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Listening Prayer

Communication with God

Communication with God

“Communication is the vehicle for creating and maintaining intimacy, and it is the means by which we know another person.” –H. Norman Wright

com·mu·ni·ca·tion n. – The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior. Interpersonal rapport.

communications (used with a sing. or pl. verb) -The art and technique of using words effectively to impart information or ideas.
Something communicated; a message.

communications – A means of communicating, especially: A system, such as mail, telephone, or television, for sending and receiving messages.

A network of routes for sending messages and transporting troops and supplies.

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Interpersonal rapport

• Relationship
• Understanding
• God communicates.
• Bond
• Link
• Affinity
• Connection
• Empathy
• We are created in His image to communicate as well.
• God is a rational being—3 in 1
• We are likewise created as relational beings.

Purposes: God to Man

• Interpersonal rapport
• Imparting information, instruction, or ideas
• Reconciling differences
• Inviting participation and partnership
• Conducting business or work
• Sending messages, transporting troops and supplies
• Expressing affection

Purposes: Man to God

• Interpersonal rapport
• Responding to instruction, information and ideas
• Reconciling differences
• Requesting assistance
• Conducting business or work
• Requesting messages, transporting troops and supplies
• Expressing gratitude & worship

Means of Communication: God to Man

• The Creation (including donkeys!)
• Face-to-face (Adam & Eve, Abram, Moses)
• By the Holy Spirit (Old & New Testament)
• Written Word (Ten Commandments, Law & Prophets, Bible)
• Dreams & visions, signs & wonders (Joseph, Zechariah, Gideon)
• The Word made flesh—by His Son Jesus
• Through other intermediaries:
  • Priests, prophets, angels
  • Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists
  • Fellow believers

The Creation

• “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” –Romans 1:20

Face to Face

• “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” – Genesis 3:8-9
• “When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord.” –Numbers 12:6-8

Through the prophets – By his Son

• “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” –Hebrews 1:1-2

The Word of Christ

• “But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: “Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” –Romans 10:16-18

Means of Communication: Man to God

• Prayer—involves both listening to God speak and speaking to God…
  
  We are called to develop a conversational relationship with God.
  
  Prayer can be individual or corporate,
  in the heart or out loud.
  We can pray in many postures,
  singing, speaking, shouting, or whispering.
  Prayer can be in the spirit and with understanding.
  Prayer is both an invitation and a command,
  a privilege and a responsibility.
  
  Pray without ceasing!

Roles in Communication: Man to God

• Our Father which art in — Child before the Father heaven
• Hallowed be Thy Name One — Worshiper before the Holy
• Thy Kingdom come Thy will — Ambassador of the King of be done on earth as it is in Heaven Heaven.
• Give us this day our daily House bread — Steward of the Master’s
• Forgive us our debts as we Righteous Judge forgive our debtors. — Advocate before the righteous Judge
• Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. — Soldier of the Captain of Hosts
• For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. — Subject of the King of kings and Lord of lords
• Amen — Joint heirs with Jesus.

Called to Know Him & to Make Him Known

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Chosen to be included in intimate relationship with God in order to display and proclaim the virtues of such a privileged relationship so that others become interested & are included as well.

Protocol in Communication: Man to God

THANKSGIVING, PRAISE AND WORSHIP PAVE THE WAY INTO GOD’S PRESENCE.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise…” Psalm 100:4

Thanksgiving opens the gate into His throne room, and praise ushers us into His courts.

Recognizing the Voice of God

“God’s impressions within and his word without are always corroborated by his providence around, and we should quietly wait until those three focus into one point…If you do not know what you ought to do, stand still until you do. And when the time comes for action, circumstances, like glowworms, will sparkle along your path; and you will become so sure that you are right, when God’s three witnesses concur, that you could not be surer though an angel beckoned you on.”

The Three Lights:

• Circumstances
• Impressions of the Spirit
• Passages from the Bible

Three Factors in the Voice:

• The Weight of Authority
• The Spirit of God’s Voice
• Content

Practical Consequences

• Direct daily kingdom access for all believers so that the rule of God is promoted through our lives as it should and could be.

• Provision of confidence, comfort and peace in knowing our Father is WITH us.

• Protection from mad religionists and legalism so that we may not be carried away by voices contrary to God.

• Realization of a biblical quality of life so that God clearly communicates to us plainly as long as we are open and prepared by our experience to hear and obey.

Results of Prayer

1. Prayer brings us into God’s presence, which changes us. (Isa. 6:1-8)
2. Prayer reveals to us God’s plans so we can cooperate with Him in them. (Luke 10:2)
3. Prayer invites God’s participation & presence in the process. (Matt. 9:37-38)
4. Prayer obeys Jesus’ command to ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers. (Lk. 10:2)
5. Prayer removes hindrances to the gospel. (1 Cor. 16:9)
6. Prayer prepares the hearts of unbelievers to hear the good news. (Acts 17:27)
7. Prayer releases resources necessary to accomplish the task. (2 Cor. 9:8-11)
8. Prayer insures protection for workers and their work. (Eph. 6:19-20)
9. Prayer releases spiritual power to fulfill the call. (Acts 1:8)
10. Prayer exercises divine authority to change situations & people. (Matt. 18:18)
11. Prayer IS the battle! (Eph. 6:18)
12. Prayer maintains the victory. (2Tim. 4:17-18)

GET INTO SMALL GROUPS WITH 1 OR 2 PARTNERS TO PRAY WITH.

• Thank God for 3 specific things for which you are grateful today.
• Praise God for 3 of His attributes.
• Ask God to tell you what He is thinking about you today. Listen for His response; you may wish to jot down what He tells you.
• Pray for your partner briefly for one felt need.
• Ask God for one scripture He would like us to remember this week as we meet; jot down the reference He gives you.

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