Page Discipleship Handbook Discipleship 201 DISCIPLESHIP

71 Pages·2006·0.42 MB·English

by  Aryn Meritt

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DISCIPLESHIP 201 OUTLINE...........................................................................95
POWERFUL PRAYER.......................................................................................97
THE PLACE OF PRAYER IN OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.............................100
THE LIFE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH - PRAYER............................................105
PROPER PERSPECTIVE REQUIRED BEFORE TITHING.............................108
GIVING LESS THAN A TITHE?.......................................................................109
GIVING AND TITHING.....................................................................................111
ALTERNATE USE OF TITHES........................................................................118
QUESTION: IS ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETINGS OF THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY
ESSENTIAL OR OPTIONAL? .........................................................................121
IS ATTENDING CHURCH A SPECTATOR EVENT?......................................121
EVERY CHURCH MEMBER OUGHT TO BE IN SUNDAY SCHOOL.............124
CHURCH ATTENDANCE STRENGTHENS THE HOME.................................124
PERSONAL WORSHIP....................................................................................125
TRUE BODY LIFE RESULTS IN ACCOUNTABILITY.....................................126
BASIC RULES FOR BIBLE STUDY................................................................127
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE..........................................................................127
SIX PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO BIBLE STUDY.....................................129
HOW TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD............................................................132
THE BIBLE: A BOOK LIKE NO OTHER.........................................................133
FROM INFORMATION TO TRANSFORMATION............................................136
WHAT THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY..................................................................138
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WHAT IS EVANGELISM?................................................................................140
WINNING MEN TO CHRIST ............................................................................142
CHRISTIAN WIVES AND UNSAVED HUSBANDS.........................................145
ELOQUENCE OR ENTHUSIASM IN SOUL-WINNING?.................................147
FISHERS OF MEN...........................................................................................149
SUFFICIENT FOR THE TASK.........................................................................150
PERSONAL EVANGELISM.............................................................................152
THE LAYMAN DOES PERSONAL EVANGELISM .........................................155
METHODS FOR SOULWINNING....................................................................157
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DISCIPLESHIP 201 Outline

I. Discipline of Faith (Prayer) (1 Timothy 2:8; James 5:16)
A. Every Christian Should Learn to Pray Well
B. The Christian Has a Unique Privilege in Prayer
C. There are Certain Conditions of the Heart that are essential to
Effective Prayer

II. Discipline of Finances (Tithes & Offerings) (1 Corinthians 16:2;
Malachi 3:10)
A. Old Testament Tithes
B. New Testament Offerings

III. Discipline of Love (Church Attendance) (Hebrews 10:25)
A. Congregational Worship/ Personal Worship
B. Accountability to the Brethren/ Brotherly Love/ Discipline

IV. Discipline of Mind (Bible Study) (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:15)

A. Regular Reading of Scripture
B. Deeper Study of Scripture
C. Group Study of Scripture

IV. Disciple of Obedience (Evangelism) (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16)
A. The Nature of Evangelism
B. The Evangelism of the Family
C. The Evangelism of Friends
D. The Evangelism of Foreigners
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PRAYER: An Outline Study1 James 4:3
8. Must not pray to be seen or heard of men—
I. Definition of Prayer Matt. 6:5
Prayer is the sincere expression of a soul’s 9. Must be humble and penitent—Luke 18:14
desires, gratitude and heart yearning to God.
V. Attitudes of Prayer
II. May be expressed: 1. Sometimes in agony and grief of heart over
1. Silently—the heart. adoring and praying sin—Luke 18:14
2. Aloud—though no other hears 2. Sometimes full of holy joy and gratitude—
3. In song—when sung with the spirit and the Luke 1:46 ff.
understanding. 3. Sometimes quietly waiting upon His guid-
ance—Acts 10:30
III. Kinds of Prayer 4. Sometimes importuning Him for long
1. Praise—Adoration periods of time—Luke 18:1-8
2. Thanksgiving 5. Sometimes claiming His promises of relief
3. Supplication—Petition and comfort in times of sorrow—Rorn.
4. Intercession 4:20-22
5. Meditation 6. Sometimes yearning over a sinner or a sick
one.
IV. Essential Qualifications of Person Praying:
1. Must be a Christian—John 9:31 VI. Essentials of Public Prayer
2. Must pray according to His will—I John 1. On behalf of all the people in audience— so
5:14 that they can say AMEN (So Be It.)
3. Must have no unforgiveness in heart— 2. Loud enough and distinct enough for ev-
Matt. 6:14,15 eryone to hear.
4. Must have no sin against him which he has 3. Not full of vain repetitions—Matt. 6:7
not asked God and man to forgive— Matt. 4. Speak TO the Lord—FOR the people.
5:23,24 5. Model after Lord’s Prayer.
5. Must keep His commandments and do
things pleasing in His sight—I John 3:22 VII. Essentials of Private Prayer.
6. Must believe Lord will answer (the’ some- 1. In secret—a place alone.
times by saying “No”)—Hebrews 11:6 2. “Without ceasing” (in a spirit of prayer
7. Must want His glory—not our pleasure— always)
a. Bringing every small matter to Him

