Transforming Prayer: Love, Community, and Divine Guidance
Summary
Love is a powerful motivator, often driving us to do extraordinary things. Yet, when it comes to our relationship with God, we sometimes struggle to invest the same time and energy. This paradox raises a crucial question: why is it so challenging to spend time with the God we profess to love? The answer lies in understanding the true nature of prayer. Prayer should not be a transactional task but an expression of our love for God. It is the most natural part of a love relationship, where we desire to communicate with the one we love.
In our church, as we look forward to 2007, we must be cautious about how we approach vision and planning. Proverbs 29:18 is often misquoted to justify strategic planning, but in context, it speaks of the revelation of God's Word leading to obedience. The early church in Acts did not rely on strategic plans; they devoted themselves to prayer, and God moved in unexpected ways. This is the model we should follow—seeking God's will through prayer rather than relying solely on human strategies.
The early church was marked by a deep sense of community and sacrificial love, meeting daily, sharing possessions, and supporting one another. This kind of movement begins with prayer. We must be willing to surrender our plans and desires to God, seeking His will above all else. Prayer is not just about asking for things but about aligning ourselves with God's purposes and experiencing His supernatural power in our lives.
As we embark on a week of prayer and fasting, let us come together as a church, seeking God's presence and guidance. We are not praying for specific outcomes but for God to reveal His will and do something extraordinary among us. Just as Elijah, a man like us, prayed earnestly and saw God move, we too can experience the power of prayer. Let us approach God with confidence, knowing that through the blood of Jesus, we have access to the most holy place.
Key Takeaways:
1. Prayer as an Expression of Love: Prayer should be the natural outflow of our love for God, not a transactional task. It is about desiring to communicate with the one we love, just as we would with a close friend or family member. This perspective transforms prayer from a duty into a delight. [04:38]
2. Vision and Revelation: True vision is not about strategic planning but receiving revelation from God that leads to obedience. The early church in Acts relied on prayer and God's guidance rather than human strategies, resulting in unexpected and miraculous growth. [08:30]
3. Community and Sacrifice: The early church was characterized by deep community and sacrificial love, meeting daily and sharing possessions. This kind of movement begins with prayer and a willingness to surrender our plans to God. [14:18]
4. The Power of Prayer: Elijah, a man like us, prayed earnestly and saw God move in powerful ways. We too can experience the power of prayer when we approach God with faith and confidence, knowing that He hears us. [41:34]
5. Confidence Through Christ: We can approach God with confidence because of the blood of Jesus, which grants us access to the most holy place. This assurance should inspire us to pray boldly and expectantly, knowing that God desires to hear from us. [51:05]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:38] - Crazy Things for Love
- [01:13] - Struggling to Spend Time with God
- [02:56] - Prayer and Revolution
- [04:10] - Prayer as Love Expression
- [05:09] - Vision for the Church
- [06:07] - Misquoting Proverbs 29:18
- [09:00] - The Early Church's Approach
- [13:05] - Characteristics of the Early Church
- [16:44] - Desire for a Movement
- [19:01] - James on Prayer
- [21:17] - Calling the Elders
- [23:06] - Sickness and Sin
- [29:19] - Praying for Each Other
- [32:08] - The Power of a Righteous Prayer
- [37:16] - Experiencing God's Surprises
- [42:30] - Week of Prayer and Fasting
- [50:03] - Confidence Through Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 29:18
2. Acts 2:42-47
3. James 5:13-16
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how is prayer described in relation to our love for God? [04:38]
2. What does Proverbs 29:18 actually say about vision, and how is it often misquoted? [06:07]
3. How did the early church in Acts approach growth and community, according to the sermon? [09:00]
4. What example from the sermon illustrates the power of prayer, as seen in the life of Elijah? [41:34]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest we should view prayer in our relationship with God, and what might this imply about our daily practices? [04:38]
2. In what ways does the sermon challenge the modern church's approach to strategic planning and vision? [08:30]
3. How does the example of the early church in Acts challenge our current understanding of community and sacrifice? [14:18]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of faith and confidence in experiencing the power of prayer? [41:34]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current prayer life. Do you view prayer as a duty or a delight? How can you shift your perspective to see it as an expression of love for God? [04:38]
2. How can you incorporate the idea of seeking God's revelation rather than relying solely on human strategies in your personal or professional life? [08:30]
3. The early church was marked by deep community and sacrificial love. What practical steps can you take to foster a similar sense of community in your small group or church? [14:18]
4. Think of a time when you experienced the power of prayer. How did it impact your faith, and how can you encourage others with that experience? [41:34]
5. The sermon encourages us to approach God with confidence through Christ. What specific fears or doubts do you need to overcome to pray more boldly and expectantly? [51:05]
6. As we embark on a week of prayer and fasting, what specific intentions or areas of your life will you focus on, and how can you prepare your heart for this time? [42:30]
7. How can you make prayer your first response in times of trouble or joy, as suggested in James 5:13-16? What practical steps can you take to make this a habit? [19:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Prayer as a Love Relationship
Prayer is not merely a duty or obligation; it is the natural expression of our love for God. When we truly love someone, we desire to communicate with them, to share our thoughts, hopes, and dreams. This is how prayer should be with God. It is not about checking off a box or fulfilling a religious requirement, but about engaging in a heartfelt conversation with the One who loves us unconditionally. By shifting our perspective from seeing prayer as a task to viewing it as a delight, we can deepen our relationship with God and experience the joy of His presence. [04:38]
"Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!" (Psalm 141:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you transform your prayer time from a routine task into a genuine expression of love for God today?
