Empowered Through Prayer: Our Mission as Image Bearers
Summary
In our journey of faith, we are reminded of the profound truth that apart from God, we can do nothing. This is not just a statement but a call to action, urging us to remain intimately connected with God through prayer. Prayer is not merely a ritual; it is the lifeline that connects us to the divine power and guidance necessary for our lives. Just as an iPad is useless without power, so are we without the spiritual energy that comes from being plugged into God. Prayer is the cord that connects us to this power, enabling us to be fruitful and effective in our mission to reflect God's image in the world.
We are called to be image bearers of God, reflecting His love, grace, and mercy to everyone we encounter. This mission is not about comfort but transformation. Following Jesus is meant to be life-changing, challenging us to step out of our comfort zones and into the divine adventures He has planned for us. The story of Beth Moore at the airport illustrates how God can use us in unexpected ways when we are open to His leading. Her willingness to brush a stranger's hair became a moment of divine intervention, reminding us that God orchestrates moments beyond our understanding.
Prayer is the starting point of our mission. It is where we align ourselves with God's will and receive the direction and power needed to fulfill our calling. Jesus Himself modeled this by prioritizing prayer in His life, seeking the Father's guidance before making significant decisions. If prayer was essential for Jesus, how much more should it be for us? We are encouraged to begin with prayer, not just for ourselves but for our neighbors and community. Through prayer, we can become a blessing to those around us, participating in God's mission to seek and save the lost.
As we embrace this mission, we must remember that God often places us in diverse and challenging communities. Just as Jesus chose a varied group of disciples, we too are called to work alongside those who may require extra grace. Our task is to love our neighbors, starting with prayer, and to be open to the ways God wants to use us to bring His light into the world.
Key Takeaways:
- Connection with God: Our effectiveness in God's work is directly tied to our connection with Him. Prayer is the essential link that empowers us to reflect God's image and fulfill our mission. Without it, we are like a powerless device, unable to function as intended. [01:31]
- Life-Changing Mission: Following Jesus is not about comfort but transformation. It requires us to step out in faith, embracing the challenges and adventures God sets before us. This journey is meant to change us and those we encounter. [12:48]
- Divine Moments: God orchestrates divine moments in our lives, often in unexpected ways. When we are open to His leading, even simple acts of obedience can become powerful testimonies of His love and presence. [12:00]
- Prayer as a Starting Point: Prayer is where we align ourselves with God's will and receive the power to act. It is the beginning of our mission to love and bless our neighbors, as modeled by Jesus in His life and ministry. [18:59]
- Community and Grace: God places us in diverse communities, calling us to work alongside those who may require extra grace. Our mission is to love and serve our neighbors, starting with prayer and being open to how God wants to use us. [26:46]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Importance of Connection with God
- [01:31] - Prayer as a Vital Connection
- [02:33] - Reflecting God's Image
- [03:51] - Prayer as the Power Source
- [04:47] - Being God's Hands and Feet
- [06:39] - Beth Moore's Story
- [12:00] - Divine Moments and Obedience
- [12:48] - Life-Changing Mission
- [14:24] - Begin with Prayer
- [18:59] - Jesus' Example of Prayer
- [20:06] - Choosing the Disciples
- [26:08] - God's Unlikely Choices
- [31:40] - Power of Prayer in Community
- [36:12] - Call to Action and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
2. Luke 6:12-16 - Jesus chooses the twelve apostles after a night of prayer.
3. Luke 22:41 - Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane.
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Observation Questions:
