Monthly Prayer Focus: Relationships

Our prayer focus at church this month is relationships and our weekly verse is "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35 This command is not just a suggestion, but a fundamental principle for all relationships.

Jesus' love is the ultimate example of how we should love one another. It is a selfless, sacrificial love that puts the needs of others before our own. This kind of love is not always easy, but it is always worth it.

When we love others as Jesus loves us, we create a ripple effect of love that can transform our relationships, our communities, and even the world. Love is the is the key to building strong and lasting relationships.

Love is a command from Jesus, it something we are to do, not just something we are to have. As you think about putting love into action, here are some questions for reflection: 

How can you love others as Jesus loves you?

What relationships in your life need more love?

How can you show love to those who are difficult to love?

As you think through those questions, remember that Jesus is not only our example of love, but through the Holy Spirit, He also empowers us to love as He does. 

Guard Your Heart: The Source of Life

 

Guard Your Heart: The Source of Life

Proverbs 4:23, "Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life." We've probably read this verse hundreds of times, but have we truly stopped to consider the profound wisdom packed into these few words?

Think about it. In our modern world, we're constantly bombarded with messages telling us to protect our physical health, our finances, our reputations. And while those things are important, this verse places something else above all of them: our heart.

When we say "heart," we're not just talking about the organ that pumps blood through our veins. The  "heart" refers to the core of our being. It's our inner self, our thoughts, feelings, motivations, and desires. It's the wellspring from which everything else flows.

Why is it so crucial to guard this "inner self"? Because what we allow to take root in our hearts directly impacts the life we live. If we fill our hearts with negativity, bitterness, and resentment, that's what will spill out into our relationships, our work, and our overall outlook. Conversely, if we cultivate love, joy, peace, kindness, etc. within our hearts, those qualities will naturally radiate outwards, enriching not only our own lives but the lives of those around us.

So, how do we guard our hearts? It's not a passive activity; it requires conscious effort and consistent practice. Here are a few thoughts:

• Be mindful of what you consume: Just like we're careful about the food we eat to nourish our bodies, we need to be equally discerning about what we feed our minds and hearts. What kind of media are you consuming? What kind of conversations are you engaging in? Are you spending time reading and meditating on the Bible, the word of God?

• Practice forgiveness: Holding onto grudges and unforgiveness is like poison for the heart. It festers and contaminates our inner being. The Bible says that bitterness is a root that grows in our hearts and must be dug up. Choosing to forgive, even when it's difficult, is a crucial step in guarding our hearts and freeing ourselves from the shackles of bitterness.

• Cultivate gratitude: A grateful heart is a protected heart. When we focus on the good things in our lives, no matter how small, it shifts our perspective and fills us with positivity. Make it a daily practice to "give thanks in every situation, for this is God's will for your life." (1 Thess 5:18)

• Spend time in reflection and prayer: Taking time to connect with our heart with God is essential for nurturing and protecting our hearts. Quiet moments of reflection allow us to examine our thoughts and motives, identify areas that need attention, and seek guidance and strength.

Guarding our hearts is a lifelong journey, not a destination. It's a daily choice to prioritize our inner well-being and cultivate the qualities we want to see reflected in our lives. By diligently guarding our hearts, we are not just protecting ourselves; we are nurturing the very source of life.

Disciples Who Make Disciples: Defining Discipleship

 

The last words Jesus gave to His followers were

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

These words were the continuation of the first words that He had spoken to the men He called to be His disciples: And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17  ESV Jesus spent three years of His earthly life discipling His followers to be fishers of men. Following His commission, they went into all the world and made disciples, who made disciples, who made disciples, and the process continues today. And it will continue into the future, as we who are His followers now obey His command and make disciples of all nations. 

What is a disciple? 

According to Bobby Harrington at discipleship.org, there are three primary characteristics of a disciple. 

• He/she follows Jesus
• He/she is being changed by Jesus
• He/she is committed to the mission of Jesus

Discipleship.org uses the diagram at the beginning of this post is a visual way of showing how people grow as disciples:

• Head – in the mind the decision to follow Jesus has been made (now he/she needs to connect in discipling relationships)
• Heart – in discipling relationships we are changed by the Spirit to be more and more like Jesus (now he/she needs to minister to others)
• Hand – by our actions we actively committed to the mission of Jesus (now he/she needs to share the gospel and disciple others)

Being a disciple of Jesus is a "full-body" commitment. He demands nothing less than the all of us. Are you a disciple? 

Read the full article from disciplship.org here. 

