Touching Base! Part 168

Rigorous Faith in Turbulent Times, Part 7
Plugged In – Ephesians 3:14-21

(This article can also we found on our website
at http://www.bethelkingston.com under the tab called "Blog")

This Touching Base is a useful tool for small group discussion, personal reflection or in a one-on-one conversation. We believe that if the Sunday teaching is discussed outside of the morning services, it will be an opportunity to go deeper and build healthy community because God's Word needs to be discussed in community.

This week we learned that we need to be Plugged In to the Power Source! Here is a tool to help you in your effort to pray for your loved ones at Bethel, outside of Bethel and for yourself.

A. First, read the text: Eph 3:14-21

B. Who are you going to pray for? If you do not have a list, make one. Have you ever told someone you would pray for them, but then forgot to do this? I must force myself to write it down, or I fall into this same trap. Who in your family, friends and network needs prayer? Who is sick? Who needs strength these days? Who is facing a crisis?

C. Bow your knee. Before I preached this to you, I preached it to myself and got back to praying on my knees this week. Posture makes a difference on our attitude. Try praying on your knees (if you are able to, of course)! You will find the posture itself is very humbling.

D. Give thanks to God that you are part of His family and that your family was named by God (v.15)! Thank God for whatever you would like! He is listening!

E. This is not covered in the text, but I know that it is important to allow God to search your heart for any and all unconfessed sin (Ps. 139). Get your accounts with God cleared but before moving on.

F. Begin praying through your list. Pray for each one by name, that they would be strengthened in their inner being by the Holy Spirit (v. 16), that they would comprehend the 4-dimensional love of God (v.17 & 18) and finally, that they would be filled with the fullness of God (v.19)!

G. Now go back to the last step and pray for yourself.
H. Before leaving your knees spend 60 seconds in silence before God. God is in the silence!

I. Get up off your knees knowing that, through faith, things have happened and moved in God’s kingdom because you prayed (v.17)! If you having been having a hard day, busy day, start working now. Just put one foot in front of the other and trust that the Power Source has heard you.

J. Repeat A to I. When? As the Lord leads you. God is so merciful that you can go back to your knees in prayer whenever you want. Of course I would recommend at least once a day, and you know what time of the day in best for your daily rhythms.

Church, I charge you to do this (“charge”, a word that Paul used in instruction to young Timothy, simply means “do it – it is not an option”!) Can you image what would happen if the 600 people who call Bethel home followed these steps each day? You guessed it…

… we would see: People responding to the heart of God, and God transforming the heart of the city (Kingston), the nation (Constance Lake) and the world (Honduras).

Have a wonderful week, filled with the fullness of God, working with the strength God grants your inner being. You are loved!

Fred


If interested in joining or starting a small group contact bethelcommunitygroups@gmail.com