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Faith & Prayer Message #7

The Power of Persistence

March 13-14, 2010 Pastor Mike Hodson

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Growth Group Homework

For the week of March 14, 2010

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This week is the final meeting of our Winter Quarter. (Note: College groups are on a different schedule.) We’ll take a two-week break and the nine-week Spring Quarter will begin April 5 and run through June 4.

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QUICK REVIEW
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching on The Power of Persistence, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or confused you?

MY STORY
1. After hearing this week’s teaching, what would you say to someone who asks you to explain why persistence is an important part of prayer?

2. As you think about your prayer life, can you think of anything you’ve been persistently praying for?

DIGGING DEEPER
1. Often we are most persistent in praying for the things in our life that are urgent or time sensitive.  What do the following verses suggest are things that often aren’t urgent or time sensitive but are nevertheless important enough to require us to be persistently praying for?
  
Colossians 3:12-14
    Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. _^[NIV] 

2 Peter 3:9
    The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. _^[NIV] 

Romans 12:14-18
    Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. [15] Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. [16] Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
    [17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. [18] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. _^[NIV] 

In light of these verses, is there anything you’d like to begin to be more persistent in praying for?

2. One of the keys to praying persistently is understanding God’s attitude about us bringing our requests to Him.  How do the following verses help encourage you to be persistent in your prayers?
 
Hebrews 4:14-16
    Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. [16] Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. _^[NIV] 

Luke 11:9-13
    "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
    [11] "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? [12] Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? [13] If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" _^[NIV] 

3. The Apostle Paul prayed often and persistently.  He even wrote out a number of the prayers he prayed for the people in the churches he planted.  As you read a couple of his prayers below, jot down a few of the things he prays for.

Passage	What Paul Prays For
Ephesians 1:15-19 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, [16] I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. [17] I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. [18] I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,  [NIV]
Ephesians 3:16-18 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  [NIV]
Colossians 1:9-12 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. [10] And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, [11] being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully [12] giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  [NIV]

 
What stands out to you about what Paul prays for?

What stands out to you in these prayers about how God wants us to live?

Which of the things Paul prayed for would you most like others to pray for you to have or experience?

TAKING IT HOME
1. Take a minute and use one of Paul’s prayers in Digging Deeper question #3 as a guide for praying for yourself.  Now do the same for someone else.

2. As you look back on this series on Faith & Prayer, can you think of any new insight you want to remember? If so, explain.

Can you think of any ways you’d like your life to be different as a result of this series?  If so, explain.

Communion
God’s ultimate work in our life and His love for us is exhibited through the sacrifice He made on the Cross. Communion is one way we remind ourselves of all that He has done and all He’s calling us to become.  This week, your Growth Group will conclude by taking Communion together. To prepare for this, take a moment to read Psalm 103:8-14 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 reflecting on the significance of Christ’s forgiveness of our sins. 
  
Psalm 103:8-14
    The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
        slow to anger, abounding in love.
    [9] He will not always accuse,
        nor will he harbor his anger forever;
    [10] he does not treat us as our sins deserve
        or repay us according to our iniquities.
    [11] For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
        so great is his love for those who fear him;
    [12] as far as the east is from the west,
        so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
    [13] As a father has compassion on his children,
        so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
    [14] for he knows how we are formed,
        he remembers that we are dust. _^[NIV] 

1 Corinthians 11:23-26
    For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." [25] In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." [26] For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. _^[NIV] 

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NEW PROPERTY PRAYER UPDATE:  The new Carlsbad Campus just launched and the work at the North Santa Property is moving full speed ahead as our move date is just around the corner.

• Pray for good health, energy, and focus of the workers and church staff as they work extra hours to get it all done.
    
• Pray for the sale/lease of the Melrose Campus.  We have a group trying to put together a deal to make this happen. We’ll be OK if this doesn’t happen right away, but it would be a significant help if it did.
    
• Consider riding the shuttle during this final run on Melrose before the move.  The parking lot has been completely full the last couple of weeks and we’ve seen many cars turn around and not return.  By using the shuttle, you will help the many first-timers that come every weekend not encounter the parking barrier frustration.

WOMEN’S RETREAT — March 26-28.  Join us for a weekend away at Murrieta Hot Springs--insightful teaching, outstanding worship, spiritual renewal, a great time with God, and connection with friends, old and new. Our speakers include Jeanne Bessant (Member Care), Susan Trueblood (Life Skills Ministry), and Pastor Chris Brown!  $175 or $210.  Fill up a room special, $165. Sign up online or at weekend services.