3) the Miracle Altar

Introduction:

Altars of Prayer: 1) Personal, 2) Core

NEED prayer to make it thru life!! (fasting)…

Weren’t designed to pray it alone; bear burdens or shake strongh'ds!

G. gives one another; invite someone to partner w you in prayr!

Seen G. move just this week bc of power of corp. prayer!

Church in gen. needs a refresher on prayer. Think she’s lost something >>

The Lost Priority of Prayer

Furthest origins of Church can see pic. of them praying tog:

Acts 2:1–2 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.”

No coincidence that Church got its start by group prayer!

Chal’ge: look thru Acts @ times of prayer: happ’d all the time! Constant!

Guidance, victory, miracle, power, boldness, etc. etc.

Pray w/o ceasing

‘times personality draws more toward private OR corp. prayer — get out of comfort zone e’ry once in while!

Lost that priority today - to join together corporately for a need.

Prayer can be learned!

“Practice makes proficient!” — Start small; believe for more strength, patience, focus!

Meet us Wed at 7!

Spiritual Victory & Prayer

Mark 9 - JC. reveals his spiritual nature to disc. on mt’side; amazed! But in valley, other disc. were struggl’g to free a boy w/ demon!

Mark 9:18 “Whenever [the demon] seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.””

Trained for this, seen JC do it, even had some success on their own. But disc. were stymied!

Jesus rebuked them and healed the boy. Disc. were shaken & curious: What was the secret? Teach’g moment >>

Mark 9:28–29 “After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.””

See church:

“There are some giants you’ll only overcome; some miracles you’ll only see; some battles which are only won by constant prayer!”

The word for prayer here [προσεθχομαι] is a word for prayer used often - it basically means intercession

Can also be trans. as a ‘place of prayer’ [impl. that you return to]

This is why older translations include fasting.

a regular practice and habit of pleading with the Lord on yours or some1 else’s behalf.

Only THEN will you see the spiritual vic. won!

Some you today fighting a spir’l battle, but you've fallen prey to fight’g on enemy’s terms. Need focused prayer effort!

2 Corinthians 10:4 “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

AP says that this kind of miraculous incident shouldn’t be so rare!

In fact, God’s pow'fl action thru us (when we consistent in prayer) should be what convinces others that the Gospel is truth: >>

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”

Perhaps this is how the Church has waxed & waned over the years despite the truth of its nature!

We’ve been really busy training up debaters & spokespeople (really smart ppl); not as much emphasis on relying on HS & seeing God move.

Need BOTH!

Perhaps a resurgence happ’g bc the world is so crazy. Church is praying again!

Say: Pastor, HOW can I even begin to be open to being used like this? >>

Keys to POWER-ful Prayers:

Few very simple ideas that take some time & will power to put into practice. Then practical reminders at the end.

1st reminder >>

God’s the Same; Believe!

'times we talk about healing needs or prayer as if God doesn’t do it any more!

Have had to repent of this in my own life!

Call ‘self "Pentecostal" (believe gifts of HS for today), but have prayed weak prayrs in my life!

Been radically challenged on this in my life!

author Heb. reminds us:

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Walk through life never asking God for healing; or asking not expecting!

God wants us to pray expectantly!

Elijah uniquely call’d by God; had lot of doubts (depression) in midst of very challeging assg’t

YH promised to end 3yr. drought & E. , b4 even prayed—declared by faith >>

1 Kings 18:41 ““Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.””

THEN, He prayed 7 times before even slightest hint of rain came!

YH had promised to make it rain, but E. still had to work for it - pray for it - have faith for it!

YHWH really wants us to pray big prayers; prayers that take faith to believe for!

…and then believe that HE can do it by His power.

***defffff still submit to His will*** Not trying to control Him

***defffff still ask Him to change your heart*** This is NOT doubt!!

Maybe dream a little bit about what it’d be like 2B used this way.

Psalms are a GREAT resource for believing for & trusting God to act.

