BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 9 1/28/14

How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life Study Guide

(By Dr. Gregory Frizzell)

DATE: 1/28/14

CHAPTER (9)

 

A Practical Daily Prayer Guide

 

In this final chapter I will outline a practical pattern for daily prayer.  However, please understand this pattern is not some legalistic formula.  Above all, your prayer time is a relationship and relationships fluctuate from day to day. 

 

Prayer time is a relationship and relationships fluctuate from day to day.

§  The daily prayer pattern that I have outlined is not some legalistic formula.

§  By no means are your required to always follow the exact order of this or any other pattern.

§  Some days God may lead you to begin with confession and cleansing and actually end with praise and thanksgiving. 

§  At other times, God will lead you to spend far more time in intercession for others.

§  On still other occasions, you may begin with quiet meditation and listening.

§  As you are sensitive to God's Spirit, He will guide you in a variety of patterns.

 

Friend, if you are serious about learning to pray, you will soon experience the most incredible journey of your life!  Let us confidently claim God's glorious promise of Jeremiah 29:13.  "And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart." 

 

I encourage you to become a "doer" and not a "hearer" only. Start tomorrow on your incredible journey using the following simple pattern for prayer.  As I have stated throughout the book and this prayer guide, it is important that you practice the biblical principles of prayer that you have just studied about.

 

Let me say a brief word about practice.  We have heard for years the old saying that "practice makes perfect," but we know it is not just any type of practice that guides one to develop skills correctly, but it is "perfect practice."  What I am saying is that for these principles to become an intricate part of your daily prayer life, you must spend significant time to learn them and apply them in your daily prayers.  You will continue to pray on the same level you are now unless you commit to learning and developing a deeper, biblical pattern for prayer. Remember, your intent is to spend time in His presence so He can reveal more of His character to you and, you in turn can become more like Him. So don't put it off another day.

 

Do not be overwhelmed by the potential depth of your prayer life.  God will get you there one step at a time and at your own pace.  But in order to learn these principles more rapidly, I ask you to use the following steps. In the book and study guide, under the five prayer types, I list certain categories for prayer. I ask you to now establish a daily plan dividing the subjects from those categories into a seven-day plan. 

 

By dividing the categories in each prayer type into seven parts and praying through only one or two categories per day you will be able to pray through them all in one week.  This will keep you from feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of the total categories you need to pray through.  Remember, this is merely an example to help you learn the biblical principles of prayer.  It is not some pre-set formula that you must mechanically follow each day.  At times God will give you unique promptings.  Remember, God is to be in control and we must let Him guide our prayer time.

 

 

As you read through the following pattern for prayer, be conscious of what materials you will need for your daily prayer time. (your Bible, text, this study guide, prayer journal, lists of God's names and characteristics, hymns, lists of people and situations which need prayer) List any other materials you will need here. ________________________

 

Write down where you will meet with God each day and at what time you will pray.  Allow at least an hour for this first time, if possible.

 

Where? ______________________When?__________________

 

A SIMPLE PATTERN FOR DAILY PRAYER

 

I   Begin with a period of praise and thanksgiving (5-10 minutes)

1.       Give thanks for past, present, and future blessings.

2.       Praise God for who He is (His characteristics and names).

3.       Freely worship and adore Him.

 

II    Continue with confession and repentance (at least 5-10 minutes)

1.       Ask God to search your thoughts and attitudes.

2.       Carefully examine your speech.

3.       Ask God to thoroughly search your relationships.

4.       Confess any sins of commission and be sure to forsake the sins God reveals.

5.       Confess any sins of omission and make a definite commitment to obedience.

 

Resolve to fully repent of any known sin of thought, word or deed. Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Be sure to utilize a thorough biblical tool designed to search all areas of your life with God's Word.

 

 

III    Follow with Prayers of Personal Petition (10-15 minutes)

1.       Pray for the development of character and holiness (Pray through the specific fruit of the Holy Spirit or other character words).

