Pray All Kinds of Prayers - Vineyard Columbus Small Groups


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Pray  All  Kinds  of  Prayers   Rich  Nathan   Just  Pray!  Series   Ephesians  6:18   November  8-­‐9,  2014    

Attention  Leaders!     Be  prepared  for  God  to  speak  to  your  group.  The  Holy  Spirit  is  with  you  as  you  prepare,  as  you   open  Scripture,  and  as  you  lead  discussion.  Prayerfully  consider  the  needs  of  your  group;  who   will  be  there;  and  what  God  has  done  recently  in  your  group.  Remember,  aim  for  balancing   discussion  and  teaching;  more  sharing  than  answering;  and  more  listening  than  telling.  

  Sermon  Summary  (Time  Suggestion:  5  mins)  

These  notes  are  to  help  you  give  your  group  a  quick  recap  of  the  weekend  sermon  in  your  own   words.  If  God  spoke  to  you  personally  through  the  message,  do  share  that  too.       Pastor   Rich   opened   by   sharing   many   testimonies   of   those   who   wrote   describing   the   healing   they   received   at   a   conference   hosted   here   at   Vineyard   Columbus   a   few   weeks   ago,   led   by   Pastor   Alan   Scott   of   Ireland.   Extraordinary   stories   were   shared   of   shoulders,   knees   and   backs   being   healed   after   years   of   chronic   pain,   tumors   disappearing,   and   vision   being   restored.   Remarkable  answers  to  prayer!  Yet  Rich  reminded  us  that  if  we’ve  yet  to  experience  our  miracle   or  breakthrough,  God’s  love  for  us  unquestionable  –  for  the  Bible  tells  us  in  Romans  5:8  that   “God  demonstrates  his  own  love  for  us  in  this:  While  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us.”   Moreover,   in   continuing   with   last   week’s   series   “Just   Pray!”   he   not   only   encouraged   us   to   keep   praying,  but  he  challenged  us  to  pray  all  kinds  of  prayers.     The  apostle  Paul  wrote  in  Ephesians  6:18  “And  pray  in  the  Spirit  on  all  occasions  with  all  kinds   of   prayers   and   requests.   With   this   in   mind,   be   alert   and   always   keep   on   praying   for   all   the   Lord’s  people.”     This   means   we   should   pray   comprehensive   prayers.   Many   Americans   pray   the   prayers   they   learned   in   childhood,   or   prayers   on   limited   topics   like   financial   prosperity   while   neglecting   many  other  areas,  like  for  salvation  of  unsaved  loved  ones  or  for  wisdom  for  our  government   leaders.   But   comprehensive   prayers   are   like   spiritual   cross-­‐fit   training;   physical   cross-­‐fitness   addresses  strength,  aerobic  conditioning  and  flexibility.  In  prayer  life,  we  see  this  versatility  in   Jesus’   prayers.   When   Jesus   prayed,   he   encompassed   all   facets   of   our   lives.     Consider   the   Lord’s   Prayer,  particularly  the  last  three  petitions  found  in  Matthew  6:11-­‐13.     11   Give  us  today  our  daily  bread,   12   And  forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  also  have  forgiven  our  debtors.   13   And  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  the  evil  one.      

