In Depth Study:
Click links below for more information, from the scriptures:
Conditions For Effective Prayer
Scriptures About Intimate Reading Methods
Heart:
Jesus said, "These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me" (Matthew 15:8).
To Him:
"Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18:3,4).
Inside:
"Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you" (1 Corinthians 6:19). "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20)
Transitional Language For Leaders
Below I will provide the Power 3 in 1 Agenda. The words I speak to transition through each phase of the agenda are in "bold text within quotation marks". Comments will be in subscript italics. Here we go...
Agenda
Jesus said "Come to me"
(Matthew 11:28).
The above quote from Jesus sets the tone. We are here to come to a person, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I will begin with a prayer of praise and with a request that God reveal Himself in the scriptures. For the first meeting, I suggest Philippians 4:4-8, to introduce the Philippians Prayer Model, PPP. Suggestions for subsequent meetings are James 1:5-8, Luke 22:31-32, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-14, Matthew 9:38 and other scriptures on which the Endorsed Prayers are based on in chapter 4. By using prayer passages, your group will learn to pray.
Step 1) Silent Readings Without Discussion
"Lets go to Philippians 4:4-8. Please read it silently in your Bible. Then look at me when finished."
Alone: Philippians 4:4-8
After they have read say... "Thank you. While you read, you were probably trying to understand what the scripture meant. You may have read like you do when reading most any book or news article. I call this method of reading... Reading Alone."
"Next, we will read in a different way. I don't say that it is the best way or only way. But some of you will benefit from this method. When you read this time, seek the heart of the scripture. If some word or phrase tugs at your heart, dwell on that word or phrase. Dwell on those words as long as they draw you. Then, when the essence has been extracted and the deeper sense is consumed, turn it to prayer. Talk to God about it. Then gently and slowly read on. When finished, please look at me. Go ahead, read silently... seeking the heart of the passage and turn it to prayer."
Heart: Philippians 4:4-8
After they have read say... "This reading was more intimate than the first reading. You have drawn near with your heart. You have sensed the heart of the passage. You have connected with the heart of God."
"Next we will read in a very different way. Jesus said "Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18:3,4). So, we must be a little child to enter and be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Please imagine that your heavenly father wrote a book for you. Imagine also that you are a child, sitting in His lap, reading His book to Him. It's that simple. Come into the intimate presence of your Lord by faith, and then read His words to Him. I will demonstrate by reading Philippians 4:4-5 to God out loud. Lord, I see in Your words in verse 4 that You want me to be have joy in You always. You said it twice in that verse. Help me to do this. In verse five, you want my patience, gentleness to be visible to others. You want others to see the power in me because You are near... because You are in me. Ok, now that I have demonstrated how to read God's words to God, you try it. Read Philippians 4:4-8 to God, silently. Please look at me when finished."
To Him: Philippians 4:4-8
After they have read say... "The essence of this reading is totally different from the first two readings. You experienced Fellowship with your Lord as you read. Instead of reading about God, you interacted with God. And more than that, you interacted with the living God in every sentence, phrase and word.
You observed every sentence, phrase and word. Now the Holy Spirit can reveal and interact with you in every sentence, phrase and word."
"Next, we will read in another, different way, a New Covenant way. When we read God's words we should not think of Him as being a million miles away. He is within us. So, instead of viewing yourself as being in God's lap, speak to God where He is... He is within you! Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you". Paul also wrote in Galatians 2:20 "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me". So, go ahead and read God's words to God who is within you. Read silently and offer praise as you read. Please look at me when finished."
Inside: Philippians 4:4-8
After they have read say... "Now you have had an intimate time with your Lord who is within you. You have interacted with Him in every sentence, word and phrase."
Step 2) Discussion
"Let's move on to step 2. What does Philippians 4:4-8 say about God?"
What does the passage say about God?
After some discussion say... "What does Philippians 4:4-8 say about Man?"
What does the passage say about Man?
After some discussion say... "What does Philippians 4:4-8 say that we can pray?"
What does the passage say that we can Pray?
After this question is answered, attendees are better prepared to pray about the passage in step 3 below. Make sure that they see the PPP in the passage, Problem, Pray, Praise. Here is how I would explain it.... "When a problem occurs we aren't to get mad. We are to present the problem to God, Pray about it and then praise Him That's PPP... Problem, Pray, Praise. In verse 4 alone we all three. 'Anxious' represents the Problem, the first P. 'Prayer and petition' represent Pray, the second P. 'Thanksgiving' represents Praise, the third P. Verse 8 tells us to praise. It says to think about things that are true, honorable, just and pure. What is more true, honorable, just and pure than God? In other words, we are to meditate on what God is, what He has done and what He will do. PPP is what we are to do when we encounter problems. It's the Philippians Prayer Model. PPP. Lets try it. Lets go on to step 3."
Step 3) PPP
Starter Words
"Now, I will say a word and you tell me how to respond to it with PPP. Ill show you. Here is the word: Corrupt politicians. How can we respond with PPP? Lord, I pray for our politicians. Please draw them to Your self. Shake their world so that they may seek after You. I praise you because You have drawn many lost souls into Your kingdom. Amen. Now you try PPP. The starter word is marriage."
After they answer, say... "now I will mention another word and, when I do, lets pray PPP out loud: Church leaders" Anyone can pray. Please pray out loud. After someone prays, say... "fear" After someone prays, say... "complaining" After someone prays, say... "Google" After someone prays, say... "educational system"
You may provide them the following link if you wish to continue praying and need more starter words for prayer:
Power 3 in 1 Meeting: Starter Words
"Now, if anyone is aware of a problem the we should pray about and offer praise, go ahead. Please pray audibly. Pray the Philippian prayer model, PPP"
When your time comes to and end, ask someone to close the meeting with a prayer."