Message Notes

SPIRITUAL RETREAT
Theme: “The Prayers of the Apostle Paul”

GOALS

1. To check

a) Our understanding of prayer

b) Our practices of prayer

c) Our problems in prayer

2. To find/ discover

a) How we may deepen our prayer-life

b) How to find inspiration to pray better

c) How to gain deeper insights into praying more meaningfully

3. To put in place

a) Good prayer practices/ habits

b) A more vigorous approach to prayer

c) To put into effect the lessons learned/ discovered

A. Practice of Prayer in the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul

1. This has to be noted first

2. And proven/demonstrated

3. Suitably impressive in its consistency of practice

B. Evidence of a Consistent Prayer Life

1. In the beginning of Epistles written

a) Obviously… a natural response/ outflow

b) Noticeably… the spirit of thanksgiving

2. Pauline Epistles

a) Romans 1:8 “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all …”

b) 1 Corinthians 1:4 “I thank my God always concerning you…”

c) 2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

d) Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

e) Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you…”

f) Colossians 1:3 “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always for you…”

g) 1 Thessalonians 1: 2 “We give thanks to God always for you all,
making mention of you in our prayers…”

h) 2 Thessalonians 1:3 “We are bound to thank God always for you, as it is fitting…”

i) 2 Timothy 1:3 “Without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day”

j) Philemon 4 “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers…”

C. An Analysis of the rudiments of the Practice of Prayer

1. What prompts Prayer?

a) Relationship with God as Father

i) Salvation (commencement)

ii) Sonship (relationship)

iii) Servanthood (ministry)

b) Appreciation of the place of Christ Jesus as Saviour/ Mediator

i) The Lord Jesus as Saviour

ii) His role as Mediator 1 Timothy 2:5

iii) His teaching on prayer Matthew 6:9-13

iv) His personal example of praying (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Matthew 26:36-46)

c) The work of the Holy Spirit in teaching us the basics of prayer (Romans 8:15-16)

i) Received the Spirit of adoption

ii) By whom we cry out “Abba, Father”

iii) The Spirit bears witness that we are indeed children of God

2. What prompts thanksgiving/ praise in Prayer?

a) Consciousness and appreciation of God in life

i) His presence

ii) His promises

iii) His power working in the heart/ life (both personally and in the lives of others)

iv) Relationship to God (Father-child)

b) Relationship with people

i) As brethren beloved

ii) As fellow-servants

iii) Even more so as the relationship grows deeper

c) Circumstances in life

i) Happy occasions

ii) Trying circumstances

iii) Recognising the hand of God at work

d) Cultivation of a spirit of thanksgiving

i) Practice

ii) Reflective of the spiritual state of the individual

iii) Focusing

iv) Choosing

v) Trusting

e) Dangers

i) Mechanical/ perfunctory

ii) General (versus personal)