Susquehanna Valley Church of Christ

 The Practice Of Prayer

  Since we have been going through a study of prayer, I thought it would be good to go over some foundational principles in how we go about praying more.  To do that we need to ask ourselves some questions concerning prayer....

When should I pray?
  First, having "set times" to pray can help create the actual habit of prayer.  Note that David, a man after God's own heart (Ps. 55:17), and Daniel, a man greatly beloved by God (Dan 6:10) were both men that made it a habit to pray at set times throughout the day.  Having a set time helps us get acclimated for the need of prayer on a daily basis.  For some the early morning is a good time (see Mk. 1:35) while others might find it easier to be alone late at night.  Make sure that you use mealtimes to thank God for what He has provided.  If you have children at home, make sure to have a daily devotional time together that includes Bible reading and prayer.  At the very least, make sure that you have a "quiet time" on a daily basis for private prayer (see Mt. 6:5-6).
  Even though we've discussed an actual "quiet time," make sure that you practice 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - "pray without ceasing."  Nehemiah (Neh. 2:4-5), Paul (Acts 16:25), and even Jesus (Lk. 6:12-13) would at times drop everything and spend a great deal of time in prayer - special needs call for special times of prayer!
  Finally, we need to make time to pray with other Christians (see Mt. 18:19-20). The early Christians prayed together often in times of trouble (Acts 4:23-24;12:5,12;16:25), and in times of departure (Acts 20:36;21:5).  Fellowship does not get any sweeter and the sense of strength does not seem any stronger that when God's people pray together!  We need to pray together as often as we can!!!

How should I pray?
  Take a look at what is called the "Lord's Prayer" (it would be more accurate to call it the "Disciples Pattern for Prayer") in
Matthew 6:9-13 or Luke 11:1-4. A careful examination of this prayer reveals that proper prayer includes: to "whom" we should pray ("Our Father in heaven"); praising God ("Hallowed be Your Name"); supplication (another word for an "earnest request") for God's purposes ("Your kingdom come. Your will be done..."), our physical needs ("Give us this day our daily bread"), our spiritual needs ("Forgive us our sins..."), and the spiritual needs of others ("For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us").  It's important that we rephrase these concepts in our own words because just mouthing the "Lord's Prayer" could surely qualify for vain repetition and misses the need of simplicity in our prayers (see Mt. 6:7-8).
  A helpful acrostic in learning to pray is "A-C-T-S"...
  A = ADORATION which is praising God.  A good example of this is found in David's adoration of God in 1 Chronicles 29:10-13.  Spending time in sincere praise of God's greatness will help put us in the proper spirit of humility.
  C = CONFESSION which is acknowledging our sins before God.  When we understand how sin can break the fellowship we have with God, we naturally desire its quick remission.  Fortunately, as Christians we can be cleansed by the blood
of Jesus as we confess our sins (1 Jn 1:9).
  T = THANKSGIVING which is giving thanks to God for what He has given to us, an important part of prayer (Phil. 4:6).  The benefits of giving thanks are many: it causes us to acknowledge God's existence, love, and care; it reminds us of His goodness; it helps to shift our focus from what we don't have to what we do have.  A short list of things to be thankful for would be:  things we can see in our lives such as health, family and friends, God's guidance, answers to previous prayers; things we may not be able to see such as our salvation, our hope in heaven, and the assurance of God's abiding presence.  God's people have every reason to be thankful, and to be known for "abounding in thanksgiving" (Col. 1:12;2:7; 3:15;4:2).
  S = SUPPLICATION which is making requests of God (see Phil. 4:6). If we are faithful in including the first three (adoration, confession, thanksgiving), this last will prevent prayer from being simply a spiritual "shopping list."  When we broaden our requests to include others, we enter into one of the most noble realms of prayer: intercession (praying for someone else, see 1 Tim. 2:1).  Examples of whom we can pray follow.

