Featured Discussions - The Reimagine Network2024-03-29T02:35:14Zhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/group/prayingtogethercourse/forum/topics/feed/featuredLesson 1 Class Purpose, Foundation and Prayer Basicshttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/group/prayingtogethercourse/forum/topics/lesson-1-class-purpose2011-02-17T05:11:45.000Z2011-02-17T05:11:45.000ZLewis Turnerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/LewisTurner<div><p align="center"><b><i>Praying Together</i></b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>Lesson 1</b></p>
<p><b>Class Purpose,</b> <b>Foundation, and</b> <b>Prayer Basics</b></p>
<p><b>Purpose of the Course:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>To learn the foundation and purpose of prayer</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>To learn how to pray out of relationship with God</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>To learn to pray utilizing biblical principles of praying together</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>To learn ways we can encourage our children to pray and also pray for them</li>
</ul>
<p> <br/> The first four lessons are focused on ourselves, and key points that should help us all be on what some call - the same page – concerning the topic of Praying Together. The first lesson focuses on laying a foundation. I Cor 3 vs 11 says ‘For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ It is a foundation that focuses on who God is according to I John 4 vs 8 and what Jesus has sacrificially done for us due to that Love. That is not only a foundation, but could be called a banner. The lesson also takes us back to the roots of prayer looking at Hebrew. </p>
<p>The next lesson will help us find God’s purposes or keys that can help the focus of our prayers. </p>
<p>Following that lesson we will be looking at what prayer involves and why it can be difficult. </p>
<p>The forth lesson will be dealing with are we praying from the Head Prayer or with Heart Prayer.</p>
<p>Then as the lessons move on we will be looking at preparing ourselves to pray with a prayer partner or praying with someone else.</p>
<p>Then we will look at some ways a church of a group of people can pray together.</p>
<p>Finally we will be looking at training our children to pray. This instruction is in the 2<sup>nd</sup> module.</p>
<p>I believe that as you study God’s word and let His Holy Spirit minister to you, that much will be gleamed from this material that will help us all to learn from each other and grow in our prayer life. </p>
<p>It is my prayer that the words these words may be a reality in all of us when it comes to prayer:</p>
<p align="center"><strong><i>‘It only takes a spark</i></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><i>to set a fire glowing,</i></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><i>And soon all those around</i></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><i>will wake up in its glowing;</i></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><i>That’s how it is with God’s Love,</i></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><i>Once you’ve experienced it.</i></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><i>It is fresh like Spring,</i></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><i>You want to sing,</i></strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><i>You want to pass it on!’</i></strong></p>
<p>I encourage each of us to ask the Lord to let His Holy Spirit help us in this course to allow His Love to grow in our hearts and in our prayers.</p>
<p>Now moving forward in our first lesson:</p>
<p>Starting with the foundation of prayer, we should take time to think about what moves us to pray. It is a need? Are we praying because something happened to us that we do not understand or something that has hurt us? Are we praying to help someone else? Are we praying to get to know God more closely? Possibly there are other reasons. All of these may encourage us to pray, but looking at scripture what really should be our motivation to pray? </p>
<p>There is a motivation that I want to present for us to ponder. </p>
<p>God has set two commandments before us to live by. Matt 22 vs 36-40 says:</p>
<p>“36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law?</p>
<p> 37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.</p>
<p> 38. This is the first and great commandment.</p>
<p> 39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.</p>
<p> 40. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.,</p>
<p>These commandments represent a foundational principle of our faith and should be guide our prayers. </p>
<p>Let’s look at that foundational principle: the <b>*Foundation of prayer: God’s Love</b> </p>
<p>Look at I John 4:8. It states: “God is love.” The greatest two commandments found in Matt 22:36-40 are: </p>
<ul>
<li>To love the Lord our God.</li>
<li>To love our neighbor as ourselves.</li>
</ul>
