Transformative Journey: Prioritizing God's Presence in Prayer

 

Summary

In our journey through Isaiah 66, we are reminded of the profound call to attract God's attention by cultivating a heart that is humble, contrite, and trembles at His word. This is not a fleeting task but a lifelong pursuit, a journey of being conformed to the image of Christ. As we gather in this school of Christ, we are not merely absorbing teachings but are being invited into a deeper relationship with God, where His Spirit works within us to bring about transformation. This transformation is not instantaneous but unfolds over a lifetime, as we continually submit to God and seek His presence.

Prayer is the battleground where this transformation takes place. It is not a place of mere comfort or routine but a space where we engage in spiritual warfare, battling against the distractions and inconsistencies that threaten our walk with God. The prayer closet is where victories are won, where we meet with God, and where our Christian life is truly defined. We are called to be soldiers of Christ, enduring hardships and remaining steadfast in prayer, for it is through prayer that we are changed into the image of Christ.

The danger of idolatry looms large in our spiritual journey. Idols are not just physical objects but can be anything that takes precedence over our relationship with God. Whether it be our family, career, or even ministry, anything that distracts us from our pursuit of God's glory is an idol. We must be vigilant in identifying and removing these idols, ensuring that our focus remains on Christ and His glory.

The call to follow the cloud of God's presence, as the Israelites did in the wilderness, is a call to prioritize His presence over the comforts and provisions of this world. We must be willing to leave behind the oases of life, the places of ease and comfort, to follow God into the wilderness if that is where His presence leads. It is in the wilderness, in the place of dependence on God, that we truly experience His provision and guidance.

Ultimately, our ministry must be unto God before it is unto man. We are called to minister in the inner sanctuary, in the holy place, where our focus is on God's glory and presence. This requires a life of prayer, a life of consecration, where our primary goal is to minister unto God, allowing His presence to transform us and guide our ministry to others.

Key Takeaways:

- The Lifelong Journey of Transformation: Our journey in Christ is not about instant change but a lifelong process of being conformed to His image. This requires patience and submission to God's work in our lives, trusting that He will accomplish what He has spoken. [03:40]

- The Battleground of Prayer: Prayer is where we engage in spiritual warfare, battling against distractions and inconsistencies. It is in the prayer closet that we meet with God and are transformed into His image. [06:30]

- Identifying and Removing Idols: Anything that takes precedence over our relationship with God is an idol. We must be vigilant in identifying and removing these idols to ensure our focus remains on Christ and His glory. [33:18]

- Following God's Presence: Like the Israelites, we must prioritize God's presence over the comforts and provisions of this world. We must be willing to follow Him into the wilderness, trusting in His provision and guidance. [15:42]

- Ministry Unto God: Our primary ministry must be unto God, focusing on His glory and presence. This requires a life of prayer and consecration, allowing His presence to transform us and guide our ministry to others. [01:02:06]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to the School of Christ
- [01:17] - The Vision of the Christian Life
- [02:05] - Attracting God's Attention
- [03:40] - The Lifelong Journey of Transformation
- [06:30] - The Battleground of Prayer
- [08:31] - The Danger of Inconsistency
- [11:09] - The Crisis of Saul's Prayer Life
- [15:42] - Following God's Presence
- [19:20] - The Cloud and the Oasis
- [24:17] - The Crisis of Man-Centered Ministry
- [33:18] - Identifying and Removing Idols
- [41:58] - The Outer Court vs. The Inner Sanctuary
- [49:22] - The Consequences of Losing Holiness
- [01:02:06] - Ministry Unto God
- [01:11:24] - The Call to the Zadok Remnant

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Attracting God's Attention

Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 66:2 - "For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."
2. 2 Timothy 2:3 - "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
3. Numbers 9:17 - "And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents."

Observation Questions:
1. According to Isaiah 66:2, what qualities does God look for in a person? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on humility and contrition? [05:21]
2. In 2 Timothy 2:3, Paul refers to believers as soldiers. How does this metaphor relate to the sermon’s description of prayer as a battleground? [07:40]
3. How did the Israelites' journey in the wilderness, as described in Numbers 9:17, illustrate the importance of following God's presence over earthly comforts? [15:42]
4. What examples of modern-day idols were mentioned in the sermon, and how do they distract us from our relationship with God? [33:18]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being conformed to the image of Christ over a lifetime challenge the idea of instant spiritual transformation? [03:40]
2. What does it mean to engage in spiritual warfare through prayer, and how can this understanding change our approach to prayer? [06:30]
3. How can identifying and removing idols from our lives help us maintain a focus on Christ and His glory? [33:18]
4. What does it mean to prioritize ministry unto God before ministry unto man, and how can this perspective transform our service in the church? [01:02:06]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current prayer life. How can you create a more intentional space for spiritual warfare and transformation in your prayer closet? [06:30]
2. Identify one potential idol in your life that may be taking precedence over your relationship with God. What steps can you take this week to remove or minimize its influence? [33:18]
3. Consider a time when you prioritized comfort over following God's presence. How can you be more willing to follow God into the "wilderness" in the future? [15:42]
4. How can you ensure that your ministry efforts are first and foremost directed towards God, rather than seeking approval or recognition from others? [01:02:06]
5. In what ways can you cultivate a heart that is humble, contrite, and trembles at God's word, as described in Isaiah 66:2? [05:21]
6. How can you endure hardships as a good soldier of Christ, as mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:3, in your daily life and spiritual journey? [07:58]
7. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your focus remains on Christ and His glory, rather than being distracted by worldly pursuits? [33:18]

Devotional

Day 1: The Lifelong Journey of Transformation
Our journey in Christ is a continuous process of transformation, not an instant change. This transformation requires patience and submission to God's work in our lives. As we walk with Christ, we are being conformed to His image, a process that unfolds over a lifetime. This journey demands that we trust in God's promises and His ability to accomplish what He has spoken over us. It is a call to remain humble and contrite, always seeking to align our hearts with His will. [03:40]

"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." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to exercise more patience and trust in God's transformative work?


