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This week, we’re in Practice #3: Grow in Prayer. If you can, give yourself 15 minutes to just be with God. Set a timer and put everything else away except for you, your Bible, and the device you’re reading this on.

Today and for the next two days, we’ll research the six Greek verbs used in the New Testament to describe prayer. Start by visiting this webpage and reading the first two entries which include the words “Ask (154) (aiteo)” and “Beg (1189) (deomai)” Write down what you learn.

The words you likely listed carry with them 

1. a sense of heightened emotion (“begging” or “pleading”)
2. a relationship to time that seems to view it as being too short (“urgently ask”)

Evaluate your own prayer life. Does it involve heightened emotion and a sense that time is running out? Why or why not?

Now let’s read from the NET (New English Translation):

Luke 5:12-13

“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came to him who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed down with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ So he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing. Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him.”

With these verses in mind, start to pray. Have an honest conversation with God about the things that you’ve been afraid to bring to him, maybe out of fear that they were too vulnerable or you looked too desperate or God didn’t care enough. 

Try to imagine yourself as the man in this story. What is going on (in your life or in someone else’s around you) that puts you in that kind of position? Bow down to God in your heart. Beg Him! “God, will you please ____________________?”

If you can, physically position yourself lower. Kneel or bow down. Spend time asking God for what you need, for what seems impossible, for what is breaking your heart, for what is breaking His heart. Don’t worry about formulas or words. Just pray.

This week, we’re in Practice #3: Grow in Prayer. If you can, give yourself 15 minutes to just be with God. Set a timer and put everything else away except for you, your Bible, and the device you’re reading this on.

Let’s read from the NET (New English Translation):

John 14:15-21

“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you. I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you. In a little while the world will not see me any longer, but you will see me; because I live, you will live too. You will know at that time that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you. The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.”

In this passage, Jesus is talking with his disciples in what is known as the Upper Room discourse. He is telling them what they need to know before His death on the cross. And it’s here in verses 15 to 21 that He unfolds some of the mystery of the Trinity - the foundational Christian belief that God is Three-in-One. Jesus tells his followers that He is “in [the] Father” who is going to send the “Spirit of truth” as a gift once Jesus has departed.

What Jesus is allaying is their fear that they’ll be left alone. No, says Jesus. You’ll have the Spirit, who is linked to me (Jesus), who is linked to the Father. Later church leaders would state it this way: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the same in essence, though different in personhood (see the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381). 

Furthermore, Jesus is inviting them to consider the radical way in which the Triune God interacts with believers. Grab a highlighter or pen and circle each time the phrase “in you” or “with you” are used in these verses. What is Jesus teaching his disciples? 

Sinclair Ferguson summarizes it like this: “Thus, to be united to Christ is to share in a union created by the indwelling of the Spirit of the incarnate Son who Himself is ‘in’ the Father as the Father is ‘in’ Him. Union with Christ means nothing less than fellowship with all three persons of the Trinity. It is not that the divine nature is infused into believers. Our union with Christ is spiritual and personal—effected by the indwelling of the Spirit of the Son of the Father.

Notice, then, the exquisite picture Jesus paints to express the beauty and intimacy of this union: it involves nothing less than the Father and the Son making their home in the heart of the believer (John 14:23). [excerpted from https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/union-with-god-the-trinity]

We are in God and He is in us! Thus, prayer (communication) is an intimate practice, not a formulaic one. It’s rooted in proximity, not in distance. Let’s sit in that for a while. Ask yourself some questions:

What does it mean for my prayer life that the Triune God is “in” me?

How near or how far is God? Does this reflect in the way I talk with (pray to) Him?

One of the key aspects of intimate relationship is linguistic/verbal communication. What does my prayer life tell me about the way I think about God’s presence?

Now, just pray. Don’t worry about words to say or not to say. Don’t worry about things to do or not to do. Worship God for the reality of His intimate presence. Praise Him; thank Him; enjoy Him; draw near to Him; know Him and be known by Him. Linger.

