Discuss Assignments from Last Meeting

Share how God spoke to you during your personal “retreat.”

Prayer and Worship

“Missions exists because worship doesn’t.”

John Piper

Worship is defined as an expression of worthiness, honoring what we value most.

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:12 (NIV)

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)

We serve a worthy God. As you go through training and spend your summer overseas, having an attitude of worship in every circumstance might be your most significant opportunity to glorify our Father in Heaven. We often associate the word ‘worship’ with singing songs. Singing is a wonderful way to express God’s worthiness, however we can also worship God in prayer, in our speech, in our reading and application of his Word or how we respond to the needs of others. The way we live our lives can be an expression and proclamation of the worthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

Quiet Times and Abiding in Christ

“You can’t give away what you don’t have.”  

Zane Pratt, Vice President for Global Training IMB

The greatest priority in your life, especially this summer, is to abide (remain/stay/live) in Jesus. A great tool to foster abiding in Jesus is a daily time spent with God in His word and prayer. This practice is not an item on a checklist, but the cultivation of a love relationship. It is a habit and discipline that can help us grow to be more like Jesus and bear spiritual fruit in our lives. Knowing God and His plans for us through His word is one of the greatest privileges as Christians. If you want to follow Jesus for life, then spend daily time listening to Him (reading His word), sharing your heart with Him (praying), and obeying his commands. This is the best way that you can prepare for a fruitful summer of ministry.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)

Prayer

“The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better people… What the Church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but people whom the Holy Ghost can use — people of prayer, people mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through people. He does not come on machinery, but on people. He does not anoint plans, but people — people of prayer.” 

E.M. Bounds: Power Through Prayer

People can have the best laid plans and do all the “right” things, but if we are not connected to the One who has the power to change lives, then our plans and actions can do nothing of real eternal value. Apart from Him, we can do nothing! Prayer is an indispensable part of a life with Christ and your upcoming summer. Consider prayer an essential part of your summer work as well. Pray on your own, pray as a team, prayer-walk the streets of your overseas location, recruit a team of prayer warriors from home. Ask the Father to have mercy on the people you are there to reach. 

There are many ways to pray and countless things to pray about. From the most mundane parts of our day to big life-changing decisions. We get to bring the details of our personal lives before the throne of the king of the universe and He hears our prayers. We also can bring continents before the Lord and intercede for the lost, nations, and rulers. Prayer is a means to praise our Heavenly Father, acknowledge our weakness, and His supremacy in our requests. Prayer fosters abiding in Christ. 

One helpful tool many have used in developing a healthy prayer life is to remember the acronym  A C T S when you pray:

• Adoration: Begin by praising God for who He is.
• Confession: Confess your sins and doubts to God.
• Thanksgiving: Give thanks for his many blessings.
• Supplication: Pray requests for specific personal needs or the needs of others.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”  Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Being Content in Difficult Circumstances

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 (NIV)

“Be joyful always. Pray continually.  Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

We are not yet in the fullness of the presence of Christ, but He is with us now and we have a reason to be glad even in the midst of turmoil. Joy is a feeling of delight derived from something exceptionally good or satisfying. “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11 NIV).

We know the One who is good and He satisfies us with all that is truly needed. 

The Apostles and early church dealt with numerous problems: conflict within, persecution from the world, and spiritual warfare against the Enemy. There was betrayal, divisions, not to mention every sin issue addressed in the letters to the early churches. Some were arrested, flogged, and even killed for their faith. They dealt with sickness, transportation issues, and economic difficulties. Have you ever considered that in the same chapter of Acts 12, Peter is miraculously delivered from prison while James the brother of John is killed by King Herod? 

Paul, too, experienced the gamut of hardships. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-30 (NIV) he catalogues his difficulties.

• Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
• three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, 
• three times I was shipwrecked, 
• I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 
• I have been constantly on the move. 
• I have been in danger from rivers, 
• in danger from bandits, 
• in danger from my fellow Jews, 
• in danger from Gentiles; 
• in danger in the city, 
• in danger in the country, 
• in danger at sea; and 
• in danger from false believers. 
• I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; 
• I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; 
• I have been cold and naked. 
• Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches… 
• If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 

Yet Paul was comforted by Christ’s words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Thankfully, our hardships pale in comparison to Paul’s. We will experience hardships, deep griefs, and sadness in this lifetime, but we can also experience a delight and contentment in God that transcends our circumstances. We can give thanks for the situations that cause us to cry out to God and acknowledge our neediness to Him. 

On this trip you will experience many trials, difficulties, and spiritual warfare that you have not faced before. In those times you can be assured that Jesus is near and His grace is sufficient for you. Rejoice with an “attitude of gratitude,” even when you don’t feel like it. God’s will for you is to grow in spiritual maturity and be a vessel in which God is glorified and His power is manifested in your weakness.  

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition present your requests to God and the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

Then you can say as Paul did: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”  Philippians 4:11 (NIV)

OneLink Value: Worshipful

Key Verses:

Practicing and experiencing the presence and power of God regardless of the circumstances.

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”  Psalm 34:1-3 (NIV)

“I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:1-2.

We can worship with pleasure and delight in any circumstance because we know that He can be trusted to accomplish His purposes through us for the sake of His Name. God’s presence goes with us and this is His greatest gift to us. Regardless of our circumstances, we can acknowledge the awesome Creator and praise Him in our hearts, with our words, and through our actions.

Final Step