1 Maxey, Isabel B. For Mission Study Courses: b. Casting all our care on Him
c. Rejoicing always
PRAYER, An Outline Study. ([Standard Pub.], date
unknown) [remarks by the author] "This study is one 3. Claiming His promises
which I taught in Tibetan Lisuland to our preachers. It 4. A daily time for definite prayer
should be divided up over a period of lessons, as desired,
5. Keep praying until the answer comes—
and accompanied by lectures. Suggested topics for
even if for years. God’s time is not like
lectures are: Intercession Need to Forgive, How We May
ours.
Receive Guidance for Definite Problems, What of Divine
Healing? Importunate Prayer, Promises and Their 6. Look, as you read your Bible, for the
Conditions, and a testimonial meeting about Answered guidance you ask for.
Prayers. And finally, may I suggest that the course be
VII. Importance of Prayer WITH Bible Reading
accompanied by a time of prayer and of getting right with
1. All prayer and no Bible reading makes for
God on the part of teacher and students." ISABEL B.
“zeal not according to knowledge”—
MAXEY, Missionary on Furlough, Yunnan-Tibetan
Christian Mission (1211 Ross Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio) Romans 10:2
2. All Bible reading and no prayer makes for a
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head religion without the heart (cf. Powerful Prayer
Pharisees) John 3:10-13 By David Butts2
3. Prayer and Bible reading make for an in-

telligent and earnest-hearted Christian—
CHRISTIANS LOVE TO talk about the
Acts 17:11; I. Peter 4:7, 8
power of prayer. It’s no wonder. The Bible
4. Cannot claim promises if they are not
abounds with stories about people who prayed
known and cannot fulfill condition upon
and the wonderful things that resulted. Hannah
which each promise is based without pray-
prayed for a child and God gave her Samuel.
er.
Elijah prayed and fire fell from Heaven.
IX. All prayer should contain: (as the Lord’s
Hezekiah prayed and 15 years were added to his
Prayer)
life. Jonah prayed and he was delivered from the
1. Praise
belly of a great fish. The list continues
2. Thanksgiving
throughout Scripture, church history, and on
3. Repentance
into the 21st century.
4. Petition
Who does not thrill to the story of Luther
5. Be in the Lord’s Name
praying for his terminally ill friend Melancthon
X. Results of Prayer Life
and receiving a great healing from God? George
1. Quietness and confidence-Isa. 82:17
Mueller and his 50,000 recorded answers to
2. Our minds and hearts guarded—Phil. 4:7
prayer are an inspiration to all generations. The
3. Much accomplished for others—Jas. 5:14
stories of American Christians gathering in
4. Love for our brethren—I John 3:23,24
prayer and receiving the Great Awakenings as
5. Power to resist temptation—Jude 24
their answer continues to provide hope for many
6. Strength to forgive and love our enemies
who pray for revival today.
7. More love for God and Christ

8. Meekness as of a child
The Source of Power
9. Willingness to do anything God asks us to
In light of all this, here is a startling statement
do
to consider: Prayer has no power. That’s right!
10. Joy in tribulation
Prayer in and of itself is of no consequence. It is
11. Power to bring down the blessing we
God who has power; not prayer. Prayer connects
petition
with the God of power. Prayer is the means by
12. Strength to do what we know we ought to
God’s power is unleashed upon our planet. But
do.
prayer itself has no power.

