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Fostering Spiritual Growth in the ChurchPaul J. Bucknell
Ephesians 6:18
17
Growing in Prayer
Growing in Prayer
Discovering Love
1Strong security from His love
Little Children Great confidence in His word
2Establishing
Hope
Young men
3Strengthening
Faith
Deep intimacy with God
Fathers
Growing in Prayer
Every rela)onship is founded ongoodbackandforthcommunica(on,and so prayer becomes the keymeanstheChris)andevelopshis/herrela)onship with God. Our spiritualconversa)on(i.e.prayer)developsaswegrowinourspirituallives.
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
Growing in Prayer
Growing in Prayer
Level 1 - New Believers Don’twe all love to see howbabies learn to talk despitetheir incorrectly formedwords. If they ask amiss, wesmile and offer themwhat isgoodandsafe(Mat7:10).
Think what happens when anew believer comes to knowtheLordandbeginstalkingtoGod. The Father is so excitedatHischild’sfirstwords.
Growing in Prayer
Level 1 - New Believers
LikeliQlechildrenlearningtotalk!
=>DoesyourHeavenlyFatherdelightinhearingfromyou?
AffirmFaith• Newbelieversbeginto_______toGod.EverywordspokentoGod(i.e.prayer)isanaffirma)onoftheirfaith.
ConfessSin• Thewaybelieversprayerfullyhandletheirsingreatlyaffectstheirspirituallives.
=>Doyouwrestlewithconfessing
yoursin?
talk
Growing in Prayer
Level 1 - New Believers =>Doyouques)on
whetherGod’swillforyourlifeisalwaysbestforyou?Inwhatareas?
SeektopleaseGod
• TheSpiritofGodbeginstoprodustoandnottodocertainthings.
ThanktheFather
• “Ineverythinggivethanks;forthisisGod’swillforyouinChristJesus”(1Thessalonians5:18).
=>Doyouuseprayertoexpressyourgrowingadmira)onofthe
Father’scareforyou?
TrustFather(Protect,guide,provide,comfort)
• ThebelieverislearningtoliveinGod’spresence,evenrecognizingHispresence.
Growing in Prayer
Level 2 - The Young Believer
ByseeingthepowerofGod’sWordatworkinmylife,myfaithisincreased,andmyhopein
God’sworkinmylifeisstrengthened.
Growing in Prayer
Level 2 - The Young Believer
BeinganOvercomer• PrayerbringsustoGod,star)ngwithahumbleprayer
• ThenproclaimingHistruth,andbuildingupourfaith.
• Duringprayer,weexerciseourshieldoffaithtobringclaritytoourconfusedminds,“Takinguptheshieldoffaithwithwhichyouwillbeabletoex)nguishalltheflamingmissilesoftheevilone”(Eph6:16).
Growing in Prayer
PowerofGod’sWord• “BecausetheWordofGodabidesinyou”–1John2:14• Power:God’sWordisthedrivingforceinprayerprovidingfaithaswebringourrequestsandpraisetoGod.
• Promises(2Peter1:4):“HehasgrantedtousHispreciousandmagnificentpromises.”
• Abraham(Gen15:8):“Andhesaid,‘OLordGOD,howmayIknowthatIshallpossessit?’”
• Exposeslies(Eph5:13):“Butallthingsbecomevisiblewhentheyareexposedbythelight,foreverythingthatbecomesvisibleislight.”
Level 2 - The Young Believer
Growing in Prayer
Level 2 - The Young Believer
Faith enables me to sensemyneedand0indGod’shelpby regularly seeking theLordinprayer!
Doubt about my need andGod’sability tohelpcripplesmy spiritual life by a lack ofconsistentprayer.
No, I don’t think prayer helps me gain the wisdom that I need for each day.
Yes, I really need God’s help to live out each day and so I
pray to gain His strength.
Growing in Prayer
By my growing faith, I can know God andtrusthimevenindifficult)mes.HetakesmedeeperandclosertoHimsothatHecanbearmorefruitthroughmylifetoglorifyHim.
Level 3 - The Mature Believer
• Thetwopreviousstagesaretemporarywhilethisstagedoesnoteverendonearth.
Growing in Prayer
AbidinginChrist(John15:4)• “AbideinMe,andIinyou.Asthebranchcannotbearfruitofitself,unlessitabidesinthevine,soneithercanyou,unlessyouabideinMe”.
• Abidingprayer• SearchingtopleasetheLord• Prayerisanin)macythatbearsfruitFruitcomesfromin)macywiththeLord
Level 3 - The Mature Believer
Admire&Adore• Adora)onoccursatallstagesbutconstantlymatures.• e.g.,Psalms:“BlessedbetheLORD,myrock,whotrainsmyhandsforwar…”(Psalms144:1).
Growing in Prayer
Devoteddespitetrials• “Theenemyhaspersecutedmysoul;Hehascrushedmylifetotheground;Hehasmademedwellindarkplaces,likethosewhohavelongbeendead.Thereforemyspiritisoverwhelmedwithinme”(Ps143:3-4).
• Weshareourdifficul)eswithGod.“ItrustinThee,TeachmethewayinwhichIshouldwalk”(Ps143:8).
• Wearenotallowedtowallowinself-pitybutarecommandedtogrowinourfaith.
Level 3 - The Mature Believer
Growing in Prayer
PrayforOthers• “Andprayonmybehalf,thatuQerancemaybegiventomeintheopeningofmymouth,tomakeknownwithboldnessthemysteryofthegospel”(Eph6:19).
• Weneedprayersupportfromothers.• Testsofourfaith:Whatisitthatwereallywant?Howmuchdowewantit?
Level 3 - The Mature Believer
Summary• OurprayerlivesgrowaswegrowintheLord.• Ourprayersarenaturallyaffectedbyourgrowingfaith.• GoddesiresforustocommunewithHimandforHimtoworkthroughourlives.
Discussion Questions
1.What is your biggest struggle or greatest delight in prayer?
2.What is an area of prayer than you want to learn more about or grow in?
Fostering Spiritual Growth in the ChurchPaul J. Bucknell
Ephesians 6:18
17
Growing in Prayer