Embracing the Power of Prayer and Divine Love
Summary
### Summary
Tonight, we gathered to delve into the profound mystery of prayer and its significance in the heavenly realm. We began by exploring Revelation 5:6-8, where John describes the throne room of God, emphasizing the golden bowls full of incense, which represent the prayers of the saints. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder that our prayers are not in vain; they ascend to heaven and are cherished by God. We are encouraged to let our prayers rise like incense, contributing to the collective intercession of believers worldwide.
We then shifted our focus to the love of God, as articulated in 1 John 4:7-12. This passage underscores that love originates from God and is perfected in us when we love one another. It is not merely about our love for God but about His love for us, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son. This divine love compels us to love others deeply and genuinely.
As we continued, we prayed for a deeper intimacy with God, asking Him to transform us from the inside out. We sought to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and to be captivated by His love. We acknowledged that true transformation comes from beholding His beauty and allowing His words to cleanse and build us up.
Finally, we interceded for our church, our city, and other churches, asking God to make us houses of prayer. We prayed for a revival of prayer within our communities, that we would not be complacent but would burn with a passion for God. We asked for a heart that moves in alignment with God's heart, seeking the lost and broken, and bringing them into the kingdom of God.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Power of Prayer in the Heavenly Realm: Our prayers are not just words spoken into the void; they ascend to heaven and are held in golden bowls by the elders, symbolizing their preciousness to God. This should encourage us to pray fervently, knowing that our prayers contribute to the divine intercession happening in the spiritual realm. [01:34]
2. God's Love as the Foundation of Our Love: True love originates from God and is perfected in us when we love one another. This love is not based on our efforts but on God's initiative, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son. Understanding this compels us to love others deeply and genuinely, reflecting God's love in our relationships. [23:18]
3. Transformation Through Beholding Jesus: As we fix our eyes on Jesus and engage with His beauty, we are transformed from the inside out. This transformation is not just about changing our behavior but about being captivated by His love and allowing His words to cleanse and build us up. [25:42]
4. The Call to Be Houses of Prayer: We are called to be houses of prayer, both individually and collectively. This means creating spaces in our lives and communities where we seek God's face and intercede for others. It is a call to move beyond complacency and to burn with a passion for God, aligning our hearts with His. [01:14:09]
5. Seeking the Lost and Broken: Our growth as a church should not be based on attracting people from other churches but on reaching the lost and broken. We must have a heart that moves in alignment with God's heart, seeking those who are far from Him and bringing them into His kingdom. This requires a willingness to take risks and move with conviction. [01:17:49]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:34] - The Throne Room and Prayers of the Saints
[22:22] - The Love of God
[25:42] - Transformation Through Beholding Jesus
[34:33] - Intercession for Church and City
[01:14:09] - Becoming Houses of Prayer
[01:17:49] - Seeking the Lost and Broken
[01:18:21] - Closing Prayer and Reflections
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Revelation 5:6-8
2. 1 John 4:7-12
#### Observation Questions
1. In Revelation 5:6-8, what do the golden bowls full of incense represent? How does this imagery affect your understanding of prayer? [01:34]
2. According to 1 John 4:7-12, where does true love originate, and how is it demonstrated? [22:22]
3. What does the sermon suggest happens when we fix our eyes on Jesus and engage with His beauty? [25:42]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the church in seeking the lost and broken? [01:17:49]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the imagery of our prayers being held in golden bowls by the elders in Revelation 5:6-8 change your perspective on the importance of prayer? [01:34]
2. In 1 John 4:7-12, it is stated that love is perfected in us when we love one another. What does this mean in the context of your daily relationships? [23:18]
3. The sermon emphasizes transformation through beholding Jesus. How does this concept differ from merely trying to change our behavior? [25:42]
4. What practical steps can a church take to become a "house of prayer" as described in the sermon? [01:14:09]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your prayer life. How can you be more intentional about letting your prayers rise like incense, knowing they are cherished by God? [01:34]
2. Think of a relationship in your life where you struggle to show love. How can you apply the understanding that true love originates from God and is perfected in us when we love one another? [23:18]
3. What specific actions can you take this week to fix your eyes on Jesus and allow His words to cleanse and build you up? [25:42]
4. How can you contribute to making your church a house of prayer? What changes can you suggest or implement to encourage a culture of prayer within your community? [01:14:09]
5. Identify one person in your life who is lost or broken. What steps can you take to reach out to them and bring them closer to the kingdom of God? [01:17:49]
6. The sermon calls for a revival of prayer within our communities. What are some practical ways you can encourage and participate in this revival? [01:14:09]
7. How can you align your heart with God's heart in seeking the lost and broken? What risks might you need to take to move with conviction in this area? [01:17:49]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Prayer in the Heavenly Realm
Our prayers are not just words spoken into the void; they ascend to heaven and are held in golden bowls by the elders, symbolizing their preciousness to God. This should encourage us to pray fervently, knowing that our prayers contribute to the divine intercession happening in the spiritual realm. In Revelation 5:6-8, John describes the throne room of God, emphasizing the golden bowls full of incense, which represent the prayers of the saints. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder that our prayers are cherished by God and play a significant role in the heavenly realm.
