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A people devoted to... ...PRAYER (Launching ‘BREATHE’, our season of prayer)

Sunday 17 th Feb 2013. A people devoted to... ...PRAYER (Launching ‘BREATHE’, our season of prayer). Acts 2:42-47. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer .

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A people devoted to... ...PRAYER (Launching ‘BREATHE’, our season of prayer)

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  1. Sunday 17th Feb 2013 A people devoted to... ...PRAYER(Launching ‘BREATHE’, our season of prayer)

  2. Acts 2:42-47 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

  3. “Devoted (themselves) to”proskartereō (προσκαρτερέω) 10 times in NT + 1 as noun • Mark 3:9 have a small boat ready • Acts 1:14 together constantly inprayer • Acts 2:42 devoted ... to the apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers • Acts 2:46 they continued to meet together... • Acts 6:4 give our attention toprayer and... • Acts 8:13 followed Philip everywhere • Acts 10:7 a soldier ... one of his attendants ... • Rom 12:12 Be... faithful inprayer • Rom 13:6 authorities ... give their full time to governing • (Eph 6:18) always keep onpraying for all the saints • Col 4:2 Devote yourselves toprayer

  4. 1. A COMMANDDevote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Col 4:2) • DEVOTED... prayer with a determined will • Outline of Biblical Usage (Strong's G4342 at blueletter.com) • to adhere to… • to be constant in… • to be steadfastly attentive unto… • to give unremitting care to… • to continue all the time in… • to persevere and not to faint in… • to show one's self courageous for… • to be in constant readiness for… • WATCHFUL... prayer with an alert mind • THANKFUL... prayer with a grateful heart

  5. 2. A PRINCIPLEMary has chosen what is better(Luke 10:42) Desire? Priority? Distraction?

  6. 3. A PRACTICAL TIPWhen, where, how to pray? • Example of early church • Example of Jesus • Good or bad? • Relationship? • Ritual? • Routine? • Rhythm(s)?

  7. 3. A PRACTICAL TIPWhen, where, how to pray? JESUS EXAMPLE IN LUKE... 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 9:18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him... 9:28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said... ‘Lord, teach us to pray...’ 22:39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew ... knelt down and prayed...

  8. 3. A PRACTICAL TIPWhen, where, how to pray? From “When you pray” by Joanna Collicutt... ...prayer was habitual for him. ...his prayer is not an act of piety but the essential heartbeat of his whole life. ...to mention prayer would be like saying ‘Don’t forget to breathe!’ People can, after all, benefit greatly from training in good breathing techniques.

  9. an invitation to a closer walk with God

  10. RHYTHMS • Daily – a suggestion for this season • Weekly – Sunday, small group... fast?, prayer partner/triplet?, early bird prayer?, CiA lectures? • Monthly – Men’s PB, prayer team, something as a small group? • Seasonal – Transform, men’s & ladies’ days

  11. DAILY RHYTHM • Morning – Take a deep breath • Lunch – Catch your breath • Evening – Breathe out BIBLE PLAN • Suggested plan in Luke • ‘When you pray’ by Joanna Collicutt • Other? But do have a plan!

  12. BREATHE OUT... • Give Thanks • Share the bread • Stop and Ask, Think and Talk • Share the wine • Pray together Father God, you are the Lord of all my days. In this season, I choose to keep walking with you. May our friendship grow ever closer as I breathe in your love and presence and as I breathe out your Spirit in prayer for others. Amen

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