What do I need to pray for?
  God's word directs us to pray personally for our daily physical needs (Mt. 6:1) along with spiritual growth and devotion to God (Col. 1:9-12).  We also need to pray for family (spouse, children, parents, siblings, etc.) and their nurture and growth in the teaching of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).  The community that we live in needs to be part of our prayers as we pray for peace to prevail and for open doors to reach and teach (see Jer. 29:7). Prayers also need to be offered for the church: for love and unity to prevail (see Jn. 13:15; 17:20-21); for the spiritual growth of each member (Phil. 1:9-11); for it's outreach with the gospel (2 Thess. 3:1).  We also need to pray for our nation - for national repentance and revival (Ps. 33:12; Prov. 14:34) and for our leaders to rule wisely (1 Tim. 2:2).  Those that are not in Christ need salvation (Rom. 10:1) which involves the effort of those to reach and teach them (Eph. 6:18-20).  Least we forget the sick (for their restoration of health, spiritual strength, and peace of mind (James 5:14-16)), and the poor and the oppressed (Prov. 29:7).
  A good pattern to get into so that we don't forget to pray for all the things we need to pray for is to first keep a prayer journal where we keep a list of the things and the persons that we need to be praying for (by all means use the list in the bulletin for this along with the announcements over "Call-A-Member").  Next, have some type of "prayer strategy" where you set a pattern for praying for specific things on a given day of the week or at given times of the day.  Use the following as a possible guide:  on Monday - Family (pray for both immediate and extended family members and their physical and spiritual well-being); on Tuesday - Church (for members in the local congregation and Christians and congregations throughout the world); on Wednesday - Community (leaders and neighbors); on Thursday - Nation (for elected officials and efforts to bring peace and righteousness to our country); on Friday - World (for world peace, especially for nations that are "closed" to the gospel); on Saturday - Afflicted (for the poor, homeless, jobless, those in prison, those who are sick, widows, single mothers, and fatherless children). 
  These are simply suggestions, to help us see that there is much we can be praying for.  The important thing is to PRAY, and to do so: "always"; "in everything"; "earnestly"; "being vigilant"; "without ceasing."

Finally, some personal questions...
  Do you spend time each day in prayer to God?  Do you find prayer an easy or difficult activity?  Do you pray with other people at times other than before meals, in Bible classes, or in the assembly?  Do your prayers include the needs of others, or just your own concerns?

- Adapted from a sermon by Mark Copeland

Last update: 08-02-2010 16:35

 Is This Talking About Us?!?

   Did you ever come across something that really made you think?  I did this week.  I was reading an interesting book about how to reach people in this postmodern age called "Live To Tell."  It was written by Brad Kallenberg (sorry, no direct relation to Gordon or Olive).  One of the chapters on evangelism focused on the need to accurately display the real story of who Jesus is and how He lived by demonstrating it in our lives.  To illustrate how the early church did this Mr. Kallenberg cited a quotation from the Greek philosopher Aristides.  Aristides wrote his "Apology" (a defense of Christianity, not an "I'm sorry") in 125 A.D. on the occasion of Emperor Hadrian's visit to Athens.  Toward the end of his defense Aristides gave an accurate description of Christians at the beginning of the second century.  The question that "hit me in the face" after reading this was: "Is he talking about us?"  It made me think about how I was living my life.  Do people see in me what Aristides saw in our second century counterparts?!?  What follows is the full version of the quote that I pulled off the Internet (don't let the "O, King" phrases throw you - this defense was in the form of a letter to Hadrian)...  

