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ALASKAN MISSIONARIES - BRETT AND ASHLEY KILMER

As the pastor and sending church of our newest missionary couple, I would like to introduce to you, Brett and Ashley Kilmer, who are serving at Echo Ranch Bible Camp in Juneau, Alaska. As full time ministers, their entire support comes from faith offerings, and they are currently at 45% of their income budget. We invite you to help us be a source of supplying financial support through The Church of Restoration. In addition, we ask for a prayer covering over every aspect of their lives and to partner with them through personal words of encouragement. We will be sharing more in the days ahead about their ministry, and our role as a church family in their lives.)

Strengthening Your Spirit

We probably think about many things in our lives that need to be strengthened such as our bodies, our minds, or our relationships. What we may not think of is our “spirit.” There is a process by which we can strengthen our spirit, and God’s word tells us how it is possible. (See Romans 8:5-8 and Galatians 5:16-18; 25)

The best demonstration of building up our spirits is to look at our Lord as He began His ministry. (See Luke 4:1-14) Jesus did not go into the wilderness of His own choice or initiative. He went there because He was led by the Spirit. We need to remember that Jesus laid down His rights as God when He came to earth. So He, as a man, was being led by the Spirit. The gospels indicate that there is something very definite about the word “led.” It also means: “to bring” or “drive,” or “to eject” or “cast.” This action indicates something stronger than being “prompted” to go.

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HOW TO START THE NEW YEAR

To begin the 2016 New Year, we will be focusing on how to intercede successfully in prayer for those we love and others that we come in contact with throughout our daily lives. So often the idea of a prayer meeting brings to mind a rote and boring religious activity, but that is not how God intends for our corporate prayer times to be like. His intentions are for His children to be co-workers with Him, and the main avenue for that to occur is through our prayers. The reason so many people avoid corporate prayer meetings is they haven’t been taught how to pray. Please join us in the following weeks to learn how your prayer life can be successful and fill your life with expectation and joy.

Intercessory Prayer - LESSON 1

And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. (1 John 5:14,15)

QUESTIONS:

Our confidence is placed where?
Our asking must be based on what?
What makes  our Father God attentive to our desires?
What are the results of our asking God what He already desires Himself?
If God desires something, why do we need to ask Him for it? (Matthew 28:19-20, John 16:24, 2 Peter 1:4)
How does this truth affect your attitude toward prayer?

 

Intercede Successfully in Prayer - LESSON 2

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (John 15:7,8)

QUESTIONS:

What are the 2 conditions that guarantee the results to our requests in prayer?
What does abiding in Christ mean?
How can God’s words abide in us? (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:11, Matthew 4:4)
What glorifies Father God?
Is the fruit Jesus talks about the fruit of the Spirit or the fruit of bringing forth God’s desires?
To bear much fruit requires much _____________________________.
What did the disciples of Jesus do that showed evidence of bringing forth God’s desires for people? We are also sent out to bear much fruit for God’s glory.

Intercede Successfully in Prayer - LESSON 3

Fight the good fight of faith… (1 Timothy 6:12)

QUESTIONS:

What fight are we told to engage in? Why is this fight so important? (Hebrews 6:11)
Who is fighting against our faith? What can our faith accomplish that makes it a priority for us to be attacked?
What is our sole spiritual weapon in this fight? (Ephesians 6:17)
How was Jesus’ faith attacked? (Matthew 4:3-11)
Where does the attack of our faith take place? (2 Corinthians 10:5)
We are told in James 4:7 that we are to resist the devil. How did Jesus resist the devil in the wilderness? (Hebrews 6:8)

CHALLENGE:

Be aware of the thoughts that run through your mind this week. If they are contrary to the heart of God towards yourself or others, begin resisting them with God’s thoughts in the Scriptures. Say out loud, “It is written” and quote God’s word. It may take time for the ‘thought fortress/LIE’ to be destroyed and replaced by the TRUTH, but we have a promise in James 4:7 that IF we will resist, the enemy WILL flee. Consistency brings guaranteed success! Fight the good fight of faith. (1 Peter 5:8,9)

Intercede Successfully in Prayer - LESSON 4

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6,7)

QUESTIONS:

What is the evidence that your faith is activated?
Where should our faith be targeted? (Mark 11:22)
How can our faith be misguided?
What firm foundation do we stand on when we aim our prayers? (2 Peter 1:4)

CHALLENGE:

To have God’s perspectives take root in our hearts and minds, we must meditate on His thoughts. (Joshua 1:8) Here are some suggested Scriptures that you can read and reflect upon daily. Within time, they will find a place to lodge permanently in your heart and mind and will enhance your walk of faith. (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6; 1:22; 3:10-12; Matthew 7:7)

Intercede Successfully in Prayer - LESSON 5

...God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

QUESTIONS:

How can a person’s faith increase? (Luke 17:5 6:38)
Even though Luke 6:38 is speaking about giving mercy, it is still a spiritual law that applies to the spiritual life. Let us look at different measures of faith.
Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8
Matthew 9:2, 22, 29
Matthew 8:10; 15:28; Acts 6:5, 8; 11:24
Faith is an ____________ word. List some of the demonstrations of faith in the above Scripture references.
What action did Jesus refer to in Matthew 21:21?
What level of faith is required to get results? (Matthew 17:20)
Can the measure of our faith disappear? (Matthew 25:25,28)

CHALLENGE:

How can you exercise your measure of faith this week? You can start with speaking the TRUTH of what is the opposite of what you see or feel. Maybe God will use you to exercise your faith in prayer for someone else. Become conscious of possible God encounters where your faith can be activated!

Intercede Successfully in Prayer - LESSON 6

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore...(Matthew 28:18-20)

QUESTIONS:

What did Jesus say he had been given?
This word power is exousia, meaning ________________.
According to these verses, what does Jesus’ power have rule over? (Philippians 2:8,9; Ephesians 1:20-23)
What is our position with Christ? (Ephesians 2:6-7)
Our confidence is not in our faith, but in the supremacy of Jesus Christ. Our faith is a tool used to activate the authority of Jesus’ kingdom over Satan’s kingdom on this earth.
Where was Peter’s faith directed? (Acts 3:6-10, 16; 4:10)

CHALLENGE:

In reading Matthew 17:20, it explains that it’s not how much faith we put into action, but that we put into action what we have. Our confidence in prayer is not based on us, but on God’s will, His promises and Jesus’ authority. This week begin your intercessory prayers by reading Matthew 17:20, Matthew 28:18-20 and John 15:16 to be reminded of your role as God’s co-worker and that your commission is to pray and act in Jesus’ supreme authority and not your own.