Prayer point- stop planning without it
Every affiliate, alliance and associate that Regroup International works with is a planning organization. Yet they don’t dive in without permission, preparation, and prayer. Oh yes there are many great organizations that don’t talk to God before they lay out their mission. One of the five points of anything that Regroup International does is Prayer Point and starting this week the Triologist is taking a stand for including God in the plans and dedicating a prayer point in every leadership train station that we are launching. A Triologist is the Leader who studies, builds relationships, and outreach through the three disciplines of the Trinity. Triology is the science of Biblical Theology in seeking God’s will and motive in what we do; Systematic Theology is the system of how we live and practice theological concepts, like ‘loving God with our heart souls and minds and treating our neighbor and loving them as we would like to be treated. This is what we refer to as The Jesus Approach. A Christ-like approach is systematic and can be found in studying God’s defining Word in scripture. The third theology that we study is Evangelical Theology, which integrated into the Biblical and Systematic practices outreach to all. This is the Theology of Acts 2: 1-20. It is also the systematic daily practice of Romans 12, “a renewing of the heart and mind, as a living sacrifice acceptable to God.”
Seek Godly Advice
21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21) After studying hope the cousin and defining word is based on plans. “For I know the plans I have for you- says the Lord…”" Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. Proverbs 20:18. “…Plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) this is kind of a sandwich or a medley and sometimes the themes of the Biblical are this way. When we stand on the promises of God – His plans are made reality and implemented in a way that goes beyond our own understanding. That is important when we live in a world of hurt and denial- this is the ultimate reality check and when it is done in a group of people in fellowship His plans loom much larger than what we can imagine, dream or do without Him!
Private and Public Prayer: Renewing mind and heart
Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to consult with his father in heaven right before certain miracles and healing was established that needed authority and power. It is written that Christ would come from these “prayer points” filled with the Holy Spirit and in Luke Chapter 5 it says that when he showed up, “the atmosphere was conducive for healing.” Leaders who use their human ingenuity without prayer may be toying with good but how in the world would they go to great without prayer? That may be the breakthrough question of the week. Can a leader go from good to great without prayer? That’s why we have started prayer point where leaders, missionaries, church planters and executives and entrepreneurs can pray prior to mission, ministry, business planning, church planting and start-ups. Our human plans are nothing compared with God’s plan. The classic CS Lewis quote says it best:
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” C.S. Lewis- Mere Christianity
Commitment to complete - Systematic Prayer
We are often built as people who compete. We hang with competitive people and we compete also with advisories. When we pray about launching, planting racing or winning instead of compete we should be praying to complete! Leaders who pray should pray to “complete the mission we are called to.” Our approach is to complete the mission through practicing the scientific process of systematic theology.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24
There was a bank commercial a couple of decades ago that had local athletes with the statement: “The only competition I have is myself.” It was a commitment to service line. There was more to that line than we gave it credit for at the time. When we pray together and publicly we are declaring that our vow is a commitment to God and to one another. Sounds like marriage? Draw your own conclusions. What kind of excellence would we have if we committed that “failure is not an option” in our marriages, families, to God and our neighbors?
Prayer Point 3- Evangelical outreach
Conviction to lead is not a buzz phrase, it is the missing ingredient to political, environmental and business leaderships. There is no movement without integral leadership that includes Biblical, Systematic and Evangelical leadership. Case in point in the last few issues of a business magazine many companies state that they are looking for committed people who can take their brand and product and create an evangelical experience for their customers. Without including God in the plans there can be no such commitment in reality! It would all be artificial sales- speak using gospel words to define a mission. Psalm 127 is a psalm of Solomon:
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor uselessly. Unless the LORD guards the city, its security forces keep watch uselessly.
As Trilogists we study, relate and reach out by:
Developing character by seeking God’s will in His defining Word
Approaching and practicing Christology in relating to God and to people
Reaching out to a world in denial by giving them Evangelical Christian Truth in our messaging, our missions, and in our music.
Every Thursday morning we commit our plans to God and to our community through prayer and worship.
If you would like to be part of this Prayer Point movement please contact us by e-mail at prayermail@juno.com.
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