Don’t Judge Me

• Matthew 7:1(ESV): ¹ “Judge not, that you be not judged.
• Matthew 7:2 (ESV): ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
• Judgment is reciprocal.
• Matthew 7: 3 (ESV): ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
• Matthew 7: 4 (ESV): ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
• In the same way, before we cast judgment, we need to evaluate ourselves by that same standard judgment.
• And then upon reflection, if we see something in our lives that needs attention, then we need to address that first.
• Matthew 7: 5 (ESV): ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

The Elephant in the Room

1. Self-Examination
2. Empathy (the natural byproduct of self-examination)

A Civil Rights Reflection

The Call to Judge

 

• 1 Corinthians 6:1–8 (ESV): ¹ When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? ² Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? ³ Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! ⁴ So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? ⁵ I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, ⁶ but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? ⁷ To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? ⁸ But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

 

• James 3:13 (ESV): ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

 

• James 3:14-16 (ESV): ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
• James 3:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

 

• James 3:18 (ESV): ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Judge with Righteous Judgment

What principles guide the way we handle conflict brought to us directly or inadvertently?

• John 7:24 (ESV): ²⁴ Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

How do you acquire insight beyond appearances?

• Secure knowledge from primary sources.
• Matthew 18:15–17 (ESV): ¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
• Hear all sides of the issue.
• Proverbs 18:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
• Proverbs 18:13 (ESV): ¹³ If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

“Appearances” are not just the result of what we see, but of what we feel.

• Things can “appear” a certain way because they seem a certain way based on our feelings.
• Reasons why we might feel a particular way about something:
• What we’re hearing sounds like personal experiences of our past
• What we’re hearing validates preconceived ideas we have about a person or a type of person
• What we’re hearing triggers emotions from past wounds
• You take sides with the aggrieved person because it resonates with you emotionally.
• But the Scripture warns us about this:
• Proverbs 26:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

How do we counter the false impressions created by our feelings?

• We employ Word as a tool to help us judge.
• 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV): ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness
• We can’t judge rightly without Scripture.
• We also need to rightly handle the Scripture.
• 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV): ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
• Don’t just quote passages out of their specific context or out of the context of entire Bible for the purpose of justifying yourself.

Handle it or report it

• Exodus 18:21–22 (ESV): ²¹ Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. ²² And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
• You’re responsible for judging most conflict brought to you.
• You are responsible for defending the ministry, its leadership and its vision against people who slander it or create division in the church.
• Only bring the matter to senior leaders when the matter is beyond your capacity to judge.

Introduction

• Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV): ²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
• But unlimited forgiveness is not just a method or a practice.
• It is also deeply tied to a way of life, a way of thinking–a lifestyle of peacemaking.

As believers, we should be poised to rise above the petty matters that feed conflict.

Chloe ‘Nem

• 1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV): ¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
• 1 Corinthians 1:11-12 (ESV): ¹¹ For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. ¹² What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 
• 1 Corinthians 1:13 (ESV):¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
  • • What he concludes is that they are all wrong for dividing into factions.
• 1 Corinthians 3:1(ESV): ¹ But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

• 1 Corinthians 3:2 (ESV): ² I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
• 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 (ESV): ³ for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? ⁴ For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

Divine insight into the source of the conflict.

• Insight into the source of conflict is one of the things that distinguishes between mature people and immature people.
• The difference between mature and immature people is not whether they deal with conflict, but how they deal with conflict.
• Immature people deal with conflict at the surface level. Mature people deal with conflict at the roots.

What You Not Gon’ Do

“What You Not Gon’ Do” is the self-righteous attitude we hold when people don’t treat or respond to us in the way we think they should.

 

• James 4:1 (ESV): ¹ What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
• If our motivations are not healthy, then they will create ripple effects in our relationships that breed perpetual conflict.

 

• James 4:2 (ESV): ² You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
  • The reason why you’re not getting what you want is that you’re not going to God for what you need.
  • Your challenge is that you’re counting on something external to heal something internal.
• James 4:3 (ESV): ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
• Luke 10:41–42 (ESV): ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Practical Steps & Tools

In this last portion, we’re going to offer some practical steps to identify those things that trouble us (internally).

And then secure the good portion that Jesus promises.

So that we can address conflict in healthy ways and help our relationships to flourish.