Day 2: The Battleground of Prayer
Prayer is not just a routine or a place of comfort; it is the battleground where spiritual warfare takes place. In the prayer closet, we engage with God, battling against distractions and inconsistencies that threaten our spiritual walk. It is here that we meet with God and are transformed into His image. Prayer requires endurance and steadfastness, as it is through prayer that we are changed and equipped to face the challenges of life. [06:30]

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific distraction that often interrupts your prayer time. How can you address this distraction to deepen your prayer life today?


Day 3: Identifying and Removing Idols
Idolatry is a significant danger in our spiritual journey. Idols are not just physical objects but can be anything that takes precedence over our relationship with God. Whether it be our family, career, or even ministry, anything that distracts us from our pursuit of God's glory is an idol. We must be vigilant in identifying and removing these idols, ensuring that our focus remains on Christ and His glory. [33:18]

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21, ESV)

Reflection: What is one thing in your life that you have placed above your relationship with God? What steps can you take today to realign your focus on Christ?


Day 4: Following God's Presence
Like the Israelites, we are called to prioritize God's presence over the comforts and provisions of this world. This means being willing to leave behind the oases of life, the places of ease and comfort, to follow God into the wilderness if that is where His presence leads. It is in the wilderness, in the place of dependence on God, that we truly experience His provision and guidance. [15:42]

"And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night." (Exodus 13:21, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a comfort or provision you are clinging to that might be hindering your ability to follow God's leading? How can you begin to let go and trust in His guidance?


Day 5: Ministry Unto God
Our primary ministry must be unto God, focusing on His glory and presence. This requires a life of prayer and consecration, where our primary goal is to minister unto God, allowing His presence to transform us and guide our ministry to others. It is in the inner sanctuary, in the holy place, that we find our true calling and purpose in serving God and others. [01:02:06]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you prioritize your ministry unto God today, ensuring that your service to others flows from a place of deep communion with Him?

Quotes


This is the out working of an entire lifetime the word of God is being presented to you open to you so that you have a vision I know that you're not the completed work in two weeks time I know that I'm a work in progress I understand that but you know what he's doing he's presenting to you a vision of the Christian Life. [00:02:58]

Prayer closet is the Battleground that place of prayer isn't a place of entertainment or of great joy always it's where you fight your battles most Christians don't realize the intensity of the war when they go to prayer they look for nice feelings but realize they encounter a Warfare that is so Rachel that they can easily get discouraged in the place of prayer. [00:06:33]

We must be willing to follow Him into the wilderness, trusting in His provision and guidance. Like the Israelites, we must prioritize God's presence over the comforts and provisions of this world. We must be willing to leave behind the oases of life, the places of ease and comfort, to follow God into the wilderness if that is where His presence leads. [00:15:42]

If you follow the cloud, God's provision is going to be there in a Wilderness in a desert place in the backside of the desert if you follow God, God is going to provide for you the Oasis of the Natural Life represents the alternatives of the devil to draw you and me away from gazen upon God's glory. [00:18:16]

If you haven't ministered unto God you have no right to minister unto men if your life isn't concerned with being dedicated to God you have no right to minister in the house of God to know the presence and the power of God we must live in his glory with eyes looking upon his glory not just glancing at his glory on a Sunday morning. [00:13:24]

The danger of idolatry looms large in our spiritual journey. Idols are not just physical objects but can be anything that takes precedence over our relationship with God. Whether it be our family, career, or even ministry, anything that distracts us from our pursuit of God's glory is an idol. [00:33:18]

You know what our Idols are they're things of the heart there's things of the inward man they are Idols of presumption and they're Idols of the perception of man if you form a view of God in your mind and it's not biblical it's not according to the word of God and you begin to worship that God you are worshiping an idol. [00:48:20]

Ultimately, our ministry must be unto God before it is unto man. We are called to minister in the inner sanctuary, in the holy place, where our focus is on God's glory and presence. This requires a life of prayer, a life of consecration, where our primary goal is to minister unto God, allowing His presence to transform us and guide our ministry to others. [01:02:06]

If you allow anything else to distract you from your love and your passion for Christ, then that thing is the idol that you worship and it's the idol that will take you out of the inner court and put you in the outer Court there are so many in the outer Court consumed with man man made Ministry. [00:41:58]

The lack of spiritual power in the church is the result of Idols in the heart we have learned how to promote and bring people into the church and we have mistaken the ability to promote the faith for reality we have borrowed the world's programs to draw people entertain people and keep people in the church. [00:59:39]

If you ever hear God speak if you ever have his word in your mouth you will take time to be alone with God and prayer we can only as a church be the mouth of God the house of God the pulpit of God if we actually have that alterous established God's attention. [01:08:09]

God wants a people who are faithful to their lord and people with whom repentance is a way of life repentance has been thrown out today and people separated from all that is touched by this world with an intense desire for God and his kingdom to such people God is attracted. [01:08:59]

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Transcript
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