Transformative Power of Prayer: Embracing ACTS
Summary
In reflecting on the profound impact of prayer, I shared a personal story about attending the funeral of Don James, a close friend and comrade in ministry. Don was a remarkable man who led the Pittsburg Experiment, a ministry founded by Sam Shoemaker, which challenged businessmen to engage in a 30-day experiment of prayer. This initiative encouraged individuals to pray for their personal challenges and even for their enemies, fostering a transformation of the heart. One notable story from this ministry involved a skeptical ex-Marine who, after accepting the challenge, experienced a profound change and eventually succeeded Sam Shoemaker in the ministry.
Prayer is not just a ritual but a transformative practice that can change lives. To make prayer more accessible, I introduced the ACTS acrostic: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. This simple structure helps guide our prayers, ensuring we cover essential elements. Adoration, the first step, is about recognizing and honoring God's greatness. It's crucial to approach prayer with the right attitude, understanding who God is and who we are in relation to Him.
The posture of prayer is also significant, as it reflects our attitude. Whether kneeling, standing with uplifted hands, or lying prostrate, our physical stance can express our reverence and submission to God. While the physical posture is not the essence of prayer, it can enhance our spiritual focus and humility.
In prayer, we must remember to whom we are speaking and who is doing the talking. This awareness helps us maintain a posture of adoration and humility. Immersing ourselves in the Psalms can enrich our prayer language, as these Holy Spirit-inspired prayers beautifully express reverence and adoration for God.
As we grow in our prayer lives, we often find ourselves spending more time in adoration, captivated by God's magnificence. This is the beginning of a deeper, more meaningful prayer life, where we not only present our requests but also dwell in the presence of the Almighty, acknowledging His greatness and our dependence on Him.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Transformative Power of Prayer: Prayer is not merely a ritual but a transformative practice that can change lives. The story of the ex-Marine who accepted a 30-day prayer challenge and experienced a profound change illustrates the potential of prayer to soften hearts and bring people closer to God. [03:51]
2. The ACTS Acrostic: The ACTS acrostic—Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication—serves as a simple yet profound guide to structuring our prayers. Beginning with adoration helps us focus on God's greatness and sets the tone for a meaningful prayer experience. [06:43]
3. Posture Reflects Attitude: The physical posture we adopt during prayer can reflect our spiritual attitude. Whether kneeling, standing with uplifted hands, or lying prostrate, our posture can express reverence, submission, and humility before God. [09:21]
4. Understanding Our Relationship with God: In prayer, it's crucial to remember who God is and who we are in relation to Him. This awareness fosters a posture of adoration and humility, helping us approach God with the respect and reverence He deserves. [12:24]
5. Immersing in the Psalms: Immersing ourselves in the Psalms can enrich our prayer language, as these Holy Spirit-inspired prayers beautifully express reverence and adoration for God. The Psalms provide a model for articulating our thoughts and feelings in prayer. [19:06]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:38] - A Memorable Funeral
- [01:14] - The Pittsburg Experiment
- [02:31] - A Skeptic's Challenge
- [03:51] - Transformation Through Prayer
- [05:03] - Learning to Pray
- [05:38] - The ACTS Acrostic
- [06:43] - Elements of Prayer
- [08:21] - Posture and Attitude in Prayer
- [09:57] - Historical Postures of Prayer
- [11:06] - Personal Prayer Preferences
- [12:24] - Remembering Our Relationship with God
- [14:05] - Casualness vs. Reverence
- [16:42] - The Importance of Adoration
- [19:06] - Learning from the Psalms
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 8:1 - "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens."
2. Psalm 95:6 - "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."
3. Matthew 6:9-13 - The Lord's Prayer
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the purpose of the Pittsburg Experiment, and how did it challenge participants in their prayer lives? [01:51]
2. How did the ex-Marine's attitude towards prayer change after accepting the 30-day challenge? [03:51]
3. What are the four elements of the ACTS acrostic, and how do they guide our prayers? [06:43]
4. What are some of the physical postures of prayer mentioned in the sermon, and what do they signify? [09:21]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of the ex-Marine illustrate the transformative power of prayer in one's life? [03:51]
2. Why might the ACTS acrostic be a helpful tool for structuring prayer, and how does it ensure a balanced approach to communicating with God? [06:43]
3. In what ways does physical posture during prayer reflect one's spiritual attitude and relationship with God? [09:21]
4. How can immersing oneself in the Psalms enhance one's prayer language and deepen the experience of adoration in prayer? [19:06]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when prayer led to a significant change in your life. How did that experience shape your understanding of prayer's power? [03:51]
2. Consider the ACTS acrostic. Which element do you find most challenging to incorporate into your prayer life, and why? [06:43]
3. What physical posture do you typically adopt during prayer, and how does it affect your focus and attitude? Would you consider trying a different posture to see how it impacts your prayer experience? [09:21]
4. How can you incorporate more adoration into your daily prayers, acknowledging God's greatness and your dependence on Him? [16:42]
5. Identify a Psalm that resonates with you. How can you use its language to enrich your personal prayers this week? [19:06]
6. Think of someone you consider an "enemy" or someone you struggle to get along with. How can you commit to praying for them over the next 30 days, and what changes do you hope to see in your heart? [02:31]
7. How can you create a personal "prayer experiment" in your life, similar to the Pittsburg Experiment, to deepen your relationship with God and others? [04:31]
Devotional
Day 1: The Heart-Transforming Power of Prayer
Prayer is a powerful practice that goes beyond mere ritual, capable of transforming lives and softening hearts. The story of the ex-Marine who participated in a 30-day prayer challenge illustrates this transformative potential. Initially skeptical, the ex-Marine experienced a profound change, ultimately succeeding Sam Shoemaker in the ministry. This example highlights how prayer can bring individuals closer to God, encouraging them to pray for personal challenges and even for their enemies. By engaging in prayer, individuals open themselves to the possibility of heart transformation and spiritual growth. [03:51]
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV): "Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."