Let me illustrate: The power cord of my com-
XI. Ways in Which Prayer is Answered:
puter is plugged into an electrical outlet on the
1. Sometimes by opening closed doors, an
wall, allowing power to flow into my computer
immediate yes (with the young Christian
to keep me typing. Without the power cord, I’d
God deals gently, establishing the faith.)
be powerless. The cord itself is not the source of
2. Sometimes by closing open doors—
power. It merely connects me to that source. So
changing our way of life in order that it
it is with prayer. Prayer is the spiritual power
may be directed into channels of greater
cord that keeps us connected to God.
blessing to others.
This is a simple but often overlooked truth.
3. Sometimes by a definite “No”—because we
Some Christians work hard at developing styles
ask amiss—James 4:3.
and methods of praying without drawing near to
4. Sometimes after much time—after the Lord
God, who is the source of all power in prayer.
has worked out His perfect pattern for the
We must avoid thinking of prayer as some sort
one concerned.

2 David Butts is executive Director of Harvest Prayer
Ministries, Terre Haute. Indiana.
From The Lookout, December 9, 2001
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of magical formula by which we hope to get remains attached to the Vine, the life-giving sap
things from God. flows through the branch and produces fruit -
fruit that yields eternal blessings.
The Right Perspective We remain attached to Jesus, the Vine, by
Bruce Wilkinson’s recent book, The Prayer of carefully cultivating a life of prayer and
Jabez (Multnomah Publisher, 2000); is an spending time in the Word of God. As plants are
example. The number one bestseller for weeks nourished by sunshine and water, Christians
on secular booklists, The Prayer of Jabez is draw nourishment from prayer and time spent in
simply a conservative Christian’s interpretation God’s Word. Apart from these our spiritual lives
of an ancient prayer from the Old Testament—a will begin to wither and die.
prayer that was particularly beneficial for him.
Personally, I’ve been praying aspects of the Time Alone with God
prayer of Jabez for years. I think Wilkinson’s Every Christian needs to spend time alone
book is a powerful little volume. The prayer with God. Whatever we choose to call it—
itself, however, is worthless. Here’s why. This devotions, quiet time, or simply Bible study and
little book has been read by large numbers of prayer—we can’t thrive spiritually without it.
people who have no relationship with God. How long can a person live without food? 40
They have begun praying that prayer as a sort of days? 50? 60? Without physical nourishment the
magic talisman to get something from someone. body wastes away. In the same way, Christians
That kind of praying has no value. It is not the cannot survive without the feeding and
prayer that counts . . . its the Person to whom nourishment that come from the Word and from
you are praying. prayer. Let’s take time daily to receive
I believe God has been using The Prayer of refreshment from Heaven.
Jabez to encourage people to I draw near to him. A daily time with God is not a burden, but a
As people come to know God through Jesus privilege. It brings joy, strength, and clear
Christ, the lessons of Jabez’s prayer become vision. Christians can engage in a daily quiet
powerful. But it isn’t the praying that brings the time with a great deal of personal freedom.
power. It is God. How can we learn to pray Details such as the length, location, and
with power? How will prayer allow us to see elements of the quiet time are individual
God do mighty things, not only in our own matters. I suggest that you make sure your quiet
lives, but around the world? If Praying with time includes both prayer and time spent in
power begins by drawing near to God and God’s word. The most effective way to do this
developing a life of intimacy with Christ. In the is to do this is to learn to pray the Word. Let the
book of James, God promises that if we will Scriptures format your prayers and as you read,
draw near to him, he will draw near to us. ask the Lord to teach you more about himself.
Prayer is the avenue designed by God through As important as it is to see prayer as a way of
which we draw near to him. drawing near to God, it is vital that we not leave
Remaining in the Vine prayer there. Prayer is more than intimacy with
Jesus gives us a wonderful illustration of the Christ. It is also the way that God has chosen to
Christian life in John chapter 15. “I am accomplish his will on this planet; Spending
Vine,” he said. “You are the branches.” Is it the time in prayer and in the Word—getting to
