Fresh Start Christian Church
Service Outline – March 14, 2021
Current Teaching Series: “Prayer is Essential”
Main Scripture: Matthew 6:5-7
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Topic: Effective Prayer
Praying According to God’s Will
1 John 5:14-15 – Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
- Will (Hebrews: thelo) – to wish, to desire, to have, to want, to purpose (Greek diatheka) covenant (God’s promises)
- “ To pray according to God’s Will means to give up your own plans” ~ Tony Evans
God’s Will is His Word
- Logos – the written Word
- The written Word provides overarching principles, promises and truths that we can rely on and use in our prayer (Isaiah 43:26)
- God’s Word is true (Psalm 119:160 and John 17:17)
- Rhema – the spoken Word (e.g. prophecy and preaching, Godly counsel, Utterance – God’s Audible Voice, the giving of understanding by God)
- The Rhema Word gives greater insight to God’s specific will for our situations and how it is to be accomplished.
When prayer is based on what God said then we know He will do it. (Isaiah 55:11)
Why should we desire God’s Will?
In everything we should desire God’s way over our ways because his ways are:
- Justice – Deuteronomy 32:4
- Perfect – 2 Samuel 22:31
- Higher – Isaiah 55:8-9
We CAN and SHOULD ask God to show us His Way in our prayers and our lives.
- Psalm 25:4-5, 9-10
- Psalm 27:11
- Proverbs 3:5-6
God’s promises and examples of how they may be fulfilled.
- Victory – We will be victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 4:7-10)
- Without our effort, without a fight (2 Chronicles 20:17-23)
- We may be called to take action to manifest our victory. However if God requires to to engage in physical or spiritual warfare, we must seek and follow His specific battle plan. (David – 1 Samuel 17:31-40 and The Destruction of Jericho- Joshua 6:1-5)
- Provision – God will supply all of our needs (Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:30-33)
- God can use Internal Means such as a job, raise, idea or education to provide for us. (Deuteronomy 8:18)
- God can use other people (External Means) to give into our lives. (Luke 6:38)
- God can compel us to change our habits (Stewardship) to provide for our needs. (Matthew 25:21)
- Healing – The prayer of faith heals the sick (James 5:14-15, 3 John 2, Isaiah 53:5)
- God can use External Means such as medicine and procedures to manifest healing.
- God can use Internal Means such as lifestyle changes (e.g. diet and exercise) to manifest healing.
- God can use Supernatural Means or illogical ways to manifest healing.
We have to ensure that we are acting in faith and not foolishness or presumption.
- Protection – No weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17, Psalm 34:19)
- See “Victory”
- There is a blessing for persecution as we represent God well and yield to His will (Matthew 5:11-16).
The hardest thing about prayer is the way (the How) God will manifest His will. We desire the details which are not always revealed to us in our time. As a result we become impatient and inconsistent in prayer, and lean toward our own understanding and will which can cause chaos and places us on a detour to our destiny (Genesis 16-17).
- Patience in prayer is critical.
- The level of intimacy in our relationship with God allows God the opportunity to reveal His specific plans/way.
- John 10:27 – We are able to hear God’s voice as His sheep and should desire to hear His voice clearly and consistently, and to be confident regarding the sound of His voice and His instructions.
- The deeper our relationship is with God, the greater our level of contentment is when we do not know the specifics of God’s plan. Our level of contentment equals our faith in God.
Weekly Assignment:
Start seeking God’s way for the prayer that you wrote out last week to be manifested.
Announcements:
FSCC App: easytithe.ministryone.com/landing/rRgG
Youth & Young Adult Ministry: Evening Prayer, Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Financial Peace University: Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Meeting link and assignments will be sent via email weekly.
Griffin Toastmasters is held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Please email freshstartccga@gmail.com if you would like to attend. The next meeting is March 23, 2021.
New Members Class: Sunday, March 21, 2021, 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Monthly Corporate Prayer: Saturday, April 3, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Prayer link will be sent via email monthly.
Upcoming Events:
Group Book Reading & Review: Pathways by Tony Evans Thursday, April 29, 2021 through June 3, 2021 from 7-8:30 pm EST. Save the date!
Virtual Summer Music Camp: Music, dance and arts & crafts, Ages: 5-18 , June 7, 2021 through June 11, 2021. Performance June 13, 2021. Save the date!