Growing in Grace Through Spiritual Disciplines

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Growing in Grace ThroughSpiritual Disciplines

• Spiritual Disciplines are the habits you develop
  to cause you to grow closer to God and Jesus.

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2 Timothy 17

• For God has not given us a
  spirit of fear, but of power and
  of love and of a sound mind.
• (swfronismov sophronismos, discipline, i.e.
  self-control -sound mind)
• For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,
  but a spirit of power, of love and of
  self-discipline. (NIV)

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Prayer

• What Is It?
• Communication (expressions of praise, petition,
  supplication) to God. Our way of talking to Him)

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Prayer

• What Is It?
• Communication (expressions of praise, petition,
  supplication) to God. Our way of talking to Him)
• Two Parables about Prayer
• Luke 181-8 (pray and not
  lose heart)
• Luke 189-14 (approach
  God in prayer with
  humility as sinners)

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Matthew 65-6

• And when you pray, you shall not
  be like the hypocrites. For they love
  to pray standing in the synagogues and on the
  corners of the streets, that they may be seen by
  men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their
  reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your
  room, and when you have shut your door, pray to
  your Father who is in the secret place and your
  Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

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Matthew 67-8

• And when you pray, do not
  use vain repetitions as the heathen
  do. For they think that they will be heard for
  their many words. 8 Therefore do not be like
  them. For your Father knows the things you have
  need of before you ask Him.

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A Formula for Prayer A C T - S

• A Adoration (praise to God)
• Psalm 931-5

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Psalm 931-5

• The LORD reigns, He is
  clothed with majesty The LORD
  is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength.
  Surely the world is established, so that it
  cannot be moved. 2 Your throne is established
  from of old You are from everlasting. 3 The
  floods have lifted up, O LORD, The floods have
  lifted up their voice The floods lift up their
  waves. 4 The LORD on high is mightier Than the
  noise of many waters, Than the mighty waves of
  the sea. 5 Your testimonies are very sure
  Holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, forever.

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A Formula for Prayer A C T - S

• A Adoration (praise to God)
• Psalm 931-5
• C Confession/Repentance
• Ezra 109-12

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Ezra 109-12

• So all the men of Judah and
  Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem
  within three days. It was the ninth month, on the
  twentieth of the month and all the people sat in
  the open square of the house of God, trembling
  because of this matter and because of heavy rain.
  10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to
  them, You have transgressed and have taken pagan
  wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. 11 Now
  therefore, make confession to the LORD God of
  your fathers, and do His will separate
  yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from
  the pagan wives. 12 Then all the assembly
  answered and said with a loud voice, Yes! As you
  have said, so we must do.

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A Formula for Prayer A C T - S

• A Adoration (praise to God)
• Psalm 931-5
• C Confession/Repentance
• Ezra 109-12
• T Thanksgiving
• 1 Thessalonians 518

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1 Thessalonians 518

• In everything give thanks for
  this is the will of God in Christ
  Jesus for you.

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A Formula for Prayer A C T - S

• A Adoration (praise to God)
• Psalm 931-5
• C Confession/Repentance
• Ezra 109-12
• T Thanksgiving
• 1 Thessalonians 518
• S Supplications (Petitions)
• 3 John 2 Mathew 611-13

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3 John 2 Matthew 611-13

• (3 John 2), Beloved, I pray
  that you may prosper in all things and
  be in health, just as your soul
  prospers.
• (Matthew 611-13), Give us this day our daily
  bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive
  our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into
  temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For
  Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory
  forever. Amen.

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Keep a Journal

• Reminders of needed petitions on behalf of others
• Writing down your petitions and needs in diary
  form
• Records of answered prayer.

• Many of the Psalms are
  written prayers of David
• Review gives cause for thanksgiving.

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Memorize Scripture

• Your word I have hidden
  in my heart, That I might not
  sin against You!
• Psalm 11911
• Enables you to give an answer
• (cf. Matthew 4, Temptation of Jesus),
• It is written
• 1 Peter 315

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1 Peter 315

• But sanctify the Lord God in
  your hearts, and always be ready
  to give a defense to everyone who asks you a
  reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness
  and fear.
• (Note Memorization is easier and more
  profitable if it is not by rote You need to
  understand the passage you are attempting to
  remember).

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What Is Your Focus?

• Walk as children of Light
• Ephesians 58-10
• goodness, righteousness, and truth

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Ephesians 58-10

• For you were once darkness, but
  now you are light in the Lord. Walk as
  children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit
  is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10
  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

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What Is Your Focus?

• Walk as children of Light
• Ephesians 58-10
• goodness, righteousness, and truth
• Do all to Gods glory
• 1 Corinthians 1031-33

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1 Corinthians 1031-33

• Therefore, whether you eat or
  drink, or whatever you do, do all
  to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense,
  either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the
  church of God, 33 just as I also please all men
  in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the
  profit of many, that they may be saved.

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What Is Your Focus?

• Walk as children of Light
• Ephesians 58-10
• goodness, righteousness, and truth
• Do all to Gods glory
• 1 Corinthians 1031-33
• Live for Christ
• 2 Corinthians 514-15

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2 Corinthians 514-15

• For the love of Christ compels
  us, because we judge thus that if
  One died for all, then all died 15 and He died
  for all, that those who live should live no
  longer for themselves, but for Him who died for
  them and rose again.

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Conclusion Discipline Yourself!

• Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a
  steadfast spirit within me.
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  Psalms 5110