Open the Door to Natural Conversation

08.24.2009

Three weeks ago we wrote down 3 to 5 names of friends that don’t yet know Jesus. You are now praying for them regularly. Many of you emailed those names to us and we are now praying with you and for your lost friends. BTW, if you didn’t write down those names or email them in – do it now.

Just click here.

Last week we began praying the “Three Open Prayer”. We began with John 6:44 and asking God to Open our Friends Hearts to a friendship with Jesus.

In Colossians 4:3 Paul says, “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message…”

Do you ever wonder how you will ever get into a spiritual conversation with your friends? “Yea, that was a great barrel – speaking of Jesus…” I mean, come on, it’s not the average topic for most people. So, we begin by asking God to open hearts and prepare people for truth. Next, we ask HIM to Open a Door to Natural Conversation about HIM. That’s right we are looking for a chance to talk about Jesus. Our goal is not to talk about how the world was created or Noah’s Ark, but, all those topics can be a doorway to talking about Jesus.

So, start praying for these two “Opens” and begin watching to see what happens. Of course we are always stoked to receive emails telling us how it’s going – click here.

See ya next week for the last “Open” of the “Three Open Prayer”.

3 Open Prayer

08.17.2009

Two weeks ago we wrote down 3 to 5 names of friends that don’t yet know Jesus. You are now praying for them regularly. Also, last week at Christian Surfers Prep School we prayed, name by name, for all the people that you emailed in. BTW, if you didn’t write down those names or email them in – do it now - Just click here.

God desires to see people saved from HIS wrath and adopted as HIS children. But, what should we pray? I want to teach you what Ron Hutchcraft calls the "Three Open Prayer"

In Romans 3:11 it tells us that people do not naturally think about God or seek Him out. In our sinfulness we are incapable of pursuing the very relationship we were created for. But, God loves us and HE begins working in people. In fact, in John 6:44 it says that no one comes to the Father unless the Father draws them. There is a process of God wooing a person, planting spiritual questions in their mind and turning their heart towards HIM.

So, the first thing that we are going to ask God to do is OPEN THEIR HEART. Along with that prayer we are going to be alert and watching for when our friends ask spiritual questions or enter into spiritual conversations. This is evidence of God at work.

This week, take a look at the list of names that you’ve written down and begin praying for God to OPEN THEIR HEARTS, recognizing that nothing we do can penetrate their heart if God has not prepared them by opening it.

Genesis 18:14 "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Can the God who made this open your friend's heart?

God's Quiver

08.10.09

If you are a surfer that is blessed to have a few different surfboards, then you will certainly understand the joy of describing your quiver. You may even enjoy examining the quiver of another fellow surfer. There is a certain inner exhilaration and excitement as one describes the performance and usefulness of each individual board. Each board is purchased, designed and ridden with specific uses in various conditions and size of waves.

The funny thing is, that this is not an unimportant matter. Surfers take their quiver seriously. Any board can make or break you. The proper choice of a board may give you intense enjoyment. On the other hand, a poor choice in boards can bum you out or even put your life in danger in larger surf. Our wife, girlfriend or non-surfing friend may think we are out of our mind. They may even think we are foolish, greedy or obsessed.

As I was evaluating my love for my quiver, I reflected on how much God loves me. As I stared at my quiver with a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment, I couldn’t help myself from thinking how God looks at us as His specifically designed hand crafted vessels. And how He purchased us by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. This was a very costly purchase!

He designed each and every one of us to perform in various conditions and situations. He has given us our own unique spiritual gift and has shown us through the Word of God how to use that for His Glory.

I then had the convicting thought of “How is God evaluating me as part of His quiver of true believers? How useful am I to Him? Am I pearling up to my neck? Do I constantly dig rails? Am I a board that is always bogging down? Am I that board that just sits on the shelf with a couple of broken fins, not willing to get repaired? Or is God smiling and admiring me as part of His favorite quiver?” Is He thinking, “That’s My magic board!”? That thing works in any conditions and situations no matter what the size of the waves (of life) are throwing at me. Am I the type of board that God wants to always pull off the shelf because I’m prepared and useful? Am I teachable, holy, kind, loving, a servant, faithful, pure, daily turning away from sin, immersing myself always in the Word, and ready to share the hope and good news of Christ?

Timothy said it well, “Therefore, if a man cleanses himself of these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

2 Tim. 2:21

~ Guest Author: Thomas A. Curran ~

Top Priority

8.03.09

What do you wake up thinking about? What do you go to sleep thinking about? What is a major priority in your life?

Jesus often referred to what Paul reiterates in Romans 10:1 – that he is deeply concerned over people, “that they may be saved.”

Does it bother you that most of the people in your lineup are separated from a friendship with God? Are you aware that those without Jesus are enemies of God and His wrath over all the gnarly stuff in our world is being stored up against them? Even your friends, if they are spiritually lost, will suffer forever separated from God.

That bothered Jesus and it bothered Paul and it’s bothered Christians throughout the ages. The more you follow Jesus the more it will bother you. Over the next three weeks we will look at what we should do about this. But, for starters – this week, I want to ask you to pray and ask God who the 3 to 5 individuals are in your life that don’t know HIM that HE wants you to begin praying for. These are people that have not been born again. When you have those names, write them down on a piece of paper and post it somewhere that you can look at it everyday, so you’ll remember to pray for them.

Drop us an email with the name (first name only) of your friends and where you posted the paper. We’ll begin praying with you for your friends. Click here to email.

Pray For Surf-ers