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The Normal Christian Life. How God Changes Things Through Prayer. The Normal Christian Life. Some Questions to Begin: How did all of this happen in Acts 1-5? What were their daily lives like? How far would they go with this new thing?
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The Normal Christian Life How God Changes Things Through Prayer
The Normal Christian Life Some Questions to Begin: • How did all of this happen in Acts 1-5? • What were their daily lives like? • How far would they go with this new thing? • What is the picture of prayer we derive from their lives?
The Normal Christian Life What does the Bible say so far? Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas theson of James. 14These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:12-14
The Normal Christian Life What does the Bible say so far? At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,15to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed. Acts 5:12-16
The Normal Christian Life Types of Prayer 1) Hearing Prayer 2) Direction Prayer 3) Power Prayer 4) Salvation Prayer 5) Healing Prayer 6) Deliverance Prayer The Unity of Prayer with the Holy Spirit and with Each Other When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them” Acts 4:23-24
The Normal Christian Life What does this say to us? • Prayer was the UNDERSTOOD chosen vehicle of communication • Prayer was not for the select few but for all – hence there was great redundancy • Prayer was a “must” for all, but for some it was a “have-to” • The ministry of intercessory prayer in the New Covenant is birthed at and following Pentecost • Who are you in prayer? • What will you look like in three months if you take hold of these truths? • What will our church look like?