TEACHING
HOW TO HAVE A GREAT PRAYER TIME
1. If possible, pick a place and time when you will be undisturbed. Turn the phones, TV's, radios, etc. OFF. Get comfortable - it's okay to change body positions. Have a prayer journal and pen handy, which you keep dated entries in. Morning is best so you can get your "marching orders" for the day. If you start remembering all kinds of things you have to do it probably is NOT the enemy trying to interrupt you. Most likely the Lord is simply reminding you of tasks - so make a "To Do" list and get back to prayer.
Matthew 6:6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
2. Forgive others. This does not need to be done in person, over the phone, or written communication, unless the Lord leads you to do this. Sometimes it cannot be done in person at all (stranger or deceased person). Sometimes the person will not receive forgiveness and a NEW offense will be created.
Matthew 6:14-15For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
3. Ask forgiveness for your own sins.
Sins you know about:
Be aware of sins of omission and commission: Things you should have done, but didn't AND things you shouldn't have done but did anyway.
Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
Idols create deception:
Romans 1:21-32 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."
Ezekiel 14:1-3 "Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?"
Jonah 2:8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
Sins you need to be aware of:
Psalm 19:12 "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults."
Job 13:23 "How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin."
4. To enter into His presence, praise and thank the Lord for all He has done. Do this speaking and/or singing. Think of these as progressive steps where you draw closer and closer to the Living God:
Psalm 100:4 "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."
Anointing oilThink of this as the outer court at the temple where thanks is given, the inner court as where praise is given, and the Holy of Holies as where worship is offered. You don't just waltz into the Holy Place
Leviticus 16:1-2 "The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD. The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place
Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest (to dwell, remain, sit, abide) the praises of Israel(includes the church)."We may come "boldly to the throne" because the sacrifice and the cleansing have already taken place. However, you should worship the Lord until you are aware of His manifest presence. You may feel the heaviness of His glory or presence settle over you; you may weep, feel extreme peace, shake or tremble, feel heat or warmth, or feel a soft breeze. This is where most communication in the Spirit often begins.I Thessalonians 5:18 Quench not the Spirit."
5. Spend some time tuning into the Lord by reading His Word. (You can study the Word at any time, but you will get more out of it if you have already done the preceding steps.)
This helps put you on the same "wavelength" and purifies your mind. He may have spoken references to you while you were worshiping. Look those up first to see what He has to say to you through those Scriptures. Be sure to have a prayer journal so you can write down any specific rhema He gives to you, questions, insights, etc.
Sometimes it is good to put on some anointed instrumental music (especially music to which no lyrics have ever been written) as you do this, so words/lyrics of others do not interfere with what you may be hearing in your spirit.
Ephesians 5: 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,"
Psalm 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed 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." Anointing oilII Kings 3:15-16 "But now bring me [Elisha] a harpist." While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he said, "This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches."
6. Present your prayer requests, for yourself and others.
Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."Ephesians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
7. Listen for the Lord to speak to you or just sit in His presence. Sometimes you will communicate with words and then in silence; other times you may communicate with silence and then words; sometimes you may do one but not the other. Be open to BOTH forms of communication transactions. These steps cannot be forced or hurried.
I Corinthians 2:13-14 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Psalm 37:7 "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;"
At all times during this process be listening for His still, small voice. But especially while you are presenting requests and again when you finished with your prayer requests - spend time just listening. Sometimes you can just write a question in your journal and then sit and wait for Him to speak the answer. He may refer you to a Scripture or speak specific information or wisdom to you. He may want to address something you have not prayed about. This takes time and practice. Be sure and write down what He says exactly as He said it. This process can take just a few seconds or more than an hour. Usually, the more you do it, the faster the answers will come and the more detailed the information. Spontaneous thoughts from God may sound like your own "voice" but will come from your heart or spirit and not your brain. If they are your own thoughts they will be easy to stop. In general, spontaneous thoughts that are from the Lord are positive; spontaneous thoughts that are negative are from the enemy; analytical thoughts are often our own. Often His thoughts will give us direction that is outside our comfort zone; they are challenging. [Thank you, Gary Oates.]
Anointing oilSometimes it helps to close your eyes as you listen so you are not distracted by things you see. Concentrate as you listen. Watch and listen for the Lord with the same intensity a guard at his post watches for the enemy.
Habbakuk: 2:1-3 "I will
stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will
look to
see what he will say to me ,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint."
[The LORD's Answer] "Then the LORD replied:
"Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."
Sometimes you just need to sit in His presence and communicate wordlessly, spirit to spirit, as He fills you with Himself - His life, power, and love. Let the love and worship flow freely!
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
8. Always finish your time of prayer with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for the time He has spent with you and the things He has shown you. Then get up and start accomplishing the tasks He has set for you.
