Principles In Life: 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.