Reaching Through Teaching

Reaching Through Teaching

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

Acts 5:42

“And how I kept back nothing  that was profitable unto you, but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.”

Acts 20:20

The progressive church is committed to training men and women around the world to take their gospel to their own people.  Rev. H. E. Scism, the General Director of Foreign Missions for the United Pentecostal Church International addressed the issue of “what should be the role of the foreign missionary in our future foreign missions' operation?” in one of his newsletters.  In the area of training it was concluded that the training ministry needs to be accomplished on three levels.

Membership Level Training

Every member of the church needs to be mobilized for evangelism through training in soul winning and the different areas in which they can minister to the local church.  This is where Portable Bible Schools, and other efforts come into the picture.  Sunday School classes need to be set up for the purpose of training people at various age levels.  Bible Studies need to be prepared and taught to teach our members in the fundamental truths of the Word of God, in doctrine, principles, and Christian living.

Ministerial Training

The second level of training is preparing of the five fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11).  This can be accomplished through establishing a Bible College.  A Bible College correspondence program is useful for students that can not attend full time classes.

Leadership Training

The third level of training is that of the leadership of our church leaders in every nation. 

Expanding Your Work Force

The training of laborers for the harvest is the single greatest need and subsequent asset in reaching the world today.  This was Jesus’ prayer request in Matthew 9:38.

Jesus said that the harvest is great and the laborers are few. How do we increase the number of laborers?  Through training.

Motivating the Idle

In Matthew 20:6-7 we find that a householder had already hired some to work in his vineyard.  He then found potential workers standing idle doing nothing.  He asked, “Why have you been standing here so long doing nothing?” The answer of unemployed laborers in Jesus’ parable was “Because no one has hired us.”  No one has motivated us.   People need to be motivated to become involved in reaching the world through evangelism.

“Sometimes people are doing nothing because no one has asked them to do something.”

  W. E. McCumber.

Evangelism is making known the Good News.  This can be done through several different methods BUT let us not overlook reaching through teaching. The Gospel is “Good news” or “God’s News.”  Evangelism is everything the church does that aims at the conversion of people.   It should not exclude teaching.

The entire purpose of our training is to disciple men and women in the truth of God’s Word and to mobilize them as laborers in world evangelism.

Therefore, we MUST emphasize evangelism from the very beginning of our training program and find ways to involve our students immediately in the task of fulfilling the Great Commission.

We must continue to strongly encourage them to become involved in evangelism throughout the time that they are in the training program so that they will be well prepared when they leave us and go into the Harvest field.

Reaching Through Teaching

Jesus, the Master Teacher Did It!

The word “teach” appears 109 times in the Bible and the word, “preach” appears 50 times. 

Jesus Christ was considered to be the Master Teacher and He spent a great deal of time teaching. (Matthew 11:1; Mark 4:1-2; Mark 6:2,6, 34; Acts 1:1; Luke 5:17; Luke 23:5)   Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night, and said, “...Thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”  (John 3:2)

Reaching Through Teaching

The First Church Did It!

The first church ever established in the Word of God began teaching almost immediately after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 1:1; 4:18; 5:25, 28, 42; 15:35; 18:11; 20:20)

Reaching Through Teaching

The Churches They Established Did It!

The churches in the Epistles continued to teach (1 Corinthians 4:17; 14:19; 1 Timothy 3:2; 4:11; 2 Timothy 2:2, 24; Hebrews 5:12)

Reaching Through Teaching

Jesus Christ Commanded It!

“Teaching” is part of the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:19. 

A New Look at the Old Commission

Matt 28:19-20

“Go ye therefore, and

teach all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things

whatsoever I have commanded you:

and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.   Amen.”

Go                                                    take a journey, travel

Therefore                                      now

Teach                                           to reproduce yourself

All                             anyone, everyone, everywhere; as many as possible, whosoever

Nations                    non-Jewish, pagan, Gentile, heathens, people

Who Should Do This?

YOU!!!

The Key to Growth

Multiplication

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”  (2 Timothy 2:2)

This verse of Scripture deals with the multiplication of the minister.  When we begin to multiply ourselves by teaching others we will begin to see spiritual maturity in the lives of our people and also great church growth.  The things that we have learned from many people who have given their lives for the Gospel we should impart to others.  These people need to be faithful, trustworthy, and trained to pass on what they have learned to others and to the next generation.  This will bring about the propagation of the truth to people everywhere.

If you were to win one person to Jesus Christ each year for the next forty years you would have forty converts.  That would be great, wouldn’t it?  If you would disciple a new Christian every year, instead of making a convert, you would have 1,099,511,626,175 disciples in forty years.  God’s method for reaching the world is this principle of multiplication.

