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Throwback Thursday – May 5, 2019

May 8, 2019

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This Sunday we began a series on prayer called “Teach Us To Pray.” It seems pretty safe to say that most people would desire a better prayer life. Even the disciples, who walked with Jesus every day, had questions about prayer. In Luke chapter 11, we see where one of Jesus’ disciples came to Him and simply said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Pastor Bill let us know Sunday that over the next few weeks, we are going to study different examples of prayer in the New Testament.

The famous Dr. Seuss said, “You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” Here’s the great news for believers… we don’t have to go it on our own! We can know where to go, be who we are called to be, and do what we are called to do through the power of prayer. It is important to look to the future through the right lens. Not the lens of our “instinct”, not the lens of our culture, but through the lens of the Word of God and through the lens of prayer. The first example we’re going to look at of how to pray is found in Ephesians 1:15-18.

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that they eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His hand in the heavenly places.

From this portion of scripture, we see some really important things to pray over others and ourselves:

Wisdom and revelation as we grow to know God better

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” There are two types of wisdom… human wisdom (which is actually somewhat of an oxymoron!) and Godly wisdom. There is so much value in asking the Lord for wisdom. And here’s the beautiful thing, the book of James says that if we need wisdom, we can ask our generous God and He will give it to us! 

Calling as we know His purpose

YOU were created for a divine purpose! What good is it to accomplish great things in your life but miss the God things? Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’s MASTERPIECE, created in Christ Jesus to do the good works He planned for us long ago! There is a divine calling placed on each and every believer’s life. As we seek to know His purpose, He will reveal to us His calling. 

Strength as we know His power

There is incredible power available to every believer. The same power, in fact, that raised Jesus from the dead lives within the heart of each of us who know and love Jesus!

Points to Ponder:

  1. Which of the three things do you most need in your prayer life today?
  2. What great purpose has God called you to in this season of your life?
  3. What does it mean to you to have resurrection power in your life? 
  4. Who can you encourage this week? How? 

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