branch’s job to bear fruit? No! The job of the know the Lord and his will enables us to move
branch is to stay attached to the Vine. If the into the work of prayer. Here we begin praying
branch stays attached to the Vine, much fruit for God's will to be done in our lives, our
will be produced. Some Christians make the families, our churches, our nation, and even the
mistake of focusing on the job or world. Prayer is the channel that God has
responsibility—the fruit. Jesus tells us that the chosen to bring about the release of his power in
key to producing fruit is to remain in him—to lives.
stay attached to the Vine. When a branch
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Seeking God’s Will smoke of the incense, together with the prayers
Jesus taught us to pray, “Your will be done on of the saints, went up before God from the
earth as it is in Heaven.” This type of prayer is angel’s hand” (Revelation 8:3, 4).
sometimes lacking in the church. Instead, some As the collective prayers of God’s people are
Christians attempt to convince God of their own poured out before God, angels are loosed upon
wills. It’s no wonder we often see unanswered the earth to cause events designed to bring
prayers and a lack of true spiritual power in the people to repentance and salvation. God uses the
church today. Prayer is never a way for us to get prayers of his people to bring about the
things from God. It is always God’s means to establishment of Christ’s kingdom.
accomplish his purposes. If we are spiritually The second passage in Revelation comes in
"plugged in” we will line up our prayers with the midst of a half an hour of silence. In
his purposes. “History Belongs to the Intercessors”
An example of this kind of praying appears in (Sojourners, October, 1990) author Walter Wink
the book of Daniel. The prophet was reading explains the connection:
Scripture (a Scroll written by Jeremiah) that
revealed that Israel was to be released from Heaven itself falls silent. The
Babylonian captivity after 70 years. When heavenly hosts and celestial
Daniel read this prophecy he began to pray that spheres suspend their ceaseless
God’s prophetic Word would be accomplished singing so that the prayers of the
in God's timing. After three weeks of prayer and saints on earth can be heard. The
fasting, and in the midst of astonishing spiritual seven angels of destiny cannot
warfare, God answered Daniel’s prayer, blow the signal of the next times
assuring that he had been heard and would be to be until an eighth angel
answered (Daniel 9:1—10:21). gathers these prayer . . . and
God's power can be released through our mingles them with incense upon
prayers in the same way. First we draw near to the altar. Silently they rise to the
God, getting to know his will. Then we pray that nostrils of God. Human beings
his will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. have intervened in the heavenly
From there we move to the front lines of prayer, liturgy. The uninterrupted flow
focusing on what God is doing in this world. of consequences is dammed for a
moment. New alternatives
Praying With Passion become feasible. The unexpected
If we want to be “in” on what God is doing, becomes suddenly possible, be-
we must begin praying with greater passion and cause Gods people on earth have
intensity. If we want purpose and meaning to invoked Heaven, the home of the
life—if we want our lives to count for God and possibles, and have been heard.
to make a difference in this world—we must What happens next, happens
pray! God is calling his people to prayer today because people prayed. The mes-
as a part of his plan for this world. sage is clear history belongs to
Consider these passages from the book of the intercessors.”
Revelation that depict the power of the prayers
of God's people Dick Eastman said it this way: “God’s
Each one had a harp and they were holding ultimate purpose for mankind, the completion of
golden bowls full of incense, which are the Christ’s bride and the establishing of his eternal
prayers of the saints." (Revelation 5:8) kingdom on earth will result only from the
Another angel, who had a golden censer, came release of the prayers of God’s saints” (The
and stood at the altar. He was given much Jericho Hour, Creation House Publishers, 1994)
incense to offer, with the prayers of all the Graham Kendrick and Chris Robinson wrote
saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The the hymn, “All Heaven Waits.” See if their
Page 1 00 Discipleship Handbook Discipleship 201
words call to your heart and stir within you a The Place of Prayer In Our
passion to be a person of prayer. Spiritual Growth

