The Rich Dummy (March 16, 2011)

ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS: RICH DUMMY

March 16 , 2011

LUKE 18:22-23 - “22. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy!”

THE STORY (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-3)

Mark 10:17 As Jesus started on his way; a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Here’s a story of a man thirsty for eternal life. As a young rich ruler, he was no doubt an upstanding member of society. He was a good citizen by his own testimony in verse 20. He was probably loved by everyone he knew because of his social status. With all he had going for him, he realized he was missing something in his life. As Jesus was on his way, he also realized that this may be his last opportunity to have an encounter with Jesus. “What must I do to be saved?” he ask Jesus. He has been a law abiding, religious man all his life but in him Jesus saw a void. Jesus had love for him and didn’t waste time commending him for being religious. Jesus knew that there was one more commandment that he hasn’t mastered – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…” Luke 10:27. Knowing this, Jesus ask him to sell and give his riches to the poor and come follow him. The young man who had such a sense of urgency just a few minutes ago and threw himself in front of Jesus was not somber and sad because he couldn’t imagine giving all his hard earned riches away just for his soul. He went away sad but more importantly left more lost than he was when he came.

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?

·         His story resembled that of Nicodemus who also was seeking eternal life.

·         There’s no amount of good a man can do to gain eternal life.

·         Keeping the commandments does not guarantee us eternal life if Christ is not in the center of it.

·         In addition to being a good law abiding religious ruler, he knew Jesus had the answer to his question.

·         He missed his chance on possibly being the 13^th disciple.

·         People make allot of spiritual sacrifices for money and power.

·         Sometimes our mouths say we want eternal life but our hearts say only if we don’t have to give up certain things.

·         God doesn’t always give us the answer we like but He always gives us the answers we need.

·         The more religious we are, the more we think our religiousness can save us.

·         If we’re serious about wanting eternal life than we must be willing to make the necessary changes.

FINAL WORD – WHAT CAN WE APPLY IN OUR OWN WALK FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?

In America, the land of the free and the plenty, allot of importance is giving to material wealth. We give it so much importance that many go to drastic extremes for the potential to acquire it. 1 Timothy 6:10 sums up the consequences nicely – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. “

“…One thing you lack…”

Do you have anything, anyone in your life that is coming between you and eternal life? Is there anything you are not willing to part with in order to follow Christ? For some of us, it’s a person; for some of us, it’s a sin or a set of sins; for others it’s the pursuit of wealth and worldly things.

If you’re like the rich ruler and are asking Jesus what you must do to be saved, it’s gut check time.  What do you have that’s keeping you from Christ?

Will you do as Jesus asks us to do - “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:34-36) or will you go away lost and sad and lacking that “one thing”.

While we ourselves lack a thing or two to inherit God’s Kingdom, Jesus reminds us that all things are possible with God (Mark 10:27). If you feel like it’s impossible for you to leave that one thing on your own, come follow Jesus. He will make what’s impossible for you to accomplish on your own possible if you believe.

Next Week: On the Road to Damascus with Paul ()

Reference:

http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/would-you-pass-the-rich-young-ruler-test/

http://thegourd.blogspot.com/2009/07/story-of-rich-young-ruler.html

http://www.the-churchofchrist.com/wealth/lessons_from_the_rich_young_ruler.htm

http://www.letusreason.org/Apolo24.htm

Blind Vision (March 9, 2011)

ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS: BLIND VISION

March 9 , 2011

JOHN 9:25 - “He replied,“Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-DmMnU0di0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

THE STORY

A blind man minding his business has a life changing encounter with Jesus. As esus and his disciples are walking along, they notice a blind man and ask if the sin of the man or the sins of his parents is the cause of his blindness.  Jesus answers the disciples by saying that “…this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him…”

Jesus makes mud and rubs it into the man’s eyes, sends him to the Siloam River to wash up and he’s able to see.

The man’s vision is restored. As he goes around town, people begin to talk about his ability to see and begin to question how he was healed. He is taken to the Pharisees to be questioned since this all happened on the Sabbath. The Pharisees did not want to believe that Jesus did this and did everything to call him a sinner because he dared to heal a blind man on the sacred Sabbath. As the man is continuously being questioned, he gains a boldness and certainty about the source of Jesus’ authority and boldly shares it with the Pharisees. In their anger and disbelief, they throw the man out because since he was born as a sinner he has no right to teach them.

A blind is physically able to see while a group of physically good vision is spiritually blind and is unable to see the truth when it’s right in front of their faces.