Tools from Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family Naming Tool

• Name the Feeling, Name the Reaction, Name the Desire.

Care Cycle Tools:

• Book: 9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage and the Truths That Will Save It and Set It Free
• Worksheet

The Care Cycle

(The following information is derived and quoted from the book and worksheet with listed above)

1. Aware
2. Accept
3. Allow
4. Attend
5. Act

Aware:

• Be aware. That is, “Recognize [that] your heart is triggered, and your heart is closed.”

Accept

• Accept responsibility. “Your feelings; your responsibility.”

Ask and Allow

• “Invite God to help care for you.”

Attend

• “Get to work.” (internally)

Act

• “Get to work” (externally)

Review

Earlier this month, we started a series titled, “I prayed about it. (But what does that mean?)”

The objective of this series is to get you to pray. . .

• Sincerely (Put your heart in it)
• Biblically (Follow Scriptural patterns and instructions)
• Attentively (Be responsive to promptings from the Spirit and your observations)
• Regularly (Make prayer a daily practice)
• Persistently (Pray through delays and denials)

In this series, we’re covering four prayer-related topics:

• The Posture of Prayer (My attitude)
• The Content of Prayer (My words)
• The Practice of Prayer (My habits)
• The Accessories of Prayer (My help)

Last week, we covered the practice of prayer.

Today, our focus is on the accessories of prayer.

Prayer Comes With Accessories

• Mark 11:22, 24 (ESV): ²² And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. . . .²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
• 1 John 5:14–15 (ESV): ¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
• Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
• Psalm 103:7 (ESV): ⁷ He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
• Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV): ¹ . . . .let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. . . .
• Philippians 4:6 (ESV): ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• James 4:3 (ESV): ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
• Asking to know Jesus better is the ultimate prayer request.

The Scripture

Knowing Jesus and knowing the Scripture are inseperable.

• Scripture tells us who Jesus is.
• Scripture tells us what Jesus said.
• Scriptuer tells us what Jesus wants us to believe.

The Scripture helps us develp our faith.

• Romans 10:17 (NKJV): ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
• Psalm 119:11 (NKJV): ¹¹Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
• Proverbs 4:4 (ESV): ⁴ he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
• The only way to retain someone’s words in your heart is to revisit them through meditation.
• Psalm 1:1–3 (ESV): ¹Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; ² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
• Joshua 1:8 (ESV): ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
• Deuteronomy 6:6–9 (ESV): ⁶ And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
• Philippians 4:8 (ESV): ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
• Romans 12:2 (ESV): ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
• Colossians 3:2 (ESV): ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

The Scripture gives us a vocabulary for prayer content.

Godly Counsel

• Proverbs 14:12 (ESV): ¹² There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
• Proverbs 12:15 (ESV): ¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
• Proverbs 28:26 (ESV): ²⁶ Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
• Proverbs 11:14 (ESV): ¹⁴ Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
• Proverbs 19:20 (ESV): ²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
• Proverbs 24:5–6 (ESV): ⁵ A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, ⁶ for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

The Holy Spirit

• John 14:16 (ESV): ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
• John 14:26 (ESV): ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
• John 16:13 (ESV): ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Praying in the Spirit

• Jude 20 (ESV): ²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, . . .
• Ephesians 6:18 (ESV): ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. . . .
• Romans 8:26–27 (ESV): ²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Spiritual Language (Speaking in Tongues)

• “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought”
• Sometimes my mind is not equipped with the words for what my prayer need requires:
• 1 Corinthians 14:14 (ESV): ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
• 1 Corinthians 14:2 (ESV): ² For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
• “the Spirit himself intercedes for us”
• The Holy Spirit provides the words:
• Acts 2:4 (ESV): ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
• “the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV): ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
• John 16:13 (ESV): . ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. . .

The purpose of praying in tongues is not to be confused but to be clear.

• 1 Corinthians 14:13 (ESV): ¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
• 1 Corinthians 14: 6 (ESV): ⁶ Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Pray for the gift of speaking in toungues:

• 1 Corinthians 14:1(ESV): ¹ Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. .
  • If spiritual gifts can be desired, then they can be prayed for
• 1 Corinthians 14:13 (ESV): ¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
• If you can pray for the gift of interpretation, then you can pray for the gift of speaking in tongues.
• 1 Corinthians 14:39 (ESV): ³⁹ So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
• Speaking in tongues should not prohibited (but encouraged along with the other spiritual gifts)
• Speaking in Tongues

Establish a prayer life and not just a prayer practice

The Father, The Family, The Kingdom

• We should already be facing that direction.
• Are you praying to draw close to God to begin with

While you can seek God in an emergency – harder to hear Him if you have not already been seeking him (individually and collectively)

The significance of corporate prayer – God speaks in those meetings and in response to those meetings + another way of praying the us/we/our from the Lord’s prayer

Aligning Our Heart with the heart of God

Speaking in tongues.

