Tues.12.16.14...Powerful Praying...Our Father!

Yesterday we began an upward journey in prayer that promises to take us far beyond the lowlands many have dwelt in.  We found that an old familiar prayer reveals the map to get us there. It's the Lords’ prayer and it begins with praise. Unfortunately, most people begin their prayers with, “Thank you Lord for this day. Bless me and bless my family. Keep us safe and in good health. And bless all the missionaries. Amen.” If it was any longer, I’d fall asleep! What an unmanly, emasculated prayer! Where is the connection to the One who is so holy that angels cover their eyes as they cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty”? Where is there any praise that God is no longer our outraged Judge, but now our loving Father in heaven, thanks to the sacrifice of His Son?

Speaking of God as our Father, this is how Jesus teaches us to begin praying- "Our Father, who is in heaven." The awesome creator of the universe wants us to approach him as our loving and faithful Father. He has none of the failing characteristics of earthly dads. He is everything we could hope for and so much more. He has not only redeemed us from our slavery to sin, he has adopted us. 
And that's not all- "Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father." Gal.4:6.

The Jews at that time didn't typically address God as Father. Jesus was introducing such a wonderful term of endearment. But for most of us, knowing God is our Father isn't a radically new thought. We grew up with the "Our Father" prayer. And now as believers, we know God personally as our Father. Yet our relationship with him can seem quite distant. This is in part due to the fact that he is our Father who is in heaven while we are still here on earth. That is why we long for his kingdom to come. Another reason why our relationship with the Father can seem distant is because knowing the fact that he is our Father is not enough. There is an act that makes the fact of knowing God as Father dear to us. 

1.-Reflect on Eph.1:15-18 (though all the rest of the chapter is praiseworthy) and briefly write out what strikes you about this passage.

A few days ago we learned how to REAP by Reading, Exploring, Applying and Praying back the Scriptures. Now we see all the more that to really apply the facts that we may have read and explored, we need to pray them into our hearts. If you've ever met a person who is very knowledgeable of Scripture, but they don't seem to have much joy in their knowledge, perhaps it's because they haven't spent much time praying it into their hearts. Thus, the prayerful reading and response to God's word is a very important practice for us and for us to instill in our proteges. We have not really REAPed if we have not prayed it over. That's why prayerful meditation on a verse or phrase on our 3x5 is so helpful. 

2.-So write out Eph.1:17 on your 3x5 and seek to review it and pray it for yourself and others (Write Did it, when you wrote it out.)


Here's an acronym I’ve used for many years that helps me reflect on and praise God as my Father. So instead of just saying, Thank you Lord that you’re my Father” and moving on, I’ll often slow down and praise him as my FATHER- Father, I praise and thank you that you are-

Faithful- You are faithful to care for all my needs and faithful to forgive me. Great is Thy faithfulness!

Available- Because of Jesus, I now have access to your throne and can receive mercy and grace anytime.

Teacher- Thank you for giving me and teaching me your word. As a Father, how kind of you to mentor me.

Helpful- You help me in ways I never even asked for or expected. So many unprayed answers!

Empowering- Thank you that you offer your power for living. Your Spirit is the wind beneath my wings.

Rejoicing - Thank you for all your encouraging words in your word and that you even rejoice over me with singing.  Zeph.3:17

Speaking of singing, the best way I connect my heart to my head is by praying and singing. The greatest book of prayers is the book of Psalms and they were written to be sung. The devil cannot stand a singing saint. (And a whole lot of other people can't stand the way you sing either Dave :) Even if you can't sing well, "make a joyful noise unto the Lord." I personally believe there is a connection between singing and being filled with the Spirit.*  Thanks John P. for giving us songs we can carry with us through the week. Since the giant eraser machine attacks me at church, I write down a portion of a song that I especially like, and then carry it with me during the week.   

As you know the prayer of prayers begins, "Our Father" not "My Father." The Lord's prayer reminds us that we are not out there alone. We are part of a family of believers. And isn't it interesting that you get to know a person better through other people who know him. That's why I'm so enjoying the different insights I'm getting from all of you sharing on this blog. Together, we will be getting to better know, "our Father." 

Speaking of prayers, thanks for your prayers for Jack regarding his hand surgery yesterday. He's on the mend. Also, how encouraging to see the way several of you encouraged one another! Excellent! (Just to clarify, please comment on the man above you, but not if it was me or someone else giving our encouragement to him.) 

		G=God's Word	R	E	A	T
		For Fri.12.12.14
	Alpha Force
	Fire Team 1
1	Jack Rogers	Y
2	Daniel Contreras	Y
3	Roger Vinlasaca	Y
	Fire Team 2
4	Israel Fuentes	Y
5	John Pallozzi	Y
6	Sam Vargas	Y
	Delta Force
	Fire Team 3
1	Alvin James
2	Dave Heidekruger	Y
3	Mike Pagan	Y
	Fire Team 4
5	Eddie Morales	Y
6	Gary Remson	Y
7	Ismael Andrade	Y

*(For those who wish to dig deeper regarding the filling of the Spirit- study out Eph.5:18-21. Isn't it interesting that nowhere in the Bible are we told how to be filled with the Spirit, though there are numerous books written on the subject that list all kinds of formulas and procedures. But perhaps the passage has been giving us the answer all along. Note the following 4 participle phrases in Eph.5:19-21- speaking...singing...giving thanks...submitting to one another. 
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit [Literally- keep allowing yourself to be filled, controlled, under the influence of the Spirit], speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject [Literally-submitting] to one another in the fear of Christ. NASB. Notice also there is only a comma, not a period at the end of v.18. Don't you think such saints, lovingly behaving this way, the Spirit naturally would fill? I don't ask the Spirit to fill me; (No wonder you're so carnal Dave :) I seek to be the kind of person he will fill. So as we share the word and sing and give thanks and live in a submissive- respectful way with others, I believe we can claim that we are filled with the Spirit. That's my take on it, whachuthink?)