HOW WAS HIS LIFE TRANSFORMED AFTER ENCOUNTERING JESUS?

The life of the man was changed physically and spiritually. First for the first time since birth he was able see all of God’s creation for himself. I can’t imagine how different of a life this man was beginning to enjoy. If that was all that happened to him, this would be an encounter he could not forget.

His spiritually life was also transformed. The boldness with which he spoke in the presence of the Pharisees was evidence that he had a strong belief in the man who was responsible to open his eyes. As a result of the healing of his physical vision, his spiritual eyes were also opened.

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?

·         Sometimes just being in the path of Christ gives us a chance to have a life changing encounter.

·         It’s not easy to comprehend the mysterious ways in which God operates. (v2)

·         God uses our personal trials and tribulations so His work might be made known.

·         When we’re so deep in our own beliefs of the truth, we become arrogant of others who present a true version of the truth different from ours. (v30 -33)

·         There’s no limit to how low someone will go to discredit you when they don’t agree or believe in what you’re doing. (v24)

·         No false prophet can discredit your experience with Jesus. It’s not an encounter that can be taken away.

·         You can’t preach the truth to someone who is “holier than thou”; they’re more holy than you are to receive it.

·         Our eyes can be opened to see all the world has to offer yet still blind to whom God is and is doing in our lives.

·         When church and society makes an outcast out of you, Jesus is out looking for you and wants you to know he’s there for you.

·         Easier for a blind man to see Jesus for who He is than for a legalistic, religious know-it-all to brush his knowledge aside to believe God.

FINAL WORD – WHAT CAN WE APPLY IN OUR OWN WALK FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?

“He replied,“Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”- John9:25

The Pharisees had their own agenda. They go to extreme measures to discredit Jesus and have people believe that he is not who he has proven himself to be. In spite of many miracles done in their presence and around them, they continue to be blind to the truth.

Many will come to try to discredit who Jesus is in our lives but what stands any encounter with a person of Pharisian descent is our encounter with Christ. It doesn’t matter what denomination a person says, or what color one may say Jesus is, or by what actions we must do to be saved. To paraphrase the blind man, I don’t care what you think He is or not but one thing I know He is the Jehovah Jireh that provides when least expected; the Jehovah Nissi that stands ready to protect us against all enemies;  and the Jehovah Shamma that is ever present in our lives.

Next Week: The Man Blind From Birth (John 9)

Reference:

http://www.momsbiblejournal.com/Media2/John/John%209.htm

http://www.xenos.org/teachings/topical/signs/gary/signs-6.htm

Amazing Grace (March 2, 2011)

ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS: AMAZING GRACE

March 2 , 2011

JOHN 8:7b - “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIIdGDicvng&feature=youtube_gdata_player

THE STORY

The story begins in the early hours of the morning with Jesus teaching in the temple courts.  The teachers of the law and Pharisees who had previously sent the temple guards to arrest Jesus (John 7:32), brought to him a woman “caught” in the act of adultery.  Interestingly enough, they didn’t bother to bring the other half of the act of adultery. Their earlier attempt to arrest Jesus was in vain so they go back to the drawing board and conjure up a fool proof plan that’ll give them a legitimate reason to arrest Jesus. The came under the guise of wanting justice, however the heart of their actions was to trap Jesus.  Jesus being the God-man who was there on Mount Sinai when the law was given to Moses, immediately recognized that their intent was not to uphold the law as teachers of the law. The law they refer to can be found Leviticus 20:10 - “‘if a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death”; and Deuteronomy 22:22 – “If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.” As teachers of the law, they could not claim ignorance as their reason for only bringing the poor woman in front of Jesus and leaving the man also caught in the act.

Knowing their true intentions (v6), Jesus uses this situation to continue his teaching to all who had gathered to hear him, the teachers of the law and Pharisees who brought the woman and the humiliated, sinful woman. The Bible doesn’t mention what Jesus wrote with his fingers when he bent down but perhaps it was the law that was written with the fingers of God back in the desert (Exodus 31:18). We don’t know for certain but if what He wrote along didn’t stop them, His words in verse 7 certainly hit home – “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” These words probably reminded these teachers of the law and Pharisees that in order to carry out a death sentence it needed to be on the testimony of at least two witnesses and those two witnesses would be first in line to begin to carry out the death sentence followed by everyone else (Deu.17:6-7). In addition, as the connoisseurs of the law that they were, the law regarding being a false witness may have just come back to their memory (Exo.23:1-2 & 7; Deu.19:15-19.)