Setting up ourselves to hear

• Be in the Word
• Be in the community
• Spiritual gifts
• Be submitted to Wise counsel
• Which means you need to have wise counsel

The importance of praying to draw close to God

• To Remember
• Deuteronomy 8:11 (ESV): ¹¹ “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today,
• 2 Kings 22:11–13 (ESV): ¹¹ When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. ¹² And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, ¹³ “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
• 2 Kings 23:2–3 (ESV): ² And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. ³ And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.

 

Review

Earlier this month, we started a series titled, “I prayed about it. (But what does that mean?)”

The objective of this series is to get you to pray. . .

• Sincerely (Put your heart in it)
• Biblically (Follow Scriptural patterns and instructions)
• Attentively (Be responsive to promptings from the Spirit and your observations)
• Regularly (Make prayer a daily practice)
• Persistently (Pray through delays and denials)

In this series, we’re covering four prayer-related topics:

• The Posture of Prayer (My attitude)
• The Content of Prayer (My words)
• The Practice of Prayer (My habits)
• The Accessories of Prayer (My help)

Introduction

Lessons From Peter’s Big Catch

• • Luke 5:4 (ESV): ⁴ And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
  • Luke 5:5-7 (ESV): ⁵ And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” ⁶ And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. ⁷ They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
  • James 5:16–18 (ESV): ¹⁶ . . . .The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. ¹⁸ Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

 

• Luke 5:8 (ESV): ⁸ But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” ⁹ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,

“Prayer is the elevating of the mind, the intellect, the soul, our perspectives, our perceptions to the reality of God. And then looking back at our reality, our circumstance with a totally different perspective. . . .It is accessing the reality of God so that we can now face our problems and circumstances and situations empowered by that reality, bringing God’s reality to our reality.”–Dr. A.R. Bernard

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 (ESV): ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Luke 5:10 (ESV): ¹⁰ . . . . “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” ¹¹ And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Keeping Jesus at the Center of Prayer

Philippians 3:7–8 (ESV): ⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Prayer Practices from Scripture

Let’s look at them.

1. Pray at all the times
   1. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ pray without ceasing,
   2. Ephesians 6:18 (ESV): ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
2. Pray at scheduled times
   1. Psalm 88:13 (ESV): ¹³ But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
   2. Psalm 55:17 (ESV): ¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
   3. Isaiah 62:6 (ESV): ⁶ On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest,
   4. Acts 3:1 (ESV): ¹ Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
   5. Mark 1:35 (ESV): ³⁵ And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
   6. Matthew 14:23 (ESV): ²³ And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
   7. Mark 6:46–47 (ESV): ⁴⁶ And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land.
3. Pray in troubled times
   1. James 5:13 (ESV): ¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
4. Pray about things you don’t think you need to pray for
   1. James 4:13–16 (ESV): ¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— ¹⁴ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
5. Pray when prayer goes unanswered
   • 1. Luke 18:1–8 (ESV): ¹And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. ² He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. ³ And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ⁴ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” ⁶ And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. ⁷ And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? ⁸ I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
     2. Luke 11:5–10 (ESV): ⁵ And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. ⁹ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
6. Pray about all things
   1. Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV): ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
7. Pray with all types of prayer
   1. Ephesians 6:18 (ESV): ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
      1. Petition
      2. Agreement
      3. Intercession
      4. Consecration
      5. Tongues
8. Pray in tongues
   1. 1 Corinthians 14:14–15 (ESV): ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
   2. 1 Corinthians 14:2 (ESV): ² For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
   3. 1 Corinthians 14:6 (ESV): ⁶ Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

 

Review

Last week, we started a series titled, “I prayed about it. (But what does that mean?)”

 

The objective of this series is to get you to pray. . .