* An Ottumwa January Gathering Message *
All Heaven waits with bated

breath for saints on earth to pray.
By Evangelist Burton W. Barber3
Majestic angels ready stand with

swords of fiery blade
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall
Astounding power awaits a word
sustain those who shall never suffer the
from God’s resplendent throne.
righteous to be moved.” — Psalms 55:22.
But God awaits our prayer of

faith that cries, Your will be
If there is one thing that most people would
done.’
suggest for the development of spiritual life, it
,(Thank You Music, 1986).
would doubtless be ‘prayer”. However, the fact

is, most religious people look at prayer as only a

psychological aid to a spiritual attitude or
A Pattern for Prayer ACTS
outlook on life. In other words, to most people,
prayer does not work an ACTUAL blessing—it
Adoration: merely works a "MAKE-BELIEVE” feeling of
Entering Holy Space (Worship) omnipotence and self-generated power. Not
It reminds you whom you are addressing. only is there genuine power in prayer, but it
Here is a list of a few of God’s attributes; should be borne in mind that this power comes
Righteous, Gracious, Faithful, Just, from God Almighty on High, nor is there any
Merciful, Attentive, power in prayer that does not come from Him.
Unchanging, Loving, Tender, Powerful, All other seeming power is nothing more than
Guiding, etc. the results of human effort and could as easily
and as quickly be gotten by talking to oneself as
Confession: it could in the form of 'prayer.’ Indeed, that is
Naming Our Faults all such pretended prayer is for the Pharisee
"stood and prayed thus with himself” (Luke
Don’t just ask God for forgiveness for your
l8~11). But, prayer is real, the answer to prayer
sins, but name them one by one. Such as, if you
is no less real, and the blessing that prayer is in
cheated someone ask for forgiveness for
developing the spiritual life is great.
being selfish or greedy.

I. Prayer Protects The Christian’s Spiritual

Life From The Enemies Of Spirituality.
Thanksgiving:

Thank God for all of your blessings.
Bunyan, in his “Pilgrims Progress’. pictured
Such as Answered Prayer, Spiritual,
“Apollyon” (the devil) and “Christian” in a
Relational, Material, Physical, etc.
great duel. “Apollyon was unable to overcome

“Christian” due to the superior weapon of
Supplication:
defense that “Christian” wielded. This weapon
Asking for Help. was prayer. So, while the chief objective of
Present your request to God in such areas as “Apollyon” was to defeat “Christian”, realizing
Ministry, Family, Work, Physical, Missionaries, that such could not be done until he destroyed
Government Leaders, Military, Schools, “Christian’s” impregnable weapon of defense
etc. (prayer)! “Apollyon” concentrated his efforts

From Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels
3 From The Voice of Evangelism, Vol. 5, No. 50. pp. 393-

400 (1-8). December 16, 1950.
Page 1 01 Discipleship Handbook Discipleship 201
entirely upon an all-out offensive against prayer. and on a home in hell in the end! The World-
Spirit creeps over so many and chills them with
And so it is with all Christians. A chief discouragement. For this, there is only one
weapon of defense against the things that would hope—PRAYER! Prayer alone can keep the
destroy their spiritual life is prayer. Prayer will drowning waters of despondency from lashing
keep the Christian from sin (providing sin does at the backdoor of the heart.
not keep him from prayer). Jesus taught this
when He told His disciples to “watch and pray, Prayer-promises when believed and pleaded
lest ye enter into temptation" (Mark 14:38). One will relieve the mind of the “things” of life so
of the vital elements in Christ’s model prayer that there will be no distraction of earthly affairs
was, “Deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:13 from spiritual interests. David testified in his old
R.V.). When Paul finished describing the age, “I have been young, and now am old; yet
various pieces of armor with which the have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his
Christian is outfitted for battling with the Evil seed begging bread” (Psa. 37:25). What a
One, he drops the figures of speech and plainly blessed statement from such a praying man! The
names the last one thus: “Praying always with Psalms verily breath [sic.] forth the spirit of
all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and committing material concerns unto God, thus,
watching thereunto with all perseverance and freeing the soul of man for spiritual affairs.
supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18). Paul and Paul, because he knew the secret of prayer, was
Jesus both taught, “Watch and pray” (compare able to free his mind of material worry and to
Mark 14:38 and Eph. 6:18). Yes, God has concentrate upon the things of God: “I have
promised not to allow “you to be tempted above learned,” said Paul, “in whatsoever state I am,
that ye are able; but will with the temptation therewith to be content. I know both how to be
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able abased, and I know how to abound: ever where
to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13). He has promised to and in all things I am instructed both to be full
“keep you from the evil one” (II Thess. 3:3 and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer
R.V.) He claims to know “how to deliver the need. I can do all things through Christ which
godly out of temptations” (II Pet. 2:9). How is strengthened me” (Phil.
this done? Prayer, friend, prayer! 4:11-13).