For supposed teachers of the law, they certainly didn’t think their plot through very well in their haste to trap Jesus. The same laws they used to bring the woman forward were likely the same laws that ate up their conscious. What was meant as a trap for Jesus was used as an opportunity to change lives.

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?

·         Just like it was never about the woman caught in the act, people bring up the sins of others not because they want to have a sin-less society but to support their agendas.

·         Being graceful to sinners does not mean that we accept and approve of the sin.

·         What we forget is that it wasn’t “the laws of Moses…” but the laws of God given to Moses.

·         Before we throw the first “stone” of condemnation, let us first remember that we have our own sins that need God’s grace.

·         When caught in the act of sins, be humble, recognize Jesus as Lord, and let Him represent you in the court of public condemnation.

·         When Jesus grants you grace and redeems you of your sin, it comes with a responsibility to “…Go and sin no more…”

FINAL WORD – WHAT CAN WE APPLY IN OUR OWN WALK FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?

• "Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" - James 2:13 (NIV)

·         “Blessed are the merciful,  for they will be shown mercy.” – Matthew 5:7

It’s easy to condemn someone we know for certain to be living a sinful lifestyle.  But it takes a different heart to see a sin and extend God’s grace to the sinner.  Thank God for Jesus who doesn’t judge like we humans judge.  As He extends his graceful arms to us and shows us mercy in our sins, let us too extend a graceful hand to our fallen brothers and sisters to help them get back on their sanctified feet. As we bathe in grace, let us not forget that while God is graceful, we have a responsibility to “…sin no more…” as we receive this grace.

Next Week: The Man Blind From Birth (John 9)

Reference:

http://www.abideinchrist.com/messages/jn8v1.html

http://www.biblebelievers.com/Pink/John/john_28.htm

Religious Leaders Need Saving Too

ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS: EVEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS NEED SAVING
February 23, 2011
 
JOHN 3:3 - Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
 
WHO WAS NICODEMUS?
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin. The Pharisees meaning the separatist were a religious party among the Jews. They prided themselves on their strict observance of the law, and on the care with which they avoided contact with things gentile. Their belief included the doctrine of immortality and resurrection of the body and the existence of angels and spirits. They upheld the authority of oral tradition as of equal value with the written law. The tendency of their teaching was to reduce religion to the observance of a multiplicity of ceremonial rules, and to encourage self-sufficiency and spiritual pride. They were a major obstacle to the reception of Christ and the gospel by the Jewish people.
 
The term Sanhedrin is from a Greek word that means “assembly” or “council”. The Sanhedrin was established with the 70 elders that were appointed by God through Moses to help him share the burden of the people (Numbers 11:16). The Sanhedrin had great authority and consisted of 71 members, including Pharisees and Sadducees. While they were devoted, religious men who truly sought to obey God, they strongly opposed Jesus as the Messiah and plotted to have him Killed (John 11:47-53)
 
Nicodemus’ being a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin made him highly devoted to being a religious leader. He knew and followed all the laws and everything necessary to make him a righteous person in the sight of man. In addition, he certainly believed he was on the right path to eternal life.
 
THE STORY –
Nicodemus is a well respected, religious leader, and a member of a council that didn’t take too kindly to all the attention that Jesus was getting for his miraculous acts. Being a member of such a group, one can conclude that his partners on the Sanhedrin would not appreciate him hanging out with Jesus and approving of His message. This is not explicitly stated in the scriptures but one can assume that Nicodemus visited Jesus at night to avoid having to deal with the backlash. For a man in his position to be seen taught by Jesus would probably not be beneficial to his position of authority. He was searching and based on his logic in verse 2, knew Jesus had to be from God but the person that he was made it difficult for him to receive and ultimately believe.
 
HOW WAS HIS LIFE TRANSFORMED AFTER ENCOUNTERING JESUS?
In the story of Nicodemus, there are no immediate signs of a conversion. Unlike the story of the Samaritan woman, and Zaccheus where their encounter with Jesus lead to an immediate conversion of heart, the passage does not tell us about a conversion. In later chapters of the book of John, Nicodemus’ actions would lead us to believe that he was a changed man.
John 7:51 - “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”
 
John 19:39-40 - "And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as is the custom of the Jews is to bury,"
 
WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?
•Unlike some others who encountered Jesus, There's no mention of Nicodemus being known for a sin. Though he was religious, he didn't know the Lord.

