January 16, 2005
"The Necessity of Prayer"
"The Greatest Adventure"—Part 2
Luke 18:1
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.
—Luke 18:1 (NLT)
Review: "The Heart of Prayer"
- We must realize the desperateness of our situation.
- We must understand that our only hope is God.
1. Prayer results in vision and passion.
Prayer Principle:
When God gets ready to move among His people, He always stirs them to prayer.
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
—Luke 24:49-51
"The two prerequisites to successful Christian living are vision and passion, both of which are born in and maintained by prayer."
—Leonard Ravenhill
2. Prayer results in hearts being prepared to receive the message of Christ.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
—1 Corinthians 2:14
3. Prayer results in power to the messenger of the gospel.
Example: Peter before and after Pentecost.
4. Prayer results in security in Christ.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!
—Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
—Romans 8:16
5. Prayer results in transformation.
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
—Micah 6:8
Prayer Principle:
The need of every generation is men and women who pray. The world is attracted to Christ by men and women who have been transformed by God. We must learn that victory comes on our knees.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks... This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
—1 Timothy 2:1,3-4 (NLT)
Lifework
As much as we love our family and friends, God loves them more. As much as we desire to help them, God can help them more. For the sake of our family and friends, we must pray.
"Oh, the power of prayer to reach down, down, down where hope itself seems vain, and lift men and women up, up, up into fellowship with and likeness to God!"
—R. A. Torrey
Putting Prayer into Practice—Week 2
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started: Read Matthew 9:18-38
- What kind of person are you when you wake up in the morning? (Rarin' to go when your feet hit the floor-Give me a coffee, a shower and avoid me-etc.)
- Would you describe yourself as gullible or cynical? Why?
Digging Deeper
- What feeling prompted the ruler to approach Jesus? How about the woman? If you were the woman, how would you feel just before you reached out and touched Jesus? How was her faith evident?
- Compare the ruler and the woman. What does Jesus' response to both of them show about the kingdom? What part does faith play in these healings? Why is this stressed?
- What is the meaning of the title the blind men use for Jesus? How do they show faith? Why does Jesus want them to keep quiet?
- How did the crowds react to Jesus' power? How did the Pharisees react to Jesus' power?
- What does Jesus see in the crowds? What does Jesus see in the harvest field?
Applying It To My Life
- The ruler and the woman were desperate. What is the relationship between desperation and faith? What does this story encourage you to do as you face desperate situations?
- In what ways might you still be spiritually blind? How can Jesus heal or perfect your sight?
- What do these verses demonstrate what it means to labor in the field where God has placed you?