The Power of Prayer - RECAP

Last week we finished out our three part series on prayer with a powerful reality:  Our primary calling as Christians is to be present, and active in the kingdom work of God to reach the lost with the life changing gospel message of Jesus Christ.  It is our purpose!

But working against us is the enemy of God, and the enemy of our soul; Satan, and his legion of fallen angels.  He is the god of this age who works to blind the lost to the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor 4:3-4), and the tools of his trade are lies, theft death, and destruction (John 8:8, 10:10).  We also learned that one of the most effective strategies that Satan has is to keep Christians bogged down and enslaved with every sin and problem and issue that he can lure us into. And know this: Satan isn’t interested in keeping you down just to be mean, he wants to immobilize you from your purpose and calling in the kingdom.

This understanding of Satan’s strategy helps us to realize the importance of a strong and faith-filled Christian walk: Our marriages need to be strong, our relationships need to be right, and our walk needs to be spirit-filled so that we can be ready and available for the role that God has for us in His kingdom.  When we become consumed with “our problems” and “our issues” and “our struggles,” we are unavailable for God’s purpose in our lives. We cant run a race with chains tied to our feet.  That’s why the writer of Hebrews wrote:

…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Heb 12:1)

Guys the race isn’t just about running, it isn’t just about getting to heaven;  It is about finishing well, with our glory being the people that will surround us in heaven as we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, for all eternity. 

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. (1 Thess 2:19-20)

That is why our prayer life is so important:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ… (2 Cor 10:4-5)

• Praying in the Name of Jesus; according to His nature, His character, and His will.
• Praying in faith; Believing God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do.
• Praying with authority; based on our position of authority under Jesus Christ
• Praying scripture: The truth and promises of God.
• Having a life of constant, open communication with God, praying always!
• Praying for our unsaved friends and family:  that God would break through and strongholds or arguments to the light of the gospel, and for an open door of opportunity to share Christ.

 So, what’s next in our LevelUpCCW series?  Well now that we’re strengthened by the word of God, and the power of prayer, now we need to look at our gifts and calling, and how God wants to put those gifts and calling to use in His kingdom.

Join us Sunday at 9:30 or 11:30 AM, for the next installment of our LevelUpCCW series: “Engage”

… till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Level Up Week 4 - PRAYER

Last week concluded our three week mini-series on “The Word of God,” and hopefully you came away from that with a few powerful truths:

The bible is the intact, inerrant word of God, preserved through the ages.

The bible is life for us, truth that we can apply to our lives, and useful for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

We will be blessed and grow if we will spend time reading, understanding, and applying God’s word to our lives.

I even issued a challenge:  if you are not currently reading your bible, I challenge you to spend time every day for thirty days – reading, understanding, and applying it to your life – and I guarantee you will see a change in your life!

But spending time in God’s word is not just for instruction; it’s also for developing a relationship with our God.  Learning who He is, what He thinks, how He feels about us.  It’s important that we get to know God!  Yet relationships are not one way, but two way.  Both parties express their thoughts, feelings, sharing their heart.  And that is where this next mini series comes in: Our communication to God – PRAYER!

Often we assume that all Christians know how to pray, and do so often.  That may not always be the case, as I have found:

• Some Christians don't pray at all
• Some Christians don't know how to pray
• Some Christians have never experience an answer to prayer, and they wonder why, perhaps even give up.
• Some don’t understand the powerful reality of what prayer can do in their life.

Starting this week, at Calvary of Wilmington, we will spend a few weeks unraveling the mysteries of prayer.  I hope you’ll join us!

Pastor Clay

The Challenge

So we’ve finished up the first part of our #LEVELUPCCW series, “The Word of God.”

Hopefully you have come away with a few things:

1. Why we can know that the bible we have today is indeed the inerrant, intact and complete word of God, handed down by the apostles and the prophets.
2. How to read, understand, and interpret the word of God:  Read, Understand, Live.
3. Our Relationship to the word of God

Now comes the fun part: The Challenge!  “The challenge,” you say?  Yes, THE CHALLENGE! 

Sometimes we need a challenge to help us form new disciplines in our lives.  Sales teams set a challenge to make a certain number of calls.  Personal trainers set a challenge to work out a certain number of times a week.  A few months ago my wife and I challenged each other to lose twenty pounds.  Having a challenge, a goal, gives us something to shoot for.  Otherwise, how do we know if we have made any progress?  It is also known that in order to establish a new habit, you have to do it for at least thirty days.

So I am going to lay a challenge out in front of you:  Read your bible, every day, for thirty days. 

I’m not going to tell you how much to read, that can be up to you.  The book you choose can be up to you.  But pick a book, and read at least a half-chapter each day.  If you are not sure of which book to read, pick the gospel of John, or the book of Romans.  Here is a pattern to follow:

• Budget your time – Set aside at least thirty minutes.  You have to budget the time, otherwise you’ll skip it. Yes you may have to get up earlier. You would do it to surf, so go ahead!
• Pray – Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you
• Read – Read through the section 2-3 times
• Understand – Remember the questions we suggested:

Who are the people mentioned in the passage?

Who is the author speaking to?

What event is taking place?

Is there a theme of the paragraph?

Is there a situation being addressed?  

Was there a specific right/wrong being addressed?

Is there an expected result or resolution being sought?

Is there a comparison or a contrast being given? 

• Apply – Write down at least one thing you can apply in your life

Is there a habit I need to change?

Is there a sin I need to confess?

Is there a truth I need to embrace?

Is there a lie I need to reject?

Is there someone I should apologize to?

Caution:  Our enemy, Satan, does not want you reading your bible.  It has waaayyyy too much truth in it for his purposes!  So recognize that you will experience some resistance. Push through it.

Here is the good exciting part:  If you will commit to read with word of God every day for thirty days, you WILL see a difference in your life.  Your peace will increase.  You’ll have more joy.  You’ll find wisdom that will be directly applicable to situations in your life.  Here's why:  The word is LIFE!

So, take the challenge, you won’t regret it.

Pastor Clay