spiritual living class #4 dr. don kinder seoul, korea seoul bible institute

SPIRITUAL SPIRITUAL LIVINGLIVING

Class #4Class #4

Dr. Don KinderDr. Don Kinder

Seoul, KOREASeoul, KOREA

Seoul Bible InstituteSeoul Bible Institute

2 Corinthians 3:17-182 Corinthians 3:17-18

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

• Christians know who they are.Christians know who they are.

• They know how they are supposed to They know how they are supposed to live.live.

We are to “be Jesus” in this world.We are to “be Jesus” in this world.

Last weekLast week

• #1 Input is God’s Word

• Meditation will help to transform the mind.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO IT IS POSSIBLE TO “OVER-ANALYZE” SOMETHING“OVER-ANALYZE” SOMETHING

When a church in the 1When a church in the 1stst century century received Paul’s letter:received Paul’s letter:

1. They were excited

2. They read it to the whole church

3. Members heard the whole letter in one setting.

Sometimes good and appropriate to read the whole letter at one time.

Fasting As a Spiritual Fasting As a Spiritual DisciplineDiscipline

• Fasting Defined– OT tsom; NT nesteia– Abstaining from food;– Abstaining from food and/or anything

good or right in an effort to achieve something better.

• In all my study on fasting I find no “command” that we must fast.

Examples of FastingExamples of Fasting

• Samuel and Israel fasted at Mizpah, “they fasted and they confessed” (1 Samuel 7:6).

• Jehoshaphat, king of Judah proclaimed a fast. They came together to seek the Lord. (2 Chronicles 20:3).

Example of Fasting (2)Example of Fasting (2)

• Ezra proclaimed a fast so that “we might humble ourselves before God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children…”(Ezra 8:21, 23)

• Israelites gathered together, fasting… (Nehemiah 9:1).

Examples of Fasting (3)Examples of Fasting (3)

• Esther asked Mordecai and all the Jews to fast for her (Esther 4:16).

• True and False Fasting (Isaiah 58)

• Daniel pleaded with the Lord...in fasting (Daniel 9:3)

• Jesus fasted for 40 days after baptism and before temptation (Matt.4:2).

Examples of Fasting (4)Examples of Fasting (4)

• The Church at Antioch was worshiping and fasting… (Acts 13:2, 3).

• Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each church with prayer and fasting (Acts 14:23).

NT Teaching on FastingNT Teaching on Fasting

• Matthew 6:16-18– Not for the praise of men.– Mentioned as an “act of righteousness”

as praying and giving.

• Matthew 9:14-15– John’s Disciples and the

Pharisees fasted; Jesus’ disciples did not.

– Jesus indicated that there would be a time they would fast.

Aspects of FastingAspects of Fasting• Denying Self Psalm 69:10; 1 Corinthians 9:27.

• Sorrow for Sin Joel 1:14

• Act of Humility Psalm 35:13

• Seeking God’s Will Ezra 8:21 (cf. Matt 17:19-21 - faith and fasting).

• Soul-Searching Daniel 9:2; Jonah 3:5,9.

• Serious Decisions Esther 4:16; Acts 13:2-3; 14:23.

• Spiritual Revival 2 Chron. 20:3; Jonah 3; Judges 20.

Practical Guidelines for Practical Guidelines for FastingFasting

• Enter into fasting with a positive attitude.

• Do not wait for some emergency to drive you to fasting.

• Do not set yourself too long a period of fasting in the beginning.

• During your fast give plenty of time for Bible reading and prayer.

Practical Guidelines For Practical Guidelines For Fasting (2)Fasting (2)

• Helpful to set certain specific objectives in your fasting.

• Guard your heart, avoid boastfulness and arrogance. Keep a check on your motives.

• If you are on a regular medi- cation, or suffer from heart, circulatory or diabetic diseases, seek medical advice.

Practical Guidelines Practical Guidelines for Fasting (3)for Fasting (3)

• You may experience dizziness, headache and nausea.