1. According to John 15:5, what is the relationship between remaining in Jesus and bearing fruit?
2. In Luke 6:12-16, what significant action did Jesus take before choosing His disciples, and why might this be important? [20:06]
3. How does the story of Beth Moore at the airport illustrate the concept of divine moments as discussed in the sermon? [12:00]
4. What are some reasons mentioned in the sermon for why people might struggle with prayer? [15:34]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why is the connection with God through prayer compared to an iPad needing power in the sermon? How does this analogy help us understand the importance of prayer? [03:51]
2. How does Jesus' example of prioritizing prayer before making significant decisions, as seen in Luke 6:12-16, inform our understanding of decision-making in our own lives? [20:06]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the nature of following Jesus and how it contrasts with comfort? How does this relate to the concept of a life-changing mission? [12:48]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of prayer in aligning ourselves with God's will and mission? [18:59]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current prayer life. Are there specific areas where you feel disconnected from God? What steps can you take to strengthen this connection? [01:31]
2. Think of a time when you felt prompted to act in a way that seemed unusual or uncomfortable. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future to be open to divine moments? [12:00]
3. Jesus spent a night in prayer before choosing His disciples. What significant decisions are you facing, and how can you incorporate prayer into your decision-making process? [20:06]
4. The sermon emphasizes starting with prayer to love and bless our neighbors. Identify one neighbor or community member you can begin praying for this week. How might this change your relationship with them? [14:24]
5. The sermon mentions that following Jesus is meant to be life-changing. What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone? [12:48]
6. Consider the diverse community God has placed you in. How can you show extra grace to someone who might be challenging to love? [26:46]
7. The sermon encourages us to be doers of the word. What is one practical action you can take this week to reflect God's love and grace to those around you? [36:12]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Connection
Prayer is the essential link that empowers us to reflect God's image and fulfill our mission. Without it, we are like a powerless device, unable to function as intended. Just as an iPad is useless without power, so are we without the spiritual energy that comes from being plugged into God. Prayer is the cord that connects us to this power, enabling us to be fruitful and effective in our mission to reflect God's image in the world. This connection is not just about asking for things but about aligning ourselves with God's will and receiving His guidance and strength. [01:31]
John 15:5 (ESV): "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: In what ways can you strengthen your connection with God through prayer today? Consider setting aside a specific time to pray and listen for His guidance.
Day 2: Embracing Transformation
Following Jesus is not about comfort but transformation. It requires us to step out in faith, embracing the challenges and adventures God sets before us. This journey is meant to change us and those we encounter. We are called to be image bearers of God, reflecting His love, grace, and mercy to everyone we encounter. This mission is not about comfort but transformation. It challenges us to step out of our comfort zones and into the divine adventures He has planned for us. [12:48]
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 is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone? How can you embrace this transformation today?
Day 3: Recognizing Divine Moments
God orchestrates divine moments in our lives, often in unexpected ways. When we are open to His leading, even simple acts of obedience can become powerful testimonies of His love and presence. The story of Beth Moore at the airport illustrates how God can use us in unexpected ways when we are open to His leading. Her willingness to brush a stranger's hair became a moment of divine intervention, reminding us that God orchestrates moments beyond our understanding. [12:00]
Esther 4:14 (ESV): "For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Reflection: Can you recall a recent moment where you felt prompted to act in kindness or service? How might God be inviting you to recognize and respond to divine moments today?
Day 4: Prayer as the Foundation
Prayer is where we align ourselves with God's will and receive the power to act. It is the beginning of our mission to love and bless our neighbors, as modeled by Jesus in His life and ministry. Jesus Himself modeled this by prioritizing prayer in His life, seeking the Father's guidance before making significant decisions. If prayer was essential for Jesus, how much more should it be for us? [18:59]
Colossians 4:2-3 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison."
Reflection: How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine? Consider starting each day with a prayer for guidance and opportunities to bless others.
Day 5: Loving in Community
God places us in diverse communities, calling us to work alongside those who may require extra grace. Our mission is to love and serve our neighbors, starting with prayer and being open to how God wants to use us. Just as Jesus chose a varied group of disciples, we too are called to work alongside those who may require extra grace. Our task is to love our neighbors, starting with prayer, and to be open to the ways God wants to use us to bring His light into the world. [26:46]
Romans 12:16-18 (ESV): "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
Reflection: Who in your community might need extra grace and love today? How can you intentionally reach out to them in prayer and action?
