Everyone knows prayer is part of a worship service. It opens with a prayer and usually has a pastoral prayer near the middle followed by a commitment prayer at the end on the message and a closing prayer or benediction to end the service.
I am not sure nearly as many would realize that prayer IS actually worship.
Why do I say that?
Think about this:
Worship involves the Person of God – BUT, so does prayer – “Our Father”
Worship involves the presence of God – BUT, so does prayer! – “in heaven”
Worship involves the praise of God – BUT, so does prayer! – “hallowed be your Name”
The last post considered prayer as connecting with the Person of God and how that can transform you because you are connecting with a powerful, loving, and supernatural Heavenly Father.
Today I want you to think about prayer as a vehicle for bringing you into the very presence of God.
We were designed to live in the presence of God! Just like Adam was.
We are destined to live in the presence of God! Just like Adam did.
What should we be doing in the meantime?
(READ JOHN 15)
There is LIFE in the presence of God, Vv. 1-8
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
A vine draws its life from being attached to the vine. The vine has not life of its own. What a clear illustration of why you MUST live in the presence of your Heavenly Father. He is your vine. You live through HIS life and by His life in you there is fruit produced.
There is LOVE in the presence of God, Vv. 9-10
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
There is LIBERTY in the presence of God, Vv. 11-15
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you”
Living in relationship with a Heavenly Father brings powerful results! Connecting with Him by faith and remaining connected through prayer and worship pumps spiritual life from His heart to yours!
How can you abide with God except for prayer? With that in mind, listen to this verse – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” I Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Abiding” means staying connected to the vine – through prayer and worship.
Worship Is Knowing the Person of God – Prayer Makes It Possible.
Worship Is Growing In the Presence Of God – Prayer Makes It Possible.
Are you abiding in Him?
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