As believers, we are encouraged to let our prayers rise like incense, contributing to the collective intercession of believers worldwide. This understanding should transform our approach to prayer, making us more fervent and persistent, knowing that our prayers are not in vain but are treasured by God. [01:34]
Revelation 5:8 (ESV): "And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."
Reflection: How can you make your prayer life more intentional, knowing that your prayers are cherished by God and contribute to the divine intercession in the heavenly realm?
Day 2: God's Love as the Foundation of Our Love
True love originates from God and is perfected in us when we love one another. This love is not based on our efforts but on God's initiative, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son. Understanding this compels us to love others deeply and genuinely, reflecting God's love in our relationships. In 1 John 4:7-12, we are reminded that love comes from God and is perfected in us when we love one another.
This passage underscores that it is not merely about our love for God but about His love for us, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son. This divine love compels us to love others deeply and genuinely, reflecting God's love in our relationships. As we grasp the depth of God's love for us, we are empowered to extend that same love to others, creating a community that mirrors the love of God. [23:18]
1 John 4:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs to experience God's love through you. How can you demonstrate genuine love to them today?
Day 3: Transformation Through Beholding Jesus
As we fix our eyes on Jesus and engage with His beauty, we are transformed from the inside out. This transformation is not just about changing our behavior but about being captivated by His love and allowing His words to cleanse and build us up. By focusing on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, we allow His love and beauty to captivate us, leading to true transformation.
This transformation is not merely about altering our actions but about a deep, internal change that comes from beholding Jesus. As we immerse ourselves in His presence and His word, we are cleansed and built up, becoming more like Him in our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. This process of transformation is ongoing and requires us to continually fix our eyes on Jesus, allowing His love to shape and mold us. [25:42]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to fix your eyes on Jesus and allow His love to transform you from the inside out?
Day 4: The Call to Be Houses of Prayer
We are called to be houses of prayer, both individually and collectively. This means creating spaces in our lives and communities where we seek God's face and intercede for others. It is a call to move beyond complacency and to burn with a passion for God, aligning our hearts with His. As we intercede for our church, our city, and other churches, we ask God to make us houses of prayer.
This involves cultivating a lifestyle of prayer, where we consistently seek God's presence and intercede on behalf of others. It is a call to move beyond complacency and to burn with a passion for God, aligning our hearts with His. By becoming houses of prayer, we create environments where God's presence is welcomed, and His will is sought after, leading to transformation in our communities. [01:14:09]
Isaiah 56:7 (ESV): "These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."
Reflection: How can you create a space in your daily routine to seek God's face and intercede for others, becoming a house of prayer?
Day 5: Seeking the Lost and Broken
Our growth as a church should not be based on attracting people from other churches but on reaching the lost and broken. We must have a heart that moves in alignment with God's heart, seeking those who are far from Him and bringing them into His kingdom. This requires a willingness to take risks and move with conviction.
