THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER #1: ALONE WITH GOD
THE SUMMER OF SEEKING:
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13).
• Starting tonight and every Sunday from 6-7 pm this summer. Come and join us.
• Prayer is one of the most powerful forces in the world – prayer changes things!
• However, many Christians today don’t know how to pray, and therefore don’t pray.
• Therefore, we are opening the school of prayer with the Master Teacher, Jesus!
OPENING TEXT:
“Now it came to pass, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1).
QUOTE: (Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer).
"The disciples had learned to understand something of the connection between Christ’s wondrous life in public and His secret life of prayer. They had been with Him and had seen Him pray. They had learned to believe in Him as a Master in the art of prayer. None could pray like Him. And so they went to Him with the request, "Lord, teach us to pray." Go, my brothers! Go to the Blessed Master and ask him to enroll your names in that school which He always keeps open for those who long to study the Divine art of prayer! Jesus has opened a school in which He trains those who especially desire to have power in prayer. Enter it with the petition, "Lord, this is just what we need to be taught! O, teach us to pray!"
THE BIG IDEA: God wants us to learn how to pray. To get alone in the secret place until we’re not alone anymore. To learn how to hear His voice, and enjoy fellowship with Him.
KEY TEXT:
“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 openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” (Matthew 6:6-9).
• The first thing we need to do is find a place to get alone – the secret place.
• This can be your bedroom, office, or going for a walk in the woods.
• Take the time to talk to God, but also allow Him to talk to you.
• Take your Bible with you, and as you read it, ask God to speak to you from it.
• The first thing Jesus teaches us about prayer = we pray to our Father in Heaven.
• The whole story of the Bible is God longing for a personal relationship with human beings. From the first words that God spoke to Adam and Eve in Genesis when they sinned, “Where are you?” to the words of Jesus to the church in Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” God wants our hearts!
DRAMATIZE: 1 Samuel 3:1-11:
The cast: The boy Samuel, Eli, the Lord’s voice, the lamp, the tabernacle,
Props: two chairs for each bed.
1 Then the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. (Samuel – lift up your hands in worship and prayer)
And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.
2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, (go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep little Eli!) and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, (Eli – say, “I can’t see, I can’t see!).
3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, (lamp – sing, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!”) and while Samuel was lying down, (go to sleep Samuel. Are you asleep?)
4 that the Lord called Samuel. (voice of the Lord, say, “Samuel!”)
And Samuel jumped up out of bed and answered, "Here I am!"
5 So Samuel ran to Eli and shouted, “Wake up!” and Eli fell out of bed.
And Eli said, “Where’s my Tim Horton’s coffee and my donut?”
And Samuel said, “It’s not morning yet.” Then Eli said, “Well, what do you want?”
Then Samuel said, "Here I am, for you called me." And he said, "I did not call; lie down again." And Samuel went and lay down.
6 Then the Lord called yet again, "Samuel!" So Samuel jumped out of bed, did five jumping jacks, and went to Eli, and shouted, “Wake up!” and Eli fell out of bed.
And Eli said, “Where’s my Tim Horton’s coffee and my donut?”
And Samuel said, “It’s not morning yet.” Then Eli said, “Well, what do you want?”
And Samuel said, "Here I am, for you called me." He answered, "I did not call, my son; lie down again."
7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) Samuel say, “I don’t know the Lord yet – who is He?” and shrug your shoulders.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. “Samuel!” Then he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you did call me." Then finally the light bulb went on and Eli said, “Duh!” and slapped his forehead. Finally, Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy.
9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ’Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ " So Samuel went and lay down in his place, snoring happily.
10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears."
11 Then the Lord said to Samuel: "Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.” The end. (Let’s give our actors a hand!)
KEY TEXT:
“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders. The Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” (Ps. 29:4-5).
• If God’s voice is so loud and powerful, why do so few Christians recognize it?
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).
• Are you one of His sheep? If you are a Christian, say, “Baaaa!”
• Jesus has promised that you can hear His voice!
SECRETS OF THE SECRET PLACE – HEARING GOD’S VOICE:
1. Learn the language of the Holy Spirit – He speaks Bible. The more familiar we become with the written Word of God, the more we will recognize the spoken Word.
2. Ask God to speak to you. “Call to me and I will answer you.” (Jeremiah 33:3).
3. Learn to be quiet and listen in prayer. “Be still and know…” (Psalm 46:10).
4. Allow God to speak however He chooses:
(a) The written Word. Psalm 119:105. Primary way He speaks to us.
(b) The still small voice.
(c) Circumstances (open & closed doors, provision, etc.)
(d) Human messengers (prophets or gift of prophecy)
(e) The audible voice.
(f) Dreams & Visions
(g) Angels & Heavenly Encounters – one angelic encounter
5. Confess any known sin. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18). To start hearing His voice again, go back and obey the last thing God told you to do. (Remember – Jesus said my sheep follow me – they obey me!).
6. Practice hearing God’s voice. Spend time ‘on the phone’ with Him.
7. Cultivate an intimate relationship. The most important reason for hearing God’s voice is to know Him. Spend time abiding in Jesus every day!
STORY OF SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS:
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42).
• The one most important thing that we can do in prayer is develop our personal relationship with our loving God.
CLOSING: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Rev. 2:4).
CLOSE IN PRAYER: CHALLENGE – SPEND SOME TIME WITH JESUS THIS WEEK!
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