Reflection: Think of a personal challenge or a difficult relationship in your life. How can you commit to praying for this situation or person over the next 30 days, and what changes do you hope to see in your heart as a result?
Day 2: Structuring Prayer with ACTS
The ACTS acrostic—Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication—provides a simple yet profound framework for structuring prayers. Beginning with adoration helps focus on God's greatness, setting the tone for a meaningful prayer experience. This structure ensures that essential elements of prayer are covered, guiding individuals to approach God with the right attitude. By incorporating confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, believers can engage in a holistic prayer practice that acknowledges God's magnificence and their dependence on Him. [06:43]
Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."
Reflection: As you pray today, use the ACTS structure. Spend extra time in adoration, focusing on God's attributes. How does this shift in focus impact your overall prayer experience?
Day 3: The Significance of Posture in Prayer
The physical posture adopted during prayer can reflect one's spiritual attitude, expressing reverence, submission, and humility before God. Whether kneeling, standing with uplifted hands, or lying prostrate, these postures can enhance spiritual focus and humility. While the essence of prayer lies in the heart, the physical stance can serve as an outward expression of inner reverence and submission to God. By being mindful of posture, individuals can deepen their prayer experience and cultivate a more profound sense of connection with the Divine. [09:21]
1 Kings 8:54 (ESV): "Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven."
Reflection: Consider your usual posture during prayer. How might changing your physical stance—such as kneeling or raising your hands—enhance your sense of reverence and focus during prayer today?
Day 4: Recognizing Our Relationship with God
Understanding who God is and who we are in relation to Him is crucial in prayer. This awareness fosters a posture of adoration and humility, helping individuals approach God with the respect and reverence He deserves. By remembering the greatness of God and our dependence on Him, believers can cultivate a deeper, more meaningful prayer life. This understanding encourages individuals to dwell in the presence of the Almighty, acknowledging His magnificence and their need for His guidance and support. [12:24]
Isaiah 66:2 (ESV): "All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."
Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of God's greatness and your relationship with Him. How does this awareness influence the way you approach prayer, and what steps can you take to deepen this understanding?
Day 5: Enriching Prayer with the Psalms
Immersing oneself in the Psalms can enrich prayer language, as these Holy Spirit-inspired prayers beautifully express reverence and adoration for God. The Psalms provide a model for articulating thoughts and feelings in prayer, offering a rich resource for those seeking to deepen their prayer life. By engaging with the Psalms, individuals can learn to express their emotions and desires more fully, enhancing their connection with God and enriching their spiritual journey. [19:06]
Psalm 63:1-4 (ESV): "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands."
Reflection: Choose a Psalm to read and meditate on today. How can the language and themes of this Psalm inspire and enrich your own prayers?
Quotes
And, the Pittsburg Experiment was a ministry directed basically to businessmen, in which Sam Shoemaker tried to challenge businessmen in the city of Pittsburg to a 30-day experiment of prayer, where he challenged men to pray just for 30 days about the biggest issues that confronted them in their businesses, in their marriages, in their personal life. [00:01:43]
And he also challenged them for a 30-day experiment to pray for their enemies, because Sam found that after 30 days, that if people prayed every day for the well-being of their enemy, their hearts would melt towards other people. [00:02:13]
And in that 30 days this young ex-Marine gave his life to Christ, and he became Sam Shoemaker's successor. It was his funeral that I attended. What a warrior for the faith Don James was, as he continued the ministry of challenging men like himself all over the city to be engaged in just a 30-day experiment in prayer. [00:03:51]
What he was trying to do was to mentor people, to train people – not just say, "Y’all ought to pray," but to give them a laboratory experiment of prayer – a clinical test to see what impact it would have on their lives. [00:04:22]
And one of the simplest methods or techniques of prayer I've ever heard of, and I've ever learned is one that uses the old acrostic – and I call this the ABC's of praying. That is, the first principles, the elemental structures of praying. That’s why I use the term ABC's. [00:05:18]
And, the acrostic goes like this: the ‘A’ stands for adoration. The ‘C’ stands for confession. The ‘T’ stands for thanksgiving. The ‘S’ stands for supplication. [00:06:29]
This is a simple little guideline to help us remember the important elements that ought to be a part of all of our praying. And I also have to say to you and confess that I'm still at the ABC level. That when I pray, I still go through this acrostic in my mind, as a checklist. [00:07:11]
Really, the question should be, "What should our attitude be when we are in prayer?" Because, posture, our physical posture, is linked to a particular attitude. And, I mentioned to her that there’s nothing magic or sacred about praying on your knees, but that historically there is a universal significance of a human person getting on their knees. [00:08:38]
And so, what could be more appropriate when we come into the presence of God than to show our submission and our humility before him by getting on our knees? Then I went on to explain also that that’s not the only posture that the church has known historically, even in Old Testament times. [00:09:33]
We also see uniformly throughout the pages of Scripture, particularly in the Old Testament, that when people come into the presence of God, Old and New Testament, they fall on their face before him. That’s going beyond kneeling, but becoming prostrate before God on the deck. [00:10:28]
The first one is: we need to remember to whom we are speaking. That’s number one. And number two: we need to understand and remember who is doing the talking. That is, we need to remember who God is, and who we are. [00:12:18]
Because, the Psalms for the most part are nothing more than a collection of Holy Spirit-inspired prayers. And I find that people who immerse themselves in the Psalms have no problems saying what they want to say to God – no problems acquiring a prayer language. [00:18:58]
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