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Ministry Encouragement Podcast #34 – with Rev. Jim W. Hollis
Sponsored by Proactive Ministries (proactive-ministries.org)
Hello and welcome to the thirty-fourth Episode of the Ministry Encouragement Podcast. I am Rev. Jim W. Hollis and am delighted you are sharing again in our podcast community. It is my prayer that by listening to this podcast your life will be enriched spiritually and you will grow profoundly in your faith journey.
In this podcast we will be taking a look at one of the most powerful FEARS of many Christians in America today:
Praying in Public
2 OBSTACLES AND 2 PRINCIPLES –
Obstacle #1: Don’t let hypocrites intimidate you –
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Principle #1: Authentic prayers are communion with God –
6 But 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.
This IS a relationship described in verse 6 – don’t miss it!
Obstacle #2: Prayers are never about performance (Never about impressing others & many words) –
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Principle #2: USE the ancient formula of “ACTS” in building your personal prayer life –
Adoration: This is the starting place. Use letters of the alphabet to form your own personal praise and adoration.
Confession: We talk too little about sin, repentance and confession. Confession is healing – repentance is RELEASE from grip of sin.
Thanksgiving: Make YOUR list and keep it in the open. Far more to be thankful for than worried about.
Supplication: Finally, in light of all the other above elements, then ask God for what needs and desires of your hearts are. And ask boldly – God wants us to articulate our requests specifically.
(Check out the example of the beggar, Blind Bartimaeus – Mark 10:46-52 – and see how Jesus asked him specifically what he wanted of Jesus!)
Consider Jesus’ Model Prayer with his disciples: (Matthew 6:9-13)
9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
* Keep in mind that ALL authentic prayer is COMMUNION WITH GOD for God wants to communicate with each of us, building deeper that personal, intimate relationship with have with God.
I want to encourage you today to ramp up your personal prayer life. This can make an incredible difference in your spiritual walk with God. Let me know how the ideas you received in today’s podcast helped you grow. I would love to hear from you personally either by my email for the podcast:
jim@ministryencouragementpodcast.com
OR
Feel free to contact me with thoughts and prayer requests at our ministry offices in Smyrna, GA: (770) 803-9988
OR
Leave me a voicemail on this blog page using your computer microphone and clicking on “Leave a message” button on the right hand side of this page. It will come directly to me.
Until next time, please know that I am praying for each of you. I also ask you to remember our ministry and me in your personal prayers as well. Please consider sharing this podcast with others you know, including but not limited to:
- Your family members
- Your friends outside your family
- Your fellow workers
- Your Pastor or other leaders in your church
- Someone you are seeking to help be closer to Christ
- A distant relative that could use some encouragement
God’s Blessings be With You,
Jim
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