   "But the Christians, O King, while they went about and made search, have found the truth; and as we learned from their writings, they have come nearer to truth and genuine knowledge than the rest of the nations. For they know and trust in God, the Creator of heaven and of earth, in whom and from whom are all things, to whom there is no other god as companion, from whom they received commandments which they engraved upon their minds and observe in hope and expectation of the world which is to come. Wherefore they do not commit adultery nor fornication, nor bear false witness, nor embezzle what is held in pledge, nor covet what is not theirs. They honour father and mother, and show kindness to those near to them; and whenever they are judges, they judge uprightly. They do not worship idols (made) in the image of man; and whatsoever they would not that others should do unto them, they do not to others; and of the food which is consecrated to idols they do not eat, for they are pure. And their oppressors they appease (lit: comfort) and make them their friends; they do good to their enemies; and their women, O King, are pure as virgins, and their daughters are modest; and their men keep themselves from every unlawful union and from all uncleanness, in the hope of a recompense to come in the other world. Further, if one or other of them have bondmen and bondwomen or children, through love towards them they persuade them to become Christians, and when they have done so, they call them brethren without distinction. They do not worship strange gods, and they go their way in all modesty and cheerfulness. Falsehood is not found among them; and they love one another, and from widows they do not turn away their esteem; and they deliver the orphan from him who treats him harshly. And he, who has, gives to him who has not, without boasting. And when they see a stranger, they take him in to their homes and rejoice over him as a very brother; for they do not call them brethren after the flesh, but brethren after the spirit and in God. And whenever one of their poor passes from the world, each one of them according to his ability gives heed to him and carefully sees to his burial. And if they hear that one of their number is imprisoned or afflicted on account of the name of their Messiah, all of them anxiously minister to his necessity, and if it is possible to redeem him they set him free. And if there is among them any that is poor and needy, and if they have no spare food, they fast two or three days in order to supply to the needy their lack of food. They observe the precepts of their Messiah with much care, living justly and soberly as the Lord their God commanded them. Every morning and every hour they give thanks and praise to God for His loving-kindnesses toward them; and for their food and their drink they offer thanksgiving to Him. And if any righteous man among them passes from the world, they rejoice and offer thanks to God; and they escort his body as if he were setting out from one place to another near. And when a child has been born to one of them, they give thanks to God; and if moreover it happen to die in childhood, they give thanks to God the more, as for one who has passed through the world without sins. And further if they see that any one of them dies in his ungodliness or in his sins, for him they grieve bitterly, and sorrow as for one who goes to meet his doom.
   Such, O King, is the commandment of the law of the Christians, and such is their manner of life. As men who know God, they ask from Him petitions which are fitting for Him to grant and for them to receive. And thus they employ their whole lifetime. And since they know the loving-kindnesses of God toward them, behold! for their sake the glorious things which are in the world flow forth to view. And verily, they are those who found the truth when they went about and made search for it; and from what we considered, we learned that they alone come near to a knowledge of the truth. And they do not proclaim in the ears of the multitude the kind deeds they do, but are careful that no one should notice them; and they conceal their giving just as he who finds a treasure and conceals it. And they strive to be righteous as those who expect to behold their Messiah, and to receive from Him with great glory the promises made concerning them. And as for their words and their precepts, O King, and their glorying in their worship, and the hope of earning according to the work of each one of them their recompense which they look for in another world,-you may learn about these from their writings. It is enough for us to have shortly informed your Majesty concerning the conduct and the truth of the Christians. For great indeed, and wonderful is their doctrine to him who will search into it and reflect upon it. And verily, this is a new people, and there is something divine (lit: "a divine admixture") in the midst of them." 

   Is this an apt description of you?!?  Think about it!!!!