2.       Pray for your ministry and service to God (be very specific in your prayers).

3.       Pray for physical, emotional spiritual or financial needs.

 

IV     Continue with Prayers of Intercession (10-20 minutes)

1.       Pray for needs of family and friends.

2.       Pray for your pastor and church (use specific prayers such as found on pages 84 and following).

3.       Pray for specific lost people (use specific prayers such as found on page 83).

4.       Pray for missionaries and mission efforts (use guides from the International Mission Board).

5.       Pray for revival and spiritual awakening (use guides on page 84)

 

In your intercession, seek to be as specific as possible. Also remember the value of focusing on only two or three categories per day. If you thoroughly prayed for every category, you could literally pray for hours. Though some may be led to pray for hours, most people will be led to focus on certain categories on certain days.  As always, the guiding principle is close sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

 

V     End with Meditation and Assessment.

1.       Reflect on key points of your Scripture reading and prayer time.

2.       Assess what God has impressed to your heart.

3.       Write down key impressions in a daily journal.

4.       End your time with thanksgiving for God's presence.

 

& KEY POINTS – The Biblical Path to a Powerful Prayer Life

 

& If you are serious about learning to pray, you will soon experience the most incredible journey of your life!  Use this simple prayer pattern to begin your powerful biblical prayer journey.

 

& In your intercession, seek to be as specific as possible. Focus on only two or three categories per day.

 

& Daily Bible reading is essential to your prayer life.

 

& I suggest you do your Bible reading and journaling before you conduct your main prayer time.

 

& I highly recommend that you follow one of today's excellent schedules for reading through the entire Bible at least once a year.

 

& Though an hour is an excellent goal, I am not implying that you must pray a whole hour in order to experience a powerful prayer life.   The guiding principle is close sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

 

MAY GOD HELP US SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS THAN A POWERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

 

1.  Have you been praying through this study?

 

 

2.  Is there a change in your prayer life now?

 

 

3.  Do you spend quality time with God now?

 

4.  Are you praying for others more now?

 

 

PRAYER:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 8 (ANSWERS)

 Answers:   Week 8

 

1.   How biblical is your prayer life if you do all the talking?

 

It's not good, because a genuine relationship requires both talking and listening. It is essential to remember that genuine prayer is a relationship and not just a habit or ritual.

 

2.  Why does a healthy relationship with Christ require both talking and listening?

 

Our relationship with Christ is like a marriage, therefore it requires both talking and listening to make it a healthy one.

 

3.   Describe four primary ways to hear God's voice through daily meditation?

1.     God speaks to your heart when reading His Word.

2.    Keep a personal journal or diary

3.    Filling your life with God's Word

4.    Be sensitive to God's specific impressions

 

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 8 (1/21/14)

How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life Study Guide
(By Dr. Gregory Frizzell)
DATE: 1/21/14
CHAPTER (8)


Phase Five: Hearing God's Voice through Meditation

MEDITATION IS A FORM OF PRAYER BECAUSE IT IS COMMUCATION WITH GOD THROUGH PRAYERFUL LISTENING In meditation you are quietly listening for God's voice through His Word and the impressions He speaks to your heart. The more we know and meditate on God's Word the easier we will recognize His voice when He speaks. In that genuine prayer is a relationship, there can be no real relationship unless it is two way.

PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR DAILY MEDITATION

1. In your daily Bible reading ask God to speak to your heart.
 You must approach the Bible as God's personal word to you on each new day.
 After reading a few verses you should pause and simply ask, "God, what are you saying to me?" In this way, prayer and Bible reading become powerfully inter-connected.

2. When you have completed your daily time of Bible reading and prayer, write down key ideas and impressions.

 Keep a journal or notebook of your daily time with God. A thorough personal journal is literally a written record of your relationship with God.
 Another great advantage of journaling is that you form the habit of writing down the specific promises God reveals to your heart.
 When you actually record God's promises, you are much more likely to take them seriously.
 Writing down key thoughts and impressions helps you to get into a serious habit of listening for God's voice.

3. Fill your life with the Word of God.
 The more we are exposed to God's Word, the more He speaks to us and transforms our life.
 Surrounding yourself with God's Word is one variation of meditation. Psalm 1:2 states, "In His law doth he meditate day and night."
 Today we are blessed with some innovative ways to be filled with God's Word. Some examples are:
1. Playing tapes of Scripture reading while you drive.
2. Playing music that is primarily made up of songs with Scripture lyrics.
3. Participating in one of today's Scripture memorization programs
4. Placing framed Scriptures in strategic parts of your home or office.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shall bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the post of thy house, and on thy gates."
Make a cognitive decision to choose one or more of these innovative ways to be filled with God's Word. Write down which ones you have decided to incorporate into your life.