• Sincerely (Put your heart in it)

 

• Biblically (Follow Scriptural patterns and instructions)

 

• Attentively (Be responsive to promptings from the Spirit and your observations)

 

• Regularly (Make prayer a daily practice)

 

• Persistently (Pray through delays and denials)

In this series, we’re covering four prayer-related topics:

 

• The Posture of Prayer (My attitude)

 

• The Content of Prayer (My words)

 

• The Practice of Prayer (My habits)

 

• The Accessories of Prayer (My help)

The Lord’s Prayer

• Matthew 6:9–13 (NKJV): 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our 13And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Big Idea

• Matthew 6:9–10 (NKJV): 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

 

• Matthew 6:9–10 (NKJV): 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

 

• The Father, The Family, The Kingdom

 

Prayer is about God’s priorities, not ours.

 

• Matthew 6:31–33 (ESV): 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 

• Matthew 6:11(NKJV): 11Give us this day our daily bread.

 

• After addressing God’s priorities, address the day’s priorities.

 

• Exodus 16:16 (ESV): 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’ ”

 

• Exodus 16:16–20 (ESV): 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. [that day]. You shall each take an omer, [roughly two quarts or two liters] according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’ ”

 

• Determine what you need for the day and focus on that.

 

• Your real need is only the need of the day you’re currently in.

 

• Exodus 16:17-18 (ESV): 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.

 

• Exodus 16:19 (ESV): 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.”

 

• Exodus 16: 20 (ESV): 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.
  • Lesson: Don’t bring the stress of tomorrow into today.

 

• Matthew 6:34 (ESV): 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

• God’s ways will ALWAYS outperform your ways.

 

• Focus on what you need today and trust God with tomorrow.

 

• Focus on the day helps us to walk with Him.

 

• He’s always present with us, but are we present with Him?

Clean Hands and a Pure Heart

 

• Matthew 6:12(NKJV): 12And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our

 

• Matthew 6:13 (NKJV): 13And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. . . .

 

• Psalm 24:3–6 (ESV): 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

Beyond Need

 

• Psalm 37:4 (ESV): 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 

• John 15:5 (ESV): 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

 

• John 15:7 (ESV): 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

First Prayer Steps for Beginners

What do we literally say?

• One Simple Formula (How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig)

 

• Basic Formula: P.R.A.Y.

 

• Pause

 

• Rejoice

 

• Ask

 

• Yield

 

• Example

 

• “Lord, I stop to give rejoice and give thanks for waking me up this morning. Please guide my decisions today. Help me submit to your wisdom.”

Developing a Prayer Vocabulary

• Pray the Scripture

 

• Examples:

 

• Psalm 24:3–4 (ESV): 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

 

• Lord, give me clean hands and a pure heart.

 

• Ephesians 1:16–18 (ESV): 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you. . .

 

• Lord, open their eyes so they can see you clearly.

 

• Free resources

 

• How To Pray Scripture Back to God Resource: https://www.wycliffe.org/blog/posts/how-to-pray-scripture-back-to-god

 

• Examples from this resource:

 

• Colossians 3:15 (ESV): 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

 

• “Lord Jesus, quiet my heart and let Your peace rule in me as I come before You today”

 

• Revelation 7:9–10 (ESV): 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

 

• “Lord, may the Quechua people in South America join the great multitude praising You around the throne. Prepare their hearts for Your Word.”

 

• “God, I lift up the Deaf communities around the world. May Your Word in sign languages bring joy and transformation so they too are part of the worshipping crowd.”

 

• “Father, let the vision of Revelation 7:9 stir my heart to pray for the Koma people of Ghana. May they one day lift their voices in praise with Your Word in hand.”

 

• 222 Prayers of the Bible: https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/prayernew/222-prayers-of-the-bible/

 

• Types of Prayers and Sample Prayers: https://graceplano.church/blog/2024/09/17/8-types-of-prayer-for-everyday-life

 

• Resources on Types of Prayer:

 

• 7 Different Types of Prayers: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/live-it-post/7-different-types-of-prayer-from-the-bible/

 

• What are the different types of prayer?https://www.gotquestions.org/types-of-prayer.html

 

• General Prayer Resource Tools

 

• 10 Free Tools For Prayer You Can Use Today! Best Free Resources on how to pray

 

• Resources for Purchase

 

• Praying the Prayers of the Bible by James Banks

 

• All the Prayers of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer

 

• Use Prayer Books

 