This illustration points out a major difference between addition and multiplication.  We learned addition as little children.  It gave us the basis for other steps of higher learning including multiplication but few Christians get beyond the simple addition in their lives. 

…More on Multiplication

A story is told of a poor wise man that lived in the Orient.  He invented the chessboard, which is a board that has sixty-four squares.  One day the old man was playing chess with the king.  The king became so excited that he told the man, “I am so happy with the chess board that you have made for me.  Ask whatever you like and I will give it to you, even up to half of my whole kingdom."”

The old man said, “Give me one piece of grain on the first square, and double it and put two on the second square, and double it and put four on the third square, etc.”  He asked the king to double it all the way up to the 64^th square.

The king thought that the man was very foolish.  “Why are you asking for just a few grains of wheat?  You could have asked for anything.  Why just some wheat?” 

When the king tried to grant the request he suddenly realized that he was dealing with a very wise man after all.  By the time that the king would have gotten to the 64^th square it would have been enough grain to cover the entire earth many feet deep.

You could easily become a very rich man or woman in just thirty days using the same principle.  If you were given one dollar today, doubled to two dollars tomorrow, doubled to four dollars the next day, and so forth you would have $5,379,000 on the 30^th day.

If you were to go out into the congregation on Sunday and put one person beside you, you are now two.  If you trained him and the two of you went out and each got one you would have four; then eight; then sixteen; then thirty-two. In just a short time you wouldn’t have anyone left in the congregation to win. 

Teach them to WIN them.

Teach them to SEND them.

The future of the church is secured when we take those things that we have learned and pass them on to others who will be faithful; thus, producing church growth.  Teaching is a process of taking the knowledge that we have and investing it into the heart and mind of our students.  This gives the students we teach a foundation to build on.

  “I teach, therefore, I touch the future.”

The early church at Jerusalem did this and the resulted testimony was “Did we not straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?  And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine...”  (Acts 5:28)

Tips for Teaching

Biblical discipleship is the act of being taught by someone, learning for ourselves, passing it on to someone else.

Jesus called his disciples and told them “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  (Matt. 4:19)  The call of Jesus included training the disciples to be fishers of men.  He served as their teacher.  A “teacher” is one “who imparts and transmits, in order to bring a reformation or a change.”  Jesus knew that the only way to make his disciples like Himself was to spend time with them, teaching them; imparting himself into others.  After training His disciples, “…They took knowledge that they had been with Jesus.” 

“A student...

who is fully trained

will be like his teacher.”

(See Luke 6:40)

How Do I Become an Effective Teacher?

1.  I must know my subject.

2.  I must believe what I am teaching.

3.  I must obey what I am teaching.

4.  I must spend time in prayer.          

5.  I must spend time in preparation.

6.  I must teach in love.

Teaching material should be something I know thoroughly, feel deeply, and do consistently. (Hendricks)

Four Steps to Learning

John Milton, in his book, “The Seven Laws of Teaching” gives four steps to learning:

1.  The teacher presents the material.

2. The student repeats in his own words what he has been taught.

3. The student uses the information and gives it to someone else.

4.    The student absorbs it into his daily life.

Carl George and Robert Logan in Leading and Managing Your Church outline four steps in effective teaching and learning.

1.    I do, you watch.

2.    I do, you help.

3.    You do, I help.

4.    You do, I watch.

Proverbs for Daily Living

“I hear, I forget;

I see, I remember,

I do, and I understand.”

(Chinese Proverb)

“If you give a man a fish,

you will feed him for a day.

If you teach a man how to fish,

you will feed him for a

lifetime.”

Questions Asked in the Book of Acts

Questions Asked in the Book of Acts

“...May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?”

Acts 17:19

There was once a very intelligent professor that went around to different towns giving lectures.  He was an atheist and he often shared his views hoping that others would agree with him in his thinking.  He was so knowledgeable that at the end of every lecture he would open it up for questions.  He had all confidence that he would be able to answer any question.  On one occasion when he opened it up for questions a man rose and came to the front.  He reached into his pocket and took out an orange and began to peel it.  The professor inquired concerning his question.  There was no response.  The man just continued to peel his orange.  Once it was peeled he began to eat it.  The professor became annoyed and told the man, “Either ask your question or sit down!”

The man responded, “Can you tell me whether this orange is bitter or sweet?”

The professor growing more annoyed with each moment answered, “How do I know whether the orange is bitter or sweet?  I have not tasted it!”

