1 Peter 4:7-11
Topic = Disciplines of the Christian Life
- A way to avoid Church division
- We need [discipline] in our life.
- God does not put our life together on a silver platter.
(Timothy passage) Exercise = Gymnasium, where they practiced naked
- We must work hard to train
- We are striving for the greatest prize & we must be disciplined
- Prayer requires the utmost discipline
- "If you knew the Lord was coming back this week, what would you do differently? Then do it!"
- "Action without spending time in prayer is futile. Action without intercession only brings frustration."
- In light of current events, we need more devotion to prayer.
- Jesus prayed and influenced his disciples as to what to pray...
- Seek God's will
- If Jesus saw the value in prayer, who are we to think we can manage without?
- Am I disciplined? Do I have set times to pray?
- Don't give up
- It's indebted to us
- Prayer is...
- An expression of dependency on God.
- Communication with God.
- A plea for intervention.
- Habits: Do it for 21 days and see if it sticks
- Get into a good habit.
Colossians 2:1 - Conflict = Agony
- How serious are you [when you pray]?
- [Do we have] routines and ruts?
- What do we pray for--ourselves?
- There is a conflict in this world, and the battle is spiritual.
- Hang on until He blesses
- You may be crippled, then lean on Him
- Pray with an open Bible
- Remind God of His promises like: He does not was people to perish
James 4:2-3
- Why we don't get what we want.
- We are self-focused.
Prayers of the New Testament
- Growth
- To know God's will
- To have [increased] love
- About the Spiritual Life more than physical things
1 Timothy 2:1-8 - Corporate Prayer
- Prayer meeting: Conduct in the House of God (verse 8)
- Men: Gender specific.
- Taking the lead.
- No wrath: Deal with sin and issues before praying.
- No doubting: Confidence in who He is.
The Power of Women's Prayer
- Eli, the priest is an example...
- His son's were evil
- The men were spiritually inept
- Hannah prays for Samuel, who meets the needs of a nation.
- The Wesley brothers were raised by a praying mother.
- Ladies prayed that D. L. Moody would experience God, he did & it re-energized his ministry.
Conclusion
- We need to be more disciplined in personal & corporate prayer.
- We need both New Testament principles & New Testament power.
