School of Prayer. (Part 2)

Transcription

1 School of Prayer (Part 2) Amen!

2 6 When should we keep praying and when should we stop? Understanding some reasons why our prayers aren t being answered, and discerning whether to stop or persevere. A. When to stop and accept no for an answer B. When to put something right Moses' prayer that he may see the promised land: Read Numbers 20: 7-13 and Deuteronomy 3: ) Why did God tell Moses he would not see the promised land? 5) From the following verses, what should we check for in ourselves that might be hindering our prayers? Isaiah 59:2, 1 Timothy 2:8, Matthew 6:14-15, James 4:2-3, Joshua 7: ) Having followed and served God for over 40 years, Moses pleaded to be allowed in. What lessons can we learn from the way God refused, and from what he allowed? C. When to persevere 6) How is perseverance encouraged or rewarded in these verses? Read Luke 18:1-8, Matt. 7:11. Do you think Moses was right to pray as he did at this time? Creative prayer idea: Paul's prayer for deliverance: Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 3) What general points can be drawn from Paul s experience here on why God may not answer prayer in accordance with our expectations? 4) In verses 9b-10 Paul reappraises his life in the light of the answer to his prayer. Discuss occasions where this has been your experience in either personal or church life. Identify some prayers that the group or its members have prayed for a long time. Consider prayerfully together whether they require any of the 3 actions above. For requests the group has been making, commit yourselves in prayer to the appropriate response, as you understand it to be. For requests that individuals have been making, pray for one another to be able to discern God s response and to pray or act accordingly.

3 7 Does prayer change God s plans? To see both the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of Christians to pray. Are there some things that God will not do until his people pray? Does God only act as a result of prayer? What is the connection between my prayers and God s promises? When God waits for us to ask before He will act: Read Matthew 6:7-8, James 4:2b-3, Exodus 17:8-16, Ezekiel 22: ) Bearing in mind that God already knows what we want, what important things might we miss by not asking? When God wants us to understand something through the process of praying: Read Genesis 18:16-33, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Exodus 32: ) In these examples, what changed (or could have changed) as a result of prayer? 6) How did the people who prayed grow spiritually as they did so? 2) What is meant by asking wrongly? How can we avoid asking wrongly? When God has other plans that He will not change: Read Romans 9: ) What does the passage say about the way God acts? In which ways can this cover His response to our prayers? 4) Is it ever right to question God s actions or answers? (Consider Habakkuk 1:2-3,13.) When God may act without our prayers: Read Isaiah 59: ) What examples can you think of (personal, biblical, or historical) when God has initiated something without being asked? Creative prayer ideas: Share a time when you have had an experience to tie in with each of these headings. Sometimes, even when we have a map, we need to ask for directions. Are there other pictures or illustrations which have helped you think about our need to cry out to God in prayer? Pray out of these. As you make your prayer requests, find and quote promises or descriptions of His character from Scripture as your basis for asking.

4 8 What is intercession? To discover the meaning of intercession, to learn how Jesus is our intercessor, and how we can intercede for others. Intercession literally means to stand in between. 1) Bearing in mind what we have learned about God s response to prayer in the last two weeks, what do Isaiah 59:16 and Ezekiel 22:30 reveal about God s desire for intercessors? 2) In what ways is Jesus our ultimate intercessor? Read Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:24 Intercession literally means to stand in between. Colossians 4:12 4) What are some of the characteristics of intercessors? Ezra 10:1 Nehemiah 1:4 Hebrews 5:7 Daniel 9:3-4 Isaiah 62:6-7 Mark 14:32-38 We are called to intercede for some specific things. 3) From the Scriptures below make a list of: i) who we are called specifically to intercede for, ii) and discuss what things we should pray for them. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 James 5:16-18 Philippians 1:9-11 Ephesians 6: Thessalonians 5:25 Hebrews 11: Thessalonians 3:1-2 Jeremiah 29:7 Acts 12:5 Oswald Chambers writes: True intercession involves bringing the person, or the circumstance that seems to be crashing in on you, before God, until you are changed by His attitude toward that person or circumstance. Intercession means to "fill up... [with] what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ (Colossians 1:24), and this is precisely why there are so few intercessors. People describe intercession by saying, "It is putting yourself in someone else s place." That is not true! Intercession is putting yourself in God s place; it is having His mind and His perspective. Creative prayer ideas: Pray over some maps, one of Brighton and Hove, one of the U.K. and one of the world. Make a list of those in authority we should pray for, and lift them to God. Pray through a newspaper. Pray for families of group members, and for church leaders Pray for the return of Christ (Revelation 22:20) This can be in groups, in pairs, through written prayers, moving around different parts of the room, making a collage of pictures and written prayer requests; or you could write the names of those you are praying for on objects or paper as you lift them to God. Keep a record of some of your requests so you can see how God answers in coming weeks, months or even years.

5 WEEK 95 Praying for your ministry and your walk with God This season is an opportunity to pray as a group. Use the ideas below. FIRST: Reflecting and praying about your devotional life (about 40 minutes) Read Colossians 2:6-7, 3:16 and 4:2. After a moment s private prayer and reflection, sketch or write anything God seems to be saying to you from it. (5 minutes) In pairs, talk honestly about your pattern of time alone with God. Feel free to ask each other: how regularly do you read your Bible? What is your pattern for regular quiet times with God? (10 minutes) Then, out of this, pray for each other, identifying at least one area where there is specific potential for growth. Commit to hold one another accountable in this. (5 minutes) Next, pray as a group, with each person beginning their prayer Thank you God for teaching me recently that Use it as an opportunity to remember and share what God has been revealing to you personally. (5 minutes) Look back over the prayer studies. As a group, which prayer times have you found the most helpful? Which prayer ideas and formats worked for you? How could this be developed in the future? (10 minutes) Write down and share in the group ways and ideas you have used personally to pray and worship on your own. Some of these may have been from doing these studies. In smaller groups or pairs, encourage each other in individual prayer and worship. (5 minutes) THEN: Reflecting and praying about your ministry (about 45 minutes) Read 1 Corinthians. 12: Have a moment of quiet after the reading. Share any verses which jumped out at you. Each person could have a paper and pen, and try to draw or sketch their reflections. (5 minutes) Write a list of as many spiritual gifts as you can think of, and next to them put the names of those in the group who have those gifts. If you have done the Who Me, Network or Spiritual Gifts courses this should be straightforward - if not, maybe other members in the group can help you identify some of yours. (10 minutes) From this, as a group, reflect on the spread of spiritual gifts in the group. Thank God for this, and also ask for any areas where the group desires growth. (10 minutes) Then get into smaller groups - pairs or threes - matching people according to their gifts as far as possible. Share in these smaller groups how you are using your gifts at the moment. In what way could you champion this area of gifting in the group? (10 minutes) How many ministries in the church are members of the group involved in? Again, gather these together, and reflect on the spread. In smaller groups if appropriate, particularly identify anyone struggling in their ministry at present, and anyone with a burden for a new or developed ministry. Pray specific prayers about these, and record your requests for future reference. (10 minutes)

6 For your own prayers and notes

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