These   three   requests   cover   the   whole   of   our   lives   –   the   bread   speaking   to   the   needs   of   our   body;  forgiveness  covering  our  emotions,  our  souls;  and  deliverance  from  temptation  addresses   our  spiritual  needs.  Not  only  is  our  whole  person  covered  in  this  prayer,  but  it  covers  all  of  our   times   –   past,   present,   and   future.   “This   day   our   daily   bread”   speaks   to   our   present   needs.   “Forgive   us   our   debts”   asks   God   to   deal   with   our   past,   to   cleanse   us   from   our   past   sins.   And   “Lead  us  not  into  temptation,  deliver  us  from  evil”  speaks  to  our  fears  and  concerns  about  the   future,  the  unknowns  that  face  us  ahead.  Comprehensive  prayers  means  everything  is  covered.     All   kinds   of   prayers   also   means   not   just   the   big   things,   but   the   little,   mundane   things   too.   It   means   private   prayers,   public   prayers,   brief   prayers,   long   prayers,   prayers   for   ourselves   and   for   others,  silent  prayers,  audible  prayers.  We  should  pray  at  set  times,  and  we  should  pray  at  all   times.  Christians  with  vital  spiritual  lives  practice  some  sort  of  routine  or  rhythm  of  prayer  at   designated  times,  much  as  you  would  in  eating  meals  or  exercising.  They  say,  “This  time  is  set   aside  for  God.”  But  they  also  pray  at  all  times.  In  any  given  moment,  they  might  “shoot  up  an   arrow   of   prayer”,   because   we’re   constantly   dependent   upon   God.   In   the   middle   of  a   conflict,   stuck   in   traffic,   whether   to   call   a   person   or   not   –   these   brief,   often   informal   prayers   at   all   times   demonstrate  an  awareness  on  our  part  that  we  have  a  relationship  with  God  as  our  Father.     That’s  what  prayer  is  –  communication  with  our  heavenly  Father.  Like  a  trusting  young  child,  we   can   communicate   freely,   naturally,   effortlessly,   gratefully   to   our   Abba,   Father.   Rich   shared   with   us  how  absolutely  radical  and  unprecedented  it  was  for  people  of  faith  to  address  God  as  “my   Father”   when   Jesus   taught   his   disciples   to   pray   that   way.   Only   15   times   in   the   Old   Testament   is   God   called   Father,   and   that   only   in   the   context   of   Father   of   a   nation,   or   the   King.   But   after   Jesus,   God   is   called   Abba,   Father   245   times   in   the   New   Testament.   And   truly,   the   starting   point   of   a   healthy   life   begins   with   seeing   the   Fatherhood   of   God   and   seeing   yourself   as   His   dearly   loved  child.  Rich  challenged  us  to  get  real  with  ourselves  about  what  we  really  believe  God  is   like,  when  we  strip  away  all  the  formulas  and  creeds  and  are  alone  in  need,  afraid,  or  having   blown   it   –   then,   how   do   we   see   our   Father   in   heaven?   Jesus   teaches   us   that   He   is   a   loving,   forgiving,  welcoming  Father.     But  prayer  is  also  communicating  with  our  best  friend.  Jesus  tells  us  in  John  15:15  “I  no  longer   call  you  servants,  because  a  servant  does  not  know  his  master’s  business.    Instead,  I  have  called   you   friends,   for   everything   that   I   learned   from   my   Father   I   have   made   known   to   you.”   Prayer   is   like   talking   to   a   friend   who   is   brilliant   and   gives   great   advice;   it’s   like   talking   to   a   friend   who   every   time   makes   you   feel   better,   encouraged,   loved,   supported.   But   just   as   we   are   to   pray   informal   prayers,   we   are   to   pray   formal   prayers   too.   A   great   way   to   do   this   is   to   pray   Bible   prayers.     Jesus  regularly  prayed  through  the  book  of  Psalms.  If  we  learn  to  pray  the  Psalms,  even  if  you’re   praying   by   yourself,   you’re   not   really,   because   we   enter   a   community   of   God’s   people   throughout   the   ages   who   prayed   the   Psalms.   There   are   also   books   like   the   Book   of   Common   Prayer   which   offer   up   beautiful   petitions   and   praises   to   God   and   might   stretch   us   to   pray   in   ways  we  hadn’t  considered.    Learn  to  pray  all  kinds  of  prayers!    

I.

We  should  pray  comprehensive  prayers  

II.

We  should  pray  at  set  times  

III.

We  should  pray  at  all  times  

IV.

We  should  pray  informal  prayers  

V.

Prayer  is  communicating  with  your  Heavenly  Father  

VI.

Prayer  is  communicating  with  your  best  friend  

VII.

We  should  pray  formal  prayers  

VIII.