Even religious leaders need saving
• An encounter with Christ with no fanfare but led to a transformed life?
• No mention of a conversion in the story of Nicodemus.
• A changed heart always manifests itself in forms of actions. By their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:16a)
o He defended Jesus in the presence of the ruling council.
o He accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to give Jesus a proper burial.
 
 
FINAL WORD – WHAT CAN WE APPLY IN OUR OWN WALK FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Even a highly devotedly religious leader as Nicodemus could not be saved by the position that he held. His only means of salvations was to be born again just as it is for us today. Regardless of your situation, religious and political position, there is one name that saves us all and that is to be reborn by faith in Jesus Christ.
 
“How can this be?” (John 3:9).  Sometimes, we’re too religious for our own good salvation. Nicodemus could not understand how a grown religious man as he was had to be reborn. Our own worldly wisdom becomes a roadblock to Godly wisdom gained by having a relationship with Christ. Nicodemus could not see what Jesus was saying from a spiritual standpoint because he himself while religious did not have God’s spirit with him.
 
So let’s not complicate a simple matter.
• "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9
• “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
• Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
• “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and find pasture … I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:9)
• Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25)
• Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
• “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8)
• “…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ … for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
• For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:15-16)
The bottom line is we are not saved by being religious and following all the laws and tradition of church. Being a faithful member of The First Church of Anything, paying our tithes, involved in ministries and being faithful to all religious rituals doesn’t save us. All we have to do is admit that we are sinners, be willing to confess our sins before God, and be willing to repent and turn from those sins. Then, accept that Jesus Christ came to die for all of our sins, that He rose from the dead on the third day, and then accept Him as our personal Lord and Savior.
 
Next Week: The Adulterous Woman (John 8:1-11)

Reference:

http://www.johnwmyers.com/bible5.html
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2003/20030115.htm
http://www.gotquestions.org/Sanhedrin.html
http://bible.org/seriespage/manifestation-messiah-nicodemus-john-31-21
http://www.bible-knowledge.com/what-is-salvation/
 

 

A TAX COLLECTOR WITH A HEART (February 16, 2011)

LUKE 19:5 -   5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEMMaG5Wn3U

WHO WAS ZACCHEUS?

Zaccheus was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.  In Biblical times, tax collectors were considered by Jews to be traitors and extortionist who stole from the people.  The Romans subcontracted the task of collecting taxes for a particular area to the highest bidder. They would be the chief tax collector who hired tax collectors to collect taxes in their local area. They often charged fraudulent charges, over charged and brought false charges in order to extort money from the people. Because they were essentially employed by the Roman government, they had the Roman army at their disposal. They collected as much taxes as they could and over charged were only required to pay the government the agreed upon amount based on their winning bid. They were hated by both the Romans and their own people. Matthew was also a tax collector, although he was not a chief tax collector as Zaccheus was.

As a chief tax collector, Zaccheus was a rich man but also hated with a passion by his own people for being a traitor working for the Romans and because of the notorious corruption the name of tax collectors carried.

THE STORY –

Jesus is traveling back to Jerusalem and approaching Jericho with a crowd of people following him. On his way, he heals a poor, begging blind man sitting by the roadside. The blind man and the people were amazed and praised God (Luke 18:31-43). By now Jesus has performed many miracles. He’s turned water into wine, healed leppers, cast out demons, healed the sick, forgiven the sinner, and many more including his most recent healing of the blind man. Zaccheus a rich man in the region has heard about this Jesus and hears he’s passing through town and is curious to see Jesus for himself.  As a short man, he could not see through the crowd and as a tax collector he knew even as a rich man no one would give way to him. So he runs ahead of the crowd, climbs a tree so he could get a good look at Jesus. Jesus sees him on the tree and invites himself to stay at his house. 

HOW WAS HIS LIFE TRANSFORMED AFTER ENCOUNTERING JESUS?

V8 -  But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

The Bible tells us that once we come into Christ, our old ways are a thing of the past. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Zaccheus was a changed man.  In those days, tax collectors were known as the worst of all sinners and were considered unclean. For such a man to have such a change of heart and pay back  four times the amount for the wrong he has done takes a life transforming event.

In addition to Zaccheus, we can assume that the people of Jericho where Zaccheus lived could possibly change by being a witness to the changing power of meeting Christ. If Jesus can change a tax collector, then He can change anyone who seeks him.

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?

·         Zaccheus wanted to see who Jesus was for himself.

·         You go to extreme measures to meet someone you’re interested in.

·         When it comes to meeting Jesus, it doesn’t matter how wealthy of a man or woman you are. You have to humble yourself.

