Revitalize Your Church

"Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrod, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."  (from Daily Prayer  by E. Milner White & G. W. Briggs).

An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps.   "Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely.  "The front row, please," she answered..  "You really don't want to do that," the usher said. "The pastor is really boring."  "Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired. "No," he said.  "I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly.  "Do you know who I am?" he asked.  "No," she said. "Good," he answered. 

I teach a discipleship class called Deepen at Alive Wesleyan Church on a regular basis.  In this teaching on prayer, I share Six Steps to the Throne, which is adapted from   In The Day of Thy Power , by Arthur Wallis. In 2 Chronicles 9:18 we read that there were six steps to the throne of King Solomon.  And in our prayer life, there are six steps to the throne of God:  The King of Kings. Step 1:  Abiding in Christ John 15:5-7  I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. This means being connected to Christ -- living in Christ - being at home with him.  There is a huge difference between saying prayers and being a person of prayer. Two ways we become disconnected:  Disobedience (Ps, 66:18) and Neglect.  Is Jesus your spare tire or your steering wheel? Step 2: In the Will of God 1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approachin...