Spiritual Disciplines .docx

Spiritual Disciplines Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:27 - I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. ♦ Spiritual Disciplines: Spiritual practices and habits that encourage spiritual growth and d...

Spiritual Disciplines Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:27 - I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. ♦ Spiritual Disciplines: Spiritual practices and habits that encourage spiritual growth and development. One must have self-discipline to be consistent; and that’s with any area of life (BP control, weight management, being organized at work). A self-disciplined life brings us closer to God and puts us in a better position to hear from Him. We make ourselves available to be used by God and we make room for God in our life. Practice = usual and customary way of doing something. It’s a standard/criteria that you set for yourself. Habit = an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary. What are you doing on a regular basis that’s getting you into the presence of God, that’s helping you to know Him better? ♦ We have to train/condition our soul (mind, will, emotions), body, and strengthen our spirit-man by developing and consistently engaging in spiritual disciplines. Your spiritual consumption: (what you take in to encourage spiritual maturity) and what you release (letting go of the things that hinder your spiritual growth).When we consume the word and meditate on it consistently, it becomes part of who we are, a part of our DNA. Job 23:12- I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food/daily bread. It’s important to meditate on the word, rehearse it regularly so that it gets deeply rooted in our spirit. (Like a child who first learns the alphabet, we make them say it for Grandma, Auntie, people at church, etc. until they know it and can regurgitate it without having to think about it, at any given time.) Discipline/Training is necessary: We must be intentional about building ourselves up in the word of God and there has to be consistency in our prayer life. If there is no discipline or consistency, the word that I read last week, last month, or last Easter is gone when I need it today. What comes out of your mouth in prayer has everything to do with what you’ve exposed yourself to in reading and studying the word and spending private time with God on a regular basis. You get to know who God is by spending time with Him. You get to know His character by spending time in His word. I can come to church day after day and sit and act like I’ve got it all together. But what happens when I leave here? What happens when nobody is looking, overseeing, admonishing, saying it’s time to read, time to pray, time to fast. We do a lot of things corporately, but we must establish spiritual disciplines and do them consistently, until they become a habit and we do it without even thinking about it. I’M RESPONSIBLE TO ESTABLISH, CULTIVATE, AND MAINTAIN MY OWN SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES. Be aware of where you are in the process. If you need to set your alarm, put a sticky note your computer, etc. Spiritual disciplines build up something and tear down something at the same time. ♦ You are taking in and letting go. (As you take in the things of God, you let go of the things of the flesh.) ♦ While you are getting strong in an area that will bring spiritual advancement, the influence of the flesh becomes weaker. The more you employ spiritual disciplines, it becomes a habit, you develop muscle memory: that behavior happens naturally, without much thought, as a result of repetition. It becomes like breathing, you don’t have to remind yourself to exhale. Habit = behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary. ♦ Demonic forces become weaker. Your spiritual senses become sharper. ♦ Spiritual disciplines render clarity to your understanding. ♦ As you pursue God, ask yourself: What is becoming stronger and what is getting weaker? ♦ Whatever you feed and nurture is the thing that’ll thrive and become dominant in your life and will influence the way you live your life and how you respond to the issues of life. Scriptures on Discipline: 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) – For the Spirit that God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. (God is not a God of chaos but of order and discipline.) Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (act of worship). And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Establishing and maintaining spiritual disciplines is a sacrifice, but one that’s worth it. As Christians and as intercessors, we can’t conform to the way the world does things. Spiritual disciplines are necessary to establish a healthy prayer life and a healthy relationship with God. Spiritual disciplines, or lack thereof, will determine how much we grow. That is determined by how much we make ourselves available to the things that will cause us to grow. There are certain things that we cannot neglect and still expect to be successful in prayer. We should initiate multiple ways of communicating and communing with God. He is not stagnant and sitting in one place and only speaking to us in one way. He is creative and communicates on more than one wavelength. Scriptures on Discipline: 2 Timothy 1:7 – For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Spiritual Discipline Function Scripture Benefits/Impact Personal prayer and devotion Silence yourself so you can hear God. (Prayer is not a monologue) To show your dependence on God To grow your faith. Luke 18:1 – Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. 1 Thess 5:17 – Pray without ceasing Matthew 6:5-14 – 5And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites… 6But you, when you pray, go into your room and shut the door… 7And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions… 9In this manner, therefore pray, Our Father in heaven… Synchronizes us with the heart of God. Prayer is our lifeline. It helps us to see clearly, not form a fleshly perspective but from God’s perspective. God rewards you openly for your private prayers. Prayer gives direction. There’s provision (daily bread)… There’s help to do the things you can’t do on your own (forgive, temptation)… There’s deliverance from evil… Prayer & Devotion remind us of who God is (Yours is the Kingdom, power, glory FOREVER)… Journaling SOAP Method S- Scripture. Read a passage. O- Observe. Write down what you see, key words or phrases. A- Application. Make note of how you’ll apply what you read. P- Prayer. Ask God to help you live out what you’ve learned. Builds spiritual stamina by drawing you closer to God. (Draw