We  should  pray  Bible  prayers  

 

Link  to  the  Sermon  (Time  Suggestion:  5  minutes)     •

 

Rich  talked  about  praying  through  the  Great  Litany  from  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.     One   such   prayer   says:   “Deliver   us   O   Lord   from   all   blindness   of   heart;   from   pride,   vain   glory,   and   hypocrisy;   from   envy,   hatred,   and   malice;   and   from   all   lack   of   love.”   At   another   point,   it   goes   on   to   say:   “…from   earthquake,   fire   and   flood;   from   plague,   pestilence  and  famine,  good  Lord,  deliver  us.”  Do  you  have  spiritual  disciplines  in  place   that   cause   you   to   pray   about   deep   conditions   of   your   own   heart,   as   well   as   community,   national  and  world  concerns?  Share.  If  not,  how  might  you  broaden  your  prayer  scope  in   response  to  the  sermon?  

This  Week’s  Bible  Study     Text:  Psalm  32    

Background  and  Context     The  book  of  Psalms  has  been  called  the  hymn  book  of  the  Jewish  people,  as  many  of  the  psalms   were  offered  up  to  God  in  corporate  worship  as  songs  of  praise,  prayers  of  thanksgiving,  and   cries  of  lament.  Specifically  appointed  psalms  were  recited  at  various  festival  days  like  the  Feast   of  the  Passover,  on  Sabbath  days,  and  on  weekdays.  The  authorship  of  the  psalms  is  varied,  but   73  of  the  150  are  title  attributed  to  King  David.     Psalm   32   is   categorized   as   a   penitential   psalm   which   means   it   expresses   sorrow   over   sin.   But   unlike  Psalm  51,  in  which  the  prayer  comes  from  a  position  of  one  still  under  the  influence  of   the   affliction   of   the   sin,   Psalm   32   rather   is   one   of   thanksgiving,   as   the   worshipper   looks   back   upon   repentance   and   the   forgiveness   of   sin   and   the   joy   found   therein.   It   also   contains   an   instructional   aspect,   similar   to   Wisdom   literature,   meant   to   educate   those   in   the   community   of   faith  to  heed  warning  and  live  their  everyday  lives  wisely.  The  psalm  ends  with  a  call  to  rejoice   in  God’s  available  grace.    

 

 

Study  &  Discuss  

To  increase  participation  in  your  group,  ask  two  or  more  people  to  read  this  passage  out  loud.       Read  Psalm  32     1  Blessed  is  the  one  whose  transgressions  are  forgiven,  whose  sins  are  covered.   2  Blessed  is  the  one  whose  sin  the  Lord  does  not  count  against  them  and  in  whose  spirit  is  no   deceit.     3

 When  I  kept  silent,  my  bones  wasted  away  through  my  groaning  all  day  long.    For  day  and  night  your  hand  was  heavy  on  me;  my  strength  was  sapped  as  in  the  heat  of   summer.   4

5

 Then  I  acknowledged  my  sin  to  you  and  did  not  cover  up  my  iniquity.    I  said,  “I  will  confess          my  transgressions  to  the  Lord.”  And  you  forgave  the  guilt  of  my  sin.   6

 Therefore  let  all  the  faithful  pray  to  you  while  you  may  be  found;  surely  the  rising  of  the  mighty   waters  will  not  reach  them.   7

 You  are  my  hiding  place;  you  will  protect  me  from  trouble  and  surround  me  with  songs  of   deliverance.   8

 I  will  instruct  you  and  teach  you  in  the  way  you  should  go;  I  will  counsel  you  with  my  loving  eye   on  you.   9  Do  not  be  like  the  horse  or  the  mule,  which  have  no  understanding  but  must  be  controlled  by   bit  and  bridle  or  they  will  not  come  to  you.   10  Many  are  the  woes  of  the  wicked,  but  the  Lord’s  unfailing  love  surrounds  the  one  who   trusts  in  him.     11

 Rejoice  in  the  Lord  and  be  glad,  you  righteous;  sing,  all  you  who  are  upright  in  heart!  

