Sunday, April 20, 2008

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The BIG "P"


The Big "P": The Best Pattern for Our Prayers

ADEQUATE & EFFECTIVE PRAYERS

Matthew 6:5-8 (New Living Translation)

5“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 7“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9Pray like this:


For Our Prayers to be Adequate and Effective:

  • ·         It must be Non-showy (v. 5)
  • ·         It must be Non-public 
  •        It must be Non-repetitive (v. 7)

 

THE BIG “P” PRAYER PATTERN...

I.  ADORATION

·         Matthew 6:9 (NLT) Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.


II. CONFESSION

·         Matthew 6:12 (NLT) …and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.


III.  THANKSGIVING

·         Matthew 6:10 (NLT) May your Kingdom come soon.  May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.


IV.   SUPPLICATION

·         Matthew 6:11,13 (NLT) Give us today the food we need,…And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

·         Let us Prayer for…(supplication) (a)Personal Needs (v. 11) and, (b)       Freedom from Temptation (v. 13)

Monday, April 07, 2008

Prayer: Fuel of the Vision by Pastor TOTO Gustilo


PRAYER:FUEL OF THE VISION

Pastor Bill Hybels: Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion in you.

Passion is like a fire in our bones which will never be quenched.

For fire to continue we need fuel. Prayer is the fuel which fires up the vision.

FOR OUR PRAYERS TO BE EFFECTIVE FUEL FOR THE VISION…

A.        Prayers must be SIMPLE

·         Matthew 6:5-8 (The Message)         5And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? 6“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. 7“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. 8Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.

·         Simple doesn’t mean ordinary. Rather it must not be “flashy.”

 

B.       Prayers must be STRIKING

Our prayers must be “striking” or “appealing” to God. He surely responds to us when our prayers are

1.       God says: “SLOW’ (when the timing is wrong)

·         Natural people’s attitude: take “No” for an answer

·         Let’s be comforted that when God says “no” there’s a reason “why”

·         Matthew 6:9-10 (The Message) 9With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. 10Set the world right; Do what’s best—as above, so below.

2.       God says: “GROW” (when you are really wrong)

·         God as father saying to us: “Why should I honor your request when you don’t honor mine?”

·         It is like God also saying to us: “Grow up child!”

·         “Deserve before you desire” 

·         Matthew 6:11-13 (The Message) 11Keep us alive with three square meals. 12Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. 13Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.

·         For us to grow, we must be: well-fed, exercised (pushed to our limits) and protected.

3.       God says: “GO” (when the timing and our hearts are right)       

·         Matthew 6:13 (The Message) You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.

·         When God moves you it will always be according to his will and to the fulfillment of his glory. It’s never about you.

·         1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 

C.        Prayers must be SACRIFICIAL

·         Matthew 6:14-18 (The Message)     14“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do (Sacrifice of the Self). You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others (Sacrifice of the Extra Mile). 15If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.16“When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it (Sacrifice of Appetites). It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. 17If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly (Sacrifice of Training). Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face (Sacrifice of Attention). 18God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well.

·         All types of sacrifice leads to a form of reward.                                                                                                        

NOW WHAT?

·         Call (to sacrifice) – pray and fast

·         Character – do we have the patience? Ask from the Holy Spirit

·         Conviction – do we have the willpower? Ask from the Holy Spirit

·         Capability – can we do it? Yes. By God’s grace. 

TODAY! by Pastor TOTO Gustilo


TODAY What We Do Today Will Significantly Affect Our Tomorrows

John Maxwell (Today Matters): “I may sound trite (too common), but today is the only time you have. It’s too late for yesterday. And you can’t depend on tomorrow. That’s why today matters.”

TOPICS

·   Correct Thinking About Tomorrow

·   God’s Concept of a “Day”

·   Maximizing Today

CORRECT THINKING ABOUT TOMORROW

“What we do today will affect our tomorrow!” (Matthew 6:34)

GOD’S CONCEPT OF A “DAY”

God takes his time (2 Peter 3:8-10). We must live DEDICATED Lives (2 Peter 3:11-12a)

MAXIMIZE TODAY

1. TODAY I Must TRAIL a Positive Path & Destination 

    Set the course of our day’s destination. 

    Proverbs 14:22

2. TODAY I Must OPEN My Heart & Mind to God’s Leadership

    Be open to God’s unpredictable leading. 

    Proverbs 16:9

    Proverbs 16:3

3. TODAY I Must DEAL with Urgent Details

    Choose between:

a) “What’s important now which can affect my tomorrow”

b) “What can be done for the next days”

Psalm 90:12

4. TODAY I Must AMPLIFY my Small Victories

    Let your small victories be a “jumping board” to larger victories.

    1 Corinthians 10:31b

5. TODAY I Must YIELD to God’s Undying Vision

    The vision never dies!

    2 Timothy 2:9-10