WHERE DO WE GROW FROM HERE? PART 2
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: We Live On Prayer
Main Scripture: Ephesians 6:18-20; Philippians 4:6-7
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Pastor Ryan continued our series and shared the necessity of prayer in a believer’s life. Everyone wants to grow in reading the Bible and in prayer. Year after year we are determined to be more disciplined in prayer, but once again, we find ourselves coming up short. Pastor Ryan shared that the early church lived on prayer because following Jesus is a journey of growth that definitely depends on God and not our own strength. We were challenged in this sermon to prioritize prayer by prioritizing God in our lives. If God matters, prayer will matter. We also were challenged to not adopt the perspective that prayer is a waste of time, but that’s it’s quite the opposite. Pastor Ryan taught that once we prioritize prayer as a necessity then we need to make it an important part of our day. We learned that in order to grow in your prayer life you need a set time dedicated to prayer and some structure. Lastly, we were challenged to find prayer partners because praying together is powerful but also because we are commanded to be persistent in prayer for the church in Ephesians 6:18.
Notes:
WE LIVE ON PRAYER
Before you elected me to be the lead pastor in 2019, God put a burden in my heart to increase our practice of prayer here at Calvary. Thankfully, there was a solid foundation to grow upon. I also had a burden to grow in my own prayer life and I needed to practice it first. I didn’t think God was going to increase our prayer lives and teach us to pray more fervently by using trial after trial the past two years, but that’s how God works sometimes. If we won’t get to our knees in prayer, God will help. God will use difficult seasons to grow beautiful things in us if we embrace them. Prayer is one of the most important spiritual disciplines in a Christian’s life. Year after year we are determined to grow in our prayer life and sometimes we do. But many believers have opened up to me and have said they struggle to be consistent. I get it. It’s not too late to grow in this area and there is no shortage of needs to pray about.
We are called to be people of prayer and this fellowship, this church is being challenged by God to be a church of prayer. Prayer got us here and prayer will get us to where we are going next.
Story: I can tell you how I know God is real and how I know prayer works in one story.
THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER
Ephesians 6:18-20: Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
What is prayer?
If listening and reading the Bible is God’s way of speaking to us, praying is our way of speaking to God. Prayer is to talk to God as if you were talking to a loved one.
Prayer is a direct connection to God no matter where we are and no matter the circumstances, good or bad.
Paul says ,“Pray at all times and on every occasion.”
We’re invited to pray at all times, on every occasion, in every circumstance, great or small. I don’t think asking God if you should put pineapple on your pizza is considered a prayer need, especially since we already know the answer is no.
*But seriously, I haven’t found a place in scripture where the necessity and importance of prayer are questioned, because the early church lived and depended on God in prayer. They just knew it was vital. Those who seriously follow and obey Jesus depend on God so much that prayer is like oxygen, they can’t survive without it. You literally can’t follow Jesus and obey his commands without prayer. But that’s the point of prayer, it’s to have a lifeline with God for all our burdens, needs, and resources.
Prayer was necessary to Jesus. Jesus had a habit of getting alone to pray to His Father. Before Jesus chose His twelve disciples, He prayed. The night Jesus was betrayed, He held a prayer meeting. Jesus prayed as He was dying on the cross. Jesus. Prayed.
I have a personal conviction I am going to share with you on how necessary and important prayer is: When we don't know what to do, pray. When we think we know, pray. Pray until you do what God wants you to do.
In his book, “Prevailing Prayer,” D.L. Moody said, “Those who have left the deepest impression on this sin-cursed earth have been men and women of prayer.”
Paul says, “Be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Persistent, committed life of prayer for your brothers and sisters in Christ, locally and globally. Once again, the reality is that we belong to the church spiritually so we care for one another prayerfully. Prayer is a great selfish repellant. Persistent prayers for other believers prompt us to care and think of others more than ourselves.
Paul asks for prayer to advance the mission of seeking and saving the lost. Prayer to preach and share the gospel with boldness in the face of persecution. Paul asked for endurance, not deliverance. He didn’t ask the church to bust him out of prison, he wanted God’s help, power, and favor to work through this situation. Pray the lost will put their faith in Jesus. Pray the lost will come to church with you but pray that you'll go to the lost!
Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
We’re encouraged to not worry about anything but in every situation, bring our burdens and requests to God. Prayer with God is how we exchange worry and fears for peace.
Cynthia Lewis said, “If your day is hemmed in with prayer, it is less likely to come unraveled.”
Tell God what you need, but also take inventory of all He has done and thank Him for it. This is training your heart, mind, and eyes to see God’s history of faithfulness which assures you that He will be faithful once again.
