Prayer

“Our greatest danger is not liberalism, modernism, postmodernism, bible criticism.... the greatest danger is the church doing the work of the ministry in the power of the flesh.” --Francis Schaeffer

If you want to kiss the sky, (you) better learn how to kneel.
On your knees, boy! --U2, Mysterious Ways

“The church has always accomplished the most when she has most deeply realized her own helplessness. Dependence upon God is our greatest need; it focuses our attention on what He can do; and it makes His glory a supreme reason for all our concerns.” --Ian Murray

Acts 1:6,7, 12-14--How do leaders find purpose and power to lead?
Acts 2:1,41,42--How is a church birthed and a community formed?
Acts 4:24-31; 12:1-5--How does a church handle persecution?
Acts 6:1-4--How do leaders help churches face crises and solve problems?
Acts 6:5-7--How are churches mobilized for ministry and mission?
Acts 13:1-3, 47-49--How does harvest happen and mission become momentum?

Unrequested--at the beginning of His ministry (Matthew 6:9-13)

By request--toward the end of His ministry (Luke 11:1-13)

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

forgive us our debts

as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

The two-fold dynamic Jesus introduces in the prayer:

1.) We pray in order to bring down the purposes of heaven down to earth.

2.) We pray in order to bring Christ’s future kingdom to today’s present reality.

insert diagram here

“It is the will of God to bestow mercy in this way.... in answer to prayer.... when He designs beforehand to bestow mercy He is pleased to constitute prayer as the antecedent to the bestowing of the mercy and is pleased to bestow the mercy in consequence to prayer.... When the people of God are stirred up to prayer, it is the effect of His intention to show mercy.” --J. Edwards