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1st Century Church…A House of Prayer

by | Jul 4, 2018 | Teaching

First Century Church

*Book of Acts…Prayer References*

(33 Different References: Corporate-19 / Individual-14)

*The word PRAYER is Stated: 30 Times

   *Stated “Corporate”: 18 Times

1:14 / 1:24 / 2:42 / 2:47 / 4:24 / 4:31 / 6:4 / 6:6 / 8:15 / 12:5 /

12:12 / 13:3 / 14:23 / 16:13 / 16:16 / 16:25 / 20:36 / 21:5

    *Stated “Individual”: 12 Times

          *Private: 9 Times

               8:15 / 9:11 / 9:40 / 10:2 / 10:4 / 10:9 / 10:30 / 11:5 / 22:17

           *Public: 3 Times

           20:32 / 27:35 / 28:8

      PLUS

        *The word PRAYER is Implied: 3 Times

            *Implied “Corporate”: 1 Time

                   13:2 (“…they were ministering to the Lord…”)

          *Implied “Individual”: 2 Times

                     20:10 (like Elijah…1 Kings 17:17-24…Paul prayed life to return)

                      28:9 (like he did for the “father of Publius” in 28:8)

PRAYER

by | Jun 20, 2018 | Teaching

PRAYER: Does It REALLY Matter?
“Faith in a ‘prayer-answering’ God will make a ‘prayer-loving’ Christian.” (Andrew Murray)

*FIVE REASONS THAT COMPEL CHRISTIANS TO PRAY!

1. As a Christian disciple (follower) of JESUS CHRIST, how can I choose NOT to pray, when Jesus is not only my LORD                  and MASTER, but also, my:

*MODEL “IN” PRAYER:

*WHEN: 

1) OFTEN  (Luke 5:16)… 2) MORNING  (Mark 1:35)… 3) EVENING  (Matthew 14:23)… 4) ALL  NIGHT  (Luke 6:12)

*WHY…OR…FOR WHAT:

1) PROVISION  (Matthew 14:19)… 2) HEALING  (Mark 1:40)… 3) PROTECTION  (Mark 4:39) 4) GUIDANCE (John 8:12)…5)  MIRACLES  (John 11:40-45)…6) PRAISE (Luke 19:37)  7) UNITY  (John 17:20-23)…8) THANKSGIVING (Luke 17:15-16)

*MOTIVATOR “FOR” PRAYER: 

1) If we are willing to sincerely ASK,  SEEK,  KNOCK! (Matthew 7:7-8)

2) If we are willing to faithfully ask IN HIS NAME!  (John 14:13-14)3) If we are willing to acknowledge that He is the ultimate giver             of GOOD  GIFTS! (Matthew 7:11)

*MENTOR “OF” PRAYER:

1) The only thing Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them was how to: PRAY! (Luke 11:1)

2) Jesus’ “How To” teaching covered the basics of: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, & WHY!                                                                                                                                                                                  (Matthew 6:5-13)

2. It was through a CORPORATE “prayer meeting” that the CHURCH was birthed! (Acts 1:14 / 2:1)

3. The early church disciples were DEVOTED to prayer!  (*Acts 1:14 / 2:42 / 4:23-31/ *Colossians 4:2 /                                *Romans 12:12)

4. In the first century church, PRAYING was one of the two PRIMARY responsibilities in the “job description”              of the PASTOR!  (Acts 6:4)

5. Through the Holy Spirit inspired writings of forty different people, the sixty-six books that comprise the Bible records hundreds of communications between God and man…which is what ­­­PRAYING is all about! Even foremost, Jesus declared that “My House shall be called a ‘HOUSE OF PRAYER‘”…referencing both corporately and individually. (Matthew 21:13 / 1 Corinthians 3:16)

Prayer: Duty or Delight?

Prayer: Duty or Delight?

by | Feb 20, 2018 | Teaching

Praying

 

While the Bible is a timeless, inspirational documentation of man’s continuous communication with God–and God’s faithfulness in speaking to man–how often do we in the church today tend to give-up on prayer because we have serious doubt that our prayers even “connect” with the Lord, much less truly make any real difference? What can we do to experience an exciting and meaningful transformation of our heart towards “prayer”…from a Christian duty to a much-anticipated delight (Psalm 42:1-2)?

 

Is it possible for us to hear God speaking today, as the “pray-ers” in the Bible surely heard and responded to Him? How can we regain the real confidence God wants all His people to have in prayer? What is the “key” difference in Jesus’ prayer-life and so much of ours today? What was it that prompted Jesus’ disciples to ask Him to teach them only one thing: “how to pray” (Luke 11:1)?

 

What would it take for our church to see a greater move of God among our members and in the community? Of all the activities in our church, where does/should “corporate prayer” fit-in? What did Jesus mean when He said: “My house shall be called a House of Prayer…” (Matthew 21:13)? What is a “House of Prayer”? Is there a difference between a church with an active “prayer ministry” and what Jesus would call a biblical “House of Prayer”? How important is it that our church becomes a true “House of Prayer”? What “results” might we see in our church and city if we responded to Jesus’ expressed desire and became serious about ministering as a devoted and dynamic “House of Prayer”, as did the first-century church in the Book of Acts?

 

 

CtS-BAHOP…What It Is & Is Not

CtS-BAHOP…What It Is & Is Not

by | Jan 12, 2018 | Game Plan, Teaching

 *Building A House Of Prayer*

 *Is not MAN’S INITIATION…of bigger, better, more dynamic and attention-grabbing programs and events for an already loaded church calendar! Nor is it building-on another brick & mortar addition to your campus!

—But Rather—

*Is GOD’S INVITATION to the pathway that leads to true “spiritual awakening and revival” for God’s  people and His church! Bottom-line, it’s all about building God’s people as a “people of prayer”. (If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray….2 Chronicles 7:14)

*Building A House Of Prayer*

*Is not RADICAL in its biblical foundation…having been declared three times by Jesus Himself in the New Testament (quoting the Old Testament prophet Isaiah 56:7). Thus, the mandate to the church of Jesus Christ–and His disciples in every generation–has been with us ever since the first century! (Matthew 21:13/Mark 11:17/Luke 19:46)

—But Rather—

*Is REVOLUTIONARY in its personal application…because so few Christians and churches have taken God’s Word–specifically in this declared mandate–seriously over the past 2000+ years!

 —However—

*Some (individuals & churches) have…and their lives and ministry impact are well documented today!

*What about YOU and YOUR CHURCH?

          Is the LORD “calling” you and your church to serve Him and fulfill His “GREAT COMMISSION”  today…as an individual “House of Prayer” (1 Corinthians 6:19); that will lead your church towards becoming a biblically dynamic corporate “House of Prayer”?

 

*Remember*

*Much Prayer=Much Power       *Little Prayer=Little Power       *No Prayer=No Power