Practice #3: Prayer

We believe people can talk to God. Moreover, we believe he actually listens! This audacious idea is a common teaching within nearly all major religions. However, following the example of Christ, believers share the remarkable distinction of communicating intimately to our God as a father — not as some disconnected and distant deity. Still, many believers find prayer to be a difficult discipline to practice. For many of us, the powerful intimate conversations we desire have given way to rote recitations,  lifeless confessions, and laundry lists of desires that could have been plagiarized from from the Sear’s Christmas Catalogue. At Dallas Bible, we want to pursue the rich prayerful fellowship that Christ promises.

For Group Leaders

1. Begin in prayer. Welcome the Holy Spirit to the group and invite Him to lead, guide, and convict your group as you meet together.
2. Reflect on the sermon this morning as a group. What were some highlights? Was anything particularly helpful, convicting, or confusing?
3. Consider the following questions and pick a few to focus your discussion.

Examine the Word

• Re-read Psalm 66:16-20

For Discussion

• When prayer comes up, what emotions come to mind? Affection? Guilt? Boredom?
• How would you describe your current prayer life? In what ways would you like to see it improve?
• Do you have any specific habits regarding prayer? Times of day that you pray? Moments in which you engage God better personally?
• Think about a time in your life when communicating with God was a top priority (maybe it’s now!). What was unique about this time? We're there any extenuating circumstances that cultivated intimacy, immediacy, or affection?
• Often our prayer life is reflective of where our hearts and emotions reside. When our prayer lives are characterized by joy, praise often overflows. When we’re needy —petition.  When we’re sad — lament. Think about the commonalities and themes in your current prayer life; what does this say about the current desires of your heart?

Practice

• Practice prayer together. Pair up in groups of 3-4 and dedicate a set amount of time to pursuing prayer alongside of one another.
• Try the ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). Take time moving slowly and deliberately through each movement. Journal through each movement, taking note of where God is driving your heart and affections.
• Go for a prayer walk. Put away your phone pick a safe and known route with relatively little distractions. Slowly and mindfully talk to God about what’s on your mind. If you run out of “material” at any point in the walk, don’t force it. Use this time to listen to the Spirit, slow your heart, and honestly reflect.
• Pray for an extended amount of time. For those who have never tried this before, this might be a stretch. Carve out an hour (maybe during a lunch break or after the kids are in bed), set a timer, and pray. Before entering this time, be prepared; you will find moments of discomfort, perplexity, and even boredom. Don’t let that intimidate you — you hit a road block, read a psalm out loud to God, practice mindfulness, enjoy his presence.

For Family Discussions

• Take some time to talk about the sermon together. What did you learn that was new? Were there any parts that were confusing?
• Ask your kids: Why do you think God wants us to pray? What do you think God wants to hear when we pray?
• For discussion: Do you think God wants to hear us even when we don’t want to pray or when we’re angry? What about when we’re sad or upset?

This week, we’re in Practice #2: Grow in God’s Word. Specifically, we’ll spend four days in Psalm 119.

We will enter into God’s presence through His holy Word today. If you can, give yourself 15 minutes to just be with God. Set a timer and put everything else away except for you, your Bible, and the device you’re reading this on.

Let’s start: “God, you are good and you are true. You’ve given me your Word as a gift. Thank you that I can know you. Thank you that I can worship you. Open my mind to your truth as I contemplate your words in Psalm 119. Open my eyes - let me see You.”

Now, let’s read from the NET (New English Translation):

25  I collapse in the dirt. Revive me with your word.

26  I told you about my ways and you answered me. Teach me your statutes.

27  Help me to understand what your precepts mean. Then I can meditate on your marvelous teachings.

28  I collapse from grief. Sustain me by your word.

29  Remove me from the path of deceit. Graciously give me your law.

30  I choose the path of faithfulness; I am committed to your regulations.

31  I hold fast to your rules. O LORD, do not let me be ashamed.

32  I run along the path of your commands, for you enable me to do so.

Today, let’s practice a Bible study method where we compare different translations to understand the nuance of what the original author was saying. In verses 25 and 28 of the New English translation, the Psalmist uses the words “collapse” and “revive” (v. 25)/”sustain” (v. 28). 

