Embracing Oneness Through Prayer and God's Presence

 

Summary

In this new year, we embark on a journey centered around the word "one," with a focus on prayer as the primary pathway to achieving oneness with God and each other. This year, our teachings will revolve around the theme of "one name," emphasizing the significance of prayer in our lives. Prayer is not just a ritual but a vital connection to God, allowing us to experience His presence and align our lives with His will. Psalm 27:4 serves as our guiding verse, reminding us to seek the Lord's presence continually.

We have introduced a "one prayer" for the year, a collective prayer that focuses on seeking an outpouring of God's presence in our hearts, homes, church, and city, leading to transformation. This prayer is not meant to be recited mechanically but to be a heartfelt expression of our desire for God's presence and transformation in our lives.

In our exploration of prayer, we are reminded that it is the soul's native language, a natural expression of our deepest desires and needs. Jesus taught His disciples to pray with intimacy, addressing God as "Our Father," which signifies a personal and relational approach to prayer. This understanding of God as a loving Father shapes how we perceive and receive Him in our prayers.

We are also encouraged to engage in the Alpha program, a global initiative that provides a safe space to explore the core tenets of faith, such as who Jesus is, why He died, and the importance of prayer. Additionally, we are offering a book, "Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools," as a nutritional supplement to our prayer life, providing practical guidance and encouragement.

As we journey through this year, let us embrace the intimacy of prayer, recognizing God as our loving Father and ourselves as His dearly loved children. Let us seek His presence, trusting in His power and love to transform our lives and the world around us.

Key Takeaways:

- The Power of One: This year, we focus on the word "one," emphasizing prayer as the primary pathway to oneness with God and each other. Prayer is not just a ritual but a vital connection to God, allowing us to experience His presence and align our lives with His will. [04:35]

- Intimacy in Prayer: Jesus taught His disciples to pray with intimacy, addressing God as "Our Father." This signifies a personal and relational approach to prayer, shaping how we perceive and receive God. Understanding God as a loving Father transforms our prayer life. [22:37]

- Prayer as the Soul's Native Language: Prayer is the natural expression of our deepest desires and needs. It is not about special articulation but the cry of our hearts. Embracing this understanding allows us to connect with God authentically. [17:13]

- Transformation Through Prayer: Our collective "one prayer" seeks an outpouring of God's presence in our hearts, homes, church, and city, leading to transformation. This prayer is a heartfelt expression of our desire for God's presence and change in our lives. [05:34]

- Equipping for Growth: Engaging in programs like Alpha and resources like "Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools" equips us to grow in our faith and prayer life. These tools provide practical guidance and encouragement, helping us deepen our relationship with God. [10:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:35] - One Word for the Year
- [05:34] - One Prayer for Transformation
- [07:43] - Praying for California
- [10:23] - Engaging with Alpha
- [17:13] - Prayer: The Soul's Native Language
- [18:09] - Teach Us to Pray
- [19:19] - The Prayer Closet
- [22:37] - Our Father in Heaven
- [24:20] - God's Unconditional Love
- [25:56] - Perceiving God Correctly
- [27:27] - The Prodigal Son's Father
- [29:39] - God's Strength and Love
- [32:08] - Jesus: The Radiance of God's Glory
- [33:17] - Our Identity in Christ
- [35:30] - Salvation and Restoration
- [38:19] - Experiencing God's Presence in Prayer
- [42:39] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
- [44:55] - Trusting God
- [46:03] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 27:4
- Matthew 6:5-9
- Romans 8:15

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Psalm 27:4, what is the one thing the psalmist seeks from the Lord, and how does this relate to the theme of oneness in the sermon? [04:35]

2. In Matthew 6:5-9, what instructions does Jesus give about how to pray, and what does this reveal about the nature of prayer? [19:19]

3. How does the sermon describe prayer as the "soul's native language," and what does this imply about our natural inclination towards prayer? [17:13]

4. What is the significance of addressing God as "Our Father" in prayer, as highlighted in the sermon? [22:37]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding God as a loving Father, as described in the sermon, transform one's approach to prayer and relationship with God? [24:20]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of a collective "one prayer" for transformation. How might this collective focus impact the church community and its mission? [05:34]

3. In what ways does the Alpha program, as mentioned in the sermon, provide a foundation for exploring the core tenets of faith, and how might it benefit someone new to Christianity? [10:23]

4. How does the concept of prayer being the "soul's native language" challenge or affirm one's current prayer practices and understanding of communication with God? [17:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current prayer life. How can you incorporate the idea of prayer as a "vital connection to God" into your daily routine? What specific changes can you make this week? [04:35]

2. The sermon encourages viewing God as a loving Father. How does your perception of God influence your willingness to pray? What steps can you take to deepen this understanding? [22:37]

3. Consider the "one prayer" introduced in the sermon. How can you make this prayer a personal and heartfelt expression in your life? What specific areas do you desire transformation in? [05:34]

4. The sermon suggests engaging with resources like "Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools." How can you incorporate such resources into your spiritual growth plan? What is one practical step you can take this week? [10:23]

5. How can participating in a program like Alpha help you or someone you know explore faith more deeply? Identify one person you could invite to join you in this journey. [10:23]