4. When you pray, be sensitive to God's specific impressions through which He leads you to focus on various issues of concern.
 Remember, your prayer time is not some preset formula that you mechanically follow each day.
 Some days God will lead you to spend much time in praise and little in confession.
 On other days, he may greatly burden you to intercede for specific people while focusing little on petition.
 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).


 KEY POINTS – The Biblical Path to a Powerful Prayer Life

 Meditation is the intentional act of listening to God.

 Tragically, many people approach Bible reading and prayer without expecting to hear a personal word from God. We must expect to hear from Him.

 The more we know and meditate on God's Word the easier we will recognize His voice when He speaks.

 When you fill your life with Scripture, God revolutionizes your prayer life and your walk with Him.

 Do not let any of this seem overwhelming or complicated. Even if you are weak in prayer, God will take you right where you are and do a mighty work in your life.

Please turn to page 95, look up the scriptures, answer the study questions and pray the prayers for daily growth on page 96.

QUESTIONS:

1. How biblical is your prayer life if you do all the talking?

2. Why does a healthy relationship with Christ require both talking and listening?

3. Describe four primary ways to hear God's voice through daily meditation?


PRAYER:

Lord God Almighty, touch our ears so that we may hear Your voice Anoint our eyes that we may see Your ways. Quicken our minds that every thought is captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Touch our spirit daily with the revelation of Your Word. Lord God Almighty, grant us a burning desire to daily hear Your voice by the revelation of the Word and prompting of the Holy Spirit. We pray always to You, in Jesus' name. Amen.    

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 7 (ANSWERS)

 

ANSWER WEEK #7

 

1.   How many of the fifteen basic intercession categories do you consistently lift to God?

I marked off nine, but would love to start praying them all as led by the Holy Spirit

 

2.   When praying for the lost, list several scriptural words that should be part of our prayers.

We should pray for conviction, not condemnation on others; revelation of who God is, eyes of understanding is open, draw them to God, bind Satan from them, pray for grace, help them to be willing and anxious to be the means by which God save and deliver others, show me how to led them to Christ, pray for someone to come across their path to bring them witness of Christ.

 

3.   List several specific requests you should pray for pastors and Christian workers.  Why is it so important to pray biblically and specifically for our leaders?

Pour out Your Spirit on them, powerful conviction not condemnation on them; a deeper spiritual zeal and love for You, the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit, clear discernment of Your will, deep purity and holiness, a wall of protection from Satan influence (amen), abundant fulfillment of his personal and family needs, pure relationships and protect his marriage, fruitfulness in their ministry, and pure motives.

 

4.   List several biblical words you should pray for revival and spiritual awakening.  Why must you learn to pray biblically and specifically?

We must pray for deep conviction not condemnation on them. Deep cleansing, for spiritual hunger for God, unity in our churches, a passion for missions and starting other churches where needed, pray for thousands to be called into the ministry, missions, and Christian service.  God's Holy Spirit poured out in a mighty purifying fire. And, for a mighty move of conviction not condemnation for salvation to engulf major communities of cultural influence, and that the law making will not be to please man's doing.

 

True intercession represents the deepest and most sacrificial of all types of prayer, and it is especially important to combine your intercession with the biblical promises that God has quickened to your heart.

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 7 (1/14/14)

How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life Study Guide
(By Dr. Gregory Frizzell)
DATE: 1/14/14
CHAPTER (7)



Phase Four:  Powerful Intercession

INTERCESSION IS THE MOST POWERFUL YET LEAST

PRACTICED OF THE BASIC TYPES OF PRAYER


It is the type of prayer that is primarily focused on the needs of others.

As with petition, we should put a greater priority on interceding for eternal issues as opposed to the temporal.

An excellent description of intercession is found in Ezekiel 22:30 "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."
The prayers of intercessors are God's foundational strategy for evangelism, missions, discipleship, revival, and spiritual awakening.
A very shallow level of intercession explains the lack of power in many ministries.
Many are hindered from intercession because they simply do not know how!  We face an urgent need to teach Christians how to intercede biblically.
As with petition prayers, many believers are caught in a type of intercession that is far too general and unfocused.
 
In Ezekiel 22:30 what was the responsibility of the intercessor God was seeking?
___________________________
In your own words, explain what you have thought intercessory prayer involves.
__________________________
 
 
WHERE DO I FOCUS MY INTERCESSION?
 

