we are following the study on prayer as a fellowship group, and i couldn't be more excited about it. there's still so much to learn about prayer even though i've been doing it for so many years, sometimes inconsistently. last week, we began the study by looking at kingdom-centered prayers and the necessity for spiritual revival/renewal.
most naturally, we went back to the ot to look at how the people prayed at that time when they needed to turn to God, be it for the raising of leaders or because their sinfulness resulted in their near-perishing encounters, and each time there will be a restoration of spiritual vision and vitality. during these times of revival, the one prevalent aspect that we can observed is how their prayers are firstly, corporate and intense. but beyond that, they are very seldom for personal needs, and more of pleading for the Lord's presence and reality among His people.
after that we moved on the the nt and we examined that there is still that need for continual revival amongst the people. we looked at how the people were "filled with the Spirit" in the book of acts, which led them to declare the wonders of God in the many different languages. there were numerous other incidents within that book; some as a group, but also one particular one that stood out - that of stephen, who also prayed and was somehow transformed by the holy spirit to have boldness to face death in the end.
these incidences both reflect a couple of things:
(a) the continual need to renew the fullness of the Spirit,
(b) this fullness is related to prevailing prayer, especially in the face of a challenge.
we learned that this spiritual renewal is a work of God, and through it the church is beautified and empowered since the work of the Holy Spirit is intensified. we know the normal operations of the HS to be (1) conviction of sin (#john 16:8), (2) enjoyment and assurance of grace and of the Father's love (#romans 8:15-16), (3) access to God's presence (#john 14:21-23; #2 corinthians 3:17-18), and (4) creation of deep community and loving r'ships (#ephesians 4:3-13), spiritual renewal is SO much more.
there are three marks of spiritual revival:
1. outpouring of the Spirit on and within the congregation
this is so that the presence of God among His people is evident and palpable. there comes a deeper conviction of sin and repentance, and not merely for the "behavioral sins" but also for the attitudes of the heart. we also experience a far more powerful assurance of the nearness and love of God, which will result in us becoming bolder yet humbler. there should be then more passion, freedom, and sense of the presence of God during worship.
2. growth of the church church
the renewed believers would create a far more attractive community of sharing and caring, often with worship. the community is beautified, and this will attract people from the outside. also, when we, as the church, have experienced God's grace and beauty and love, and have put their r'ship with Christ and the church as a priority, we will becoming more willing and confident to share about faith and be less judgmental when other people share as well.
3. full impact on the community surrounding the church and the broader culture
real holiness changes the private and public lives of christians, it isn't just a private matter that fulfills and satiates internally. it would transform our behavior and our r'ships with people.
~
what a great first study! i loved it because as an individual, i need to know for myself that when i pray, i am also seeking for a renewal; that it's not just ranting and asking to be a better person by giving my strength to stop my bad habits — it's so much deeper than that. and then there's the part to play as one who belongs to a community, and hence the learning of how to pray corporately.
while i was on the subway home after our first study, it dawned on me how superficial my prayers were/are sometimes. half the time i'm confessing those sins that i've done and seeking for that forgiveness, and to be then a better witness subsequently, the other half i'm coming to Him with requests for myself and for other people. and while it seems like praying for others is a great step of being "other people-centered" (as opposed to being self-centered), i honestly think that i am but scratching the surface of what prayer actually is.
and then i considered how the Lord Jesus prayed when He was here on earth. have you ever wondered that? i knew He prayed a lot, i mean, we read about how He always went away to pray, but what exactly? it's a lot of intercession for the people, yet i honestly haven't thought about what He says in those prayers. the thing i was most amused about was how Christ didn't need to confess His sins, or ask for forgiveness in His prayers. so if i were to measure my prayers against those He made, i have just been shot down by 50%. haha. next, His intercession would have been so much richer than how i'm praying for others right? so in light of wanting to be more Christ-like in this walk of faith, how do i get there? looong way, i'm telling you.
another comical thing i considered, in the same vein that Christ was sinless, was how He taught us to plead "forgive us our debts" in matthew 6. He didn't need to do that when He prayed, so it's like "I don't need to pray like that, but you guys do it." ain't that funny? no? o-kay, it's only funny to me then.
i'm excited to embark on this powerful study, and i hope your prayer life would also be enriched as i seek to share with you what i've learned.
much love everyone, and happy lunar new year to those back home!