near to God and He’ll draw near to you. James 4:8) Stretches you beyond the usual & ordinary. Jeremiah 30:2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And you must commit yourself wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you go to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Habakkuk 2:2-3 Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry Quiets your mind and keeps you focused - on what the Lord is speaking to you; on prayer targets. Helps you slow down and focus on what you want to say to God and gives you time to hear from Him. Builds an attitude of gratitude by reminding you of God’s faithfulness, when certain prayers were answered, the way He always shows up for you. Writing your prayers can help build confidence in your own voice in prayer. God gives clarity through your journaling, makes things plain, Reading the Word of God and Scripture Study The scriptures are a legally binding contract. (Isa. 55:11 – God’s word does not return void but will accomplish what He sent it forth to do.) To learn the character of God. Intercessors must be scholars of the word. Jeremiah 23:29 – “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces.” Jeremiah 1:12 (ESV) – Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” 2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. It is constructive (builds up) and destructive (tears down and destroys). The word of God is like the hammer of a construction worker that builds things- builds up our faith, and tears down strongholds, destroys and demolishes yokes of bondage. Knowing and praying the word deepens our desire to see manifestation. There’s an expectation. Prayer and Fasting To abstain from physical gratification for a greater spiritual goal. Prayer helps in the development of our faith and Fasting helps in the growth & development of our prayer life. Prayer keeps us mindful of who we are in Christ and Fasting keeps us humble. We need them both! Fasting without devotion & prayer is nothing more than dieting or going without food. Isaiah 58:6-7 – 6Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Mark 9:29 – So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Humbles the soul before God. Crucifies the flesh and unbelief. Develops your faith. Manifests an earnestness for God and demonstrates discipline. Increases our capacity to receive answers from God. Fasting assists in destroying bands of wickedness, yokes of the enemy, and is a weapon of deliverance. Fasting incapacitates unbelief. Praying in Tongues Praying in tongues is an act of worship 1 Corinthians 14:4 - A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. 1 Corinthians 14:4a – A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. Jude 20-21 – But you, beloved, building yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Praying in tongues is act of worship that serves dual purpose. It glorifies God and strengthens the believer. Praise and Worship Praise – to express admiration; to value; to brag or boast about something/someone. (Can be done through singing, listening to music, playing instruments) ---------------------- Worship - rendering unto God the fruit of our lips; acknowledging God as Who He is. (Creator, Lord, Savior, Healer, Deliverer…) To magnify God! To declare God’s glory, honor, and fame to God Himself, to ourselves, and to others. ------------------------ To remind Satan that he is defeated. Psalm 22:3 – But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Hebrews 13:15 – Therefore by Him (Jesus) let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. READ Nehemiah 9 (the character of God and all He’s done for His people) --------------------- Psalm 86:9-10 – All nations whom You have made shall come and worship You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. For You are great and do wondrous things; You alone are God. 2 Kings 17:38-39 -And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods. But the Lord your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies. Hell contends against praise so praise invites God’s presence into the earth realm. It causes Him to dwell with us. Facilitates our access to God. The Blood of Jesus paved the way for our access to God, but a life of perpetual praise maintains clear passage to Him. Praise acknowledges God’s character and makes our heart and spirit more open to hear, receive, and respond to God. --------------------------- Worship gives us strength and hope. It reminds us of God’s promises. He is a covenant-keeping God. Shifts our focus to what really matters. Praise and worship originate from a heart of humility and help to refocus our affections/heart posture, realign our priorities, and restore our souls. It brings forth deliverance. In Acts 16:25-26 Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God and everyone’s bands were loosed and prison doors opened. Intimacy With God Spending time alone with God with no one else around. Closeness; togetherness. Our power increases based on our level of intimacy with God. To develop a deeper relationship. To anchor our soul, mind, and spirit to God. To receive instructions from Him. Intimacy with God prevents Spiritual Burnout. (Your prayer list is long; you’re covering your family, co-workers, neighbors –. He’ll let you know which burdens are not meant for you to carry and what is an actual burden to pray and needs to be prayed through. Intimacy with God refreshes you. 2 Corinthians 2:15-16- For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. Genesis 4:1 – Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain and said, I have acquired a man from the Lord. (NLT – with the Lord’s help, I have produced a man.) We produce the fragrance of heaven in the earth. We are glory carriers who help bring forth the will of God in the earth realm. Whenever there’s an act of intimacy, something will be produced. Through intimacy with God, we become co-conspirators with Him to produce results, the physical/tangible manifestation of answers. and solutions to problems and answers to prayers are conceived in the secret place of intimacy with God. When we pray for miracles, we’re asking God to create or produce something. Jesus is our example, and He often went to a solitary place to pray and spend time with God. (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Luke 4:42; Luke 9:18) Entering the Secret Place We have to press into The Secret Place: 1 Corin. 9:25-27 - All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. Intercessors have a grace to pray and intercede. Value what you carry because, like a spiritual midwife, it can abort or bring forth life. Be Diligent! Establish. Cultivate. Maintain these spiritual disciplines.