It takes Discpline to be Disciple : Developing the Habit of Effective and Fervent Prayer Life.
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This morning the LORD has laid on my heart to share a message on developing the Effective and Fervent Prayer Life.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored.
Effectual and Fervent means-
The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].
An Biblical Example
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed [a]intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops [as usual].
You and I can be modern day examples of God’s powers demonstrated on this earth.
If God who is no respector of person used Elijah You and I could be modern day examples of God power to heal our land . 1 Chron 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
First it start with discipline, then it becomes a habit, then it become a desire , delight and something we do without thinking
This pattern happen for unhealthy or healthy things .
For some it could be overeating, cigerattes,looking at too much TV, using profanity, drinking too alcohol. We all have been enslaved by sinful habit/ disciplines.
Habits/ disciplines cannot be just broken they must be replaced.
How do we develop spiritual habits and discipline?
According to experts with Psychology Today, habits form when new behaviors become automatic and are enacted with minimum conscious awareness. That's because “the behavioral patterns we repeat most often are literally etched into our neural pathways.”
Most habits are etched in brain and one we do it over and over it take little thought or effort to perform it.
However, the spiritual discipline of prayer should be etched in heart, mind, and soul. Heart felt , passionate, prayer and faith that get results.
The early disciple saw Jesus preach, teach, heal, do miracles and prophesy.
Yet they never asked Jesus to do any of those things .
They ask Jesus to teach them to pray...
Paul inspired by the Holy Ghost prioritized prayer so much that he wrote in the letter to the Thessolonian church. To pray without ceasing . 1 Thes 5:17
17 Pray without ceasing.
To “pray without ceasing” means to have our minds always on the things of God, to be in constant communication with him, so that every moment may be as fruitful as possible.
Pray is easier said than done Jesus could not get his disciple to tarry with me for one hour. Matt 26:40-41
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Likewise in this day and time we as believers are sleep, not aware of the need to watch and pray. God want to do so much but he will not intervene if there are no prayers.
Jesus gave his followers a road map an model to use to show us how to pray.
The disciples asked Jesus to show them how to pray because they uderstood to get the results that Jesus got they had to do what he did.
I handed out a model that I learned a long time from Dr. Larry Lea to help understand biblical road map Jesus gave us . ( Tess benefited from a model in school)
How many in here have a specific time they pray … I suggest if possible rise up early .. this what Jesus did. Mark 1:35
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Once we get caught in my day I find it hard to undistracted alone time. ( I had to practice this on Navy ship)
Write your pray request and checkoff when answered.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
In order to pray we must a relationship with the one we are are praying to and believing
Open the windows of heaven.
Let’ s declare God Words and have communion