Let your greatest focus be issues with eternal rather than temporal significance. (Foundational Principle)

Though you will certainly intercede about physical and temporal needs, these should not predominate your intercession.
Turn to page 82 and read through the list of the most important subjects for which all believers should pray regularly (Key Subjects for Consistent Intercession).
These fifteen subjects provide a general prayer guide for you to follow.  Set a pattern in which you pray for certain categories on certain days.  God will lead you to shift your focus on certain issues from day to day.
 
Key Subjects for Consistent Intercession  
Go through the following list and ask God to give you specific names or situations for prayer.
Spiritual and physical needs of family and friends___________________
Spiritual needs of work mates, classmates and those we see in daily life_____
Those who don't know Christ__________________________________
Spiritual growth and protection for new Christians_____________________
Backslidden believers_______________________________
Your pastor, staff and key lay leaders_________________________
Revival and growth in your church__________________________
Missionaries and persecuted believers_________________________
Key denominational leaders and agencies (local, state and denominational)_______
Spiritual leaders and key churches of all denominations_________________
National leaders (the President, governors, mayors, etc.)_________________
Local, state, and national government_____________________________
Sweeping revival and spiritual awakening (local, national and worldwide)_________
Key mission initiatives and strategies (local, state, national and global)____________
Key evangelism initiatives and strategies (local, state, national and global)__________
 
What have you discovered about biblically powerful intercessory prayer? ___________
Make a list to keep in your Bible or daily prayer journal so that you will always have it to use during your prayer time.
 

HOW DO I PRAY "SPECIFIC" PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION?

The more specific and biblical our prayer, the more power we have before God. The following sections provide examples of specific intercession for some of the basic categories.  Ask Christ to enable you to pray these prayers in the unique manner and wording He gives you. 


Turn to page 83-86 and pray through the listed prayers. In each of the categories be specific, using the name of the person or place in your prayers.


For the lost and backslidden
For pastors and spiritual leaders
Twelve specific prayers for your church
Ten specific prayers for revival and spiritual awakening
Seven Specific Prayers for Local and National Elections
 
 
Some material from the book is missing. Sorry
 

KEY POINTS – The Biblical Path to a Powerful Prayer Life
 
As you meet with God, He will guide you in your own prayers and reveal biblical promises to claim before His throne.
 
It is especially important to combine your intercession with the biblical promises that God has quickened to your heart.
 
Do not be overwhelmed by the potential depth of intercession.
 
God has called all His children to some level of consistent intercession.
 
God has incredible blessings for all who embrace biblical levels of intercession.
 
Please turn to page 88, look up the scripture verses, review the study questions and pray the prayers for daily growth on page 89.
 

QUESTIONS:

1.    How many of the fifteen basic intercession categories do you consistently lift to God?

 

2.    When praying for the lost, list several scriptural words that should be part of our prayers.

 

3.     List several specific requests you should pray for pastors and Christian workers.  Why is it so important to pray biblically and specifically for our leaders?

 

4.    List several biblical words you should pray for revival and spiritual awakening.  Why must you learn to pray biblically and specifically?

 
PRAYER:

Father God, fill us with the spirit of genuine intercession.  Help me stand in the gap for my land (Ezekiel 22:30).  Lord God, as an intercessor teach our hands to war and our fingers to fight.  Grow us up into powerful biblical prayer that spring from Your heart, Amen.

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK #6 (ANSWERS)

 

ANSWERS WEEK # 6

 

1.  In your own words, describe the difference between temporal and Kingdom-oriented prayer petitions.

Temporal request is when you focus only on material things, and kingdom request is when your focus is on spiritual things, such as your spiritual growth in the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and overcoming temptation that will hinder your growth in the Lord. It is when you tear down spiritual stronghold, increase the ministry and leading people to the Lord. It is also when you pray for revival, and for the nation.

 

2.  Why do you think Kingdom-oriented petitions have greater impact than temporal petitions?

These petitions allow God to reorder our life to reflect kingdom principle.

 

3.  In what way would praying through the fruit of the Holy Spirit conform you to the image of Christ?

It is an opportunity for God to search and cleanse your life as you are transformed to the image of Christ.

