Acts 2:42
"On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow " (Part IV)
Gospelcom Bible Gateway
INTRODUCTION:
A. What is happening in your devotional life?
B. Is "grass growing in your own path"?
C. Would you like your payer life to be more than what it is?
D. Let's go from general to specific this morning - A description of your Prayer Life, A Depiction of your Prayer Life
I. A Description of your Prayer Life
A. They prayed regularly
1. (Acts 1:12-14; Acts 1:24-26)
a. What can we learn from these verses?
b. "Pray for great things, expect great things, work for great things but above all pray" - R. Torrey
2. Acts 6 :3-4
B. They prayed customarily
1. Tis pros-seuchais - There is an article in front of the word prayer in the Greek ("the prayers") which connoted a specific set of prayers of method or kind of prayer. What were they? (Acts 3:1)
2. The ninth hour was 3 pm.
3. 9, 12 and 3 were the prayer time done at the temple, Why did they go to the temple?
4. Do you take time in your temple (your body) to talk to God at regular and customary times?
5. Why would they as early Christians go to the temple to pray
6. What was Jesus pattern of prayer? (Our Father)
7. Take time
C. They prayed instinctively
1. Is your first instinct when ever anything happens to you do you instinctively pray?
a. Acts 12:4-5
b. Why is it that the first thing that we ought to do is the last thing that we do?
c. Do you have an attitude after everything has been done that "There is nothing left that we can do is pray?" or do you begin with prayer?
d. Remember if you pray first then the "big things" never get big.
e. Is it ok to bring the small things to God? "....Madam, do you think that there is anything that is really big to God?" G. Campbell Morgan
II. A Depiction of your Prayer Life
A. Acts 4:24-31 - During a time of crisis notice that the first thing they did was pray. How did they pray?
1. Their prayer had perspective
a. they did not use kurios that used depostas
b. They appealed to the one with ultimate authority
c. Remember who you are talking to when you pray
d. Acts 4:25-26 is quoting Psalm 2
e. They remembered that God knew about this before it happened.
f. The more that you know the bible you know God, you know HIs power, majesty and control and this helps you to have perspective (Drawing Near)
2. Their prayer had balance
a. For five verses before verse 29 (the request) was praise and adoration
b. Do you rush into God's throne room as if it was the emergency room or do you come and linger for awhile
c. Do you only talk to God when it is a crisis?
d. When was the last time you spent time with God to just be in love with Him and to be loved by Him
3. Their prayer had direction
a. Notice that they dod not say remove their threats but look on
b. Their prayer was not vague, it was direct, to the point, and specific
c. Never pray to be understood but pray that it impossible to be misunderstood
1). Give us boldness and keep healing us so that the Gospel might be given
2). Notice that they prayed to do exactly the same thing that got them in trouble to begin with
4. Their prayer had results
APPLICATION:
1. Ask God what He wants you to do? What's next
2. Our communication towards God ought to be regular and customary to spend the first part of the morning with God. Is this your custom? If not develop it and keep your appointment with God
3. Are you interdependent to one another in the body and dependent upon God? Remember that there is no independence in Christ.
4. Take time in your small group to pray. Pray with perspective, direction, balance and expect results. Remember, "after prayer, the power will be on!"
5. Share with everyone in your group how you will change your schedule so that your prayer life become customary and regular.
6. The first prayer that you must pray for for all following prayers is a prayer of repentance
MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:
ACTS 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.