·         When you’re serious about meeting Jesus, even a rowdy crowd won’t stop you until you accomplish that goald (see woman with issue of blood in Luke 8:43).

·         When you meet Jesus, people talk about you and Jesus (Luke 19:7).

·         Jesus didn’t come to save those who are already with Him, He can to save those who needed Him.

·         People always remember people for their past sins and not see any potential for them to have a change of heart.

FINAL WORD – WHAT CAN WE APPLY IN OUR OWN WALK FROM THIS ENCOUNTER?

Life comes with many difficult obstacle courses that are hard to deal with alone. However, there are some things in life worth pursuing even if it will not be well received by the masses. As a tax collector who had a burning desire to meet Jesus, Zaccheus didn’t care what people would think of him and how they would judge him. Here he was a wealthy man, running and climbing on a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus. He undoubtedly heard about Jesus turning water into wine and the other miracles Jesus performed. But he was not satisfied with just hearing about what Jesus could do. He wanted to experience Jesus himself. His heart to seek Jesus brought him something the riches of collecting tax could not buy him – eternal life.

As we read and hear of testimonies of how meeting with Jesus has changed lives, let us all have a heart to seek Jesus to see what He’s all about. And just as He did with Zaccheus because he wanted to see Him, He’ll pay us a personal visit that will change us for life.

Next Week: Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)

Reference:

http://www.intervarsity.org/bible-studies/luke-19

http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/tax-collector-faq.htm

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES: Quiet Time

Mark 1:35   35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

WHAT IS QUIET TIME?:

Quiet time is our daily appointment to meet with God. It can also be called personal Bible study or devotions.

·         Ex 33:7-11 – The Tent of Meeting

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

In order for any relationship to grow, the lines of communication have to be open and working on both sides. In order for your relationship with a significant other to grow, quality time has to be spent to hear and listen to what each other has to say and want. Quiet time is a Christian’s daily appointment/date with God. Just like in our earthly relationships, in order for our celestial relationships to grow, we must spend quality time communicating with God, listening to what He has to say through quiet time and communicating with Him through prayer.

HOW DO WE APPLY IT TO OUR LIVES?:

As Disciples of Christ, we strive to be Christlike in all aspect of our lives. In the area of quiet time, Jesus gave us very good examples to follow.

·         Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

• Luke 5:16 – “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

In all the buzy-ness of Jesus’ ministry, He still found time to get away and connect with God. Here are a few basic guidelines to follow in order to do it right:

• Right time: Your quiet time should last at least half an hour. But some time is better than no time,
• It should be your very best time.
• Make time, and make it a priority.
• Begin your day with God. Psalm 5:3 says, “… in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.”
• Right Place
  :  Find a place where you can focus. Matthew 6:6
• Right Tools:
• a study Bible with plenty of room to write notes in the margins.
• a  journal – You need something to write down what God says to you. Also use it to record things you're praying about.
• a notepad - Write down your daily assignments.
• Be Right:
• Get still and quiet. The Bible says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Focus your mind on Him. Calm down, relax, and recognize His presence. Take a deep breath and focus your thoughts on the Lord.
• Get into the Word of God. It is more important for you to hear from God. God already knows all about us, but we need to get to know more about Him. Read the Bible for quality and not quantity. This is the time when you simply read the Bible with an open mind.
• Meditate. As you focus on the Word of God and meditate, let it permeate you. Ask:
• Is there a command to obey?
• Is there a promise to claim?
• Is there a sin to avoid?
• Is there a lesson to learn?
• Is there a new truth to carry with me?
• Record what God has given you. Write down what God says to you and what He tells you to do.
• Pray. When you pray, pour out your soul. Be natural and honest with God. Tell Him how you feel. Pray out loud. It keeps your mind on track and enables you to stay focused.
• Share with others. God did not make us to be reservoirs; He made us to be conduits. Tell others what is God is showing you.
• Obey what God tells you. Your spiritual train is running on two rails. One is revelation and the other is obedience. And if either rail stops, your train stops. Learn to obey the Word of God.

FINAL WORD:

• In order for our relationship with God to grow, we have to be in continuous communication with him and have quality time set aside to hear what God wants from us in the relationship. As we become more discipline as disciples, we become closer and closer to Christlike resemblance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVzow_Xto6M&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 lhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tWgohCIejk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

NEXT TIME: Spiritual Disciplines: Prayer & Fasting

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES: Prayer

Matthew 6:6    But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you 3openly.