<p dir="rtl" align="right">These commandments are relational and show us that God wants us to operate in His love, which is His law of love. – God’s Love sent Christ to sacrifice His life for us. That demonstration of God’s love shown by Christ, shows that we should love others with a love that is willing to make significant sacrifices for others. Sacrificial love that comes from the heart, can help open the hearts of others so they may be receptive to what God has done for them at Calvary. Christ said ‘By this shall all men know you are my disciples if you have ‘love one to another’ John 13:35. When we show that love, we are also lifting up Jesus. Lifting up Jesus is lifting up God’s love, and there is a wonderful thing that will happen when we lift Jesus up. John 12:32 says ‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.’ That is a wonderful promise. Christ gave us an example of this love by his demonstrating sacrificial love coming from the heart of God, by dying for us on the Cross. The source of that sacrificial love is God, who is love.</p>
<p>How does that Love relate to prayer? If we want to see God’s love in action when we pray, then we must let God’s love be a motivating factor behind each prayer we pray, which may involve action -- sacrificial action as part of our prayer. When we do, prayer becomes an act of love. </p>
<p>God wants us to depend on Him for His power which operates through love for others, whom we come across in our lives. God’s power is in His love that shed Christ’s blood for us a Calvary. That love has made a relationship with God possible and it can direct our prayers in the way of love.</p>
<p>We should ask ourselves when we pray, do we want to see the Love of God encourage and work in others? <i> </i></p>
<p>With the understanding that the foundation of prayer is Love, God’s Love, sacrificial love, we are perhaps ready to understand what praying really is? </p>
<p>The next article shows prayer in a different light—not just asking—but much more. Prayer is part of a relationship. A relationship of love that draws us to pray! </p>
<p>Let’s look at the Biblical root of the word pray. The Biblical root of the word pray will help in our understanding of where the word pray comes from. Much of what we think about prayer comes from modern concepts. Prayer has been around for a long, long time and a study of the root will help us to recognize basic principles in prayer. </p>
<p> </p>
<p></p>
<p align="center">Biblical Root of the Word: Pray</p>
<p align="center">by</p>
<p align="center">Lewis Turner </p>
<p>If most of us were asked to define prayer, probably the majority would say ‘asking God for something’. Unfortunately that may be the limit of our understanding of prayer.</p>
<p>There is much more to prayer, and the Hebrew language used in writing the Old Testament in the Bible is a good place to go to teach us about prayer.</p>
<p>In the Bible, in the Old Testament, which was originally written in Hebrew, the word used for prayer is tephillah written תְּפִלָּה. It means intercession, or supplication (<i>earnest prayer of petition)</i>; In implication - a hymn. A Prayer can be a Psalm and many of the Psalms in the Bible are actually prayers, and are a part of communication with God. A closer examination of the word tephillah we find the root word palal written: פָּלַל. It means to judge; by extension to intercede, pray: entreat, judge(-ment), make pray(-er,-ing), make supplication. We usually think of supplication as a presentation of requests. A close study of the Hebrew letters use in the word for prayer and the word for supplication shows that prayer and supplication are related to the covenant of God—God’s word, and that speaking is involved. To make that easier to understand, prayer involves speaking in accordance with God’s Word. </p>
<p>Prayer is not just speaking, but praying is an act of communication with God, indicating that a relationship exists.</p>
<p>From what we saw in the word meanings above, there are some basics that we can conclude are true about prayer. </p>
<ul>
<li>One is prayer comes out of relationship where we commune and talk with God. This indicates a relationship exists. A note of expanding on the area of relationship. The relationship referred to is a relationship with God. Looking at I John 4: 8, which says “God is Love”, then that relationship is a relationship of Love. </li>
<li>We also find that intercession and supplication are a part of prayer</li>
<li>Also, we find the ancients used music and psalms. Much of our worship of God is done through music. King David certainly used music, and wrote a number of psalms in the book of Psalms. Looking at his example, we could say that the expression of music is part of prayer. That one may be new to some of you, but it can be definitely a part of prayer. </li>
<li>Prayer involves speaking in accordance with God’s Word.</li>
</ul>
<p>Relationship, intercession and supplication, and worship are what we could call basics of prayer. Today, we may view aspects of prayer a bit differently <em>with more detail</em>, but these basic of prayer will be seen again and again as we pray. </p>
<p>Truly, prayer that comes out of a relationship with God and is built upon a solid foundation found in God’s Word. That foundation is God’s Love. (I John 4:8)</p>
<p></p>
<p>Assignment: </p>
<p>1. Take time to review this lesson, and as you pray, Make notes for yourselves where you are in your prayer. Ask yourself what motivated you to make prayer a focus in your life. If prayer is an act of God’s Love, does that have an impact on your focus? Let these be a type of reflective notes that will help you as we progress through the course. </p>
