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Effective and Powerful Prayer

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Would you describe your prayers as effective? What is powerful prayer?

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Examples of Effective Prayer

The context of James 5:16 gives examples of powerful prayer.

“the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well” (James 5:15) — physical healing

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16) — spiritual healing

“prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain … Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain” (James 5:17-18) — phenomenal change in nature

“Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20) — transformation of the heart

Powerful Prayer Doesn’t Always Fit Our Definition of Spectacular

How easy it is to pull on the example of Elijah praying for God to do the miraculous in the natural realm … obviously what could be considered powerful prayer. Praying for physical healing? — Again, certainly an answer to that request would cause us to say “powerful prayer.”

Notice, however, the other examples in the context of James 5:16 — spiritual healing. Let’s not minimize these results. Both moving a mountain or moving a heart require God’s power.

Remember that the same Elijah whose powerful prayer resulted in a phenomenal change in the course of nature also had this experience:

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:11-12)

God’s answer came in the “gentle whisper.”

Let’s not get discouraged when we don’t see obvious or spectacular results. That doesn’t mean praying isn’t effective. Prayer is just as powerful when God is working behind the scenes, out of view to the human eye. To be used by God through our prayers in a person being saved from spiritual (eternal) death or to become spiritually healthy is powerful!!

For more on praying, go to: Prayer Resources

Church leaders, read more about the power of prayer looking at James 5:16 from a different angle and its implications for leadership: God’s Power for the Church – Prayer

Want to Be More Discerning? – Get Into the Word

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

God's Word Needed to be Discerning
People who rarely get into the Word tend to be rather shallow in their understanding of God and His ways. Consequently, they are not quick to use Him as the standard in making decisions. Their own experience or feelings often form the basis for interpreting life because that is what they know.

The Need for Getting into God’s Word to be Discerning

Biblically illiterate and anemic Christians have little base for making sound judgments, for being discerning.

In the first post of this series, you were told to look to God if you want to be more discerning.

Where are you going to learn about God? — from His Word

In the second post, you were told to start from the inside out if you want to be more discerning.

What does God use to test our hearts and minds? — His Word “for the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

In the third post, you were told to learn to love more.

If you want to learn to love, you have to get to know the God of the Bible. The Word is God’s love story.

Discernment and Training Through God’s Word Go Hand in Hand

Perhaps you want to get into God’s Word but find it too hard. I’m not going to try to convince you that it is easy. But, if you want to be more discerning, which is essential to living wisely in today’s world, you must get into God’s Word. If this process was going to be easy, Hebrews 5:14 wouldn’t refer to it as training. — But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Heb. 5:14)

1) Training takes hard work, often sacrifice.

2) Training requires devotion, a commitment.

3) Training demands consistency (“constant use”).

Think about people who follow a training regime. In the beginning it is very hard. In time, if they persevere, though it is still work, it seems easier and often more enjoyable. In the end it is worth it.

If you are not feeding on the Word, you are feeding on the world. That will only lead to poor, unhealthy, and harmful choices. What in reality is evil will look good because you will not have by constant feeding on the meat of God’s Word trained yourself to distinguish good from evil.

Here’s a Helpful Resource: New to Bible Reading Discipleship Tool

Want to be More Discerning? – Learn to Love More

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 3 Comments ↓

What does love have to do with discernment?

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God. (Phil. 1:9-11)

According to Jesus, love for God and love for people are the greatest commandments (Matt. 22:37-40). Doesn’t it then make sense that we look at life through the lens of love, first for God and then people? Shouldn’t we examine what we say and do in light of this higher principle of love? Doesn’t it make sense that making choices based on and out of love will help us have have the right and eternal perspective? Surely we should pursue love as our primary purpose.

How We Will Be More Discerning When We Learn to Love More

Governed by love, we will stop and ask questions like the following to help discern what to do.

Is this activity something a person who loves God would do?
Do those words build up people rather than destroy them?
Will this choice lead to an expression of love for God and/or people?