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How God Speaks to You
PLEASE NOTE: Scriptures being read aloud by Bible Study participants during this recording - but are difficult to hear - can be found below
and are in bold print.
Other Scriptures which add to the lesson (some read by speaker and some not) are included in plain text. Unless otherwise noted, they are from the
New International Version of the Bible.
Introduction: Why we could not depend solely on the written word - because we have not had access to God's Word for so many years.
A. First, realize that God wants to speak to you.
We were created forfellowship with God.
Genesis 3:8-9 "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
Leviticus 26:12 "I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people."
James 2:23 "And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend."
Revelation 4:11"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
1 John 4:19 "We love Him because He first loved us,"
James 4:8"Come near to God and He will come near to you."
Anointing oilB. Why do we need to hear?
To discern His will for ourlives:
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a "You are not your own; you were bought at a price."
Matthew 25:14-30 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'"(Parable of the Talents)
To receive wisdom and knowledge:
Colossians 2:2-3 "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
James 1:5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
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C. Our responsibility after hearing God is obedience.
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
"Be determined to act immediately in faith on what God says to you when He speaks, and never reconsider or change your initial decisions. We have to get into the habit of carefully listening to God about everything, forming the habit of finding out what He says and heeding it."
OswaldChambers
D. Some different ways God can speak to you:
1. His Creation:
Psalm 19:1-3
"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
"Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
"There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard."
Romans 1:18-20 "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
2. Written Word (Holy Scriptures)
This is the main way God speaks to most of us, in general, so purchase a translation you can understand. The Bible is "TheManufacturer's Handbook." Life is an open book test, so OPEN IT.
We MUST have a good foundation in the Word so that we can test all other ways of hearing from Him. If you think you have heard something from the Lord and it goes against Scripture you have not heard from Him, but either the soul/flesh, or the enemy, whose function is to steal, kill, destroy, lie, deceive, and accuse.
Compare "logos" to"rhema."
II Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"
Psalm 119:105"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path."
3. Inner Voice of the Holy Spirit
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The Holy Spirit can speak directly to you in your inner voice. It may even sound like your own thoughts, but you will learn that the wisdom and guidance you heard did not come from yourself, but from Him. Sometimes He will interrupt your thoughts. Sometimes He will use vocabulary you are unfamiliar with.
John 10:27 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 14:26 "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teachyou all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
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Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God."
John 16:13 "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
1Kings 19:12 "After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper."
KJV: "a still small voice."
The Message: "a gentle and quiet whisper."
Hebrews 5:14 "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." NIV
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." KJV
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4. The Audible Voice of God
Exodus 3:2 "There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up." When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
And Moses said, "Here I am."
I Samuel 3:3-10"The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
Anointing oil5. Others
Movies, music, sermons, dvice, counsel, experiences, testimonies, books (especially Christian autobiographies or biographies), teachings, etc.
Acts 10:33b"Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."
Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool seems right to him,
but a wise man listens to advice."
Proverbs 11:14"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." KJV
"For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but many advisers make victory sure." NIV
Thessalonians 2:13 "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe."
6. Circumstances, Opened or Closed Doors of Opportunity
Acts 16: 6 - 10 "Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."
7. Wonders,signs, and miracles
Mark 16:17 "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Mark 16:19-20 "After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it."
John 10:36-38 "...what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
John 10:25 "Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me..."
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8. Visionsand trances
Visions can be open (seen with the eyes) or inner (seen in the mind's eye). A vision can be received while in a trance, when one is only vaguely aware of one's surroundings.
Acts 10:10 and 17 "He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance....."While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision..."
Genesis 15:1 "After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."
Luke 1:22 "When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak."
9.Dreams/Visions of the Night
Job 33:15-16 "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction."
Genesis 20:3 "But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman."
Genesis 37:5 "Josephhad a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more."
Matthew 2:12 "Andhaving been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."
10. Prophecy or Tongues and Interpretation
1 Corinthians 12:4-10 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues."
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Acts 21:10-11 "After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' "
I Corinthians 13:1 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."
Acts 2:5-11 "Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
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11.Angels
Angels can appear in visions, in dreams, and bodily.
Hebrews 13:2"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
Genesis 16:9 "Thenthe angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her."
Matthew 1:20 "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."
Acts 27:23"Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you."
12.Inner conviction, peace, impressions
God can give you deep conviction and inner peace about something, vs. a red flag, check in the spirit, gut feeling, etc., that says "No". It can also be "knowing in your knower." He can download information into your spirit without your being able to quote specific words He has spoken - this is an impression.
Philippians 4:7"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7 "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." The Message
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Acts 15:28 "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:"
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