Point of Grace Worship 9.18.22 Sermon Notes – “Restoration and Mission-Begin with Prayer”

Restoration and Mission: Twin Essentials for Following Jesus

Whether PAUSE-ing for restoration or B.L.E.S.S.-ing on the Jesus mission we

Begin with Prayer

Prayer is “conversation with God” – living in an engaging friendship where we talk and hear – speak and listen!

Jesus, I want great conversations with You.

I want to hear You well.

Please help me practice.

Possibilities – Posture – Practice

Possibilities - A conversational relationship with Jesus is possible!

John 10 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ……27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Isaiah 30 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Deuteronomy 6 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Hebrews 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,

Posture – Do I “want” God and “want” to hear Him?

Jeremiah 29 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord,

God encourages a trusting posture of “seeking and surrender”!

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

When “wanting God” is not real ….. “wanting to want Him” is helpful!

Practice – When hearing God we get to “start and end with Jesus”

Hebrews 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,

The Word and His Word – Jesus and the Scriptures

Jesus, I want great conversations with You.

I want to hear You well.

Please help me practice.

Listen to the scriptures asking, “Jesus – what is your word saying?”

Listen to the scriptures a second time asking, “Jesus, what is Your word saying to me today?”

Jesus, I want great conversations with You.

I want to hear You well.

Please help me practice.