• Before and after fasting choose light meals and meals that include fresh fruit, fruit juices, etc.

• Some only drink water during a fast; you might want to add fruit juices, broth or skim milk.

Practical GuidelinesPractical GuidelinesFor Fasting (4)For Fasting (4)

• Do not abstain from fluids for a long period.

• Break your fast gradually. Remember your stomach shrinks after two days. Guard against going back to overeating.

• During a fast your body is purging itself from various toxins, you might experience halitosis.

PrayerPrayer

• Why do we need to pray?• God knows our needs (Matthew 6:8)

• When we tell Him what we need, prayer changes us.

(ex. of boy who steals a cookie)

2 Great Reasons to Pray2 Great Reasons to Pray

1. Prayer transforms our character.

- Prayer is like a time exposure to God.

- Our souls are the photographic plates, and Christ’s shining image is the light.

2 Great Reasons to Pray2 Great Reasons to Pray

1. Prayer transforms our character.

2. Prayer bends our wills to His will.

E. Stanley Jones said:

“ If I throw out a boat hook from the boat and catch hold of a shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore?”

“The open secret of many Bible believing churches is that a vanishing small percentage of those talking about prayer are actually doing what they are talking about.”

Dallas Willard,

The Spirit of the Disciplines

George Gallup statistics:George Gallup statistics:

Have shown that men consistently pray less than women.

Why?

The answer: the same reason why men generally attend church less and read less.

Why do men pray Why do men pray less than women? less than women?

- Less spiritually sensitive and open

- Dominated by fast-paced production schedule of the marketplace

- Do not know how to cultivate the disciplines of the inner life

Example of a prayer structure:Example of a prayer structure:

Think of the Book of Acts

AA – adoration

C C - confession

TT – thanksgiving

SS - supplication

BUT, a recognition that:BUT, a recognition that:

• One’s prayer and devotional life cannot be reduced to a few simple rules:

• These areas of spiritual existence are far too dynamic and personal for simplistic reduction.

Sometimes may need to just start with a cry, “Lord help me!!“Lord help me!!

On Certain Occasions

• A person may need or want to spend the whole time on confession or meditation.

The ESSENTIALSESSENTIALS

• Reading God’s Word (if possible, once a year)

• Meditating to internalize the Word

• Prayer, as worship, to offer our petitions and praise to God

Setting for the classic text Setting for the classic text on prayer on prayer (Ephesians 6)(Ephesians 6)

• A solider preparing for battle

• He puts on the whole battle uniform

• Then, he falls to his knees in prayer.

• John Bunyan calls this - “all prayer”

Bible portrays this weaponBible portrays this weapon

“And pray in the spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

Ephesians 6:18

5 Elements of Petition Prayer5 Elements of Petition Prayer

1. “Pray in the Spirit”

- “Spirited” or “Spirit-directed”

See Romans 8:26-27

The Holy Spirit:

1) Prays for us

2) Joins us in prayer See Jude 20

Two things happen:

1. The Holy Spirit tells us what we should prayer for.

- In “Spirit-directed” prayer, we begin to think God’s thoughts

- He gives us the conviction that our prayers are God’s will.

“The very fact that God lays a burden of prayer on our hearts and keeps us praying is strong evidence that He purposes to grant the answer.”

--- Oswald Chambers, former head of Overseas Mission Fellowship

“Do you really believe that those 2 men for whom you have been praying for 50 years will ever be saved?”

George Mueller answered: “Do you think God would have kept me praying all these years if He did not intend to save them?”

When God’s people truly pray When God’s people truly pray “in the Spirit,” they receive “in the Spirit,” they receive similar direction and similar direction and conviction, not only about conviction, not only about people, but about events people, but about events and projects and and projects and even whole nations.even whole nations.

Two things happen:

1. The Holy Spirit tells us what we should prayer for.

2. The Holy Spirit supplies the energy for God’s work.

John Bunyan says:“Prayer is a sensible, affectionate

pouring out of the heart (or soul) to God through Christ, in the strength and

assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to the Word of God, for the good of the church, with submission and faith to the will of God.”

