Sabbath: Discipleship and Prayer
Read for This Week’s Study: Dan. 9:2-19; Matt. 14:22-23; Matt 26:36; John 17:6-26; Heb. 2:17; 1 Pet. 4:7.
Memory Text: I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me
(John 17:20-21, NKJV).
Whatever else we do in the work for souls, whatever outreach programs we create, we are to earnestly pray for those whom we are seeking to reach. This is central to what it means to be a Christian, even more so a disciple-maker. What powerful changes might occur if constant, fervent prayer was central to our methodology in seeking to make and keep disciples!
Let the workers grasp the promises of God, saying,
-Ellen G. White, Medical Ministry, pp. 244, 245.Thou hast promised,
Ask, and ye shall receive. I must have this soul converted to Jesus Christ.
Solicit prayer for the souls for whom you labor; present them before the church as objects for the supplication. . . . Select another and still another soul, daily seeking guidance from God, laying everything before Him in earnest prayer, and working in divine wisdom.
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As christians who claim to be followers of Jesus we need to avoid selfish prayers as Jesus set an example by praying for his disciples to come after resurrection
[Moderator's note: Please remember to use your full name.]
Full heart and sincerity to him(GOD)when praying is very very vital and by doing that the holy Ghost will always dwell among us.
We have to show concern as God shows concern to us and that is the best way to our lives because theories and other things like that is nothing to GOD and to us, all in all is to pray for more and tell other to accept GOD as their savior
1. Wonderful n awesome prayers drawn from diffent bible characters.
2. We need to draw examples of what prayers are from different pple jehoshaphat(in Kings), jabez(1 chr 4:9-10)
3. These pple-paul, Jabez, David n Daniel and so much more prayed in sincerity to the almighty. and there prayers were definitely heard.
The book of psalms tells us that the prayers of a sinner is like noise to Him so we need to evaluate ourselves/deeds before we come to God.
Do you sin just because we will be forgiven yet we know it is wrong to sin?
5. Jesus is perfect mirror of what is within the human nature: Even him he submits this in his prayer. He showed us an example. Things can be so hard that we need to pray together(fellowship) to strengthen one another. Remember in this journey we can never manage alone instead we draw spiritaul help from one another. And that is what paul lays an emphasis in the early ministry.
6.Prayer is weapon given so freely...if only are serious then eternal life is for us and them who keep His word for we believe in His grace and mercy.
Be blessed.
Any Christian who is working for souls, doing outreach, will already be involved in prayer just because being a Christian means we believe in a God that we can’t see but can only communicate with through our minds in prayers. I can’t imagine any Christian being involved with any outreach methodology without already being committed to constant, fervent prayer. To pray that I must have this soul converted to Jesus Christ would I think be better phrased as "I desire" or "I so much want" this soul to be converted to Jesus. Because of free will, I cannot demand what we must have from God when the matter involves someone else’s free choice.
God is all-knowing. John 17 has a powerful message for His people. His prayer for us has already been said. As God's children we need to accept the prayer and be grateful knowing that we have an Advocate. As we accept His love, His sacrifice, let us cooperate with Him so that Individually we can be used by Him to reach those who are searching.
In the chapter "The Privilege of Prayer" from 'Steps to Christ', Sr White points out clearly that the only explanation for selfish and self-centred prayers is lack of discipleship.
If we were in the field as labourers we wouldn't be having time to pray for our own prosperity and wellbeing, but we'd be prayering for those in the field..The only time self would come up in our prayers would be when we ask the Lord for guidance as we'll be going to the field to be His labourers, and that wouldn't be a self-centred but a discipleship- or field-centred prayer..And because we serve a wonderful and rewarding God, our labour and discipleship would never be in vain because beyond gratification and fulfilment received from working for Christ, the other side of the two-edged sword is the blessing of gifts we didn't even know we needed as God gives graciously and in abundance according to His will..
God takes care of those who labour for Him in the same manner He was taking care of the Levites..All they were responsible for was God's tabernacle..And because of their faithfulness and dedication,as well as total reliance to God and His work and orders, in return God was taking care of their daily human needs..We must always remember that our reason for existence is service to God, but nothing else..We are saved to serve..Discipleship is God's service through His disciples, US.