Day 2: Vision Through Revelation
True vision for our lives and our church comes not from strategic planning but from receiving revelation from God. The early church in Acts serves as a model for us; they did not rely on human strategies but devoted themselves to prayer and sought God's guidance. As a result, they experienced miraculous growth and transformation. When we prioritize prayer and seek God's will, we open ourselves to His unexpected and extraordinary plans. This requires a willingness to surrender our own agendas and trust in His perfect wisdom. [08:30]
"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to seek God's revelation rather than relying on your own plans?
Day 3: Community and Sacrificial Love
The early church was characterized by a deep sense of community and sacrificial love. They met daily, shared their possessions, and supported one another. This kind of community begins with prayer and a willingness to surrender our own desires for the sake of others. When we pray together and seek God's will, we can build a community that reflects His love and grace. This requires us to be open, vulnerable, and willing to put the needs of others before our own. [14:18]
"And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." (Acts 2:44-45, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to building a community of sacrificial love in your church or neighborhood this week?
Day 4: Experiencing the Power of Prayer
Elijah, a man like us, prayed earnestly and saw God move in powerful ways. This reminds us that we too can experience the power of prayer when we approach God with faith and confidence. Prayer is not just about asking for things but about aligning ourselves with God's purposes and experiencing His supernatural power in our lives. When we pray with expectation and trust, we open the door for God to work in ways beyond our imagination. [41:34]
"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth." (James 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you need to pray with faith and expectation, trusting God to move powerfully?
Day 5: Confidence Through Christ
Through the blood of Jesus, we have access to the most holy place, allowing us to approach God with confidence. This assurance should inspire us to pray boldly and expectantly, knowing that God desires to hear from us. Our confidence in prayer is not based on our own merit but on the finished work of Christ. As we come before God, we can do so with the assurance that He hears us and is eager to respond to our prayers. [51:05]
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh." (Hebrews 10:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How does knowing you have access to God through Christ change the way you approach prayer today?
Quotes
Prayer is supposed to be an expression of our love for God. Prayer is supposed to be the most natural part of a love relationship, you know, you just want to be in conversation, you just want to speak to the one that you love. And I got to ask you, is prayer about that for you? [00:04:34]
Proverbs 29:18, because we've all heard that verse, right? If you've been in church for four years, you've heard that verse: without vision, the people will perish. So, pastor, you better come up with a vision for the church, otherwise, they're just gonna die, right? You gotta have vision, you gotta have plans. [00:06:37]
What did they do? They just sat in that upper room and they waited and they prayed. It says they were constantly in prayer. They prayed, they prayed, they prayed. My idea, what was going to happen? They just prayed because God told them to. So for 10 days straight, they just prayed and prayed and prayed. [00:09:31]
I want to be part of a movement that is just clearly of God. See, that's what I want to be a part of. And it doesn't happen through, you know, just getting the most brilliant minds together and coming up with a plan. It happens through prayer. It happens through a ton of prayer. [00:12:16]
When you read about that early church, they were absolutely consumed with God. Do you want to be a part of that? And if so, you know, it starts with prayer. Man, I read that and I go, you know what, I'm kind of bored with American Church. You know, I just, I want it all. [00:16:22]
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. So when you call for the elders of a church, hopefully, the elders of the church are righteous men. You know, the Bible says the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Get the righteous men over there praying for you. [00:21:37]
Elijah was a man just like us. I love that verse. Elijah, remember the one that called down fire, you know, onto that altar there when all the prophets of Baal were dancing around, you know, trying to light this thing on fire, and Elijah just prays, and God lights this thing on fire. [00:39:57]
We can have confidence to enter the Holy of Holies. We are, we can have access to God. That should still be a miracle to us today. We just still go, are you serious? I can talk to God, like God, the creator of the world, the one whom the Bible says dwells in unapproachable light. [00:50:57]
We can go with confidence. Why? Because of the blood of Jesus. Why? Because 2,000 years ago, he had his son die on his cross. He had a son die on a cross paying for all of your crimes. And the Bible says if you believe that, if you believe he died on that cross and he rose from that grave, he did that for you. [00:52:09]
I want to pray to be more than a ritual and a task. I want a relationship. You know, maybe you hear about me just talking about this prayer life, you hear about Tim and how we just talk to God, and you just, he just does this stuff, and we're just amazed by them, and you want that type of life. [00:53:44]
Let's not think of God as this impersonal God up there. We have confidence to come before his throne and just praise Him right now. He's going to hear your praises. And so don't do this if it's a ritual to you or you're thinking you're earning something for yourself. Do this if you're in love with God. [00:54:28]
Prayer is supposed to remind you to pray, and you're supposed to pray to God and say, God, you know what, I want you more than I want a hamburger right now, you know, and that those hunger pains to remind you all day long, those hunger pains to remind you of how people are suffering all around the world. [00:43:28]
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