1. Psalm   32   starts   out   with   two   Beatitudes.   “Blessed”   can   be   translated   from   the   Hebrew   word  to  mean  “very  happy”.  Who  does  the  psalmist  say  is  “blessed”  (v1-­‐2)?     The  one  whose  transgressions  are  forgiven,  the  one  whose  sins  are  covered,  the  one  whose   sin  the  Lord  does  not  count  against  him,  the  one  in  whose  spirit  is  found  no  deceit.       2. Notice  how  the  psalmist  repeats  himself  3  times  regarding  the  forgiveness  of,  covering  of,   not  imputing  of  sins.  Why  do  you  think  he  does  this?   Repetition   implies   a   very   strong   and   significant   sentiment.   This   is   how   one   feels   when   a   great   weight   or   debt   has   been   lifted   or   removed.   This   is   a   very   personal   testimony   of   the   psalmist,  something  he  has  experienced.     3. The  last  part  of  verse  2  says  “Blessed  is  the  one…  in  whose  spirit  is  no  deceit.”    What  do   you   think   this   means   and   how   does   it   relate   to   the   forgiveness   of   sins,   which   God   grants?   Cross  reference  1  John  1:8-­‐9.  

1   John   1:8-­‐9   says   “If   we   claim   to   be   without   sin,   we   deceive   ourselves   and   the   truth   is   not   in   us.  If  we  confess  our  sins,  he  is  faithful  and  just  and  will  forgive  us  our  sins  and  purify  us  from   all   unrighteousness.”   Our   responsibility   is   to   be   truthful   with   God.   Because   God   is   faithful   and  full  of  grace,  He  will  forgive  us.  Be  clear,  this  is  not  to  say  that  every  time  we  sin  we  lose   our  status  of  salvation,  nor  is  it  to  say  that  we  will  or  can  be  sinless.  Rather,  to  experience   the  “joy  of  our  salvation”  and  the  release  of  the  “burden  of  guilt”  from  our  sin,  we  need  to   come  before  God  in  “spirit  and  in  truth”  (no  deceit).  Then,  we  will  feel  “blessed”/happy.  

  4. Sin   separates   us   from   God.   Are   you   mindful   to   pray   prayers   of   repentance   as   part   of   a   regular  discipline,  that  you  might  feel  the  nearness  of  the  presence  of  God  in  your  life?  If   not,  why  not?     5. Describe  the  inner  struggle  that  the  psalmist  felt  when  he  tried  to  hide  (keep  silent)  his  sin   from  God?  (v3-­‐4)   He  said  “my  bones  wasted  away  through  my  groaning  all  day  long.”  Day  and  night,  he  felt   God’s  hand  was  heavy  on  him;  his  strength  was  sapped  as  in  the  heat  of  summer.     6. Have  you  ever  felt  any  sense  of  physical  ailment  at  trying  to  hide  from  God  what   He  was   pressing  upon  you  to  bring  to  the  light?  If  not  physically,  have  you  ever  been  aware  of  a   loss  or  lack  of  inner  peace  as  a  result  of  “hiding  from  God”?   Allow  some  time  for  people  to  share,  but  don’t  force  anyone  to.  As  the  leader,  you  may  want   to   be   prepared   to   share   either   a   personal   example   or   an   illustration   with   no   identifying   markers  to  anyone.     7. The  psalmist  said  in  v6  “let  all  the  faithful  pray  to  you  while  you  may  be  found.”  God  is   never  the  one  hiding  from  us,  but  as  with  the  original  sin  of  Adam  and  Eve,  it  is  us  who   hide  from  God.  Based  on  what  the  psalmist  has  said  in  the  first  5  verses,  he  understands   this.    So  what  do  you  think  he  means  by  the  phrase  “while  you  (God)  may  be  found”?     God  is  willing  and  wanting  “to  be  found”.  In  fact,  He  seeks  us.  It  was  the  psalmist  who  felt   “God’s  hand  heavy  upon  him.”  But  it  is  up  to  each  individual  as  to  whether  or  not  they  will   “find   God”.   Jesus   tells   us   “seek,   knock,   ask”   and   the   door   shall   be   opened.   The   book   of   Hebrews   11:6   tells   us   “…   He   rewards   those   who   earnestly   seek   Him.”   [Some   other   verses   that   reference   “seeking   God”   are   Deuteronomy   4:29,   Psalm   27:4,   119:2,   Isaiah   55:6,   Lamentations  3:25,  Acts  17:27]       8. In  v6-­‐7,  what  benefits  did  the  psalmist  describe  are  available  to  the  faithful  who  pray?   The   rising   of   the   mighty   waters   will   not   reach   them,   a   hiding   place,   protection   from   trouble,   surrounding   with   songs   of   deliverance.   One   might   experience   a   feeling   of   being   safe   and   protected   in   God’s   grace   from   any   kind   of   trouble   that   may   come   near.   “Songs   of   deliverance”  speak  to  a  rejoicing,  in  this  case  specifically  over  the  forgiveness  of  sins  and  a   freedom  from  “waves  of  guilt,”  even!    