But sometimes God doesn’t answer your prayer in the tangible provision, instead, prayer brings a peace you need to move forward and that peace is more valuable. Peace comes, so you don’t try to change or interfere with the circumstances yourself. Many times what we need is found in the presence of God. He may not have answered our prayer but He has given us Himself and that alone sustains us.
THE DISCIPLINE AND PRACTICE OF PRAYER
PRIORITIZE YOUR PRAYER LIFE
We prioritize what matters to us in our lives. Prioritize God as the most important person to speak with, in your life. When God is a priority, prayer becomes a priority.
We live in an impatient society so we often quit before we see results. When we don’t see results we tend to lose faith that God hears or even cares. God has no shortage in power and love to care and answer our prayers. However, there’s a shortage of patience, faith, endurance, and discipline on our part. Hence, why we need to grow.
Unfortunately, prayer has been considered a waste of time. Most won’t say that, they may think that, but too often Christians live like it’s a waste of time. Our lack of prayer in our daily habits convicts us.
I assure you, prayer is not a waste of time but quite the opposite. We spend time making wrong decisions, getting no results, and end up where we first started.
When we take the time to pray it is more fruitful than we realize. In prayer, we grow in our trust, peace, dependency, wisdom, and discernment, which often play important roles in life choices and circumstances. In prayer, God uses that time to sharpen and nurture us. I often experience that God takes me past all the confusion and questions and gives me clarity and courage which leads me to the finish line sooner.
We waste time when we don’t take the time to pray. Making a prayerful choice is better than saving time.
How do we begin prioritizing prayer? Admit you need God in everything you do and you’ll pray more. Prayer is an attitude and posture of humility. Prayer is a conviction that you are utterly dependent upon God. It’s remembering God is our source for everything. Prayer lets God be God.
Prayer believes God can accomplish more in a moment than we could in a month. Any important or serious endeavor without prayer is not worth pursuing. Prayer says we care about God’s will, not just our own. Prayer says, I want God involved in my life and I want His blessing in my decisions. If we don’t pray we communicate to God we don’t want Him involved. If we don’t pray we settle for no help, no favor, and only human results. If seeing no success and no results are your kind of thing then go ahead and not pray, but I highly doubt that’s how you think.
PAUSE LIFE TO GET ALONE WITH GOD IN PRAYER
We can pray, we can talk to God on the go, but we do not often slow down long enough to listen for a reply. In our hurried life of prayer on the go, we don’t always remember what we prayed for and consequently, we don’t notice our prayers have been answered.
It’s much easier to pray as you go about your day but it definitely takes devotion, patience, and discipline to pause your life and get alone with God in prayer. Personally, I pray at the same time I read my Bible and I often pray before, during, and after I read. I interact with God as I read His Word and prayerfully consider how it can be applied in my life or used to encourage others.
BEGIN WITH STRUCTURE
A structure can help you stay focused and deliberate in your prayers, but you should also be open and led by the Spirit to pray for whatever is pressing on you as well. Just be careful that prayers are not always about ourselves.
There are quite a few acronyms out there to aid in the discipline of prayer. One of them is A.C.T.S. Adoration. Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication.
Pastor Ryan’s Prayer Circles/Target. I created prayer circles and pray from the inside out.
I start my focus on God, acknowledging who God is, praising and thanking Him. Then I go into confession, casting my burdens and making requests for my own life. (Some like to pray for yourself last and that’s cool too, there’s no formula. I concluded that if I humbly address things in myself first it will most likely benefit my prayers for others. “Prayer of a righteous man, accomplishes more) Then I continue to pray and intercede for my family, my church, my community, and the world. I focus on a wide range of topics for the needs of those outer circles, such as salvation, spiritual growth, healing, miracles, the Holy Spirit’s guidance, wisdom, humility, courage, and strength.
PRAY WITH OTHERS
The church prayed together.
We need prayer partners.
HOW DOES PRAYER HELP US GROW?
We spend more time with God.
We learn to surrender and trust God to handle and work things out for our good.
We receive peace and strength.
We become more thankful.
We grow in our care and love for others as we pray for them.
We become more aware and involved in reaching the lost as we pray for the mission.
Discussion
What’s the value and power of prayer?
What’s causing prayer to be less important to Christians?
What’s the value of dedicated alone time in prayer versus prayer on the go?
Share a story when prayer worked that would encourage the group?
Share a prayer that hasn’t been answered yet so the group can intercede with you…
What scripture or point stuck out to you during the sermon?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!