Seven Plus One Causes &

Cures for Ineffective Prayer 

We tend to think that prayer is some peoples’ jobs but not the real work of daily life and work for me, for God and for mankind. Ask yourself, “What do I believe about the importance of my own prayers?” 

Then  look at my actual practice of prayer.

A simple method of daily prayer anywhere, anytime

 Dick Eastman (author of The Hour that Changes The World by Prayer) suggests taking one or two of the 96 fifteen minute periods in a day, spend the the first five in thanks and praise, then five in prayer for closest relationships, then five for the nations and peoples of the world. Many prayer tools are available like the Ignatius style daily devotional heard at http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/

The point is to overcome the obstacles to prayer we need a plan, a program, a habit, a way, an accountability.

John Wesley reformed the culture of Great Britain and brought continuous transformation in the lives of generations and nations through his method of prayer and small group accountability, which became the basis for the Methodist Church. He said, “God will do nothing apart from prayer.”  

     

In last week’s sermon I referenced Paul Billheimer’s book Destined For The Throne, where he writes that prayer is the training program for us, the body of Christ, to prepare us to share his throne as his bride in the fullness of his eternal kingdom. Individually and corporately, we are his temple, his house of prayer for all peoples, and our work, our business, our school, our relationships, our use of all the resources of earth, our part in the reformation of the culture all spring out of abiding in Him to come into heart agreement and pray.

Obstacles We Must Overcome to Pray

     1.     Exchange prayerlessness for prayerfullness “the more you pray the more you will pray.  

             the less -the less”

     2.     Exchange sinful weak character  (unforgiveness, selfishness, laziness, apathy of the 

             flesh) with the inward righteousness of person and presence of Christ.

     3.     Exchange pride in religious practice (like going to church) with humility and     

             brokenness.

     4.     Exchange focus on performance, personality, gifting or position in others or even 

             ourselves with God’s heart.

     5.     Exchange reliance on programs and ideas with actual prayer alone and together.

     6.     Spiritual Warfare and resistance of demonic authorities.

     7.     Lack of perseverance to press through these obstacles.

Plus One: the main cause and main cure for ineffective prayer

     

The problem is lack of faith.

“Be it unto you according to your faith.”

     

The cure is faith which comes by God’s Word spoken in my mouth and activated in my heart by the Spirit of God.

      

“Speech is the instrument for the manifestation of the spirit.” God spoke the Word into creation. He has given us the power of life and death in our tongues. Jesus said, “The words I speak to you are spirit and life.” Therefore when we speak His word from our spirit man, God is creating and acting.

      

The Scripture is the inspired word of God. Jesus is the Living Word. Man shall not live by bread alone but by the proceeding word of God. The word of God is near you, even in your mouth. Faith comes by hearing God’s Word. If you abide in me and my words abide in you will ask what you will and it shall be done for the glory of the Father.

      

Here are some more:  I watch over my Word to perform it...ask and keep on asking...everyone who asks receives...Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them…

 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:22-24.

2012 God Present; pruning and producing: John 15:2 Abide in God and his Word abide in you, then you will have his love, his joy and He will produce fruit that will last forever as you pray and work.   

-PD

Identification Sunday: 

Commitment to Follow Jesus 

 

I abide in Christ as I walk with Jesus as the Son of Man (share his suffering, death and resurrection); as I worship Jesus as the Son of God (empowered in Spirit and truth); as I serve Jesus as Lord (submit to His will); and as I serve and love others as if they are Jesus in “distressing Disguise.”

Application of the above four commitments 

1. I will protect the unity of our spiritual family in love and peace

2. I will share in the responsibility of our fellowship in worship, work and hospitality

3. I will support the ministry of our body with time, talents, treasure and a servant’s heart

4. I will grow in the mission of our congregation in discipleship, in outreach and by the witness of my life, on the job or school and in service to my neighbor.    

 Last Sunday Richard's message called us to get “purple-feet.” He gave reasons why we sometimes are “under-employed” in God’s kingdom: maybe we haven’t been asked, or we haven’t asked, or we are still in training, etc… You will be able to view this and other messages on our www.covenantlifechurch.com website by clicking the “v” for vimeo at the bottom of the page.

We return to Patti Amsden’s book, The Reformers' Creed: A blueprint for reformation in the 21st century, that God’s intention is to unite heaven and a renew earth, in the heavenly pattern of His image so God and man may ultimately dwell together and the whole earth be filled with his glory.  Chapter 9 in her book reviews the ways the covenant theme was developed  through the old Testament using "representative Adams": Noah, Abraham, Moses and finally David.

The Old Covenant promises culminate in King David: the promises that Christ (Messiah) will rule over the earth from His Fathers right hand, beginning with his victorious resurrection, his glorious ascension and confirmed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all mankind. From then on the new order is conferred on us, His body, his re-presentatives.