 

4.  Why is praying character words far more important than merely praying for earthly needs and comforts?

You are praying in the dead center of His will, and this way it gives incredible confidence as the scripture (I John 5:14-15) says. "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us; and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we desired of

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK #6 (1/7/14)

How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life Study Guide

(By Dr. Gregory Frizzell)

DATE: 1/7/14

CHAPTER (6)

 

 

Phase Three:  How to Pray Dynamic Prayers of Petition

 

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS CHAPTER

IS FOR YOU TO LEARN HOW TO PRAY PETITIONS THAT ARE

BIBLICALLY BASED AND CENTERED ON GOD'S WILL

 

This is the type of prayer that brings your list of needs and wants to God. 

It is the type that comes the easiest for most people.

§  There is definitely nothing wrong or selfish about bringing your desires and needs to God. Our Father longs to give His children the desires of their heart. (Psalm 37:4), "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

§  A major sign of intimacy with God is your freedom to tell Him every desire and need of your heart.

§  Modern believers desperately need to learn how to pray petitions that are biblically based and centered on God's will.  That is the primary objective in this chapter.

§  With many believers, petitions focus mostly on personal needs such as physical problems, general emotional needs, personal desires, financial or job concerns, school needs, relationship problems, etc.

§  Every believer needs to mature to the point where personal petitions also reflect the top priorities of God.

 

We desperately need to understand the difference between prayer requests that are temporal and those that are Kingdom-oriented.

§  Temporal requests primarily relate to earthly needs and concerns (a new car, a better job, a physical healing, etc).

§  Kingdom requests are those which focus on issues that are eternal (your personal growth in the fruit of the Holy Spirit, overcoming a temptation, tearing down a spiritual stronghold, increasing your ministry, leading people to Christ, revival in your church, city or nation, etc.).

 

Make a List of Prayers in each Category

 Temporal Requests

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Kingdom Oriented Prayers

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

       

 

THREE STEPS TO POWERFUL PRAYERS OF PETITION

 

STEP I

Regularly pray through each fruit of the Holy Spirit and ask God to develop the image of the holiness of Christ within you.

§  God's top priority for your life is the development of Christ's character and holiness in your life (Romans 8:29).

§  Your personal petitions should relate to the development of His image in your life.

§  Galatians 5:22-23 contains one of the most concise and perfect picture in all of Scripture.  "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."

§  You could not possibly pray more in the will of God than to pray each spiritual fruit for your life daily.

§  Many believers prayers are so general they have little focus and thus very little power.  On the other hand, the fruit of the Holy Spirit are very specific and provide biblical petitions for powerful spiritual growth.

§  With each fruit you not only ask God to fill you with that trait, but you also ask God to reveal how you are not living that particular fruit.

 

How to Daily Pray the Fruit of the Spirit

As you pray through each spiritual fruit, you will discover this process becomes an opportunity for God to search and cleanse your life.

§  God will answer these prayers because you are praying His Word and you are praying in the absolute center of His will!

§  Another great advantage of praying the fruit of the Holy Spirit is the fact that God uses such character words to immediately convict and correct His children.

§  Pray through each fruit, then pause and ask God to show you how you are not living up to that character word.

§  If you ask God to search you at the point of each fruit, you will hear His voice and God will perform a deep cleansing work in your life!

§  This type of prayer is the very heart of pursuing God's holiness (Hebrews 12:14).

§  You are not required to pray all nine fruits each day.  Though it is certainly possible, you may want to focus on only one or two fruit each day.

 

Turn to page 72-75 in the book to pray through the sample prayers for each fruit. You will find a bookmark entitled "Sample Prayers for each Fruit of the Spirit" located in the back of this guide that you can keep in your Bible for a handy reference.

Next to each part of the fruit of the Spirit, write what God lays upon your heart to pray.

Love___________________________________

Joy____________________________________

Peace__________________________________

Longsuffering____________________________

Gentleness_______________________________

Goodness________________________________

Faith____________________________________

Meekness________________________________

Temperance______________________________

What has God taught you while you prayed through the fruit of the Spirit?

_________________________________

STEP II

Regularly pray through the Beatitudes and ask God to conform you to these godly characteristics (Matthew 5:1-10).

§  With each beatitude you can follow the same prayer pattern that was outlined for the fruit of the Spirit.

§  Each character trait becomes both a specific prayer and point of personal examination for your life.