Quotes
But we take serious the words of Jesus. Then Jesus says in John 15, 5, He says, Apart from me, you can do what? Nothing. Nothing. Apart from me, you can do nothing. So how is it that we can be involved in the work of God if we're not connected to God? It's impossible. We must be connected to God. We must be intimately connected with Him. If we're going to be fruitful. If we're going to be useful to God in His hands. [00:00:56]
So prayer, of course, is a vital connection. It's an essential connection that we have of staying in communion with God. In hearing from Him. And prayer is more than just talking to Him, but it's also listening to Him and what it is that He wants us to say. What it is He wants us to do. Where it is He wants us to go. Prayer is vital for our relationship. Prayer is sort of the avenue by which we receive the power from God. [00:01:31]
Prayer is like that cord that connects us with the outlet, with the power of God that enables us to do great things for God. We can't do that by ourselves. We need God. We need to be connected to him. Otherwise, we're just empty and of no value. I've used this quote a number of times from A. W. Tozer because it's one of my favorites. And I think it is so true and so helpful for us to be reminded. [00:03:54]
Beth Moore concludes, Only God knows how often he allows us to be a part of divine moments when we're completely unaware of the significance. God had intervened in details only he could have known and it was a God moment that I will never forget. So when you hear a story like that, how do you feel? If you and I are going to take the mission of Jesus serious, if we're going to be able to be yes, Lord, yes to your will, to your way, to whatever you want me to go, whatever you want me to do, there's no telling what kind of adventure he might send us on. [00:11:49]
There's no telling where he might direct us and no telling what the cost might be because following Jesus isn't meant to be comfortable. It's meant to be life-changing. Following Jesus isn't meant to be comfortable. It's meant to be life-changing. And too often, we in the church, especially in America, we have this notion that following Jesus is going to be nice and the sailing's going to be smooth and it's going to be sunny skies all the way. But following Jesus, doing his will, is not meant to be comfortable, but it is meant to be life-changing. [00:12:50]
We talked last week about the mission of Jesus, that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. And he's invited us into that same mission, that we can join him and we can partner together with him to be a blessing to our neighbors, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. And this is a crucial element to becoming like Jesus. And so we use the acronym BLESS, B-L-E-S-S, stands for these five practices that are really tangible that I think might be helpful for us to just put into practice loving our neighbors and blessing our neighbors and blessing our community. [00:13:12]
Well, the best reason that we need to start with prayer is because Jesus started with prayer. Jesus began with prayer. Everything that Jesus did was all about prayer. And it wasn't just so that he could set an example for us, but it was essential in his life. And if it was essential in his life, how much more essential should it be in our life? Jesus starts with prayer, and we need to begin with prayer. In the Gospel of Luke, we see over and over again, Jesus goes off to pray. He prays, he prays, he prays, he prays. [00:18:59]
Over and over again we see Jesus prioritizing prayer and I'd like for us to focus on one of these occasions here just briefly from Luke 6 beginning of verse 12 through 16 as we know the mission of God is to seek and save the lost we know that's why Jesus came and he gave us that same mission when he ascended into heaven that he wants us to go continue on the work that he started and we we have recorded here in Luke 6 if you're able to stand I want to invite you to stand as we'll read just these few verses Luke 6 verses 12 through 16 you [00:20:24]
But this is where he starts. He doesn't jump ahead of the father, but he starts by going to the father in prayer. Jesus wanted to have clear direction. By morning, he's got clear direction. But the choices that he made were not really the obvious choices that we would have. We would be looking for those who are the most educated, right? Who's got some business acumen? Who's got some money that we're going to need resources here? Who's got some experience that we can use? But those aren't necessarily the people that Jesus selected. [00:25:31]
Having these people together wasn't easy, but that's who God wanted. And sometimes we look around the diverse group that we have here, and we think, well, it would be easier if some of us weren't here and we had some different ones here. But this is who God has brought together for us, for such a time as this, for this church, for this place, for this community to seek and save the lost, to be out on mission together. Growing up, we always had dogs growing up, and my dad was old school, so we had dogs that were outside. [00:27:28]
But to live out the mission of God, we've got to start with prayer. We've got to begin with prayer. And so last week we talked about downloading that app, and we got some flyers that will help you download that app to bless. And I meant to ask Pastor Josh before, I looked it up yesterday to see how many, what the number of people who... who have signed up in this church. Do you remember what that number is? 23. We've got 23 people that according to the, you know, they are identified as lights. So in our neighborhoods, we've got 23 people, and there are already a number of people that are praying for your neighbors. [00:32:31]
Help us to put into practice, loving our neighbors, and help us to start by praying for them, even the ones that are difficult to get along with. May you change our relationship to be that which would please you. I pray that we would begin to see you work among us. I pray that there would be a time where there would be fruit that would come from an ordinary person who says, here am I. Use me as you see fit. May we hear testimonies and stories of how you're working in our community, in our neighborhood. [00:38:48]
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