Today is the final day of our church's forty day emphasis on prayer. As this emphasis draws to a close, it's important that we don't bring to a close our prayer as well. If anything this should spur us on to pray even more. We should recognize the complete dependency we have on God to accomplish anything great with our lives. Prayer is a sign that the follower of Christ understands his humble position before the Lord. Prayer says, "I can't do it, but I know one who can."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
16Be joyful always; 17pray without ceasing; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil.
23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify (purify/set apart) you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
Questions
1. What have you learned about or by prayer in the last forty days?
2. What's the most encouraging part of this passage?
3. Which of these challenges do you find most difficult?
2 comments:
when i read this, i was thinking, yeah, i really do have to that, but sometimes its hard.
like, when it says that through all circumstances we need to give thanks to God, this is harder for me to do because, what if i am really running behind in the morning, and i get to school late, miss a test that is very important. i am suppost to say thank you God for that?
but then i think about that...
and i think that God know what is going to happen, and who knows, i might have gotten in a car crash if i had done things "my way" instead of his. God knows the "bigger picture". and we should give thanks to God through all circumstances.
This is a great passage for the end of this period. Yes, we pray without ceasing, but maybe more interestingly is the next part. Don't quench, or put out the fire of, the SPIRIT. And don't hate the things you have learned...but rather TEST each thing for which side of the line it falls on, good or bad.
First, it is interesting in that we are great at getting jazzed about a new program, but God knows we tend to kill that enthusiasm afterward.
Second, that even during these periods of prayer we must test what we have learned. Now, nothing bad comes from God to be sure; so, we have to sift through our bias and interjection into the process!
Finally, that not just some god, but THE God of PEACE will work on us during this time. Peace and Holiness is His to bestow on us, even as we are tryed and sifted.
Praise Him for this Grace!
Peace be with You--
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