Prayer, The Indispensible Ingredient

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Prayer, The Indispensible Ingredient</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Place to Serve and Lead"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>“Prayer: The Indispensable Ingredient,” Berean Bible Church, June 4, 2000,</B></div> <bR> <div> How can we possibly succeed, that is, be effective as a church that make disciples, that sees people’s lives changed? It is impossible in our own strength, relying solely on our own methods.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Ephesians 3.14-21</B></div> <div> A. Paul’s Requests.</div> <div> 1. Prayer for <B>strength for Christ to dwell in hearts.</B></div> <div> 2. Prayer for <B>power to comprehend and experience the limitless love of God.</B></div> <div> – These two factors equal a changed life, the life filled by God for his glory (what disciplemaking is about). When Christ comes in, when someone gets a genuine taste of the love of God, they are changed forever.</div> <div> B. The basis for Paul’s requests.</div> <div> 1. God’s riches, vs. 16.</div> <div> – Resources are the “glorious riches of God” (1.3, has blessed us with every spiritual blessing; 1.5, adopted as fully grown sons, 1.7, forgiveness of sins, 1.13-14, promise of future resurrection and life; 2.4, great love, rich in mercy, 2.7, riches of grace = kindness through Christ, 3.8, Paul’s message: the riches of Christ). Riches are <B>His grace, mercy, ability to forgive based on the work of Christ</B>.</div> <div> 2. God’s power, 3.20-21, 1.19-21:</div> <div> – Power in doxology (expression of praise), 3.20-21. God wants “glory in the church.” Our work is not beyond hope!</div> <div> – Resurrection power in 1.19-21.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. We cannot be effective as a church without prayer.</B> The church does not change people’s lives, <B>God</B> does, therefore we must pray, and then let him use us.</div> <div> – God responds to humility, not arrogance. He responds when we recognize that we have no hope apart from him.</div> <div> – We pray during adversity; maybe there is a greater need to pray when things are better!</div> <div> – Pray for God to change <B>you</B> in areas where you struggle, are not committed to him, not following through. Ask others to pray with you.</div> <div> – Pray for God to draw people to himself, to change lives in the world.</div> <div> – Pray for God to change lives in the church.</div> <div> – What kinds of problems are faced by people in our area? Overuse of alcohol, drug use among kids and adults, broken relationships in the home, unlimited pursuit of personal pleasure, materialism, etc.</div> <bR> <div> <B>III. Pray, both on your own and with others in the church.</B></div> <div> A. Make a commitment to personal prayer.</div> <div> B. Make a commitment to pray with others (my concern is not so much, how can we build up prayer meeting, it is, how can we build up prayer!).</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2000, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>