January 23, 2005
"The Potential of Prayer"
"The Greatest Adventure"—Part 3
Psalm 46:10
Prayer is the heart of man in communion with the heart of God.
1. We were created to have fellowship with God.
Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
—Revelation 3:20-22 (NLT)
True prayer is not mere mental exercise, nor a vocal performance, but it is deeper far... it is spiritual communion with the Creator.
—C. H. Spurgeon
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
—John 15:7 (NKJV)
2. Jesus died to make fellowship with God possible.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time... I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
—1 Timothy 2:5-8 (NIV)
He will keep you strong right up to the end, and he will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
—1 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NLT)
3. You cannot be a healthy Christian without it.
...Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
—Matthew 4:4
...I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
—Job 23:12
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence...
—Psalm 16:11 or Acts 2:28
4. You must learn the art of waiting on God.
There is no hustle and bustle in the presence of God!
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God...
—Psalm 40:1-3
Waiting on God breathes fire into the souls of men. It moves men into battle for the souls of mankind. But the man or woman of prayer does not burn out.
—Sammy Tippit
But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
—Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
Lifework
I challenge you this week to exercise the discipline of stillness. We live in an instant world, but God has asked us to wait on Him. Waiting so often seems time-consuming and unproductive. I believe you will discover that waiting on God is the most productive thing you can ever do. Choose a specific time each day to spend in God's presence. Commit Psalm 46:10 to memory and let God speak to you through His still, small voice—it is His chosen communication. Too many are never quiet enough to hear it.
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
—Psalm 46:10
Putting Prayer Into Practice—Week 3
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- As a child, what "big deal" do you remember waiting for dad or mom to do with you or for you? How did you feel when the planned event finally happened?
- Are you good at waiting? How long do you wait before you finally give up?
Digging Deeper: Read Psalm 40:1
- Read the first and the last verse. What subtitle would you give the first half of the Psalm? What subtitle would you give the second half of the Psalm? Why the two different moods? Do you suppose they were written at the same time or different times?
- From what slimy pit has the psalmist been rescued? Sickness? Sin? Peril? Does it matter?
- What sacrifices does God desire?
- How do you account for David's recurring problems? How do you account for David's renewed waiting? Where does David's hope lie?
- Read Isaiah 40:31. Practically and theologically, how does one wait on the Lord? Soar like an eagle? How is learning to wait (hope) in God like a baby bird learning to fly? How has God caught you when you have fallen instead of flying?
Applying It To My Life
- When God takes too long to help you, what false gods offer tempting alternative solutions?
- What in your life feels like a slimy pit? What helps you most with present troubles? (Remembering God's actions in the past or claiming God's promises for the future?)
- Which is the greater pressure right now, the external opposition of others or the internal weight of your own sin? What from this Psalm most helps you in dealing with this pressure?