Learning From the Little Ones

 

This coming Sunday we will continue our study of Luke 18 at Grace Point Church. The passage we are looking at is a beautiful teaching moment Jesus has with His disciples. Some parents were bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus, but His disciples stopped them from coming, thinking they would be bothering the Master. But Jesus corrects them and tells them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." (v.16). And then He makes this powerful statement, "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” (v.17)

Wow, that is a pretty significant statement: Unless you receive the Kingdom of God like a child, you aren't getting in. What is it about children that would cause Jesus to make a statement like that? What is He wanting us to learn from the little ones? 

In thinking about this passage, I think there are Four Childlike Characteristics that are important to Jesus, and He wants us to know: 

1. Total Dependence - The word that is used in v.15 for "children" is "brephos" and refers to a very young child, typically an infant or newborn. It can also refer to a pre-born baby in it's mother's womb. Luke uses the term for Elizabeth's unborn baby that leaps within her womb when the expecting Mary comes to her. In the Greco-Roman world, infants were often seen as the most vulnerable members of society, dependent entirely on their parents or guardians for survival. 

The point here is that entrance into God's Kingdom means that we are totally dependent on Him for our salvation. As Paul writes in Ephesians, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." (Ephesians 2:8-9).

B. Fearless Faith - Scientist tell us that we are all born with only two fears - the fear of falling, and the fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned as we grow, and sometimes the learning comes from hard experiences. Kids seem to have a fearless faith that they can do anything their minds imagine - anything from flying by jumping off a rooftop, or running across the road before the car can hit them. Parents have to teach kids safe boundaries, but in doing so, sometimes we instill a fear of failure or adventure into their lives. 

It is interesting that when Jesus called His first disciples, He didn't call them to develop a systematic theology, or a Robert's Rules of Order for obedience. He didn't even ask them to believe in Him in the beginning. He just said, "Come, follow Me ..." By nature, faith requires risk, and following Jesus implies movement. As Henry Blackaby says in his book Experiencing God, “You cannot stay the way you are and go with God.” We are called to follow Jesus with fearless faith. 

C. Innocent Optimism - I've never met a kid who was afraid to ask for what he/she really wanted. Infants have a way of letting their parents know when they need something even before they can talk. And once they start talking, they have no fear in asking for anything and everything. It comes natural to them. As they grow, they learn they can't have everything on the toy aisle, or everything in the commercials on TV and that life is hard and sometimes (most times) things don't go the way we think they should. It is easy to become jaded and lose our optimism. 

But Jesus tells us that our hope is not in the things of this world, but in Him. Jesus once told His disciples that it is hard for a rich person to get into heaven and His disciples were amazed and said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) We worship and serve the God who can do anything, therefore we shouldn't be afraid to trust Him to do great things. As William Carey said, "Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God."

D. Infectious Enthusiasm - This may be what I love most about kids - when something catches their attention, they act like it is the greatest thing in the world. I love Christmas because I get to see the wonder and amazement on the faces of my kids and grandkids. My grandkids are excited about their presents and gifts, and my kids are excited that their children are excited, and that excites me. It's infectious. When I see my grandkids playing enthusiastically with their toys, I want to join them (even if I don't understand the game, lol). 

Jesus tells His followers in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and glorify your Heavenly Father." Letting our light shine means serving God with enthusiasm and joy, so that others can see God in us. Perhaps the worst witness for the Lord in world is a "Christian" who has lost his/her enthusiasm for the Lord and for His Kingdom. 

I'm sure there are more characteristics of children Jesus had in mind when He was teaching His disciples. These are just the ones that He brought to my mind. Feel free to share yours in the comments section below. 

Successful in Prayer

 

I just finished reading Roger Steer's book, "George Muller: Delighted in God," the biography of one of histories greatest men. I have read this book numerous times over the years because it is so inspirational (and convicting) to me.

George Muller (1805-1898) was a German pastor who moved to Bristol, England and founded the Ashley Down Orphanage as way to glorify God and show the world that God still answers prayer. In the life of his ministry, Muller asked only God for provision and supplies for the ministry and for his own personal life (he never took a regular salary from the church he pastored, or from the orphanage.) During his 70+ years of ministry, he provided care for more than 10,000 orphans, and stewarded what would today be more than 10 million dollars. That alone would be remarkable, but Muller also started the Scriptural Knowledge Institute (SKI) that established 117 schools worldwide which offered Christian education to more than 120,000 kids. SKI also provided financial and material support to many missionaries including Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission. AND in the later years of his life, at the age of 71 Muller and his wife began traveling for evangelistic preaching. In 17 years of evangelism, they traveled more than 200,000 miles and visited more than 20 countries preaching the gospel. All the funds needed for these ministries and more came in answer to prayer. (BTW, his ministry is still active today, you can learn more at georgemuller.org) 

His name has become a by-word for prayer and faith throughout the world, but Muller insisted that he was just an ordinary man who believed God answered prayer. And he believed that anyone could experience the same as he, if they would just pray as the Bible teaches us to pray. At the funeral of his friend Henry Moorhouse, George Müller outlined four conditions of successful prayer. 