§  Praying in the center of God's will gives incredible confidence because of the promise of 1 John 5: 14-15 "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us; And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."

§  Allow God to lead you in praying through all or some of the Beatitudes on a daily basis.

 

Blessed is the poor in spirit…

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? ____________

Look up Romans 22:4; Proverbs 29:23; Luke 18:14.

What do these verses tell us about the low in spirit? ______________

Blessed are those who mourn…

According to Psalm 34:18; 51:17; Isaiah 66:2; 2 Corinthians 7:10; what are other words for those who mourn? ________________________________

Mourning signifies pain and it is through pain that we learn to trust God.  What is God's promise to those who mourn? _____________________

Blessed are the meek…

What does it mean to be meek?____________________

1 Peter 2:2; 2 Chronicles 15:15.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness…

1 Timothy 4:7; 6:11; Luke 4:11; Acts 2:4; 4:8; 4:31; 7:55; 11:24; 13:9; 13:52.

What do these verses have in common? ______________________

When we hunger and thirst after righteousness with what will we be filled? _____________________

What will be the results of that filling? ________________

Blessed are the merciful…

In Micah 6:8 does the Lord require of you? _________________

In James 2:13 of what should we be merciful? __________________

Blessed are the pure in heart…

In Psalm 23:3-4 who may ascend the hills of the Lord? ____________

In 1 Timothy 1:5 from where does love come? ___________________

What is the promise for the pure in heart? ______________________

Blessed are the peacemakers…

In Proverbs 12:20 what is in the heart of those who plot evil? ______________

What is in the heart of those who promote peace? _________________________

Can you think of a time when you plotted evil?  What feelings did you have?

Think of a time when you promoted peace.  Compare those feelings to those of plotting evil. 

In Luke 20:36 what is the promise for the children of God? ___________________

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness…

Jesus was despised and rejected, endured humiliation, mocked, reviled and crucified.

What type of persecution do you suffer because of righteousness? ­­­

What is the promise for enduring persecution? _______________________

 

 STEP III

Regularly pray through other character words that are found in Scripture.  (Those besides the fruit of the Spirit and the Beatitudes)

 

§  Examples of other key biblical character words include:  the anointing, power and filling of the Holy Spirit, genuine humility and brokenness, spiritual zeal and diligence, wisdom and discernment, immovability, steadfastness, spiritual soberness, a spiritual passion and fervency, a spirit of genuine worship, purity of motives, a quickened mind, a spirit of revelation and understanding, boldness and spiritual authority, spiritual protection from sin, self, Satan, and the world.

§  God will reveal several biblical character words to use in your personal prayer petitions and He will guide you as you adjust your focus from day to day.

 

& KEY POINTS – The Biblical Path to a Powerful Prayer Life

 

& Since God's priorities are on the eternal, shouldn't our personal petitions reflect this same priority?

 

& We often treat God more like a Christmas wish catalogue than the sovereign God who desires above all to conform us to the image of Christ!

 

& Most believers are praying petitions that are much too general.

 

& Far too many are mostly temporal and have little to do with eternal issues.

 

& Until prayers become biblical and specific, they have little power with God.

 

& If you allow God to make your petitions specific and in line with His will, you will experience growth like you cannot imagine (1 John 5:14-15).

 

& God will guide you into mature praying and the Holy Spirit is an excellent teacher.

 

& All you have to do is familiarize yourself with these basic prayer principles and give God significant time in daily prayer.  He will do the rest!

 

Please turn to page 79. Review the study questions, look up the scriptures and pray the prayers for daily growth on page 80.

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   In your own words, describe the difference between temporal and Kingdom-oriented prayer petitions.

 

2.   Why do you think Kingdom-oriented petitions have greater impact than temporal petitions?

 

3.    In what way would praying through the fruit of the Holy Spirit conform you to the image of Christ?

 

4.    Why is praying character words far more important than merely praying for earthly needs and comforts?

 

PRAYER:

Father, cause us to pray according to Your priority of holiness and sanctification in our daily life.  Cleans and transform us by the washing of the water by the Word (Ephesians 5:26).  God, instill the spiritual fruit and the Beatitudes into the very fabric of our hearts.  Reveal many Scriptures to claim for personal holiness and transformation.  Help us hide Your Words in our heart that we may not sin against You, Lord; Amen.