving take time to prepare we ask you to be here and be prepared
The Fellowship - this is the body (“koinonia" - (koi-nō-nē’-ä) = No English equivalent; the best translation of this word is “Fellowship”. The word means “an intimate sharing of one's self with another.” The best possible translation that we have in English would be “Contribution”
No English equivalent; the best translation of this word is “Fellowship”. The word means “an intimate sharing of one's self with another.” The best possible translation that we have in English would be “Contribution”
“koinonia" - (koi-nō-nē’-ä) =
The Breaking of Bread - this is what we do when we gather. Bread in the Bible functioned as a social bond. The giving of bread often times carried with it the idea of hospitality as well as respect and concern for one another. Bread is the primary metaphor for life and sustenance.
The Prayers
Introduction
Introduction
Any time I hear or read inspirational stories of God’s people praying or read in scripture the powerful results of a life yielded to God in prayer, I am truly inspired to prayer more! (Martin Luther prayed 4 hours every morning)
“God’s Word is a record of prayer—of praying men and their achievements, of the Divine warrant of prayer and of the encouragement given to those who pray. Praying men have been God’s power delegated on earth; whereas prayer-less men have never been used of Him”. (The Necessity of Prayer by: E. M. Bounds)
Shortly after experiencing this inspiration, I met with feelings of incredible guilt. My goal is not to raise your guilt level but motivate us all by God’s grace to be more devoted to prayer.
In we see a band of misfit believers who take the Apostle’s teaching literally and begin to “Devote” themselves to among other things - Prayer and the results are mind boggling!
What influenced this devotion to prayer?
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Of all the things they could have asked Jesus … teach us to pray!
Turn water into wine
Multiply food
Walk on water
Calm the storm
Raise the dead
Deaf to hear
Mute to speak
Some who speak too much … make mute
1
11 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
ps 105.
Is 55
6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;
1. Devoted to Getting to Know Our Father
1. Devoted to Getting to Know Our Father
(2)
A. God loved us
19 We love because he first loved us.
Your relationship to God (Father, Son, and Spirit) is the single most important aspect of your life. If it’s not right, nothing else is important.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
B. God drew us
3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Example: Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Disciples, the Apostle Paul
C. God desires for us to love Him
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
We are a “doing” people. We feel worthless or useless if we are not busy doing something.
“To be loved by God is the highest relationship, the highest achievement, and the highest position in life.” (Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby)
Illustration: The Ladder
Application:
That doesn’t mean you will never do anything as an expression of your love for Him. God will call you to obey Him and do whatever He asks of you. You do not need to be “doing” something to feel fulfilled. You are fulfilled completely in a relationship with God.
Challenge: Spend time over the next 21 days getting back to your first love (Put your prayer list to the side)
2. Devoted to Becoming More Life Jesus
2. Devoted to Becoming More Life Jesus
A Disciple Learns
A Disciple Models
A Disciple Lives
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
3. Devoted to Understanding God’s Plan
3. Devoted to Understanding God’s Plan
Understanding the plans and purpose of God - Prayer is aligning our will with God’s.
Application Point: Our life is like a car that is out of alignment.
This begins by understanding God’s Promises
9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
is 40.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 jn 1.9
Practical Advice: Pray through Scripture and journal
“If you are not keeping a spiritual journal or diary, you need to. If the God of the universe tells you something, you should write it down.” Henry Blackaby (Experiencing God)
Praying for One Thing … And Getting Another
1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.
2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.
3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
The four men were asking Jesus to heal the man, but Jesus forgave the man’s sins. Why? They asked for one thing, and Jesus gave another! This man and his friends asked for a particular gift, but Jesus wanted to make the man a child of God so he could INHERIT EVERYTHING!
My prayer: Lord, if I ever give You a request and You have more to give me than I am asking, cancel my request!
We need to realize that God always has far more to give us than we can even ask or think.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
*Invite the Worship Team to return
Example: The Blue Schwinn
Application: Everything you need is already “In the Garage!”
Closing
Closing
The reason many of us give up too soon is that we feel like we have failed if God doesn’t answer our prayer. That isn’t failure. The only way you can fail is if you stop praying.
Prayer is a no-lose proposition!
Prayer is a no-lose proposition!
I don’t know why God answers some people’s prayers and not mine sometimes but I do know this…
100% of the prayers I don’t pray won’t get answered!
100% of the prayers I don’t pray won’t get answered!
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
God’s Grammar:
God’s Grammar:
“Never put a comma where God puts a period and never put a period where God puts a comma!”
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Let’s come and pray! Rekindle your relationship with the Father!!