Prayer makes discouragement vanish Prayer causes worry to cease and fretting to
(providing discouragement does not first cause disappear. Is it true? Surely, for David testified,
prayer to vanish). But, surely, God’s people can “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him,
rise out of their discouragement and cry aloud and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psa.
unto God. As long as Elijah prayed fervently, he 34:6), Don’t we have the same God? Does He
was the victor—God blest and he rejoiced. But, not love us the same as He did David? Surely,
recall how he retreated to the cave of Isaiah confirmed David’s witness: “Thou wilt
discouragement (I Kings 19:9-18). In there, he keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed
was not doing any praying. The same God who on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isa. 26:3).
heard his prayer before and withheld the rain; Hear our text again “Cast thy burden upon the
the same God heard his prayer before and sent Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never
the fire from heaven; the same God who heard suffer the righteous to be moved (Psa. 55:22).
his prayer before and sent the rain was still in Then, hear Peter: “Casting all your care upon
heaven. What was wrong? Elijah was wrong; him; for he careth for you!! (I Pet. 5:7). Isn’t
God was right. The man who is discouraged has that great? The secret of a life free from worry
refused to believe God’s ability and God’s and fretting is not “self-fooling” nor accidental
willingness to do what He has promised to do. deliverance from trouble, but prayer! This fact,
Discouragement is a down-payment on a cold Paul affirms: “Be careful (anxious, R.V.) for
heart, on a fruitless life, on a backslidden soul, nothing: but in everything by prayer and
Page 1 02 Discipleship Handbook Discipleship 201
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests appreciation for the spiritual things of prayer,
be made known unto God. And the peace of Bible study, Christian fellowship, and service
God, which passeth all understanding, shall for Christ can be realized. Even so, many that
keep your hearts and minds through Christ have put “their hands to the plow” and have
Jesus” (Phil. 4:6,7). Think of the above: “Saved looked back to the flesh-pots of sin are no
him out of all his troubles” keep him perfect longer “after the things of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:5)
peace” He shall sustain thee; he shall never because they “resist the Spirit” (Acts 7:51),
suffer the righteous to be moved” Casting all “quench the Spirit” (I Thess. 5:19), and “grieve
your care upon him” Be anxious for nothing.. the Spirit” (Eph. 4:30). What, then, can help
The peace of God shall keep your hearts and these people to have spiritual power? What can
minds through Christ Jesus.” WHAT develop the poor backslider into a “power-house
WONDERFUL THINGS COME IN ANSWER for God”? What can make the babe in Christ
TO PRAYER! The staggering thing is to believe grow unto a full grown man in Christ? The
it! answer is “PRAYER”! To prove this, I quote
from three prayers of Paul in which he prayed
Prayer leads a man to have a spiritual outlook for the very things that would cause the good
all of life. Everything in life ought to be a thing people at Ephesus and Philippi to grow
of prayer. Do you question that? Paul said, “Be spiritually. If prayer could bless them with
careful for NOTHING; but in EVERY THING spiritual power, prayer can do the same for you
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let and me.
your requests be known unto God" (Phil. 4:6).
So, we ought to pray about literally everything. Paul prayed that the Ephesian Christians
If a thing is not PRAYABLE, it is not would have “the spirit of wisdom” (Eph. 1:17).
THINKABLE or DOABLE. Paul further Wisdom is the “how” to work for God. This is
showed that “whatsoever ye do word or deed, so lacking in our lives. So many need and want
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving to know how to do what they know they ought
thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col. to do. This ability comes through prayer. Paul
3:17). Whatsoever we say or do, then, we ought said, and James agrees: “If any of you lack
to say and do with authority from heaven, and wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
then thank God for it! So, a man ought to say men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
and do only such things as are prayable, and give him” (Jas. 1:5).
then thank God for those things, or Phil. 4:6
means nothing, for it teaches this very thing! Paul prayed that the Ephesian Christians
would have understanding: “The eyes of your
Oh the great enemies of a spiritual life that understanding being enlightened” (Eph. 1:18).
sin, discouragement, “things” of life, worry, and How God’s people need this! People differ so
an unspiritual outlook on all of life are! But, on spiritual things. There is so much ignorance
prayer will cure all of these and, thus, free the of the Bible and misunderstanding of its teach-
child of God from these enemies. ings. Only prayer can enlighten our
understanding so that we can see the ways of
II. Prayer Brings Spiritual Power Down From God.
Heaven
Man, as he is a sinner, does not possess a Paul prayed that the Ephesian Christians
spiritual view of heavenly things: “The natural would know “what is the exceeding greatness of
man receiveth the things of the Spirit of God: His power to us-ward who believe according to
for they are foolishness unto him” (I Cor. 2:14). the working of his mighty power” (Eph. 1:19)
It is only at conversion, when a sinner is made and be “strengthened by his Spirit in the inner
into a “new creature” (II Cor. 5:17) filled with man” (Eph. 3:16). Men would not backslide and
the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19,20), that real become discouraged if they knew of the exceed-