1. We must pray in accordance with God's will. 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14 NIV Muller taught that if you were uncertain if a matter was according to God's will, you must pray about it until you are sure of God's will, and then pray according to God's will on the matter. 

2. We must not pray and ask on our own goodness and merit, but "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." 

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14 NIV. We must not ask because we “deserve” it or have “earned” it. At this point, Müller emphasized the importance of regular confession of sin and repentance. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” “‘That is,’ he said, ‘if I live in sin, and go on in a course hateful to God, I may not expect my prayers to be answered.'”

3. We must ask in faith of God's power and His willingness to answer our prayers. 

"This is deeply important," Müller said. "In Mark 11:24 we read, 'Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.' … I have found invariably that in the fifty-four years and nine months during which I have been a believer, that if I only believed I was sure to get, in God’s time, the thing I asked for." Müller offers proof of God’s power and love in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

4. Persevere! "We have to continue patiently waiting on God till the blessing we seek is granted." 

Müller said, “For observe, nothing is said in the text as to the time in which, or the circumstances under which, the prayer is to be answered. ‘Ask, and you will receive.'” We must keep asking, seeking, and knocking until we receive from the Lord the blessing He has promised. 

In his life, Muller recorded more than 50,000 answers to specific prayers in his prayer journal. More than 30,000 were answered within the hour or day in which they were asked, others weren't answered until after his death. But Muller believed God would and did answer all of his prayers. 

May we do the same!

HUMILITY AND PRAYER

 
At Grace Point Church we began the year with a couple of different emphases; first we returned to our study of the Gospel of Luke. We started studying through Luke all the way back in November of 2021, so we've been at it a little over 3 years. We've taken some brakes for different sermon series, but we started this year in Luke 18. Which contributed to our second emphasis - prayer. For the last couple of years we've started the year with 31 Days of Fasting and Prayer, and you can check out the Prayer guide for this year HERE. 

Luke 18 has a lot of Jesus' teaching on prayer. Last Sunday we talked about being Persistent in Prayer, Luke 18:1-8. To encourage His followers to always pray and not lose heart, Jesus taught a parable about an unjust judge and widow who wouldn't leave him alone until he gave her justice. Jesus taught that, if a widow can get justice with an unjust judge through persistence, HOW MUCH MORE will God's children who pray to Him regularly, receive "justice" quickly. God is a gracious Father who loves to answer the prayers of His people. 

This coming Sunday, Nick Oakes, one of our Elders, will be teaching on "Humility: The Prerequisite of Effective Prayer and the Dangers of Spiritual Blindness." He will be teaching on Luke 18:9-14, The Parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector. This will be one of the most important messages in our prayer emphasis. I encourage to plan to join us Sunday morning at 9:00am for the worship service. And get a head start on the study by checking out the SERMON STUDY GUIDE HERE.

31 Days of Prayer & Fasting: Focus on Fasting

 

 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 

Matthew 6:16-18 NLT

When you fast …

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps us surrender ourselves to God by voluntarily abstaining from a physical need or activity for a time, in order to better focus our thoughts and senses on God. 

Guidelines for Fasting: 

1. Fast SYSTEMATICALLY. When Jesus taught His disciples about fasting, He began with the words “when you fast” (Matthew 6:16). Jesus expected that we would fast on a regular basis, whether one day a week or a portion of a day each week. In our "31 Days of Prayer and Fasting" we encourage people to set aside Fridays as a day of fasting, but if there is a better day for you, for with it. 

2. Fast SECRETLY. Jesus cautioned His disciples not to make a spectacle out of fasting like the religious leaders did. Don’t draw attention to yourself; act normal

3. Fast SENSIBLY. Don’t feel that you must fast for many days to be effective. “Don’t bite off more than you can chew” (pun intended). You may fast for a meal, or a day or a longer period, but don’t feel like you have to do a 40 day fast like Jesus did. If you aren’t accustomed to fasting, start slow, and allow God to lead you. Discipline takes practice and time.