9. In  your  daily  life,  do  you  pray  prayers  of  protection  for  yourself,  your  loved  ones,  those  in   your   larger   faith   community   and   small   group?   Have   you   ever   felt   the   effects   of   others   praying  such  prayers  for  you?     10. In  v8,  the  psalmist  switches  gears  to  instruct  others  on  the  basis  of  his  own  experience.  In   v9-­‐10,  he  contrasts  those  who  do  not  have  understanding  and  are  therefore  “forced”  (like   the   horse   or   the   mule)   to   follow   vs.   those   who   willingly   trust   in   the   Lord   and   therefore   experience  His  unfailing  love.  What  imagery  comes  to  mind  when  you  think  of  a  horse  or   mule  being  “broken”?     The   animal   bucking,   pulling   back,   not   being   productive   in   its   work/purpose,   a   wrestling   between  man  &  animal,  eventual  “breaking”  of  the  animal’s  will  to  fight,  surrender,  …       11. For  those  open  to  sharing,  describe  a  time  when  you  resisted  God’s  will  for  your  life  with   a   strong   perseverance   in   obstinate   self-­‐will,   and   how   did   you   come   to   finally   “bend   the   knee”?  Alternatively,  share  a  time  when  you  readily  trusted  the  Lord  and  submitted  your   will  to  His,  and  how  your  experience  here  was  different  than  the  former  example.     12. Have   you   ever   prayed   to   come   to   the   “end   of   yourself”   or   have   known   someone   to   lovingly  pray  that  for  you,  or  in  godly  love  prayed  that  for  someone  else?     13. Notice  how  at  the  end  of  v7,  and  at  the  end  of  v11,  the  psalmist  points  to  a  delighting  in   God   in   the   form   of   rejoicing.   Do   you   often   pray   prayers   of   delight   and   thanksgiving   to   God?  Do  you  point  others  to  pray  such  prayers,  rejoicing  in  what  God  has  already  done?      

Ministry  Time  

Take  some  time  at  the  end  of  your  group  to  welcome  the  Holy  Spirit  and  seek  Him  for  direction   as  you  pray  for  one  another.  When  we  make  space  for  Him,  God  is  pleased  to  come  and  show   Himself  to  us  in  our  groups,  and  to  genuinely  touch  and  change  us,  often  in  powerful  ways.       • As  Rich  talked  about  in  the  sermon,  some  of  us  still  struggle  to  see  God  as  a  loving   Father  because  of  the  example  that  our  earthly  father  may  have  been  to  us  and  the   wounds  we  may  have  from  that  relationship.  Ask  if  anyone  wants  prayer  for  unhealed   wounds  in  that  relationship  and  give  room  for  the  Holy  Spirit  to  move  people  to  share   and  then  pray  for  one  another.  Pray  also  for  deliverance  from  projecting  faulty  images   of  father  onto  God  our  Father.       • We  often  get  stuck  in  ruts  in  our  prayer  life  –  maybe  we  neglect  prayers  of  repentance,   or  prayers  of  thanksgiving  for  even  the  small  things  God  is  doing  in  our  lives.  Maybe  we   don’t  pray  through  the  Bible,  or  perhaps  we  struggle  to  be  really  honest  with  God  in  our   prayer  life.    Take  some  time  to  allow  people  to  pray  silently,  and  then  to  share  anything   they  want  to  share  with  the  group  (either  personally  or  by  means  of  a  Word  to  bless   another)  as  the  Holy  Spirit  leads.