The Time Is Now - Developing A Lifestyle Of Prayer

Going Further and Deeper

This lesson by no means presents an exhaustive list of the blessings of prayet; but we've seen some of the most important. Here are a few more, drawn from Scripture and my experience. Prayer produces heart desire to do the work of the ministry. At our church, we start new ministries, not in response to needs, but in response to expressed desires by those who want to do ministty. God has given many of our people hunger for impact, and our church is thriving with ministry. I can't keep track of all that's going on! Why? Because our church is a praying church. We call ourselves the "I love you" church. There's nothing like prayer to fill people with desire to serve, as God works in their hearts.

]3. Summarize Ephesians 4:16 in your own word,. What does the building of Christ's body, the church, require?

14. What mz/1,ht God do in your heart and the hearts of others tfyou were to follow reg­ ular01Jesus' instruction inMatthew 9:37-38?

Prayer results in opportunities to serve Christ and to advance the king­ dom of God. We were all born for extraordina1y accomplishment, and that is not a fleshly fantasy, but a dream rooted in God's purpose. Each of us naturally aspires to greatness. We long to do the truly significant, the unbelievable, the indescribable. But by adulthood, most of us have buried these dreams because of fear of failure, negative past experience, lack of hope, and our sense of insignificance. Every believer is capable of being a champion for God, and a church full of such people can change the world. Yet, we're often unwilling to pay the price. What would happen if you and a group of fellow believers all prayerfully aspired to greatness? Prayer stimulates our dreams, along with the faith in God's ability to fulfill them, removing the mental obstacles. Start with faithfulness in the small responsibilities God sends your way, and, in time, He will use you to accomplish the great things through prayer. 15. Read Colossians 4:2-3, Acts 14:27, and Revelation 3:7-8. What are your dreams­ perhaps foigotten dreams? What might the God of all the universe do through you when you commit yourselftofaithful prayer?