~Open in prayer~
Icebreakers
● What was your favorite show as a child?
● Do you have any summer plans?
● How do you practice self-care?
MESSAGE REVIEW
We know that prayer changes everything! We also know that God does answer prayers! Continuing in part 2 of this series we dive into the foundations of bridging the gap between what God wants and what we see. As we enter the heavenly courtroom there is a protocol that must be learned but there is also a prerequisite to bringing our prayers before approaching the bench of the Father. Our heart postures. Where man looks at the external, God looks at the heart. Let’s venture into how our heart posture impacts our prayers!
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!
•Read 1 Samuel 16: 6-13 Prior to this passage, God has asked Samuel how long he will mourn what God has rejected, thus resulting in God sending Samuel to anoint the one that God indicated. As Samuel is introduced to Jesse’s seven sons, he immediately perceives Eliab to be the God’s anointed. Here, God tells Samuel that though man looks at the outward appearance, the Lord looks at the heart. To approach God’s “bench” we can not come to Him with grumbling and complaints. We are to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and enter into His courts with praise. It is impossible to be offended and thankful at the same time, gratefulness changes our hearts! How do you typically begin your prayers? Do you start in thanksgiving or start with your bitterness, sadness or anger?
•Protocol. We are a kingdom of priests (Revelations 1:5) that have access to everything our Father has because we have been qualified by the blood of Jesus. Because of the blood we are now the temples in which the Holy Spirit dwells. This means that we must also approach the Father in reverent submission.
Reference Scriptures
Psalms 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties”
Jeremiah 17:10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
Romans 8:27 “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Read Romans 14:1 and Luke 6:37-38 Jesus got on the cross to die for our sins, but religion also put Jesus on the cross. Religion is to conform to an outer code, but God looks at our hearts. We can not judge others because we do not have all the information only the wise and mighty judge, God, can see the heart.
Read Hebrews 4:12 and 1 Corinthians 15:33 There is work associated with having the right heart posture. Along with confronting yourself by having honest conversations with YOU, we must also constantly hold up the Word of God as our mirror. The Word is the only thing strong enough to discern feelings (soul) vs. God (spirit) and assignment (joint) vs. attachment (marrow). Without consistent time in the Word, we will be confused, the Word of God lets us know the originator of our thoughts. Evaluate your relationships.
What are they supplying you and is it the supply you want?
Read James 4:1-6 It is impossible to be in the Word constantly and your heart is not moved, changed and tested constantly. God looks at the heart. What does your consistent time with God look like?
PRAYER FOCUS & REQUESTS
Ask your members if they have any prayer requests or praise reports.
John 11:25-26 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? Ask the question to yourself “Do you believe this?” and how can you share the gospel with people who don’t know Jesus?