Prayer - Bridge to Eternal Things
Prayer is our bridge to God
What are we sending and receiving across that bridge?
Prayer, at the most basic level, is communicating with God.
God has given us a direct connection to Him through His spirit deposited in us.
Rom 8:26-27 (ESV)
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Stay in touch with God so that you are able to maintain course through all the waves and wind that will impact you throughout the day, throughout the week - throughout your LIFE!
Practice Prayer
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Read Act 10:9-16
Peter was pursuing God in prayer… God honored that pursuit.
Practice Prayer
Act 1:14 (ESV)
14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Act 6:4 (ESV)
4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Cornelius
Act 10:2 (ESV)
2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
Rom 12:12 (ESV)
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Php 4:6 (ESV)
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
1Th 5:16-17 (ESV)
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
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Act 10:9 (ESV) The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
Peter was pursuing God-he was walking in the fear of the Lord.
Jews set aside two primary times to pray and added a third
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Act 10:10 (ESV) And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
God can direct our physical, emotional, mental, AND spiritual state
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Act 10:11 (ESV) and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.
Heavens opening is a clear indication that this is coming from the holiest place
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Act 10:12 (ESV) In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
God is consistent about being inclusive
God is also consistent about requiring us to engage our brains - few things are black and white.
Ecc 3:11 (ESV)
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Rom 1:19-20 (ESV)
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Pro 25:2 (ESV)
2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
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Act 10:13 (ESV) And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
Act 10:14 (ESV) But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
Peter is known for his impetuous nature.
Mat 16:22 (ESV)
22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
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Act 10:15 (ESV) And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
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Act 10:16 (ESV) This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to
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Eph 6:13-18 (ESV)