WHAT IS PRAYER?: Take a moment and in your own words, write down what prayer is and means to you. Don’t try to sound intelligent with it, just what it means to you in your everyday life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYRHAaM4BeU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Imagine having a friend who only contacts you when he/she needs something from you; how much of a friend would you consider that person? How close of a relationship do you suppose you would have with the friend?

Prayer is used to spend quality time communicating with God. A disciplined prayer life is one that is regular and sincerely from the heart. However, being regularly disciplined does not mean that our prayers are repetitive and redundant, meaning we’re praying the same prayer everyday at the same hour just so we can check it off our list of disciplined things to do. Disciplined prayer is one from the heart and is focused on deepening our relationship with God.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Just like quiet time was important in growing our relationship with God, prayer is just as important. While quiet time was focused on giving God an opportunity to speak to us through His words, prayer is the reverse. It is the time where we are speaking to God and communicating our heart to him. It is  extremely important in order  to grow our relationship with God. Below are a few verses on the purpose of prayer:

·          To praise God, expressing adoration (Mt 6:9,  1Ch 29:10-13)

·         To pray that God's will to be done (Mt 6:10; Mt 26:39,42)

·         To make requests for our daily needs ( Mt 6:11;  3Jn 2)

·         To confess our sins, seeking mercy (Mt 6:12;  1Jn 1:9)

·         To ask for God's providential care (Mt 6:13;  Ro 1:9-10)

·          To express thanksgiving - 1Th 5:17-18

·         To find peace in the midst of anxiety - Php 4:6-7

·         To receive strength and boldness from God - Ep 3:14-16,20; 6:18-20

·         To find opportunity for service to God - Col 4:3

·         To receive wisdom from God - Jm 1:5-8

·         To intercede on behalf of others - Jm 5:14-16; 1Ti 2:1-2

DOES PRAYER REALLY WORK?

The power of prayer – below are a few biblical examples of the power of prayer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDtCPYtqZXk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

·         Hannah – 1 Sammuel

·         Mark 11:24 – whatever you ask for in prayer

·         Elijah prayed for rain – 1 Kings

·         Nehemiah  - Nehemiah 1-2

·         Esther 4

·         James 5:13 – anyone in trouble

·         Prayer in faith – James 5:15

·         Woman crippled for 18 years – Luke 13

·         1 John 5:14

·         Herod seized an imprisoned peter – Acts 12

·         Prayer of a righeteous man – James 5:16

·         Acts 9 – Saul’s eyes

·         Many, many more instances…

HOW DO WE APPLY IT TO OUR LIVES/HOW DO WE PRAY?:

In Matthew 6:6-13 and Luke 11:1-4, Jesus gives us a good template for prayer.  In the example of the Lord ’s Prayer, it gives us an example of what components every prayer should have. Our prayers should be done in secrecy, be simple and Thus the discipline of prayer should include the elements of secrecy, simplicity, and sincerity.  The A-C-T-S of prayer is an acronym which gives us guidelines of a disciplined prayer life. They are as follows:

A – adoration: means to worship and acknowledge the majesty of God. This is where we acknowledge that God is the ruler of every facet of our lives and without him our lives would be nothing.

“Hallowed be thy name…”

C – Confession: Here we acknowledge that we are sinners and have sinned and ask for God’s forgiveness.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”

T – Thanksgiving: We give thanks to God for all that he has done and the graces and mercies He has afforded us in spite of our sins and shortcomings.

S – Supplication – This is a big word that means “request”. When we lift up our supplications to God, we’re telling him directly what we need from Him.

                “…Give us this day our daily bread…”

                “…lead us not into temptation…”

The ACTS are not meant to be the only way to pray but it gives us a guideline to begin our prayers. As we’re in constant communication with God, we’ll have times of prayer that only focuses on one aspect of this ACTS. For example, we may at some point during the day; say a quick prayer of thanksgiving for something that God has just done for us.

FINAL WORD:

·         The discipline of prayer requires discipline but the discipline is not meant to be a repetitive, redundant ritual done as one of a daily chore. It is to be a channel of communication with God with a heart of  Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. James 5:16 says “…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective…”

·         The Lord’s prayer 40 day challenge

• Instructions: Use the Lord’s Prayer daily for the next 40 days as a guide to seeking the Lord’s will for you, your family, your church, and your community. Journal and describe how you see God moving in and around you.
• Matthew 6:9-13 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

NEXT TIME: Spiritual Disciplines: Worship

References:

http://www.discipleshiptools.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=37272&columnid=4188

http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/disc/disc_02.htm