5 Elements of Petition Prayer5 Elements of Petition Prayer

1. “Pray in the Spirit”

2. “Continual Prayer”

- on all occasions (Acts 1:14; 2:42)

- Paul told the Thessalonians to “pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17);

See also Philippians 4:6

How many times a day?How many times a day?

• Muslims pray 5 times a day.

• Monks prayed 8 times a day.

• “Pray without ceasing” (KJV)

Let your whole life be Let your whole life be a communion with God. a communion with God.

Is continual prayer possible?Is continual prayer possible?

Answer: Yes and No.

God is concerned not as much with the articulation of words, as He is with a posture of the heart.

Thomas KellyThomas Kelly says:

“There is a way of ordering our

mental life on more than one level at once. On one level, we can be thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating, meeting all the demands of external affairs.

But deep within, behind the scenes, at a profounder level, we may also be in prayer, adoration, song and worship, and a gentle receptiveness to divine breathings.” - -Testament of Devotion

“The time of business does not differ for me from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen. While several persons are at the same time, calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility, as if I were on my knees.”

Brother Lawrence, in The Practice of the

Presence of God

John Wesley (in 3John Wesley (in 3rdrd person) person)“His heart is ever lifted up to God at all

times and in all places. In this, he is never hindered, much less interrupted by any person or thing. In retirement or company, in leisure, business or conversation, his heart is ever with the Lord, whether he lie down or rise up, God is in all his thoughts.

Wesley (cont.)

He walks with God continually, having the loving eye of his mind still fixed upon him and everywhere seeing him that is invisible.”

5 Elements of Petition Prayer5 Elements of Petition Prayer

1. “Pray in the Spirit”

2. Continual Prayer

3. Varied Prayer

- “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:1)

Variety of SituationsVariety of Situations

1. To resist temptation

2. For wisdom

3. For power

4. For self-control

5. For protection of others

6. For growth

7. For conviction

Floyd Pearson

To the examiner, before taking the driver’s test, said this:

-“I always pray before I drive. Let’s bow our heads together.”

5 Elements of Petition Prayer5 Elements of Petition Prayer

1. “Pray in the Spirit”

2. Continual Prayer

3. Varied Prayer

4. Persistent Prayer

- - Example of Moses in Exodus 17

There is a mysterious effectiveness to persistent praying.

But, we should not think that God sees prayer as work to win his favor, so that he prays only when enough prayers are said.

God always chooses how and when to answer.

Jesus on prayer:Jesus on prayer:

The parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-5)

He challenged his disciples to persevere (Mk. 14:38)

He told his followers to “ask, seek and knock.” (Mt. 7:7)

These 3 verbs increase in intensity.

ASKASK

- Implies request for a conscious need

- Suggests humility

- The word is a word used when addressing a superior

SEEKSEEK

- Implies action

- Not just expressing a need, but getting up and looking for help

KNOCKKNOCK

- Involves asking, seeking and persevering

- One who pounds on a closed door

These 3 verbs are in the present imperative – makes them even stronger.

“Keep on asking….Keep on seeking… Keep on knocking.”

5 Elements of Petition Prayer5 Elements of Petition Prayer

1. “Pray in the Spirit”2. Continual Prayer3. Varied Prayer4. Persistent Prayer5. Intercessory Prayer - “for all the saints”,

“for Paul himself”See Ephesians 6:19-20

Tennyson, English poet:Tennyson, English poet:

“If thou should never see my face again, pray for my soul.

More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.

5-fold Anatomy 5-fold Anatomy of Petition Prayer of Petition Prayer

1. In the Spirit

2. Continual

3. Varied

4. Persistent

5. Intercessory

How can we practice this?How can we practice this?

