PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) Lesson 2

Our Prayer life is the most important thing we have in our Christian life.  It is our communication line to God.  The Bible gives instructions for us to have an effective prayer life.  

Luk 11:9-10 NASB

(9)  "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

(10)  "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

An effective prayer life is specific and full of faith.  These verses give us three elements of prayer.  First, we see that Jesus tells we are to ask.  God has given provision.  Second, we see wisdom.  If we seek, we shall find.  Third God gives us guidance.  We are told that when we knock it we will be opened.  God has given us provision, wisdom and guidance if we will just have an active prayer life.

Vague prayers cause doubt.  We need to realize who we are talking to when we pray.  We need to be specific in what we ask.  Paul tells us in Philippians 4:7 there is peace that comes from God.  A peace beyond anything we can comprehend.  God is ready to take care of us in ways that we cannot imagine. 

An effective prayer life is specific and full of faith. 

PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens)

Our Prayer life is the most important thing we have in our Christian life.  It is our communication line to God.  The Bible gives instructions for us to have an effective prayer life.   

Luke 11:5-8 NASB

(5)  Then He said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves;

(6)  for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him';

(7)  and from inside he answers and says, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.'

(8)  "I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

An effective prayer life is a steadfast prayer life.  An unexpected visitor visits a man.  He goes to his neighbor to borrow bread.  At first, the neighbor says no.  Then because the friend is persistent with his plea, the neighbor changes their mind. 

Persistence is the key.  Now let’s rate your consistency in prayer. 

1.  Almost never pray. 

2.  Pray only at church. 

3.  Pray when I remember. 

4.  Pray Daily 

5.  Pray throughout the day.

Hebrews 4:16 tells us to come boldly before the throne of God.  I remember one time when I visited an elementary school to talk to a teacher.  I had no idea where to go once inside the building.  The principal instructed a kid to escort me down the long hallway to the correct place.  See the kid knew right where I needed to go and had no trouble showing me.

He had been there many times and boldly marched me down the hall to the teacher’s room.  How can we come boldly before the throne if we very seldom visit in the first place?

An effective prayer life is a steadfast prayer life!

And It Was Good

Gen 1:10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and  God saw that it was good.

This past week I stood atop Mount Mitchell.  It is the hightest peak east of the Mississippi River.  I also stood in the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.  Each place has its own beauty.

I must admit the drive to each of these places has its own beauty as well.  Many times we fail to see what God has made.  I made it a special point to take time to enjoy God's creation this week.  Please take time to do the same.

It does not matter where you are God made it and He
said it was good

OH Lord It’s Hard To Be Humble (Bonus Lesson)

Humility begins with the right attitude toward God.  To have this we must understand God’s attitude.

James 4:6-10 NASB

(6)  But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

(7)  Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

(8)  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

(9)  Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

(10)  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

God doesn’t like a proud attitude.  James tells us to submit to God’s will and to resist the devil.  Our lives should be focused toward getting closer to God. 

James speaks of our hands and our hearts.  By referring to hands, James is actually talking about our actions and when he refers to our hearts, he is talking about our motives.

If we find ourselves exhibiting a proud attitude, we should feel sorry knowing that this attitude is not what God wants in our lives.  We need to repent knowing that when we humble ourselves God will bless us.

OH Lord It’s Hard To Be Humble (Lesson Three of Three)

We like to use our own standards when we measure greatness and more times, than not our standards and God’s standards are different.

This series look at Christ-like humility

Luke 9:46-50 NASB

(46)  An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.

(47)  But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side,

(48)  and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great."

(49)  John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us."

(50)  But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you."

A person with Christ-Like humility accepts people outside their circle.  Maybe the disciples thought how dare this person cast out a demon is Jesus’ name.  He is not part of us.

Jesus said if they are not against us they are for us.  However, there is a word of caution: make sure you check everything out.  Matthew 7:15-21 tells us to beware, we will know them by their fruits, and not everyone who cries Lord will enter in.

Just because it is different does not mean it is not good.  It is kind of like ice cream.  Why does Baskin-Robbins have 31 favors?  They do it to get more customers.  People worship Jesus differently and the main thing is that He and only He is worthy of our praise and worship.

There are things Christians cannot deny.  It takes the blood of Jesus to save a soul.  Jesus is the Second part of the Holy Trinity.  Anything that lowers Him or puts men equal to Him is wrong.

Some things make Christians have different opinions.  How often should you take communion?  Should you wash feet?  Is it ok to speak in tongues?  I think we all have our thoughts on these and others.

Sometimes we need to humble ourselves and realize that God will use whomever he wants, even if it is outside of our circle.