Three ways to receive power
Matthew 16:13~20 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” (16~17)
♬ Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #93 Jesus is All the World to Me
You must know prayer before you receive God’s power. Prayer is enjoying God being with me. Prayer is giving my time to God and giving myself to Him. The fundamental part of prayer is seeking God. Then, how can we pray well?
1. Act of prayer
Most believers do not pray at all. Nevertheless, all religions have prayer. Some bow by laying on the ground and standing back up, endlessly repeating chants, or holding something in their hands as they pray. There are believers who do not pray but read the Bible many times, who have much knowledge but are thirsty in their souls. If the spirit is barren, prayer cannot come out. When you know the reason to live by God’s power, you will gain the power to focus on prayer. Abraham gave up on everything and concentrated on praying to God (Genesis 13:18). David concentrated on God in the early morning (Psalms 5:3). If you have the strength to focus on prayer, then you will be able to pray in any form.
2. Way of prayer
First, it is scheduled prayer that puts the center of your life on God. Works will arise when your daily life is centered on prayer. If you set aside just a little bit of time to pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit, then the power of prayer will appear. Second, it is the prayer of enjoying the Gospel and evangelism. If you continue the prayer of enjoying the Gospel, then every matter will be connected to the Gospel; thus, you will conquer them and succeed, and enjoy the answer of uniqueness. Third, you will absolutely receive power if you go into deep prayer. When you have a problem or are faced with an important matter, you will receive special answers if you concentrate in prayer.
3. Discerning in prayer
If the blessing of prayer of receiving power takes place in your daily life, then your discernment will connect with great answers. If you renew holding onto your identity, then great works will arise. Also, if you enjoy the power of prayer when a problem comes, then you will make the entire problem into a blessing. When you receive the answer that it is surely the plan of God, you must stake your entire life. Paul had hardships because of evangelism to the extent to which he went to prison, but he staked his life. As a result, amazing miracles arose. What would happen if you have everything but do not know God’s plan? Pray before you do all things in order to discover God’s plan.
-What would happen if you have everything but do not know God’s plan? Pray before you do all things in order to discover God’s plan.
Assistant Pastor’s Retreat Lecture 1 /2010.3.23