Drawing Water

Treasures of the Transformed Life: Satisfying Your Soul’s Thirst for More, by Ed Mathison

Part II – Drawing Water

Chapter 8 – Tapping into the Source

Water makes the difference between life and death.

When was the last time you sought the oasis of God’s presence?

We all go through times when it seems like God is distant or that our prayers aren’t being heard. It’s all part of the ebb and flow of him drawing us closer, teaching us to pursue him with our whole being and to wait for him.

Isaiah 44:3 – “For I will give you abundant water to quench your thirst and to moisten your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit and my blessings on your children.”

PRAYER – imagine a tree, strong, tall, full of fruit, planted by a river with constant access to living water.

When your life is submitted to Christ, it becomes planted in grace. Any other way is not firm.

Matthew 13:1-9 – man who scattered seed on different types of soil

THE WAY WE CONNECT TO GOD AND SOAK UP THAT LIVING WATER IS THROUGH PRAYER.

Very few things are permanent – i.e., disposable diapers, paper plates/cups, clothing, cars, houses

Contrast: John 6:27

The most permanent thing is Jesus Christ. Everything else changes, but he never does.

Chapter 9 – Prayer Defined

Prayer is simply talking and listening to God.

When we’re willing to listen, God will share his vision for our lives, his encouragement, and his love.

Prayer is not a religious activity – it is sharing your heart.

Matthew 6:8 promises that God knows what we need before we ask him. So why pray? We pray to deepen our relationship with him. If we want to become more like Jesus, we’ll do so by spending more time with him.

Prayer is not magic. God knows what would happen if he gave us everything we wanted – like a child who gets a tummyache from eating too much candy.

2 Corinthians 1:20 – all promises God made have been fulfilled through Christ. Prayer is not just a list of things we want; it is actually a means to partner with God in his work. The more we partner with God, the more we’ll seek him.

Walking closely with God may mean going against what others expect.

Chapter 10 – Line of Communication

Why pray? God commands us to. It’s about relationship.

Philippians 4:6 – Don’t worry about anything; pray about everything.

Do we see prayer as a life or death connection? What is we decided not to speak to our children for the month of October?

When we discover what God is doing and what he wants us to do with him, we can begin to find joy, happiness and purpose.

God invites us to do his work. Through prayer, we can be God’s hands and feet on earth.

Prayer allows us to experience God’s love and concern for ourselves. The best way to improve self-esteem and figure out who you really are is through prayer.

Luke 11:2 – Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: ‘Father.’” The word here translates to Abba,which means “Daddy.”

God thinks you’re precious (Isaiah 43:4): because he created you, making you different from anyone else.

Isaiah 49:16 – God said, “I have written your name on my hand.”

Through prayer, God gives us direction for our lives.

God’s love for us isn’t conditional; it doesn’t depend on how much time we actually spend with him; however, the more time we spend with him the more time we’ll want to spend with him.

Prayer p. 75

Chapter 11 – Scenario for Prayer

Pattern for prayer: Thumb – represents those nearest to us; Pointing Finger – those who point us to Christ; Third Finger – tallest; people in high places; Fourth finger – weakest; those who are weak (story p. 79); Little Finger – ME – comes after I’ve prayed for everyone else.

Pray, and let God worry. – Martin Luther

Once we get into conversation with God, we start remembering all the other people around us who really need something first; we see others in a different light.

Pray with the right motives (1 John 5:14-17)- but how do we know? The better we know God, the more time we spend with him, we learn more about the things that are important to him. We can line up our desires to match his will.

Pray with an attitude of thanksgiving. We can become so busy complaining about our problems that we aren’t thankful for the opportunities they provide. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “always be thankful. For this is God’s will for you who belong to Jesus Christ.”

Pray persistently. God has a perfect time for answering prayers. If we’re asking with the right motives, a thankful heart, and persistence, God will take care of the rest.

Chapter 12 – Standing in the Gap

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.

– Abraham Lincoln

We know our friends by their defects rather than their merits. We, as a society, are so quick to tear each other down that it’s no wonder so many people struggle with issues of self-esteem.

1986 study – mothers criticized their children ten times for every one time they said something positive.

As Christians, we have an opportunity to undo some of the damge, building each other up through prayer.

Ezekiel 22:30 – “standing in the gap” = prayer for others.

Pray specifically for two overall groups: the people IN our church and the people OUTSIDE it.

IN THE CHURCH: Pray for unity, boldness, not forgetting where we came from, that we will abide in God’s presence, for awareness that God is everywhere, willingness to ask God’s pardon. Pray that we learn to accept God’s provision, that we will be willing to do our part and trust that he will do his, that we’ll advance God’s purpose (that all people of the earth would come to know him)

OUTSIDE THE CHURCH: Pray that their hearts would be open to truth and that they would cross paths with Christians willing to share with them, walls be torn down.

God is still looking for people who are willing to build up walls rather than tear them down, who are willing to be sensitive to others and aware of their needs.

Chapter 13 – Products of Prayer

Just because you haven’t seen God respond in the way you want or expect him to yet, it doesn’t mean you’re praying for nothing. Daniel 10 – see p. 92

When we pray:

Confession takes place. The more we pray, the more we see how much of a relief it is, and the easier it gets.

Change takes place.

It brings community. When people come together to pray, encourage, and love one another, there’s unity. We can trust each other with our burdens and share our joys.

Prayer brings conformity to God’s will. We can conform to what the world says is right, or we can conform to what God’s Word says.

p. 95 – We can’t pull God to where we want him to be.

Commissioning – prayer allows us to receive our instructions so we’ll be ready to move out and do what God has for us to do.