The man replied, “That is my point.  How can you stand there and tell this group of people what Jesus tastes like unless you have tasted Him for yourself?” 

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”  (Psalm 34:8)

This lesson is about a variety of questions in the Book of Acts that were asked by people who have tried (tasted) the goodness of the Lord or those who needed to do so.

Do You Understand?

In Acts 8 we find a deacon (local church leader) directed by the Spirit to draw closer to an Ethiopian in a chariot.  The deacon heard him reading the Bible and asked, “Understandest thou what thou readest?”

The Ethiopian answered with a question, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” (8:31) He invited Philip into his chariot.

The Ethiopian had been reading from Isaiah 53:7-8 and asked, “I pray thee, of whom speakest the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?” (8:34)

The deacon having a wealth of knowledge of the Scriptures and an anointing of the Spirit, began to preach JESUS at the very same Scripture. 

Obviously the deacon talked of the salvation plan because the Ethiopian said,  “Here is water. What doth hinder me to be baptized?”  (8:36)

That day the Ethiopian was baptized right there.  Perhaps, this man was responsible for taking the gospel back to Ethiopia.  Look at the tremendous revival the nation of Ethiopia is experiencing now.

In Acts 2 we see that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is poured out on about one hundred and twenty who waited for it in an upper room in Jerusalem. Such excitement was created when they heard them speaking in tongues in languages from all over the world.  In addition, a great atmosphere of praise and worship was manifested on that day. 

An Honest Question – An Honest Answer

These happenings caused the Jews to ask, “…What meaneth this?”  (Acts 2:12) The answer became the first sermon preached in the New Testament Church.

Peter began to explain that they were not drunk but this was the promise spoken by Joel in Joel 2:28-29.  His sermon concluded with the salvation plan in Acts 2:38.

This plan was only given after a group of convicted people were pricked in their heart and said,  “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)

The same answer can be given to any one who becomes convicted of their sins and asks, “What shall we do?”

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:37-39).

There Are Three Ingredients:

1.            Repentance

2.            Baptism in the name of the             Jesus Christ

3.            The infilling of the Holy Ghost

In Acts 4:7, members of the Jewish Counsel asked Peter and John, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”  These men knew quite well in whose name this miracle had been accomplished.  In Acts 4:2 we see that they were grieved that they preached through Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  Peter begins to preach a sermon on the name of Jesus concluding with “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) The disciples were convinced that salvation could only be found in the name of Jesus Christ.

Who Are You?

In Acts 9:4 it is Jesus who asks a question. “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”  Saul asks, “Who art thou, LORD?”  (It seems like he already knew the answer before he asked the question, doesn’t it?)  Jesus responds, “I am JESUS whom thou persecutest.”

Is There Anything More?

In Acts 10 we see the Holy Spirit being poured out on Cornelius and those gathered in his house.  It was the man of God who asked the question,  “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”  The response is in the action recorded in Acts 10:48, “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” 

Have You Received the Holy Ghost?

Anyone who has the baptism of the Holy Spirit should go one step further and be baptized in Jesus name as commanded in Acts 2:38 and Acts 10:48. 

On the other hand, not being baptized in Jesus name could be a hindrance to some receiving the Holy Ghost.  In Acts 19 Paul met some believers and said to them, “Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” (Verse 2)  These people hadn’t even heard of the Holy Ghost.  This meant that they had not heard that the Spirit was being poured out on believers.  Paul, in trying to figure out how they might not have heard of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, asked the second important question.  “Unto what then were ye baptized?”  (19:3)  These disciples had been baptized under John’s ministry.  In Acts 19:5 we read that “…they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  As a result, they immediately received the Holy Ghost.

The Phillipian Jailer received a great testimony of God’s power when a great earthquake took place, and the prison doors were thrown open (Acts 16:25-34).

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

His question was, “…Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (16:30) Millions of people have asked this question throughout history.

This man was instructed to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).  That very night, he and his entire household were baptized.

As you study through the Book of Acts you will come to the understanding of the answer to the question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  You must believe, repent of your sins, be baptized in Jesus name, and receive the Holy Spirit. 

I trust that you will not be like the last individual we want to mention in this lesson.  He is mentioned in Acts 26:27-29.  The Apostle Paul is being tried before King Agrippa.  However, it seems that King Agrippa is really the one on trial.  Paul says, “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?” (26:27) Agrippa answers, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (26: 28)  Paul’s answer is suitable for both Agrippa and all of us, “I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.”  (26: 29)

It’s time to be totally persuaded! Jesus is coming soon! 

Putting First Things First

Putting First Things First

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

Acts 6:4

“ Exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”

1 Timothy 2:1

The Apostle Paul once said, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient.” (1 Corinthians 10:23) This means that there are many things that we could do, but few things that we should do.