- Bill

Last update: 04-02-2010 13:11

IF
IF one can be saved without faith, why did Paul say it was impossible to please God without it? (Hebrews 11:6)
IF God promised to give faith when we ask for it, why are we told that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)
IF "faith alone" is a wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort, why did James say that faith without works is dead? (James 2:26)
IF God has promised to save men regardless of the kind of faith they have, why did Paul make it so plain that "THERE IS ONE FAITH." (Ephesians 4:4-6)
IF the Lord will save without baptism, why did He com­mand it? (Acts 10:48)
IF the Lord has promised us salvation without baptism, why did Peter say that it saves? (I Peter 3:21)
IF sprinkling and pouring are Scriptural baptism, why did Paul say there is one baptism (Ephesians 4:4-6), and that it is a burial? (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:11,12)
IF we can receive remission of sins without baptism, why did Peter say baptism is for the remission of sins? (Acts 2:28)
IF we can get into Christ without baptism, why did Paul Say we are baptized into His
body (I Corinthians 12:13). Remember, the body and the church are the same thing. (Colossians 1:18)
IF we can be born again of the Spirit only, why did Christ say to be born of water and the Spirit? (John 3:3-5)
IF infant baptism is Scriptural, why did Christ command to baptize those who believe? (Mark 16:15, 16) Remember, infants cannot believe.
IF infants are sinners, why did Christ teach that we must become like them to be saved? (Matthew 18:3)
IF God has promised salvation outside of the church, why did Christ die for it? (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25-27)
IF the church has nothing to do about our salvation, why did the Lord add us to the Church? (Acts 2:47)
IF men have the right to make laws and put them in the church, why did Christ say He had
all authority? (Matthew 28;18-20)
IF man can be saved by obeying the commandments and doctrines of men, why did Christ say it is vain to worship and follow them? (Mark 7:7)
IF the Word of God is complete and can furnish us unto all good works, how can we make it better by adding or taking from it? (II Timothy 3:16)
IF the Word of God is able to save men, what need have we of anything else? (John 8:32; John 17:17)
IF there is nothing in a name, why did Peter say that salvation is in the name of Christ? (Acts 4:10-12)
IF Christ taught that it is all right to wear any name, why did He call His family by His name? (Ephesians 3:14, 15)
IF a man cannot fall from grace, why did Peter say that one can be entangled and overcome, and that the latter end is worse than the first? (II Peter 2:20-22)
IF it is not necessary to meet on the first day of the week, why did Paul say not to forsake the assembly? (Hebrews 10:25)
IF it is not necessary for disciples to meet on the first day of the week, why did the Lord have it recorded as He did? (Acts 20:7)
IF there is no punishment for the wicked after death, why did Christ say they would go into everlasting punish­ment. (Matthew 25:46)
IF one can be saved without wholehearted obedience to the Lord, why did Paul say to "OBEY FROM THE HEART? (Romans 6:17,18) and the author of the Hebrews Book says Christ is "AUTHOR OF SALVATION TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM." (Hebrews 5:9)
IF there is no hell but the grave, what is meant by "the damnation of Hell?" (Matthew 23:33)
IF one becomes a Christian when he believes, why wasn't King Agrippa a Christian? (Acts 26:27,28)
IF God promised to save everyone, why did Paul say to persuade men? (II Corinthians 5:11)
IF one can be saved and not be faithful, why did the Lord say to be "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH". (Rev. 2:10) Why did he also declare in Matthew 10:22 "HE THAT ENDURETH TO THE END SHALL BE SAVED"?
- Adapted from an article by D. E. Boatman

Last update: 25-01-2010 15:28

"How About Giving A Boost?"

   We are all subject to it every so often! I'm speaking of "being down in the dumps" on occa­sion. When this occurs we need a brother or sis­ter in Christ to encourage and remind us just how much our God loves and cares; perhaps some good news from one of our children or a relative; an unexpected note or phone call to cheer us up.
   A faithful Bible class teacher, who for years looked forward to sharing his understanding of God's word with others each Lord's Day, was in such a "down in the dumps" predicament one day. Life seemed to be offering nothing but dis­couragement and disappointment. It seemed the old devil had gotten the best of him, at least tem­porarily.
   Brother Sam Potts lived in a rural setting and on this particular morning went to the mailbox without much anticipation, thinking, "probably there's nothing in it but circulars, bills, or bulle­tins with someone wanting something." Well, he was wrong this time! There was a letter from one who had been in his class at church several years before. The letter read that the challenging teaching of Bro. Potts that Sunday morning re­sulted later in a complete change in his life. After he and his family had moved to another location, additional study of the Bible resulted, he obeyed the gospel, his wife followed him, and before too long, the two oldest of his children became obe­dient to the true and living God. Whew, what a "boost!"
   A young Joshua seems to have needed a great deal of encouragement, and Moses, his senior in years and experience, gave it to him on several occasions. One of those times is recorded in Deut. 3:28. Moses was not allowed to lead the Israelites into the promised land because of pre­vious error, however, here he commands the peo­ple in reference to Joshua, "...encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see."
   Jonathan gave David needed support and encouragement when King Saul was hounding him and seeking to take his life. "Then Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God," 1 Sam. 23:16.
   We find in Acts 9:27 the "boost" or support that a young Christian by the name of Paul re­ceived from Barnabas, "But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles." His very name means "Son of Encouragement." Paul desper­ately needed this help because the disciples re­membered how he was before and "...were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple," Acts 9:26. Priscilla and Aquila were instrumental in Paul's growth and work. In Rom. 16:3 the great apostle said, "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles."
   Think about it... "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver," Proverbs 25:11. And another from this beautiful Book of Proverbs, "A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season how good it is!" 15:23. We disobey God if we do not... "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so," Proverbs 3:27.
   To express appreciation and encouragement for another is to turn up the thermostat in his heart and bless his life. Give someone a smile, a Christian hug, a sincere pat on the back, "boost" them in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Charles D. Beebe, Nugent Church of Christ, Abilene, TX

Last update: 16-01-2010 20:54