<p>2. When Christ draws people to himself—What is he really doing and communicating to those people. </p>
<p>3. If God has set two commandments before us to live by, which represent a fundamental principle of our faith, how should those two commandments affect our prayers? </p>
<p>4. If God’s love is not a motivating our prayers what is???? </p>
<p>Reading for next lesson: Recommend reading chapter 1 of our primary text for next week. </p>
<p>Next lesson we will be looking at:</p>
<p>Looking at scripture, and learning to recognize focus points or keys that can guide our prayers.</p></div>Lesson 13 Developing a Prayer Culture in the Churchhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/group/prayingtogethercourse/forum/topics/lesson-13-developing-a-prayer-culture-in-the-church2012-02-01T17:50:23.000Z2012-02-01T17:50:23.000ZLewis Turnerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/LewisTurner<div><p></p>
<p align="center"><b><i>Praying Together</i></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p align="center"><b><i>Developing a Prayer Culture in the Church</i></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Lesson 13 </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Developing a Prayer Culture in the Church</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We have taken time, in this course, to learn more in-depth, about prayer and relationships and praying-together. Some of us, in this course, have had the experience of praying-together in our churches, or in various groups in the churches and without. For those who have attended churches where praying-together is encouraged, it is probable that they can undoubtedly agree that Praying-Together can make a <u>positive impact</u> on their lives. For others, who haven’t had this experience, I urge you to seek opportunities to experience Praying-Together when-ever and where-ever you can. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>In this course, we have been focusing on both the importance of developing one’s personal relationship with the Lord, and learning the value of learning to “pray-together”. Now, in this lesson we will look at “<b><i>Developing a Prayer Culture in the Church</i></b>”. To do this we will first help provide ways to identify prayerlessness in a church; then look to the bible for exhortations that encourage us to pray; and finally looke at items that do help develop a prayer culture in a church.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In starting this lesson, we need to recognize that many churches around us lack the elements that would describe them as a House-of-Prayer. A True House-of-Prayer is the result of a church committed to encouraging prayer, both personally and corporately—together as a church body. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>A church that fails to be a House-of-Prayer, may possibly be experiencing a situation that you might call “prayerlessness”. In this case, we may find that some of these churches often have people attending who just “do church”; others who are attending and are active “busy” church-goers; or leaders who are proud of their many programs. Failure to encourage a prayer-culture creates a danger of a church becoming a “luke warm” church (Revelations 3:15-16). A “luke warm” church is not a healthy church—and—Our Lord Jesus Christ does not want His church to become this way.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Examining the condition of prayerlessness that can exist in a church, we often find there are <i>symptoms of prayerlessness</i> which are evident of that condition. Those symptoms could be called “<b><i>red flags</i></b>” and those <b>“<i>red flags</i>”</b> are warnings that Spiritual problems can develop. If those warnings are unheeded, they can hinder the work of the Holy Spirit with-in the congregation. What are some <u>symptoms</u> of “Prayerlessness”? Here are some of them:</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Symptom God’s Word</p>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="39"><p align="center">1</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="386"><p>Independence from God—a failure to “look to Jesus”</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="213"><p>Matthew 6:33</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="39"><p align="center">2</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="386"><p>A disconnect from the power of Jesus</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="213"><p>II Timothy 3:5</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="39"><p align="center">3</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="386"><p>A failure to seek God’s Wisdom</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="213"><p>Prov 2:1-9</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="39"><p align="center">4</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="386"><p>A lack of humility among leaders and the congregation</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="213"><p>II Chronicles 7:14</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="39"><p align="center">5 </p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="386"><p>Divisions present among the congregation—creating disunity</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="213"><p>John 17:22</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="39"><p align="center">6</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="386"><p>A failure to connect with others, and a failure to encourage them</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="213"><p>John 13:35, I Corinthians 13</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="39"><p align="center">7.