John Maxwell in his book Developing the Leader Within You quoted a speaker who said,  “There are two things that are most difficult to get people to do; to think and to do things in the order of  importance.” 

Have you ever wondered why animal trainers in the circus carry a stool when they go into a cage of lions?  The trainer will hold the stool and push its legs towards the lion.  This is because the lion will try to focus on all four of the legs at the same time.  This overwhelms the lion, and it becomes weak and tame because its attention becomes divided.  The devil tries the same tactics on us when he tries to divert our attention from our priorities in the Christian life and ministry. 

John Maxwell relates the tragic story of an airplane that crashed.  As the plane was approaching the airport for landing, the light that indicates the proper working of the landing gear failed to come on.  The plane flew in a large circle while the cockpit crew checked to see if the gear was actually not deployed or if the bulb was defective.  As the flight engineer tried to remove the bulb it wouldn’t move so the rest of the crew tried to help him.  As they struggled with the bulb, no one noticed that the plane was losing altitude, and the plane crashed.  While the crew of trained pilots played with a light bulb the plane with its passengers crashed into the ground. 

So many times we spend quality time doing the things that are not important at all.  In Acts 6 the Apostles became occupied with the “daily ministration” of feeding the widows.  One day they reached the realization that they would have to make some priorities; putting first things first.  It was simply not right for them to busy themselves with waiting on tables and neglect their real ministerial priorities. 

Ministerial Priorities

They stated their priorities in the ministry as:

1.    Give ourselves continually to prayer.

2.    Give ourselves to the ministry of the Word.

As a result of them putting first things first “…the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem  greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”  (Acts 6:7)

A necessary part of spiritual leadership is praying for the people you are leading.  It is a sin to fail to pray for those to whom you are spiritually responsible.  You must be an example to your people.  You cannot lead them to where you have not been yourself.

One day Jesus visited Mary and Martha in their home.   Martha received him into the home, and moved busily about serving Jesus.  Mary, on the other hand, simply sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His word.

Martha complained, “…Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” Jesus 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 10:40-42 NIV)

Our service to Jesus is essential and good, but we must always remember that our first and most important priority is to devote ourselves to prayer, loving the Lord, and the ministry of his word.  Watchman Nee said that it is possible to be “serving the House of God but have forgotten the Lord Himself.” 

Oswald Chambers claimed, “The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service to Him.”  Paul always remained devoted to Jesus Christ and “determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)  Paul was committed to Jesus; not just to a cause.

A story is told in 1 Kings 20 of a man who was given the responsibility of taking care of a prisoner.  When given this prisoner he was warned,  “Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life.”  The prisoner escaped and the servant confessed, “And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone.”  (1 Kings 20: 39-40)   We should not become so busy that we forget or neglect our priorities.  Remember, if you are too busy to pray, you are too busy.

Prayer Warrior, Vesta Mangun, in her lesson, Leadership in Prayer--Indispensable Example tells us that you can:

1.      Measure your love for your people by your prayer life.

2.      Measure your concern for your people by your prayer life.

3.      Measure your vision for your people by your prayer life.

4.      Measure your leadership of your people by your prayer life.

“The Powerhouse for the Church is not the BOARDROOM but the PRAYER ROOM.”

H. E. Scism

It is so easy to get busy doing things for God that we fail to take time with God.  This causes us to lose sight of God’s view of things and weakens our relationship with the Lord.  It results in us wondering aimlessly without direction.  A line from Alice in Wonderland says, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”  In Acts 2:40 we are told to save ourselves from this untoward generation.  The word “untoward” means that we are not going toward anything.  We lack direction, purpose, vision, meaning, and priorities.  We are going fast, going busily, going often but going nowhere. 

However, a person who makes time to pray will find a God who takes time to answer.   We must make the time through having correct priorities.  Rev. T. F. Tenney admonishes us, “Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing!”

Preaching, teaching, talking to men for God is a great thing...

Talking, interceding, prevailing with God for men is greater still.

Prayer Pointers

Prayer Pointers

“...Behold, he prayeth.”

Acts 9:11

Saul, just knocked down on the road to Damascus, physically blinded but spiritually alert, did not have to take a course in New Testament praying before he could pray.  He is found immediately on Strait Street with his life straightened out and praying.   As you read the Epistles you see that Paul became a great prayer warrior.

In this lesson we want to look at some “Prayer Pointers” that will help strengthen our prayer lives and will help us become prayer warriors affecting the world.

