Skip to main content

Prayer, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit, by Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous


Prayer, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit
By Pastor Charlie

By his grace, the Lord gave George Müller a heart to seek him in big things and little things from the beginning of his life with God. He also sought to benefit others in practical ways and in spiritual ways, especially seeking to share the gospel with those who weren’t walking with Jesus.
Over the years, the Lord taught him how profound and simple a connection there is between prayer, the Word of God, and the Spirit of God.
To ascertain the Lord’s will we ought to use scriptural means. Prayer, the Word of God, and His Spirit should be united together. We should go the Lord repeatedly in prayer, and ask him to teach us by His Spirit through His Word. I say, by His Spirit through His Word. For if we should think that his Spirit led us to do so and so, because certain facts are so and so, and yet his Word is opposed to the step which we are going to take, we should be deceiving ourselves. (Autobiography of George Müller, Westminster Literature, 14)
Indeed, the key ingredients in a fruitful life with the Lord are (1) the speech of God, (2) the presence of God, and (3) our speech back to God. Fruitfulness is the natural and necessary outcome of intimate interaction between the Lord and his children, as we listen to what he has to say, allow him to apply his wisdom to our lives, and then receive the power to walk in his ways.
This happens, first, as we hear the Lord’s clear commands and instructions, and then obey them by the power of his Spirit. I never cease to be amazed by the Lord’s ability to have me in a certain passage of Scripture on a certain day specifically because I needed to hear a certain word from him and apply that to my life.
Second, we learn the way of fruitfulness as we come to understand the general patterns by which the Lord thinks and feels and wills. As this happens, we will be able to discern his will in matters about which the Scripture doesn’t directly speak. Should we move here or there? Should we take that job or not? How much should we save and give and spend each month. We will search the Scripture in vain for specific answers to questions like these, but as we learn to seek his will by his Spirit through his Word, we become more discerning and more fruitful.
The principle is so simple but so powerful, so let us hear this wisdom from our older brother in Christ and put it into practice: “We should go to the Lord repeatedly [emphasis added] in prayer, and ask him to teach us by His Spirit through His Word” (14).


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Deacons - How They Serve and Strengthen the Church (Part 1)

By
  One of the next important priorities for GCF is to establish deacons in the life of the church. On March 14, 2021 we were able to establish an elder team. Currently, we have a team of four elders overseeing the congregation of GCF.  However, there is more work to be done. I have come to see that establishing an elder team was the bare minimum that needed to happen for GCF to survive. I believe GCF now needs to turn our attention to raising up a team of qualified and willing deacons to serve the congregation so that it will not only survive but thrive.   I would like to begin a series of blogs on deacons to help us understand who they are and what they do in the life of the church.  In this blog let me provide three reasons why I think deacons should be near our top priority.  Number 1: It is Biblical. Paul instructs Timothy to install elders who will help him pastor the church. For whatever reason, it seems the churches in our circles treat the installmen...
Post a Comment
Read more

Worship Songs, October 15, 2017

By
We post these worship songs leading up to the worship service so that parents may listen to them in the house or in the car within the days leading up to the worship service. Our hope is that children will hear the songs prior to and it will prepare them to participate in worship on Sunday mornings. My Redeemers Love Hope Has Come I Will Glory In My Redeemer Blessed Be Your Name Here In Your Presence Your Glory Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) -- Sermon Text: John 11:1-16 That the next generation will set their hope in God and not forget the works of God (Psalm 78:7).
Post a Comment
Read more

God Displays His Beauty While Lifting Heavy Burdens by Pastor Kevin

By
I know I am a little bit overweight. My doctor tells me so. The mirror that I look into affirms it and the scale (that I mostly avoid) reminds me every time I step on it. All of that makes what I am about to say so much more impressive. I had the privilege of sitting on the beaches of Florida's Atlantic coast for 8 days on our most recent family trip. For me there is something magical about the beach, especially on the Atlantic side with the waves washing up against the shoreline. We have been lucky enough to find a sleepy beach town to vacation at. A nook, if you will, that typically features retired folks or families with kids. Out of the way of those who want to party, the beach is truly a relaxing place for me.  Let me tell you something that I gleaned this time around that never quite landed on me. This last week it landed on me, almost literally. My son Ben and I are the more adventurous specimens in the Feder five. We actually get into the salty water where there are jelly f...
2 comments
Read more