</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="386"><p>A typical feeling of mistrust or lack of consideration—IE mistrust is sometime manifested as ‘not having a voice’, or not being heard when decisions are made</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="213"><p>John 13:35</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="39"><p align="center">8</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="386"><p>A host of other issues—IE gossip and complaining; a lack of Godly purpose and vision; a lack of Godly love.</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="213"><p>Proverbs 29:18,</p>
<p>Revelations 3:16</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>When these issues are present, they are warning signs that something should be done. Sometimes what we do in response is man’s way, to “correct” church problems. Consider—when faced with issues arising out of “Prayerlessness” in a church, usually we have not fully sought God’s direction and we often try to “fix things” ourselves; when this is the case we typically think that a brief prayer is all that is needed. Another way of trying to correct an issue or a problem, is resorting to the use of “this program” or that “program” to solve” church problems. This approach may or may not be according to God’s way <i>especially where programs take the place of corporate church prayer-time to seek God’s help or directions</i>. <u>These efforts without prayer, <i>will fail to solve church problems</i></u>. What then can be done? It is important, foremost, that we seek God’s Wisdom and Understanding. See Proverbs 2:3-4 and John 15:5. Earnestly seeking God’s direction from the heart involves humbling ourselves—as a congregation—before Him. (See II Chronicles 7:14). We should not stop there, but we should actively commit ourselves <i><u>to moving forward</u></i> <b><i>in an attitude of humility responding God’s Way</i></b>—which is to follow and obey God’s Word. As we do this, we will begin to hear God’s Voice, and His Wisdom when we pray-together. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Learning to respond in humility will help build our relationship with Christ. As our prayer-life grows through humbleness, our responses will become more Godly. Our concern for others and for the church needs will likewise grow. We have learned in past lessons that prayer is a “two-way” communication—that both “<i>talks with God</i>”, through Jesus our Lord, and <i>“listens to Him</i>”. Listening to our hearts and what is written in God’s word will help our <i>prayer-focus</i> move beyond our personal needs, and <i>consider concerns and needs of others, and the church needs</i>. Such action takes humility and honors our Lord. It invites Him to work on our behalf, <b><i>‘bringing us together in heart-and-mind through Christ.’</i></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>There are some exhortations found in the Bible, concerning Prayer and building our relationship with God that can help us. Here is a list of some of the Exhortations: </p>
<ul>
<li><b><i><u>Pray for us:</u></i></b> Jer 42:2, I Thessalonians 5:25, II Thessalonians 3:1, Hebrews 13:18,</li>
<li><b><i><u>Ask</u></i></b>—we have not because we ask not—ask in accordance with God’s Word: James 4:2</li>
<li><b><i><u>Praise</u></i></b> that I might perform my vows: Psalms 61:8</li>
<li><b><i><u>Agree</u></i></b> together: Matthew 18:19</li>
<li><b><i><u>Circumcise</u></i></b> hearts—“put on humility”: Leviticus 26:41</li>
<li><b><i><u>Treat</u></i></b> God’s House as a <b><i>‘House-of-Prayer’:</i></b> Isaiah 56:7, Matthew 21:13</li>
<li><b><i><u>Encourage</u></i></b> one another daily: Hebrews 3:13</li>
<li>Let the Lord <b><i><u>search</u></i></b> our hearts <b><i><u>and see</u></i></b> if there be any wicked ways in us: Psalms 139:24</li>
<li><b><i><u>Help</u></i></b> organize Church prayer-teams “(ask leaders’ cooperative support) IE teams to pray for VBS, Youth ministries, Music Team, Pastors, etc.: I Peter 4:11</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>Following these exhortations should encourage our hearts to respond in God’s ways, we should see much blessing as a result.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As we seek for God’s Holy Spirit to help us humble our hearts both individually and corporately (or praying together) and to encourage ourselves and each other, we should also be seeking the Lord for Wisdom; further, as we become involved in helping a church turn back to prayer, here are some helps to consider to get started in Praying-Together, consider the following suggestions to encourage prayer within a church: </p>
<ol start="1">