`duchess twirled
at 10:13 PM
most naturally, we went back to the ot to look at how the people prayed at that time when they needed to turn to God, be it for the raising of leaders or because their sinfulness resulted in their near-perishing encounters, and each time there will be a restoration of spiritual vision and vitality. during these times of revival, the one prevalent aspect that we can observed is how their prayers are firstly, corporate and intense. but beyond that, they are very seldom for personal needs, and more of pleading for the Lord's presence and reality among His people.
after that we moved on the the nt and we examined that there is still that need for continual revival amongst the people. we looked at how the people were "filled with the Spirit" in the book of acts, which led them to declare the wonders of God in the many different languages. there were numerous other incidents within that book; some as a group, but also one particular one that stood out - that of stephen, who also prayed and was somehow transformed by the holy spirit to have boldness to face death in the end.
these incidences both reflect a couple of things:
(a) the continual need to renew the fullness of the Spirit,
(b) this fullness is related to prevailing prayer, especially in the face of a challenge.
we learned that this spiritual renewal is a work of God, and through it the church is beautified and empowered since the work of the Holy Spirit is intensified. we know the normal operations of the HS to be (1) conviction of sin (#john 16:8), (2) enjoyment and assurance of grace and of the Father's love (#romans 8:15-16), (3) access to God's presence (#john 14:21-23; #2 corinthians 3:17-18), and (4) creation of deep community and loving r'ships (#ephesians 4:3-13), spiritual renewal is SO much more.
there are three marks of spiritual revival:
1. outpouring of the Spirit on and within the congregation
this is so that the presence of God among His people is evident and palpable. there comes a deeper conviction of sin and repentance, and not merely for the "behavioral sins" but also for the attitudes of the heart. we also experience a far more powerful assurance of the nearness and love of God, which will result in us becoming bolder yet humbler. there should be then more passion, freedom, and sense of the presence of God during worship.
2. growth of the church church
the renewed believers would create a far more attractive community of sharing and caring, often with worship. the community is beautified, and this will attract people from the outside. also, when we, as the church, have experienced God's grace and beauty and love, and have put their r'ship with Christ and the church as a priority, we will becoming more willing and confident to share about faith and be less judgmental when other people share as well.
3. full impact on the community surrounding the church and the broader culture
real holiness changes the private and public lives of christians, it isn't just a private matter that fulfills and satiates internally. it would transform our behavior and our r'ships with people.
~
what a great first study! i loved it because as an individual, i need to know for myself that when i pray, i am also seeking for a renewal; that it's not just ranting and asking to be a better person by giving my strength to stop my bad habits — it's so much deeper than that. and then there's the part to play as one who belongs to a community, and hence the learning of how to pray corporately.
while i was on the subway home after our first study, it dawned on me how superficial my prayers were/are sometimes. half the time i'm confessing those sins that i've done and seeking for that forgiveness, and to be then a better witness subsequently, the other half i'm coming to Him with requests for myself and for other people. and while it seems like praying for others is a great step of being "other people-centered" (as opposed to being self-centered), i honestly think that i am but scratching the surface of what prayer actually is.
and then i considered how the Lord Jesus prayed when He was here on earth. have you ever wondered that? i knew He prayed a lot, i mean, we read about how He always went away to pray, but what exactly? it's a lot of intercession for the people, yet i honestly haven't thought about what He says in those prayers. the thing i was most amused about was how Christ didn't need to confess His sins, or ask for forgiveness in His prayers. so if i were to measure my prayers against those He made, i have just been shot down by 50%. haha. next, His intercession would have been so much richer than how i'm praying for others right? so in light of wanting to be more Christ-like in this walk of faith, how do i get there? looong way, i'm telling you.
another comical thing i considered, in the same vein that Christ was sinless, was how He taught us to plead "forgive us our debts" in matthew 6. He didn't need to do that when He prayed, so it's like "I don't need to pray like that, but you guys do it." ain't that funny? no? o-kay, it's only funny to me then.
i'm excited to embark on this powerful study, and i hope your prayer life would also be enriched as i seek to share with you what i've learned.
much love everyone, and happy lunar new year to those back home!
`duchess twirled
at 10:13 PM