GOOGLE: “Psalms praying for justice”; “Psalms asking for peace”; “Psalms asking for healing”; “Psalms about grief”

Then pray that Psalm over your sit. Esp. handy if U don’t know where 2 start!

Not an incantation, but a way to pray something inspired by His Spirit.

& we know: HS is the power source for God’s miracles today >>

Leave Space for the Spirit; Obey!

In Luke’s acct. of the early church, read about Philip.

Phil left thriving ministry in Samaria to walk a desert hwy!

Acts 8:26 “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.””

Leagues out of his way, maybe thirsty, yet he obeyed.

U may know story: met Ethiop traveling home & wondering ‘bout scroll of Isaiah. Phil talked to him, lead to X, baptized....

THEN GOT TO TELEPORT via HS!

How?!

God’s plan on that day was to single out one Ethio’an man.

YHWH had big plans for Phillip, but he had to first be listening to the Holy Spirit…

imag. if he had not stop’d to pray that AM. Maybe Thaddeus get shot??

This desert detour could’ve thrown off his who plan for day!

THEN, after teleport, would up in whole new area — continued witness’g!

Isaiah 40:31 “Those who hope in [wait on] the Lord will renew their strength.”

See Phil wasn’t rocked by a God-sized sidequest bc he had been talking to & listening for HS on the regular.

In our prayer time (corp., priv., Core, etc), do you leave space for HS to speak? ‘Wait on the Lord’?

As you go on walk, to store, in drop-off line @sch’l --- pray & ask God what you can do for Him; say to someone; how use U...?

That’s Usually the first step! Wait, listen, pay attn., be on lookout.

Could speak to you every. single. day!

Leave space for Spirit to speak or guide or direct or move!!

Ephesians 4:30 “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”

Do not claim to have God’s Spirit in you, then ignore or even purposefully live against Him…

To tap into God’s miraculous plan for you, believe, obey, >>

Keep on Praying; Persist!

Seems like an all too easy part, but when pray’g becomes tough or rote, hard to maintain.

EJS > pray for baby Manny (adopted cousin) way b4 there was any baby in sight!

Never stopped! Kept praying and praying.

Still praying for needs which seem almost hopeless, yet we persist!

Tip: keep a prayer list handy (phones great)! Less likely to forget when other needs crop up!

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Paul surrounds his command for us to never stop praying with a focus on thanksgiving!

Not only should we not stop praying, but we should surround our prayer with thanksgiving.

I think the rejoicing helps us continue! True apprec. for who God is amidst your groans & petitions.

Jesus crafts a story about persistent widow to teach disc. to NEVER GIVE UP praying!

Luke 18:1 “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

When the going gets tough, long in tooth, keep it up!

Consistency is key!

Even if U feel like your faith is waning… keep praying!

BIGGER prayers grow us into more MATURE Christians.

the bigger the obstacle, the more faith it takes - stretches us!

there is real maturity found in places where reg. human means [of solving] are outclassed.

BTW — not dependent on length or wordiness of prayer! Short but sweet will do.

rarely see a long prayer in Acts: “get up and walk” is not a lengthy but it got the job done!

Don’t need to take up someone’s whole day in superm’kt!

Want you to personalize this. Make it your own. Take it home, to the bank! >>

Building your Miracle Altar

1. Anoint & Lay on Hands

James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.”

Simple physical practical way to increase your faith -

Phys. sign of God’s moving & pwr to act!

Let God heal as you pray by faith.

2. Focus on God’s Promises (Scripture)

Praying Psalms earlier? Yes!

2 Corinthians 1:20 “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

Perhaps God has spoken over your life (thru some1, scripture, song, word)… trust it!

Pray that promise. Hold to promise!

Also means - we’ve been in prayer (w others) enough to hear God speak!

Trust God to do what He said he’d do.

3. Tell Somebody!

Go tell it on the Mt.!

Spread the good news!

Share a testimony! — right NOW in the comments (still here)!

Results in rejoicing; brings even more ppl into your life/sitch; grows untold # of ppl’s faith!!

God’s glory ^^ and enemy’s role \/ \/!