17 “……. And may you,
having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, 18 be
fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and
length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing,
endless love];” --Ephesians 3:17-18
We
love Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3. Paul prayed Christ would make His home in
our hearts and our roots would go down deep into His marvelous love and keep us
strong. The love God proves in answered
prayer we often find beyond comprehension.
Paul prays that we would understand the love of Christ and He would make
His home in our hearts.
Where does one start “prayer
study”? We began our study many years
ago with a study guide in our Bible[1] written by Larry Lea, B.A., M Div., D.D., and followed all cross-references
(Never study scripture out of context). Little did we realize where it would lead
us. We begin this session with a quote
from Larry Lea, “Study seeks to help
people to practical, applicable-to-life patterns of prayer, as
well as unveiling prayer secrets that help for habits by igniting understanding which prompts
believers into dynamic prayer-patterns, rather than merely issuing rules. The result is prayer that builds blessing and
fruitfulness in your life.”[2] We
get our word “dynamic” from the Greek word, dunamis, which means
energy, power, might, great force, great ability, strength.
Our heart is ignited with
“understanding.” In Hebrew, heart is Leb
(lehv) and it means intellect, awareness, mind (inward parts), inner-person, inner-feelings,
deepest thoughts, inner-self. When we
study verses in the Living Word, the Holy Spirit reveals the knowledge of the
mind into understanding in the heart. We then become fully aware of the
spiritual knowledge of God’s magnificent Word.
In the Book of Job, God reveals His Omnipotence, Job 38:36. 36 Who has put wisdom in the mind (the inward parts)? Or who has given understanding to the heart
(NKJ)? God gives wisdom and
understanding in the Living Word through the power of the Holy Spirit. Or, in
down to earth speaking . . . the “light
bulb comes on”!
I
quote Jerry Bridges[3], Prayer is not to serve our own purposes. It’s true that our purposes are often served
by prayer, but the primary purpose of prayer is to further the Kingdom of
God. A prayer not only must be prayed in the name of Jesus Christ—our
first principle, but prayer must also be according to the will of God (1John 5:14-15).
Prayer
is study
that seeks with eyes focused on the meaning of prayer in scripture. We cannot do this alone. The power of the Holy Spirit unveils the
truth (I John 2:27) of God’s Word, and our hearts ignite with
understanding. We began delving into the
scriptures in a study that would take years.
The more we studied and discussed God’s Word the more the Holy Spirit
gave a hunger and thirst that fed our passion.
No
matter what age you are, one can grow to greater depths in God’s Word and
continue to learn throughout a life time.
One thing we began to realize, if one reaches satisfaction in the reading
or study of God’s Word; the more one thinks one knows, when you are content and
think you are “there,” one is probably further away from God’s truths than he
or she realizes. To know God is eternal
life as Jesus said in John 17:3. We have a lifetime to grow in the knowledge of
God (Habakkuk 2:14). There is no end to
the study of God’s Word this side of eternity.
Growing
in prayer is a process, there are principles -- spiritual dimensions, a
theology and as you grow in prayer one grows in sanctification. Your atmosphere changes, transformation takes
place; our hearts change!
Join
us next week as we continue to share our journey.
[1] Spirit
Filled Life Bible; Jack W. Hayford, General Editor; Thomas Nelson Publishers
[2]
Larry Lea, B.A., M Div., D.D.; Prayer and Spiritual Development
[3] Jerry Bridges was an evangelical Christian
author, speaker, and staff member of The Navigators. Born in Tyler, Texas
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