There are many effective ways to pray. Some people have found it helpful to kneel before God with their Bibles open.
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Then they read a few verses and commune with God about what they are reading.
The Psalms are particularly inspirational as subject matter for prayer. Try meditating upon a particular psalm during your prayer times. Take one verse at a time. Read it aloud, and then talk to God about what the text is saying [...]
Have you ever wondered why prayer is so vital? Why do we have to ask Him for the Holy Spirit? Isn’t He willing to give the Holy Spirit to us?
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The answer to these questions lies in understanding God’s respect for our freedom of choice. He has created us with the ability to make moral choices. God is doing everything He can for us and through us before we pray, but He is limited by [...]
Key Thought : Through prayer, we understand God more, know His will more fully, and experience His presence more powerfully.
[Teaching plan for The Heartbeat of Revival July 8, 2013]
1. Have a volunteer read Luke 9:18.
A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. What does this passage reveal about Jesus prayer life?
C. Personal Application: Does it seem like there is not enough time to pray? That you’re too busy? What [...]
Although Jesus often spent time alone in prayer, there were multiple occasions when He encouraged His closest disciples to pray with Him.
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Peter, James, and John accompanied Jesus to the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-2). He urged them to unite with Him in praying in Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46). There is unusual power in united prayer.
Carefully analyze Matthew 18:19-20. Summarize Jesus’ statement regarding united prayer?
“The promise is made on condition that the united prayers of God’s people are offered, and [...]
Compare the following texts: Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, 9:18.
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What three specific things do these passages reveal about Jesus’ prayer life?
“Christ was continually receiving from the Father, that he might communicate to us. ‘The word which ye hear,’ he said, ‘is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.’ ‘The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.’ Not for himself, but for others, he lived and thought and prayed. From hours spent with God [...]
The believers in Acts were filled with power from on high. The Holy Spirit was poured out in a marked way.
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Hearts were touched, lives changed. The gospel penetrated the most difficult places, and thousands were converted. In Acts 2, three thousand were added to the church (Acts 2:41). Acts 4:4 records that the number of men alone who believed “was about five thousand.” Even many of the religious leaders, who opposed Jesus during His lifetime, became “obedient to [...]
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 1:4, 8, 14; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; Matt. 18:19-20; 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Ps. 50:23.
Memory Text: “ ‘If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!’ ” (Matthew 7:11, NKJV).
God moves powerfully as His people pray. Alfred Lord Tennyson was certainly correct when he said, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” The great revivals throughout Scripture [...]
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In my almost 50 years, I have seen leaders of my country come and go. Some were called good, some were called bad. There have been some fierce debates over whether or not certain leaders were good or bad.
Still my country remains strong. You know why I think that is? While some leaders are good and others not so good, I believe it is the common citizen who keeps my country strong.
Leaders may compromise [...]
“A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from the spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation [...]
“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me’” (Revelation 3:20, NKJV).
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[Thought questions for Revival: Our Great Need July 3, 2013]
1. Lukewarm. Do you remember how you felt the first time you heard that you belong to the last of the seven churches, Laodicea, the lukewarm church? Did you think: A) Oh, [...]