Prayer Positions

Sitting                         Acts 2:2;Luke 10:13

Kneeling                      Acts 9:40; Ezra 9:5;                                                                  Daniel 6:10;Acts 20:36;                                         Acts 21:5

Bowing                         Psalm 95:6;                                                                             Exodus 34:8

Prostrate                      2 Samuel 12:16;                                                                       Matt.26:39

Standing                      Mark 11:25

Walking                      Genesis 13:17

Lying on Bed                                  Psalm 63:6

When To Pray

Early Morning                         Psalm 63:1;                                                                                   Mark 1:35

Morning                       Acts 10:9;                                                                                Psalm 5:3; 88:13

Noon                                                Acts 10:30

Evening                       Psalm 55:17;                                                                                              Matt. 26:38-41;                                                                              Matt. 14:23

Midnight                    Acts 16:25

Day and Night            1 Timothy 5:5;                                                                                      2 Timothy 1:3

All Night                     Luke 6:12

Multiple Times            Psalm 55:17;                                                                                              Daniel 6:10

Unceasingly                                   1 Thess. 5:17

Always                         Luke 18:1

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”  (Psalm 55:17)

As you develop your prayer life and personal prayer ministry, you should look for prayer opportunities. When someone mentions a need to you and asks you to pray, why not respond, “Yes I will pray about that.  In fact, why don’t we pray about it right now.”  Thetus Tenney says, “an immediate prayer at the time of a confessed need can be very effective.”  Jesus prayed this way.  He met people with needs and asked them “What do you need?”  He then prayed for them and they had their healing or miracle immediately.

Where to Pray

In the Church               Mark11: 17; Acts 22:17

In the House              Daniel 6:10; Acts 9:39-40;Acts 10:30

In the Street                                  Acts 16:18

Going to Church          Acts 3:1

Prayer Closet                                  Matt. 6:6     

Housetop                      Acts 10:9

Wilderness/Forest       Luke 5:16

Garden                                        Matt. 26:38-41

Solitary Place                          Mark 1:35; Luke 9:18

Mountain                    Matt. 14:23; Mark 6:46;                                          Luke 6:12; 9:28

In Jail                                       Acts 16:25

Waterside                     Acts 16:13

Anywhere                    1 Timothy 2:8

Everywhere                                     Ephesians 6:18                   

 

How To Pray

“Here’s what I want you to do.  Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God.  Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.  The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.  The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant.  They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God.  Don’t fall for that nonsense.  This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.  With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.”(The Message, Matthew 6) 

Levels of Prayer

Ask                              Petition/Requests

Results       “you shall receive”

Seek                             Devotion

Results       “you shall find”

Knock                         Intercession

Results       “door will be opened”

 

Into the Day

I got up early one morning

And rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish

I didn’t have time to pray.

Troubles just tumbled about me

And heavier came each task.

Why doesn’t God help me, I wondered,

He answered “You didn’t ask.”

I tried to come into God’s presence.

I used all my keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided,

‘Why child, you didn’t knock.”

I wanted to see joy and beauty.

But the day toiled on grey and bleak.

I called on the Lord for the reason-

He said, “You didn’t seek.”

I woke up this morning

And paused before entering the day.

I had so much to accomplish

That I had to take time to pray.

(Author Unknown)

David Bryant, founder and president of Concerts of Prayer International suggests six portions of prayer.

Prayer Portions

Rejoice      Worship and Praise

Repent      Confession of Sin

Resist                              Battle Satan and forces

Request      Ask and Intercession

Recommit                          Yield ourselves to God

Receive       Listen for God to speak

Jesus asked a penetrating question after teaching on the subject of prayer. He inquired,  “…When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”  (Luke 18:8)  He was asking, “When I return, will there be faith or won’t there?  Will people still be praying and trusting God in faith?  What type of world will I find; a world filled with sin or a world filled with the power of God?  What is going to be happening in your country? What will it be like where you minister?” Jesus’ question comes immediately after his parable on prayer that began with “…men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”  (Luke 18:1)  Lots of us make commitments to pray and it lasts for some time and then we give up.  If we would persist in prayer we could make a difference in our lives and the world that we live in.

The church will not have growth and revival without a large and consistent prayer ministry base. 

What was the cause of David winning the battle?  One phrase keeps recurring in David’s life; “and David inquired of the Lord.” (1 Samuel 23:2,4) What was the cause of Joshua being deceived by the Gibeonites that came to him dressed like they had come on a long journey? His failure was because he “...asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.” (Joshua 9:14) How will you be successful in the battle?

“What, could you not watch with me one hour?  Watch and Pray.”

  (Matthew 26:40)