As we seek the lost and broken, we align our hearts with God's heart, reaching out to those who are far from Him and bringing them into His kingdom. This involves stepping out of our comfort zones and being willing to take risks, knowing that God's love compels us to seek and save the lost. By doing so, we fulfill the Great Commission and contribute to the growth of God's kingdom. [01:17:49]
Luke 19:10 (ESV): "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Reflection: Who in your life is far from God and in need of His love? What steps can you take today to reach out to them and share the love of Christ?
Quotes
### Quotes for outreach
1. "Your prayer is being heard in heaven, but not only that, but it's filling up the bowls of incense that the elders are holding on their hands. So can I? to you this it don't matter which prayer you pray today we can let our incense burn and we can like contribute to what all of the world is praying right now and tonight we're gonna seek the Lord and we're gonna I want to invite you not just to sit here but as the Lord start leading you as the Lord start putting different things in your heart I want to invite us just to like push in say your prayer engage in what the Lord wants to do." [02:57] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we pray we partner up with what he's put in our hearts and as intercessor we stand on behalf and we come in agreement and we bring what's in heaven we bring it and we release it onto earth." [02:57] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "How beautiful it is that you loved us so much. How beautiful it is that I didn't even get to choose you. You chose me and you chose even each and every one of us, Lord. Lord, so the least that we can do is love you back, Lord, love you and exalt you, Lord, and lift your name up because you are worthy." [25:42] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Lord, I pray that we will become a house of prayer, God. I pray that each and every one of us individually, Lord, will become houses of prayer, Father God. And I pray that when we just come here collectively, God, we will burn for you. We will burn for you." [01:15:09] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Lord, I pray that our growth will never and will not be just because someone didn't like a church and they came to this church. Lord, I pray that our growth will be because you are adding people into your kingdom as a scripture, teaches us, because you are adding people onto you." [01:17:49] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for members
1. "So the 24 elders have holding their holding of harps, musical instruments, but each one of them's whole golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And then say a new song saying, worthy are you to take this scroll and to open its seals for you were slain and by your blood, your ransom. People for God. This is what Jesus did from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you made them a kingdom and priest to a God and there shall reign on the earth." [01:34] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We take our eyes of ourselves our problems of our ideologies our necessities are the things that we are carrying on our shoulders and we fix our eyes and with the living God we engage with you we set our eyes with the one who's worthy we set our eyes and the one who paid the price for our freedom Lord we worship you we worship you we worship you we love you Lord we love you Lord we love you Lord you are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and tonight we have Lord we are here to worship you for the audience of one." [05:57] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I pray that as we look at you, Lord, I pray that, Lord, we are the lives that we have believed in our lives will be destroyed by the beauty and the fire in your eyes, Lord. And I pray that the words that come out from your mouth, like the sound of many waters, Lord, will start building and will start cleaning up our hearts, Lord God. And we'll be able to build upon the truth that is in your word. The truth that comes from. The truth that comes from you and you alone. Lord, change us. Lord, transform us. Lord, teach us how to. Holy Spirit, teach us how to. Show us how to. We don't know it, Lord. We are imperfect people, but we have a God who knows it all. We have a God who's perfect. We have a God who's wonderful." [26:36] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Lord, I pray that we will create a space for you to do whatever you want to do. Father God, I pray, Lord, that nights will open up, Lord, where people can come in, Lord, and just seek your face. Lord, Lord, I pray, I pray, Lord, that we will become a house of prayer, God. I pray that each and every one of us individually, Lord, will become houses of prayer, Father God. And I pray that when we just come here collectively, God, we will burn for you. We will burn for you." [01:15:09] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Lord, I pray that we will be the reflection and the hands and feet of Jesus. Lord, may we be the people that you are looking for, God. And may we burn for you, God, day and night, Lord God. May we not be complacent to what we know works, Father God, but may we be willing, Lord, to take risk when you speak and you cause us to move and do what only you can do. God, may we move, God, with conviction to the truth of your word, God. May we move with conviction, Lord, to what you're calling us and to what you're asking of us, Lord God." [01:17:14] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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