6. Reflect on the idea of prayer as the "soul's native language." How can you embrace this concept to make your prayer life more authentic and less about formal articulation? [17:13]

7. The sermon mentions the importance of perceiving God correctly. How can you ensure that your perception of God aligns with the biblical portrayal of Him as loving and kind? What practical steps can you take to adjust any misconceptions? [25:56]

Devotional

Day 1: The Pathway to Oneness
Prayer is the primary pathway to achieving oneness with God and each other. It is not merely a ritual but a vital connection that allows us to experience God's presence and align our lives with His will. This year, the focus is on the word "one," emphasizing the power of prayer in uniting us with God and each other. Through prayer, we seek to experience God's presence continually, as highlighted in Psalm 27:4, which encourages us to seek the Lord's presence. The "one prayer" introduced for the year is a collective expression of our desire for God's presence and transformation in our hearts, homes, church, and city. This prayer is not to be recited mechanically but should be a heartfelt plea for God's transformative presence. [04:35]

"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!" (1 Chronicles 16:11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you make prayer a more intentional and heartfelt part of your daily routine to seek oneness with God and others?


Day 2: Intimacy with Our Father
Jesus taught His disciples to pray with intimacy, addressing God as "Our Father." This signifies a personal and relational approach to prayer, transforming how we perceive and receive God. Understanding God as a loving Father shapes our prayer life, allowing us to approach Him with confidence and trust. This relational aspect of prayer is crucial, as it helps us to see God not as a distant deity but as a caring and loving Father who desires a close relationship with His children. Embracing this understanding can transform our prayer life, making it more meaningful and impactful. [22:37]

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your relationship with God by approaching Him as your loving Father in prayer today?


Day 3: Prayer as the Soul's Native Language
Prayer is described as the soul's native language, a natural expression of our deepest desires and needs. It is not about special articulation but the cry of our hearts. Embracing this understanding allows us to connect with God authentically, without the pressure of finding the right words. Prayer is an intimate conversation with God, where we can express our true selves and seek His guidance and presence. By recognizing prayer as the soul's native language, we can approach God with authenticity and vulnerability, knowing that He understands our deepest longings. [17:13]

"O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you." (Psalm 38:9, ESV)

Reflection: What are the deepest desires and needs of your heart that you can bring to God in prayer today, trusting that He understands and cares?


Day 4: Transformation Through Prayer
The collective "one prayer" seeks an outpouring of God's presence in our hearts, homes, church, and city, leading to transformation. This prayer is a heartfelt expression of our desire for God's presence and change in our lives. By praying for transformation, we invite God to work in and through us, bringing about change in our personal lives and the world around us. This transformative power of prayer is not limited to individual change but extends to our communities and beyond, as we seek God's presence and guidance in all areas of life. [05:34]

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's transformative work in your life and community through prayer today?


Day 5: Equipping for Growth
Engaging in programs like Alpha and resources like "Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools" equips us to grow in our faith and prayer life. These tools provide practical guidance and encouragement, helping us deepen our relationship with God. By participating in these programs and utilizing these resources, we can gain a better understanding of the core tenets of faith and the importance of prayer. This growth in faith and prayer life is essential for experiencing God's presence and transformation in our lives and the world around us. [10:23]

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance." (Proverbs 1:5, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to equip yourself for spiritual growth and deepen your prayer life through available resources and programs?

Quotes

Prayer is significant. So eight weeks on one name, and we'll be picking different aspects up on that one prayer as we go. Let me just give you one of the verses, which is kind of my verse for the year for that one. Psalm 27, verse 4. One thing I ask from the Lord. This is what I seek. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze on the beauty of the Lord. [00:00:14] (33 seconds)


When it's our heart, there's an opportunity to say some specifics in your life. You want an outpouring of the presence of God. You want an outpouring of the presence of God. When it's your home, you'll start dwelling in some specifics and then our church and then our city. It's not exhaustive. You can go nation, world. You can go wherever you want to go. [00:04:35] (20 seconds)


Prayer is the soul's native language. Sit with that statement. Some of you go, yeah, but how do I pray? And what do I pray? And what do I say? And how do I say it? You're overthinking it. Prayer is your soul's native language. The cry of your heart, that's prayer life. It's dwelling in you. It's whatever you're doing. [00:17:15] (27 seconds)


And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly, I tell you, they receive their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your father who is unseen. We've seen brief pause where we get the imagery of a prayer closet. [00:19:19] (26 seconds)


And when you approach him as Father, you've got to get this perspective. You are not comparing him to your earthly encounter with a father. Your comparison is the creator of heaven and earth, the perfection one, the one who is always kind, always loving, always generous, always merciful, always, always providing, protecting, and ruling, and leading, and saving, and redeeming, and restoring. [00:23:33] (29 seconds)


Restoration is something you receive, which makes you new. I'm a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come. It is the ultimate rebirth, do-over, second, third, fourth, fifth, 28,000th chance that he gives me. Restoration is an ongoing process that I have with God. Redemption, he has paid for me no longer to be absent from him, but he has paid for the way for me to be with him. [00:36:21] (30 seconds)


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Transcript
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