Survival Skills: Fellowship

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. -Acts 2:42-47

You can't survive as a Christian without your Bible, prayer, and fellowship. It's hard to tell the difference between friendship and fellowship. Here's how you know when friendship has become fellowship:

1. You're both devoted to Jesus.
2. You share a love for God's word and talk about what you're learning.
3. You pray with and for each other.
4. You sacrificially share your time, money and stuff for each other.
5. You're more joyful about God because of time spent with each other.
6. You can be honest and sincere with each other.

Here's how you know your friendship is not fellowship:

1. One or the other of you are less than devoted to Jesus.
2. You don't talk about God's word together.
3. You don't pray with or for each other.
4. You make no sacrifices for each other's needs and you don't share your stuff.
5. You're distracted from God when spending time with each other.
6. You're not honest and sincere with each other. There are secrets.

Do you have any friends with whom you have fellowship? If not, you won't survive the Christian life long. Pray for God to develop fellowship relationships in your life, look for them, and cultivate them by spending time with fellow Christians.

Prayer: How to Get Started

(Post 10 of 10 posts about prayer.)

So how do we get started? I'll tell you what works for me; but you need to take some time and figure out what will work best for you. It might be nothing at all like what I do.

I pray best in writing. I have filled several journals with prayers over the years. Writing helps me to focus. It's also helpful because it provides a record in which I can see how God has worked in my life.

Morning is my best time (first thing). Ideally, I get up before anyone else in the house, 6am if I can pry my face from the pillow. I make my coffee; sit on my couch with my journal, pen, and Bible; and pray for God to open my sleepy ears to His voice. Then I read a little and respond in prayer (remember, it's a conversation). I usually only spend 15 minutes or so, which sets the tone for the rest of the day.

I also try to remain prayerful throughout the day. I pray for faith when I get afraid (which happens more often than I care to admit - but I don't think anyone reads this blog anyway). I pray for wisdom as I approach decisions and conversations. I pray for others as I think of it.

And that's it really. Nothing special, just talking with my Dad, the King.

Just remember, if you're a Christian, you are accepted. You are a child of God. Don't look at prayer as a means of acceptance. If you do, you'll start to feel guilty when you don't pray. Instead look at it as an incredible privilege to spend time with Dad, which is a joyful and liberating thing.

Prayer: Confident

(Post 9 of 10 posts about prayer.)

"For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." - Jesus teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:13.

We talk to our Dad, the King, because we love Him and He loves us. We ask for His direction, provision, and forgiveness because we're confident that He is capable of delivering. There's no need to doubt. In fact, anyone who doubts won't receive an answer because he's double-minded (James 1). God is either the glorious and powerful King or He's not. We must decide before we speak to Him in prayer and if we decide that He is, there is no place for doubt in our prayer.

He's powerful. He's good. And He loves His children. So pray with confidence.

1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
4. Prayer is submissive.
5. Prayer is dependent.
6. Prayer is penitent.
7. Prayer is confident.

PS: This isn't just religious talk. I'm convinced by God's word and personal experience that He is the glorious and powerful King. He does listen to His children. He can be trusted. Even with whatever it is that is plaguing you right now. What are you worried about? What are you struggling with? Talk to your Dad about it. Seriously. Right now. And relax. Your Father has it all under control. I promise.

Prayer: Penitent

(Post 8 of 10 posts about prayer.)

"[F]orgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." - Jesus teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:12

We've already established that we've offended God. If we're going to speak with Him at all, we need His forgiveness. We walk toward God in prayer like the prodigal son, having lived a life of self-worship and self-love, disregarding our Father. Because of this, we also need to be humble and forgiving toward others.

1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
4. Prayer is submissive.
5. Prayer is dependent.
6. Prayer is penitent.

(It's wierd that Reliant K's Forgiven is playing on Pandora as I type this post...)

Prayer: Dependent

(Post 7 of 10 posts about prayer.)

"Give us this day our daily bread." - Jesus teaching about prayer in Matthew 6:11

Food doesn't just appear in your refrigerator. Money to buy food doesn't just accumulate like morning dew in your bank account (or your parents' bank account). A job to earn money isn't a given. Skills and training to get a job don't come from nowhere. We are dependent upon God for all these things and more. We just don't always feel our dependence.

The next time you're hungry, imagine that you have no access to food. There are more than a billion hungry people who have no access to food today. They feel their dependence upon God.

We must never forget as we pray, that we depend on God for everything from our next meal to our next breath. We're also dependent upon God in escaping temptations (see verse 13).

1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
4. Prayer is submissive.
5. Prayer is dependent.

Prayer: Submissive

(Post 6 of 10 posts about prayer.)

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." - Jesus teaching how to pray in Matthew 6:10

Did you know that Jesus promised that we will always receive answers to our prayers if we pray rightly? The problem is that we're usually praying for our own will, ignoring His.

When you pray, imagine that you're standing before your Father, the King. You're pouring your heart out to your dad with love and respect, desiring His wisdom for your situation. Seeking His answer, which is best even if it's not what you thought you wanted.

For example, early in college I prayed for a girlfriend. God didn't give me one. Instead, He gave me two years of isolation with no friends whatsoever. During those two lonely years He drew me closer to Himself and prepared me to be a godly boyfriend. Then he blessed me with a godly girlfriend who is now my wife.

Pray to your Father, the King and submit to His will. Serve in His kingdom.

1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
4. Prayer is submissive.

Prayer: Reverent

(Post 5 of 10 posts about prayer.)

"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name..." - Jesus teaching how to pray in Matthew 6:9.

Prayer is talking with our Father, who happens to be the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. It's familiar, but reverent, like a good child is toward his or her earthly father.

When we come to God, we are to be aware of just who it is we're speaking with. In one place (Deuteronomy 33:26) He is described as riding upon the heavens in His majesty. I rode to work this morning in a Toyota Sienna. There's a glory gap there I think. We need to 'hallow' His name when we pray (set it apart as holy and worthy of awe and respect - don't just throw it around).

Here's your homework on this one: read Job 38-41. This will help you remember that you're talking to God when you pray.

1. Prayer is secret.
2. Prayer is familiar.
3. Prayer is meaningful.
3. Prayer is reverent.