Prayer Tip: Helping God with His Work

At age 3 my grandson wanted to get the tools out and work with papa.  “Me help papa.  Me build house.” – to the delight of his papa.  

Abba is delighted when we want to “help Him” in His work, to be like Him.  But in all reality and practicality, what can we do?   

Some people asked Jesus that very question in John 6:28, “They said therefore to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’   Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’

What did He mean that the work is to believe?

First and foremost, we can pray.  Remember, “You can do no more than pray until you’ve prayed.” – Gordon

What better and more effective work can we do than “everything you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.”  Matt. 21:22

And while you’re asking, listen to Him, and then go and do all that He tells you to do – put feet to your prayers.

For more information on the Grace Bible Church Prayer Team, visit begrace.org/prayer.
For more information about Grace Bible Church, visit begrace.org.

Prayer Tip: Pray the Promises of God

2 Cor. 1:20  For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.

Have you owned the promises God has made to you? Do you know what those promises are?  Which of those promises apply to your present need?

“One thing is certain: Our most powerful prayers are hyperlinked to the promises of God. When you know you are praying the promises of God, you can pray with holy confidence. It’s the difference between praying on thin ice and praying on solid ground. It’s the difference between praying tentatively and praying tenaciously. You don’t have to second-guess yourself because you know that God wants you to double-click on His promises.”    The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

Numbers 23:19  God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

One of those promises is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” Rom. 8:1 What has your inner voice been saying to you most recently? Does it sound more like the Accuser or the Savior/Redeemer?  Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you…” John 14:27

Let’s pray the promises of God this week.

For more information on the Grace Bible Church Prayer Team, visit begrace.org/prayer.
For more information about Grace Bible Church, visit begrace.org.

Prayer Tip: Spiritual Maturity is Not Automatic

Prov. 16:2  All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but The Lord weighs the motives.

“Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of years, but by obedience. It is easy to have the attitudes of religion, but it is the motive of the heart we have to watch.”      Oswald Chambers

Often people can appear spiritual, particularly in their younger years, for a variety of motives, but the true motives tend to become more apparent in the latter years.

1 Kings 11:4  For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to The Lord his God …

How do we mature to an increasingly pure heart devoted preeminently to God?  (Actually He does the work, but we have a part. 1 Thess. 5:24)

A few suggestions for our part:

Pray – Ps. 139:23-24  Search me O God and know my heart….see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.  

Get to know God – (intake/meditation and application of the Word)  2 Peter 1:3  By His divine power He has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Appropriate God’s promises by faith – 2 Peter 1:4  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Focus on Jesus – Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live…

      Hebrews 12:1-2  …lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith…

Obey – As you focus your attention on Jesus and hear what He’s saying, then simply do what He says.  That’s the life of repentance that leads to ‘mature and complete, lacking in nothing.’ James 1:4

If you’re not already doing the Pray part regularly, I encourage you to start this week!

For more information on the Grace Bible Church Prayer Team, visit begrace.org/prayer.
For more information about Grace Bible Church, visit begrace.org.

Prayer Tip: The Basis for Answered Prayer

“He who believes in me…if you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”  John 14:12-14

What is the basis for answered prayer?  Jesus!

            It’s not that we have done good things and avoided doing bad things.

            It’s not our spiritual offerings and sacrifices…religious activities.  Ps. 51:16

            It’s not our office/position/title as leaders and influencers.

It is because of who we are…  “But to all who …believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…”  John 1:12

and whose we are…   Isa. 43:1 “…I have called you by name; you are mine.”; John 15:16 “…I chose you..”

in Christ.

Are you a child of God?

Pray on that basis to your heavenly Father.  Matthew 7:11  “..how much more will your Father …give what is good to those who ask Him.”

For more information on the Grace Bible Church Prayer Team, visit begrace.org/prayer.
For more information about Grace Bible Church, visit begrace.org.