FIRST RESORT!
Sunday, July 29th, 2018
Message By: Pastor Bam Lauvao
“First Resort!"
Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. (Psalm 71:3 NKJV)
First Resort: What you do first, before anything else.
THE GOSPEL MUST RESPOND, NOT REACT
1. FIRST RESORT: PRAY! TALK TO GOD, NOT OTHER PEOPLE.
In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ ” Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, (2 Kings 20:1-2 NKJV)
“Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. (2 Kings 20:3 NKJV)
2. LIFESTYLE MATTERS: “CHRIST-LIKENESS” LEADS TO ANSWERED PRAYERS.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16 NKJV)
3. DON’T ASSUME “I KNOW HOW,” BUT BE “TAUGHT” TO PRAY THE JESUS WAY.
Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1 NKJV)
HERE ARE A FEW PRAYER STARTERS (VERTICAL FIRST):
So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Luke 11:2 NKJV)
ACKNOWLEDGE THE FATHER
ACCEPT THAT EARTH CANNOT PROVIDE WHAT HEAVEN CAN
ACCLAIM HIS GREAT NAME ABOVE ALL ELSE
ABIDE IN HIS GOOD WILL FOR YOU
Life Group Discussion:
What do you do normally when you don’t know what to do? Can Google fix it?
How is Responding different from Reacting? Which do you resort to more often?
Does lifestyle matter when it comes to prayer? Is it enough to ask it, and not live it?
How was your first “prayer circle” experience?
Have you ever assumed that people ought to know how to pray? What can you do to teach them?