Our training to be his bride and share his glory and rulership is prayer, worship and praise, the loving service of others, the stewardship of the environment, the influence for justice and righteousness into every institution and mountain of the culture, the ability to work and produce resources creatively and with excellence,  and the proclamation of the gospel of this new order of heaven's rule and heaven's King.

-PD

2012 God Present: pruning and producing John 15:2

2012 Theme & How to Have 

Anticipation and Hope

God Present: pruning and producing John 15:2

In his last words to his closest friends, Jesus says to continue to live, dwell, remain, abide in Him.  He explains how by using the analogy of how branches respond to the care of the vinedresser.  In our case we need to let Father lift them up, cleanse them from dirt, bind them to the trellis of discipline, and yield to God’s pruning, so they could produce even more fruit for him and others.

Regarding this word, “abide in me and I will abide (dwell, live, remain) in you (vrs 4)," I offer another analogy-that we live or abide in the house of our thoughts. We relate to others through the rooms of our feelings and motivations deep within our heart and soul. Though we live every moment from our inner “house,” often we are not aware of some things in these rooms-what spirit is moving and arranging things within.

However, we were not made to live in the limitations of our souls, but in the revelation, freedom and life in the spirit. We were made in God’s image to live in Him and be his dwelling place through our spirit, not just remain or dwell in how we feel, what we think or what we choose to do on our own.

My thoughts and feelings set the course for my decisions and reactions. So the more I build my house of thoughts with God’s Word, the more God is present in me. The more His word is the dwelling place for my heart, the more God is present in my responses to others. The more I practice his presence the more my house becomes his dwelling place-a place he wants to dwell and is comfortable. I want to continue to draw life from God and for Him to want to abide in me.

Jesus allowed himself to be lifted up upon a cross. Do you know that He saw this as victory, as fulfillment, as the path and door to his joy, to bring glory into the Father’s house much fruit. He even promised to bring you and many other brothers and sisters into what he was preparing in God’s house. He had come as the promised, Living Seed which would be planted in the ground to die, in order to bring forth much fruit.

(John 12:23-26 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him).

Are you willing to be part of Father’s house and vine with Jesus, to die to self and be lifted up in God’s victory and bring many others into God’s house with you? Jesus calls you to himself and into his kingdom, to share in his death, but also His resurrection and in much fruit, thereby to share in God’s glory. He endured the loneliness of the cross but did not remain alone. He wants this same relationship with the Father for you and with you.   

Moment by moment, look for how God is present in the house of your thoughts, feelings and actions, pruning and producing, fruit for His glory and for others’ benefit.

-PD

2012 God Present        

John 15:2b

      1I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. 2Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit…

       10If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love. 11I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.

How is God present to me? Anything hindering us?
What gives me hope, love, joy, and what good works are we producing together? 
Abide in God, moment by moment.

“GOD NOW” 

song for our theme for 2012 God Present

IN EVERY MOMENT,   IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE, 

IN EVERY MOVEMENT OF MY SPIRIT AND MY SOUL.

DOWN EVERY PATH,   THROUGH EVERY DOORWAY, 

EVERYWHERE I GO MAKE ME MORE AWARE OF YOU.

IN EVERY ACTION,   ALL MY RELATIONS,  

IN EVERYTHING I DO, DO NOTHING WITHOUT YOU.

IN EVERY VICTR’Y,   IN EVERY LIFTING UP,  

IN EVERY OVERFLOW OF LOVE AND JOY IN YOU,

YOU COME,  YOU COME  TO ME.   I COME, I COME, TO YOU.

YOU ARE PRESENT,  EVER PRESENT, YOU ARE PRESENT,

MORE PRESENT TO ME NOW (REPEAT)

IN EVERY FALLING,  IN EVERY FAILURE,  IN EVERY DISCIPLINE 

I YIELD MYSELF TO YOU.

IN EVERY LOSS,   IN EVERY COSTLY THING,   THROUGH EVERY SACRIFICE 

I GAIN MORE OF YOUR LIFE.

LET THERE BE HEALING,  WHERE HEARTS ARE BLEEDING

LET THERE BE TREES OF LIFE,  WHERE WE’VE SUFFERED LOSS

REKINKLE FRESH FIRE,  WHERE WE’VE LOST DESIRE,  

WHERE HEARTS ARE SICK,   LET HOPE BEGIN AGAIN

HOPE AGAIN,  BRINGING HOPE AGAIN,  I CAN HOPE AGAIN

GOD NOW, NOW GOD, HERE I AM

K. Dwight Cunkle

Emmanuel: God with Us 

in this Present Moment

Brennan Manning (The Ragamuffin’ Gospel) wrote explaining that in the Hebrew, to remember means to be present again, or to re-present. The Israeli father would  retell the story of Passover while the family ate the same traditional meal, year after year—it was a command of God to do this.
 