• Resource for Purchase

 

• Prayers that Avail Much by Germaine Copeland

 

• Start with Prayer: 250 Prayers for Hope and Strength by Max Lucado

 

• Listen to Seasoned people Pray

 

• At corporate prayer meetings

 

• In prayer groups

 

• When invited into a prayer of agreement

 

• Book and online audio devotional on prayer with sample prayers

 

• Book for Purchase

 

• 21 Days of Breakthrough Prayer: The Power of Agreement by Jim Maxim

 

• Inspired Speech from the Holy Spirit

 

• Human (or natural) language

 

• Luke 12:11–12 (ESV): 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

 

• Acts 4:8 (ESV): 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them. . . .

 

• Luke 1:41–42 (ESV): 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

 

• Luke 1:67 (ESV): 67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

 

• Heavenly (or spiritual) language

 

• Acts 2:4 (ESV): 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

• Acts 10:45–46 (ESV): 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,

 

• Pray for an interpretation of tongues

 

• 1 Corinthians 14:13–15 (ESV): 13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

 

• 1 Corinthians 14:6 (ESV): 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Additional Prayer Subject Matter

• People in Authority

 

• 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV): 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

 

• Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV): 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

 

• Church vision, leadership, congregation, needs

 

• Colossians 1:9 (ESV): 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

 

• Ephesians 1:15–16 (ESV): 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

 

• Requests from other people
  • Ephesians 6:18–20 (ESV): 18 . . . .To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
• • 2 Thessalonians 3:1–2 (ESV): 1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.

 

• Pray for the people around you, which often requires appeals to God for peace:

 

• Romans 12:18 (ESV): 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

 

• James 3:17–18 (ESV): 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

• The wisdom to make peace must be requested through prayer:

 

• James 1:5 (ESV): 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

 

• Categories of people included in this
• Family
• Neighbors
• Retailers
• Fellow Students
• Team Members
• Co-Workers

Review

Last week, we started a series titled, “I prayed about it. (But what does that mean?)”

The objective of this series is to get you to pray. . .

• Sincerely (Put your heart in it)
• Biblically (Follow Scriptural patterns and instructions)
• Attentively (Be responsive to promptings from the Spirit and your observations)
• Regularly (Make prayer a daily practice)
• Persistently (Pray through delays and denials)

We are going to cover four prayer-related topics:

• The Posture of Prayer (My attitude)
• The Content of Prayer (My words)
• The Practice of Prayer (My habits)
• The Accessories of Prayer (My help)

 

Making sense of Heart Posture

• Just like there is a posture of the body, there is a posture of the heart.

 

Why Forgiveness Matters

• Mark 11:25 (ESV): 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

 

• Unforgiveness dishonors God.

 

Keeping Our Heart, Words and Actions in Alignment

• Matthew 15:8 (ESV): 8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

 

• 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

 

God’s X-Ray Vision

• Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

• Hebrews 4:13 (ESV): 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

 

Getting Specific About Matters of the Heart

• Indifference

 

• Timidity

 

• 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV): 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

 

• 2 Corinthians 4:13 (ESV): 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,

 

• Mark 11:22–23 (NKJV): 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

 

• Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV): 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

• False humility

 

• Passive-Aggressive

 

Presumptuousness: The Silent Killer of Confidence (in God)

• Presumptuousness

 

• To be presumptuous is to make naive assumptions about what you have the liberty and the means to do.

 

• James 4:13 (ESV): 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—

 

• James 4:14(ESV): 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

 

• James 4:15 (ESV):15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

• James 4:16 (ESV):16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

 

• 1 John 2:16 (ESV): 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

 

• But if I read this same passage in the Amplified Version, look what it says

 

• 1 John 2:16 (AMP):16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].

 

• Luke 12:16–21 (ESV): 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

 

How to Be Rich Toward’s God

• To be rich toward God is to have an attitude toward God that is honored by God.

• 1 Samuel 13:14 (ESV): 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, . . .

 

• Acts 13:22 (ESV): 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

 

• Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV): 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

1 Corinthians 1:10–13 (NKJV): 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

The Prayer Life of Jesus

Luke 5:15–16 (ESV): 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

 

• Notice what gets noticed.

 

• Be careful when you can pay for what you used to pray for.

