Retreat 2017: Transformed in Christ - Session 4

The following message was given at the 2017 ICC Summer Retreat by Pastor Young Kim from Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia. It is session four of four total sessions. Please click READ MORE below to see the sermon notes. 

Prayer and Scripture 

• Prayer and Scripture balancing each other out 
  

 Understanding the Scriptures about prayer 
 Often times churches skew one side or the other.  There needs to be a balance between both. 
 Healing stories, answer to prayer are GREAT! But the greatest gift of prayer, is not the manifestation ( or answers) but the gift of Jesus! 
God wants us to ask, knock, seek - When you encounter Him, those things become very small.  The gift of prayer is being in the Throne room of the Father.  All those things that you thought you needed become secondary. 
 Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
I used to pray a lot because I worried a lot 
Sometimes I would pray and just pray (You used to worry outside of God, but now you worry inside of God) 
 Thumb of Worry Illustration - Our worries make it seem like it's bigger than God 
 Between who He is and where you thumb is, you realize your worries are so small 
 I can make it because He is with me! 
 Every prayer has been answered 

• YES 
  
  • He has answered more YES than NO'sTypically when we get a YES, we want the next YES!   
    
• No 
  
  • Sometimes the NO  we don't like 
    
  • I praise Jesus for NO's! 
    
  • I often think God is holding back on me, and we think we know better than God 
    
  • In the end, His thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are higher than our ways 
    
  • Many years later we will find out this is the BEST Blessing! 
    
  • Difficult for challenging situations 
    
  • As adults we hate hearing "NO" but we have to remember we are children in God's eyes 
    
   Wait (Not Yet) 
  
  • We live in an INSTANT culture. 
    
  • We want answers now and immediately 
    
  • We hate waiting 
    
  • In the Bible, waiting is one of the greatest spiritual tools that grow believers 
    
  • Is that an idol in your life? 
    
  • It's hard to wait, especially when God says, 1 day is like a 1K years, and 1K years is like a day 
    
  • When you wait and hope in the Lord, those are some of the most character producing seasons in our life 
    
  • If you had instant success in all areas of life, but when they experience failing for the first time, it feels like the end of the world 
    

 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

• Life is hard. Life can feel overwhelming 
  
• But this is how we find peace 
  
• This life is so confusing and to live a Biblical life, we have way more worldly thoughts than biblically based thoughts 
  
• We don't know, but God knows 
  
• I am so out of control and sinful , but You are faithful and my Father 
  
• Anytime I encounter a time when I realize things are out of control, I go to the Father that knows 
  
• Peace is the presence of the Father 
  

2 Practical Suggestions: 

1. Pick a Time 
   
2. Pick a Place 
   

Having a relationship with God