John O Evening rally on December 29th, 2014 at the Campus Outreach Milwaukee New Years Conference
Rally Recap
““And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father 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, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:7–13 ESV)
Who you really are is who you are when nobody is watching.
Isn't it ironic how the very structure that Jesus gave us to pray to him has turned into a meaningless chant that so many can recite without knowing what it really means! The best way to hide something of spiritual value is to hide it in a spiritual cloak
"Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’” (Matthew 6:9 ESV)
Don’t embrace a routine in a prayer but rather embrace a relationship. Prayer begins with embracing a relationship. (Matt. 6:9).
Christianity is a corporate religion. Individual Christianity does not exist.
Regardless of what your background was, God wants to use it to glorify Him by reminding you that everything we have pales in comparison to who He is.
“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” (Psalms 115:3 ESV)
Here is the mark of the Christian, as Christians we pray for God's presence before we pray for his provision
In heaven, God’s will is done instantaneously and joyfully.
God wants to use you regardless of where you are to be a gospel light in the midst of darkness.
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:1–10 ESV)
Personal Reflection Questions:
How is your prayer life?
What does it mean to pray for God's presence vs God’s provision?
If God were a Genie and his aim was to give you anything you wanted, would your prayer life be better or worse than it is right now?