The love we speak of is “agape” – God’s love, not our finite rendition of love. God is love and so in reality, we are using God as the standard when distinguishing the best course of action. This is why we must be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.”

What does discernment born out of love lead to?

When God loves, He gives. His is a sacrificial love. And so, when we discern based on and because of agape love, we will set aside our feelings of entitlement and get beyond having to do that which is most convenient or comfortable to us.

When God loves, He gives His very best. And so, when we discern based on and because of agape love, we will make choices that lead “to the glory and praise of God.”

Want to Be More Discerning? – Start from the Inside Out

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Discernment from the Inside Out
God is concerned not merely with us making the right choices in what we do but also for the driving forces within us … our motivations, our thoughts. That will drive our discernment.

I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve. (Jer. 17:10)

God examines us from the inside out — our heart and mind, — and holds us accountable for what He sees.

His examination of our innermost being need not scare us if we remember that He loves us. Perfect love casts out fear because we know a loving God can only have our best in mind. In reality, the more we understand “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,” we will actually invite Him to scrutinize us.

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. (Ps. 26:2-3)

God’s examination is key to us being discerning as we don’t see the full picture as He does.

We’re often blinded to our own biases and inappropriate motivations that skew our perception of life. We can let emotions govern our choices. Just because something feels right, however, doesn’t mean it is right. We can let negative thoughts cloud our judgment. Fear and doubts could hold us back from doing what is best. Worry, anxiety, and impatience could lead to compromise. For this reason, we begin with God. Pray similar to Psalm 139:23-24.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

If you want to be discerning, you need to be transformed from the inside out “by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:2)

Want to Be More Discerning? – Look at God

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 1 Comment ↓

Sometimes we Christians don’t like the word “assessment” for the church as though it is a worldly idea. To be sure, if we aren’t careful our objectives and means of assessing can take on a worldly slant but assessment is God’s idea. So, to be more discerning we need to look at God as our standard.

Look at How God Discerns and Assesses

He did it when He created the world. Read through Genesis 1 and you will find God stepping back at different stages to look over what He has made. — “And God saw that it was good.”

God continues to keep tabs on His creation, particularly the people He created. Notice the words I’ve capitalized below in Psalm 139:1-3.

O LORD, you have SEARCHED me and you KNOW me. You KNOW when I sit and when I rise; you PERCEIVE my thoughts from afar. You DISCERN my going out and my lying down; you are FAMILIAR WITH all my ways.

God doesn’t merely observe us dispassionately from a distance. He becomes thoroughly acquainted with us and what we are doing. He scrutinizes us because He cares about us, His crowning jewel of creation. Psalm 139 goes on to communicate how precious His thoughts are toward us.

Do’s and Don’ts About the Discernment Process

Clearly, God is our role model for learning to be more discerning. From Him we learn some do’s and don’ts about the discernment process:

Do so because you care. Don’t take what you do lightly.

Do a thorough assessment. Don’t miss something important that should be taken into consideration.

Do a regular check on things. Don’t take a hands-off approach.

Getting Guidance from God First Only Makes Sense

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Guidance from God Needed

Turning to God first for guidance only makes sense because He will not only lead us in what is good but also to what is best. As God, He qualifies like none other for determining what that path should be.

What Qualifies God as Our First Stop for Guidance

He’s the Eternal One who knows the beginning from the end.

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. (Ps. 48:14)

He’s our Deliverer to whom we belong.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Ps. 25:5)

He’s our Protector who looks after us for our good.

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. (Ps. 31:3)

He’s the One to whom belongs all the glory.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. (Ps. 23:3)
Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. (Ps. 31:3)

Turning to God First to Guide Us Only Makes Sense

Let’s get real.

To be God, He would have to be the Almighty, Infinite, Holy God of whom there is no greater or better. That would make His ways always the best.

As humans, we are finite beings unable to see the big picture and powerless to get beyond our own self-interests to make an eternal difference.

So, let’s trust Him fully to guide our steps.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

For More About This God Who Can Be Trusted to Guide Us, Go To: Theology Resources

Also Consider This Resource: Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Resource