4. Fast SACRIFICIALLY. By nature, fasting requires giving up something meaningful. If we normally do not eat breakfast it is not really a sacrifice to fast breakfast. A true fast must be a sacrifice. Doesn’t have to be food. Some are not able because of medical reasons, to fast from food. Social media, TV, sports, shopping. It really isn’t up to you to figure this out. Pray and ask God what He wants you to fast from. 

5. Fast SUPERNATURALLY. The very nature of fasting requires dependence on God’s supernatural power to see us through. You’re not in this alone, trust the Holy Spirit. When the early church fasted before sending out workers, the Bible says, “The Holy Spirit came” (Acts 13:2,3). We need God’s Spirit as we fast.

6. Fast SPECIFICALLY. Have a fasting focus. God said to Israel, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen?” (Isaiah 58:6). (Isaiah 58, note that fasting isn’t just about “doing without” it is also about blessing others.) We must ask God to direct us in the focus of our fasting.

7. Fast SENSITIVELY. Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. When Israel fasted before a crucial battle, the Bible says they “inquired of the Lord.” (Judges 20:23; I Samuel 23) When we fast we should take special time to hear God speak. (Acts 13:1-2)

 The goal of this month of Prayer and Fasting is to draw nearer to God and listen for His guidance and direction in our lives. 

So when you pray

Do it to the Lord, not to be seen by others. Eliminate the distractions, and you don’t have to pray for hours on end - say what we need to and then listen to the Lord. 

And when you fast: 

We are going to have a plan, and we’re not going to draw attention to ourselves, but we are going to be sacrificial and give up something significant, and we are going to trust the Holy Spirit to guide us, and to give us a focus for our fast and we are going to listen for His voice. That is why we are doing this - we want to hear from God! God will speak in His own way at His own time, so we aren’t trying to manipulate God, but we are putting ourselves in a position so we can hear when He speaks. 

31 Days of Prayer and Fasting: Focus on Prayer

 

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" Matthew 6:5-8 NLT

Prayer is communicating with God. Prayer is talking to and listening to God. It really is that simple, but it is also incredibly essential for the Christian life. Martin Luther once said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” The gospels record numerous instances of Jesus praying, and if Jesus felt the need to pray and He was the Son of God, how much more do you and I need to pray?

I know you know this, but the truth is that the average Christian isn’t very satisfied with their prayer life. In a 2019 survey, 14,000 Christians were asked to rate their satisfaction with their prayer life. Only 1% indicated they were very satisfied with their prayer life, while 11% indicated they were very dissatisfied with their prayer life. The majority of the participants gave their prayer life a 3 out of 10 on the scale. Most of us acknowledge that our prayer life needs a boost. So let’s look at some very practical instructions Jesus gives about prayer: 

When you pray …

1. Don’t pray to get attention - Jesus says, “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites” Who are the “hypocrites”? Religious people who want to draw attention to themselves.  They like to stand up in the synagogue and even on the street corners and pray loud prayers because they think other people will look at them and think they are super spiritual. But what is their reward? The applause and admiration of others, but not of God. Jesus said: Don’t do that. Don’t pray to get the attention of others. 

2. Eliminate distractions - go to your room and shut the door, pray in secret. He is teaching an important principle here. This isn’t just about not praying to get attention, this is also about eliminating distractions. How do you eliminate distractions? 

    a. Have a time - We are more consistent when you have a set time. Put it on your calendar or "to do" list as an appointment with God. 

    b. Have a place - Go where the distractions are minimal. Jesus says go to your room or "prayer closet" but it doesn't necessarily have to be inside; it might be a porch or quiet place in the woods.  Find a place where you feel peaceful and spend time in prayer. Also, remove technology - leave your phone in another room or turn it off while you pray. People lived thousands of years without the use of cell phones, you and I can live without it for a little while to focus on God. 

    c. Have a plan - Begin your prayer time meditating on Scripture. Use the 31 Day Prayer Guide for Scripture prompts, or any passage God has brought to your mind. Also have a pen and paper, and keep a list to pray over and write what you hear God saying. 

3. Pray briefly

    Not all prayer times have to be lengthy. Sometimes God may keep you longer in prayer, but don't feel like you have some time quota to meet. Also, avoid:

a. Vain repetitions - don’t use  “religious words” as magic formulas

b. Many words - don’t try to stretch it out for the sake of length. Say what you have to say and then listen

Prayer improves with practice. You don’t learn how to pray better from a sermon, or from a book. You learn how to pray better by praying.