 

Luke 6:12–13 (ESV): 12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:

 

Mark 1:32–39 (ESV): 32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

 

Luke 11:1 (ESV): 1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Series Overview

• The Posture of Prayer (My attitude)

 

• The Content of Prayer (My words)

 

• The Practice of Prayer (My habits)

 

• The Accessories of Prayer (My help)

Series Objectives

• Sincerely (Put your heart in it)

 

• Biblically (Follow Scriptural patterns and instructions)

 

• Attentively (Be responsive to promptings from the Spirit and your observations)

 

• Regularly (Make prayer a daily practice)

 

• Persistently (Pray through delays and denials)

What Does a Response to the Series Look Like Practically?

 

Prayer’s Big Picture

Your prayer life matters not only to you and your family, but to the world.

Mark 11:15–16 (ESV): 15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.

Jesus Applies the Old Testament

Mark 11:17 (ESV): 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”

Lessons from Isaiah

Isaiah 56: 3 (ESV): 3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

 

Isaiah 56:4-6 (ESV): 4 For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, 5 I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. 6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—

 

Isaiah 56: 7 (ESV): 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

 

Isaiah 56: 8 (ESV): 8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.”

Insight from Moses

 

Deuteronomy 4:5–7 (ESV): 5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?

 

• Prayer is the result of having confidence in God.

 

So then what does it mean when a faith community stops praying?

Lessons from Jeremiah

Jeremiah 7:4 (ESV): 4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’ 

 

Jeremiah 7:8-11 (ESV): 8 “Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations? 11 Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord.

One Voice & One Vison

Identifying the Enemies of Unity

 

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 KJV

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

 

1 Corinthians 16:12 NKJV

12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.

Definitions

Divisions –

NT:4978 schisma (skhis’-mah); from NT:4977; a split or gap (“schism”), literally or figuratively:

KJV – division, rent, schism.

 

Key Point

“A schisms in the body is where we get the phrase “Church Split!”

 

Definitions

Schisms –

1. division of a group into opposing factions
2. the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences

Psalms 133 NKJV

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing

 

Key Point

“The Oil doesn’t flow until the brethren are in unity!”

Ephesians 4:3 NIV

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

 

Key Point

“We must be intentional about keeping unity in the church!”

Enemies of Unity

1. Saul’s Armor – 1 Sam 17:38-39
2. Old Seasons – Matt 11:1-6
3. Dissatisfaction – 1 Cor 12:20-25
4. Singing Virgins – 1 Sam 18:6-7

 

1 Samuel 17:38-39 NKJV

38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.

 

Matthew 11:1-6 KJV

And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me.

Key Point

“You have to want a move of God, even if it doesn’t include you!”

 

1 Corinthians 12:20-26 NKJV

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

Key Point

“When people are not satisfied with their portion, they don’t stay in position!”

 

Definitions

Schisms (root)

NT:4977 schizo (skhid’-zo); apparently a primary verb; to split or sever (literally or figuratively):

KJV – break, divide, open, rend, make a rent.

 

Key Point

“Dissatisfaction leads to Spiritual Schizophrenia!”

Key Point

“Just because you know how to do something doesn’t mean your authorized to do it!”

 

1 Samuel 18:6-7 KJV

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands

Key Point

“Everyone calls out Saul, but no one calls out the singers!”

 

Key Point

“Paul didn’t let the singers turn him against Apollos!”

Territory

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills, he would cry out and cut himself with stones. Mark 5:1-10 NIV

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. (territory) Mark 5:1-10 NIV

The enemy wasn’t concerned with leaving the man…the enemy was concerned with leaving the territory.

The enemy doesn’t just fight you for where you are…he fights you for where you’re going.

Seeing Jesus and Speaking Like Him

Opening Verse: I Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)

Point #1: Jesus is our ONE VISION 

a. Matthew 16:13-18

Point #2: How to see Jesus?

a. Spend daily, unhurried time reading and meditating in the Bible. 

b. Pray for the eyes of your understanding to be enlightened. 

      1. Ephesians 1:17-18

c. Attend church regularly.

      1. Reference Hebrews 10:24-25

d. Join a small group. 

e. Serve

Point #3: How to apply speaking the same thing?

a. To hold the same doctrine.

b. Speak in agreement with the Bible.

      1. Amos 3:32. Ephesians 4:14-15

c. Speak the same vision in the local church.