<li><b><i><u>Look</u> for ways to experience praying together, and <u>learn to listen to the Holy Spirit of God</u>.</i></b> An example might be encouraging a Prayer Retreat or a Prayer Conference. Either one of these activities will give time to focus on prayer and the Church. During this time of corporate prayer-focus, we should consider putting an emphasis on learning to “<b><i><u>listen to the Lord</u></i></b>”. Listening when we pray involves:<ul>
<li><b><u>Asking</u> Him to direct our eyes to “stay on the Lord Jesus Christ”.</b></li>
<li><b><u>Adjusting our focus</u> to Christ and Allowing God’s Holy Spirit to guide us,</b> so we can pray in unity—adjusting our prayer focus to Christ’s Direction.</li>
<li><b><u>Spending time—in God’s Word</u></b>, and in His Presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to us. He will lead us into to His Truth and teach us His Ways, as we look to Him to establish our church as His “House-of-Prayer”: Psalms 25:4-5</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><b><i><u>Let the Holy Spirit work</u> when we worship and pray</i></b>. </li>
<li>Seek the Lord first: Matthew 6:33</li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
<p dir="rtl" align="right">Remember, it will take a <b><i>commitment</i></b> in a church to make a major change in the focus, especially where a church has been a prayerless church for a long time.. If the church desires to become a house of prayer. It is important that humility is a part of that desire, along with a willingness to seek the Lord. As church becomes a place where we can pray “in love and in truth”, Exodus 34:6 (HCSB), we will find the result of much encouragement and blessing. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here are 2 Scriptures that can encourage developing a prayer focus in a church. Seeking the Lord is best described in Matthew 6:33, where we are encouraged—to seek first the Kingdom of God. Secondly in Psalms 1:2-3, we find a blessing that comes as a result of meditating on God’s Word. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>At this point, I would highly <b><i><u>recommend reading the article titled</u>: ‘Spirit-Charged Church’, written by Daniel Henderson. A link is provided to the article, which clearly illustrates for us what can happen when we let God help us.</i></b></p>
<p align="center"><cite><a href="http://www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/article.aspx?id=21104">www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/article.aspx?id=21104</a></cite></p>
<p><cite>(You will be prompted to log-in by NavPress. They give simple instructions for that.)</cite></p>
<p><cite>The challenge of developing a <b>Prayer Culture</b></cite> <cite>in a church is a major task, but God is able to do more than whatever we can ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20). There will be many rewards and blessings that will result from having a <b>Prayer Culture</b></cite> <cite>in a church; a church that seek the Lord in humility—God wants a church that can be truly called a “House of Prayer”: Mark 11:17</cite></p>
<p><cite> </cite></p>
<p><cite>I would encourage you also to consider a study on humility that is posted on the Wheatland Ministries blog. It has 7 parts to the posting, and the study is an in-depth study of humility, which is worth taking the time to study. Here is the Link: <a href="http://wheatlandministries.blogspot.com/2007/03/humility-biblical-study-and-proposed.html">http://wheatlandministries.blogspot.com/2007/03/humility-biblical-study-and-proposed.html</a></cite></p>
<p><cite> </cite></p>
<p><cite>The challenge of developing a Prayer Culture in a church is a major task, but God is able to do whatever we can ask or think. There will be many rewards and blessings that will result from having a Prayer Culture in a church. A church exhibiting a Prayer Culture will seek the Lord in humility—corporately and individually—and pray—God wants a church that can be truly called a “<b>House of Prayer</b>”. See Mark 11:17.</cite></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><b><i>Reflection Questions</i></b><cite><b>—please take the time to answer one. </b></cite></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><cite><b>1. What role does exposure to/or experiencing ‘praying-together’ play in helping people accept the need for praying-together? How can praying-together build our relationships—with God; with others? </b></cite></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><cite><b>2. Based on Rev 3:22, why is it important to establish a “Prayer Culture” in a church? What is the danger of “Prayerlessness” and its symptoms.</b></cite></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><cite><b>3. Some leaders are not focused on corporate-prayer, but are more focused on personal-prayer, and/or crisis-prayer. What often happens when corporate-prayer is limited in the church? How can the “lack of” or “limited” corporate-prayer set the environment to stray from “God’s Ways”?</b></cite></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><cite><b>4. What ways might be helpful in encouraging people to ‘see-the-need’ of a church ‘praying-together’ as a body of believers? </b></cite></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><cite><b>5. Have you ever experienced a “prayer-less” church? If your answer is “yes”, after reviewing this lesson, is there one thing you could share with others about how praying-together might make a difference?</b></cite></span></p>
<p></p>
<p></p></div>