Embrace the Prayer Life of Christ Toni

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Embrace the Prayer Life of Christ! Toni Jerry
Porter

• Northern California District
• Church of the Nazarene
• May 1, 2008

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Africa
Africa
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Africa
Africa

• Horn of Africa 2005-2007
• 15,000 to 51,000 Nazarenes
• 539 congregations to 2,535
• Attendance from 42K to 135K

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Africa
Africa

• Converted Muslim Witch Doctors

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Global Nazarene Family
Cali, Colombia House of Prayer Church of the
Nazarene
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NOV 0713,000 persons present 1,100 embraced
Faith in Christ!
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APR 2008 20,000 persons present
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• Evangelism
• Discipleship

• Prayer
• Consolidation

• Cell multiplication

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Christlike DisciplesThe Prayer Life of Christ
The heartbeat of a great church is the personal
and collective prayer life of its people!
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(No Transcript)
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Christlike DisciplesThe Prayer Life of Christ
The sin of prayerlessness is one of the deepest
roots of all evil. In it are embedded all the
other sins of pride, arrogance, independence,
self-sufficiency, unbelief and rebellion. . .
And it is the one sin to which we must all plead
guilty. Andrew Murray
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Embrace the prayer life of Christ!
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History is silent about revivals that did not
begin with prayer. Edwin Orr
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• All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in
  the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most
  strenuously. Acts 125 (MSG)
• Ektenh ektenesstretch out

All I know is that when I pray, coincidences
happen and when I dont pray, they dont
happen. Dan Hayes
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• Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what
  I want mostly is for men to pray not shaking
  angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to
  God. And I want women to get in there with the
  men in humility before God, not primping before a
  mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing
  something beautiful for God and becoming
  beautiful doing it. 1
  Tim 28-10 (MSG)

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• Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground,
  and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell
  down in worship before the LORD. Then some
  Levites . . . stood up and praised the LORD, the
  God of Israel, with very loud voice. 2 Chron
  2018-19 (NIV)

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• A woman whose little daughter was possessed by
  an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. . .
  Even the dogs under the table eat the children's
  crumbs. Mark 725, 28 (NIV)
• prospiptw  prospipto
• to fall forwards, prostrate one's self before,
  in homage or suppli-cation at one's feet
  (Strong's)

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• As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he
  came to a village where a woman named Martha
  opened her home to him. She had a sister called
  Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to
  what he said. But Martha was distracted by all
  the preparations that had to be made. She came to
  him and asked,

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• "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me
  to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
  "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are
  worried and upset about many things, but only one
  thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better,
  and it will not be taken away from her."
  (Luke 1038-42 NIV)

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• Martha was distracted (perispao) peri around,
  spao to pull.
• Mary was sitting with Jesus (parakathestheisa)
• Kathezomai to seat oneself.
• Para near or by the side of.
• Pros means that she sat very near or close to
  Jesus.
• Nkouen from akouo she was listening with
  understanding.

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• In verse 42 Jesus says there is only one needful
  thing and Mary has chosen it.
• Martha on the other hand is diakonian which means
  she is serving, waiting, or the act of rendering
  friendly offices.

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PRAYER FASTING

• PENITENCE The Israelites gathered together,
  fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust on
  their heads. . . They stood in their places and
  confessed their sins and the wickedness of their
  fathers. They stood where they were and read from
  the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a
  quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in
  confession and in worshiping the LORD their God.
  (Neh 91-3)

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PRAYER FASTING

• HUMILITY When you fast, do not look somber as
  the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces
  to show men they are fasting. I tell you the
  truth, they have received their reward in full.
  But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash
  your face, so that it will not be obvious to men
  that you are fasting, but only to your Father,
  who is unseen and your Father, who sees what is
  done in secret, will reward you. (Matt 616-18
  NIV)

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PRAYER FASTING

• THE CHURCH PASSIONATELY SEEKING GODS DIRECTION
  AND BLESSING While they were worshiping the Lord
  and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for
  me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
  called them." So after they had fasted and
  prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent
  them off. (Acts 132-3 NIV)

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PRAYER FASTING

• Esthers fast no food or drink
• Jesus fast liquid only fast
• Daniels fast eliminate pleasurable food or
  activity
• Purpose
• Not to obtain what I want but to be changed so
  Gods will may be done

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PRAYER FASTING

• 8 hour fast (miss one meal)
• 12 hour fast (miss two meals)
• 24 hour fast (miss three meals)
• Several day fast
• Esther calls for a three-day total fast
• Jesus 40 day fast

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Embrace the prayer life of Christ!
All you need to do to learn to pray is to
pray. Wesley Duewel
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Praise and Thanksgiving

• In groups of three
• Exalt and magnify the Lord God!
• Express your gratitude for the Fathers blessings
  in your life!

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Prayer Stations

• Health
• Your ministry
• Schools
• Government
• Peace justice in the world

• The Cross
• Marriage
• Children
• Lost family friends
• Finances
• Family

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Prayer for the World!
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Petitions and Needs

• In groups of three
• Each person is invited to share one or two of the
  most important or urgent prayer requests

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Embrace the prayer life of Christ!
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