Using a tool such as BibleGateway.com, look up verses 25 and 28 in four different translations. Write down the synonyms you see for these verbs:

Collapse = 

Revive = 

Sustain = 

Now, rewrite verses 25a and 28a (“a” meaning the first half of the verse) in your own words. What is the Psalmist saying? 

Have you ever felt this way? Have you experienced something so life-sucking, energy-draining, and sorrow-producing that you felt like all of your reserves were gone? What happened? Think about how you felt physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Did God seem close or distant during that time?

Rewrite verses 25b and 28b in your own words. What is the Psalmist saying?

Remarkably, the Psalmist is pointing to God’s Word as the thirst-quenching remedy to all of his problems. How does this match with your own experience of God’s Word? When you were in that life-sucking, energy-draining, sorrow-producing place, what brought you meaning and joy?

Spend some time in prayer and confession related to the way you view Scripture. Ask God to help you see His Word as a refreshing gift.

As you close, think of someone in your life who is in a dark, discouraging place right now. If you’re able to do so, send them some encouragement (by call, text, or email) which includes Psalm 119:25 and 28. Let them know you’re praying for them to experience revival and refreshment through the power of God’s Word.

This week, we’re in Practice #2: Grow in God’s Word. Specifically, we’ll spend four days in Psalm 119.

We will enter into God’s presence through His holy Word today. If you can, give yourself 15 minutes to just be with God. Set a timer and put everything else away except for you, your Bible, and the device you’re reading this on.

Let’s start: “God, you are good and you are true. You’ve given me your Word as a gift. Thank you that I can know you. Thank you that I can worship you. Open my mind to your truth as I contemplate your words in Psalm 119. Open my eyes - let me see You.”

Now, let’s read from the NET (New English Translation):

17  Be kind to your servant. Then I will live and keep your instructions.

18  Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law.

19  I am a resident foreigner in this land. Do not hide your commands from me.

20  I desperately long to know your regulations at all times.

21  You reprimand arrogant people. Those who stray from your commands are doomed.

22  Spare me shame and humiliation, for I observe your rules.

23  Though rulers plot and slander me, your servant meditates on your statutes.

24  Yes, I find delight in your rules; they give me guidance.

Read these verses once more and slowly (and out loud, if possible).

Today, we’ll employ a Bible study technique which involves making observations about the text. Specifically, write down 6-8 observations of what you learn about the Psalmist in verses 17-24. For example, “He views himself as a servant of God” (v. 17). 

Sketch out a description of the Psalmist that you’ve learned in Psalm 119 so far. What does he enjoy? What does he struggle with? How well does he know God? What does he fear? What words would you use to describe him?

Now, compare and contrast this description of the Psalmist with a description of yourself. Do you have similar or different enjoyments? Similar or different struggles? Similar or different levels of intimacy with God? Similar or different fears? What words would you use to describe yourself.

Our calling is not to conform ourselves to this Psalmist, per se, although he provides a godly example for us to follow. Above all else, the Psalmist is preoccupied with the goodness of God’s Word. Spend some time in prayer and confession as you consider how much your affections and behaviors are connected to your passion for God’s Word. Are you preoccupied with God and the truth you learn about Him in Scripture?

As we close, find a piece of paper (or use the Notes app in your phone) to write out verse 18: “Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law.” Pray it for yourself. Ask God to open your eyes either for the first time or the thousandth time to be able to understand and discern the beauty that exists in the words of Scripture. Ask Him to fill you with a longing to spend time with Him. Take this verse with you and use it throughout the day as a prayer of expectation. Pray this for your family, your kids, your friends.