1. The Prayer List

- Helps us deal with distractions

- List names of family, friends, spouse (if married), and children

- Should be detailed

Kent Hughes’ daily prayer list:Kent Hughes’ daily prayer list:

Family Staff Secretaries Custodians

Sick Grieving Important events

Present Problems Ministries

Weekly worship New believers

Missions

Prayer lists:Prayer lists:

- Tame wandering minds

- Help keep track of answered prayers

- Insure that one not neglect things that are important

Hughes’ 4 weekly prayer lists:Hughes’ 4 weekly prayer lists:

1. Ongoing sick, requests from others, evangelism, spiritual warfare

2. World, USA, personal life, needed personal qualities

3. Christian leaders, ministers, future ministries, vision

4. Government leaders: national, state and local

How can we practice this?How can we practice this?

1. The Prayer List

2. Quiet Time

- In today’s world, “quiet” is relative

- Choose a setting that works best for you

How can we practice this?How can we practice this?

1. The Prayer List

2. Quiet Time

3. Place

- Find a place where you will not be disturbed

How can we practice this?How can we practice this?1. The Prayer List

2. Quiet Time

3. Place

4. Time - Pray during your best time of the day

Mark 1:35 records the practice of Jesus

How can we practice this?How can we practice this?1. The Prayer List

2. Quiet Time

3. Place

4. Time

5. Posture

Prayer POSTUREPrayer POSTUREOne’s prayer posture can make

a difference.The Bible mentions several postures for

prayer, but prescribes none as THE posture for prayer.

Your prayer posture should ENHANCE your reverent attention.

How can we practice this?How can we practice this?1. The Prayer List 2. Quiet Time3. Place4. Time5. Posture6. Preparation- The physical details are not as

important as the condition and stance of the heart.

How can we practice this?How can we practice this?

1. The Prayer List

2. Quiet Time

3. Place

4. Time

5. Posture

6. Preparation

7. Length

How long should I pray?How long should I pray?

- Often the best prayers are short and fervent

- Luther warned against overly long prayers.

- A legalistic duration can kill one’s prayer life.

All of these things:All of these things:

1. The Prayer List

2. Quiet Time

3. Place

4. Time

5. Posture

6. Preparation

7. Length

SUGGEST SUGGEST WORKWORK

We should never wait until we feel like praying.

The context of Paul’s charge to pray (Eph. 6) is spiritual warfare.

WAR and WORK!

Be careful NOT to over commit one’s self!

“I’m committing myself to 2 hours of daily prayer, I’m going to read the Bible through twice this year, and I’m going to practice everyday the disciplines of devotion, meditation, regular fasting, and also the discipline of petition. I’m going to have a prayer list that is second to none.”

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

To commit one’s self to 15 minutes a day and maintain it:

- Bible reading (5 minutes)

- Meditation (5 minutes)

- Prayer (5 minutes)

BETTER:BETTER:

A regular time of prayer andA regular time of prayer and devotion will become a devotion will become a habit, and a habit of prayer habit, and a habit of prayer will give wings to your will give wings to your spiritual life.spiritual life.

The part of himself that did not want to pray – EMOTIONS

The part that wanted to pray –

INTELLECT, WILL

His self-analysis paved his way for victory.

Example of Dr. Sidlow BaxterExample of Dr. Sidlow Baxter

1. Thanking the God who has loved and blessed us.

2. Confessing who we are before an almighty, holy God

3. Asking God for things we need.

4. Asking God for others (intercessory prayer).

PRAYERPRAYER IS:

““FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS”FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS”

The guard of Michelangelo’s statue began to notice the changes in people when they came into the room.

As we allow the Spirit of God As we allow the Spirit of God

to spend more time with us:to spend more time with us:

-We will start to change on the inside.

-People will start to notice changes on the outside.

SUBMIT TO GODSUBMIT TO GOD

AND BECOMEAND BECOMEA WONDERA WONDER

TO YOURSELFTO YOURSELF

Words of a plaque on the desk of Norvel Young, former president of Pepperdine University.