The early church believed Jesus to be present when they would worship and share the last supper together (holy communion, Eucharist). The risen, Lamb of God,  participating by the power of his blood and broken body, is a present Person and Power to unite us, to cleanse and heal us, and to commission us.
 

Our traditional decorations, meals, songs and certain actions with families and friends at Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, etc…, make real again in our present experience the joy, the love, the truth, the Reality of our “connectedness.” We belong. We are one, in life with God and with one another. We have “story” and it is also His-Story. This is why God commanded Israel to keep the Feasts of the Lord.

Contemplate the story anew as if this is YOUR STORY too 

Contemplation is a form of prayer in which we become present with the characters in the story—sight, sound, smell, taste, feelings and imagining beneath what is written or known—so that we experience our own encounter with Jesus and He becomes more real to us. We may end the prayer time by writing down our experience and even asking Jesus a question about it.
     

How do we feel at the end? 

 

What are we motivated to do now?

“Ordinary set time of regular prayer became the first manifestation of God’s prophetic word to the Jewish  people in 400 years."
     Zechariah tended the holy altar of God’s presence at his appointed turn and God’s set time of daily morning prayer. But it become one of God’s “suddenlies” - a kairos moment of opportunity and breakthrough not only for him and for the people but for God. It was the first manifestation of God’s prophetic word to the Jewish people in 400 years. At the hour of prayer God’s messenger brought his word to him, after he and Elizabeth had been faithful for many, many years, without seeing their prayer, as well as Israel’s cry answered.

How is God going to come to you in this present moment?

 
How is he present as you contemplate what has been?

Be wise men and women like the Magi who studied, prepared gifts, made pilgrimage, came, humbled themselves to bow, gave worship, then returned to their homes and work—forever changed.  Consecrate, dedicate, set aside, surrender, sacrifice...  Attend the Sat. evening vision banquet.

Some suggestions for Monday through Saturday:
Abstain from something or things specific: certain foods or meals, specific media like TV or Facebook, perhaps unnecessary speech or even give up some sleep. Devote time to God in prayer.

Begin each day or time of prayer: I ask the grace to see Jesus more clearly, love God more dearly and follow Holy Spirit more clearly.

Close each time or prayer period with some repetition signaling you are now entering your work which is also holy to the Lord: Lord’s prayer, Aaronic blessing, Doxology or Gloria Patri: Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, Amen.

Day one:  meditate on  Isaiah 53 about the suffering Messiah went through for you. Seek personal repentance.

Day two: ask God to speak to you through Isaiah 58—what is the true motive for fasting if not love? Seek repentance on behalf of the church.

Day three: read Ephesians 1:1-22. Personalize Paul’s prayer in verse 18: Lord, I ask that the eyes of my heart be enlightened to know the hope you have called us into, according to your incomparable power; and Eph 3:10 now through the church the manifold wisdom of God be known. And Eph 3:18-21 that we grasp God’s love and be filled with His fullness to be able to ask for that which will bring him the most glory.

Day four: Contemplate the Jesus story as if you are a character in one of the scenes or an angel watching the whole thing. Consider his annunciation to Mary, his birth, his presentation on the eighth day, the prophecies by Simeon and Anna, the Magi’s gifts and worship… what do you feel, what are you motivated to do as a result…  Rather than make petition today simply be with Christ and experience His presence.

Day five: do a repetition of any of the above or choose some other Scripture and close by interceding for our vision banquet and theme as well as intercede for our nation.

Day six: journal and share with others how God is present to you this week.

A Prayer:
Lord, I humble myself, I worship, and I ask You to help me stir up hunger and thirst for God as well as indignation toward evil. I ask You to say to my heart, “Seek My face,” and I ask the grace to seek You with repentance, and love. Lord have mercy on me, on my loved ones, on our congregation, on your church and on this nation and world.
Holy, Holy, Holy, the earth is full of your glory. Forgive us the sins we have committed knowingly or unknowingly, things we ought not to have done, things we have left undone which we ought to have done, the hidden and the manifest. You are merciful and gracious through your Son, now cleanse us from iniquity, and visit and heal our infirmities for your names’ sake.

We fast  what our body and soul want  in order to get what our spirit needs. Jesus said, “Pray that you enter not into temptation because the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” So choose to weaken your flesh through self-denial. Take up your cross. Meditate in God’s word. Do good for others.

A Personal Declaration:
This coming week, I dedicate myself, with God’s grace, to be in humility and unity with my congregation, to fast and pray in some manner, with the belief that God who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine, will draw near to make himself present to us and to show us his ways and wisdom for the year to come. Even so, Lord, come, and your kingdom come, and your will be done in us.

-PD