Four Pillars of the Christian Walk

PILLAR 1: Prayer

"Base your happiness on your hope in Christ.  When trials come, endure them patiently; steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer." (Romans 12:12)

WHAT IS PRAYER: Communion with God. Talking to God.  Allowing God to talk to us.

 Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

 Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1.      HAVE A SPECIFIC TIME FOR PRAYER.

2.      HAVE A SPECIFIC PLACE FOR PRAYER.

3.      HAVE A SPECIFIC ROUTINE FOR PRAYER.

Components of Prayer

PRAISE: I express my love to God

PURPOSE:  I commit myself to God’s will for my life

PROVISION:  I ask God to provide for my needs

PARDON:  I ask God to forgive my sins

PEOPLE:  I pray for other people

PROTECTION:  I ask for spiritual protection

PRAISE:  I end my prayer the same way I started!

PILLAR 2: Word of God

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Hear. Read. Study. Memorise. Meditate

PILLAR 3: Personal Involvement in Ministry (doing something)

Matthew 20:28

[28] Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Ministry is how we are like Jesus.

My personal ministry is determined by my personal makeup!  What God made me to BE determines what He intends for me to DO, and I will understand the purpose I was created for when I understand the kind of person I am.

God is consistent in His plan for each of our lives.  He would not give us inborn talents and temperaments, spiritual gifts, and all sorts of life experiences and then not use them!

1.      I’VE BEEN CREATED FOR MINISTRY!

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10)

2.      I’VE BEEN SAVED FOR MINISTRY!

“It is He who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began …”  (2 Timothy 1:9)

3.      I’VE BEEN CALLED INTO MINISTRY!

“God, in his grace, chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve him.”  (Galatians 1:15)

 “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”  (Ephesians 4:1)

4.      I’VE BEEN GIFTED FOR MINISTRY!

“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessing.”  (1 Peter 4:10)

5.      THE BODY OF CHRIST NEEDS MY MINISTRY!

“All of you together are the one body of Christ and each of you is a separate and necessary part of it.”  (1 Corinthians 12:27)

6.      I AM ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY MINISTRY!

“So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”  (Romans 14:12)

PILLAR 4: Fellowship

Acts 2:42

⁴²And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

"Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage each other."  (Hebrews 10:25)

·         I need a church family to help me grow spiritually.

"So in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others!"  (Romans 12:5)

·         I need encouragement to help me grow spiritually.

"Let us think of one another and how we can encourage each other to love and do good deeds."  (Hebrews 10:24)

"Two are better off than one ... If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it's just too bad, because there is no one to help him ... Two men can resist an attack that would defeat one man alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break."  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12)        

·         I need accountability to help me grow spiritually.

"Brothers, if someone is trapped in some sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently ... Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  (Galatians 6:1-2)

·         There is great spiritual power in unity.

"For wherever two or three have come together in my name, I am there, right among them!"  (Matthew 18:20)

There are nearly 60 “one another” commands in the New Testament that you cannot obey unless you are faithful to a local church!

Serve one another       Galatians 5:13

Accept one another     Romans 15:7

Forgive one another    Colossians 3:13

Greet one another       Romans 16:16

Bear one another's burdens     Galatians 6:2

Be devoted to one another     Romans 12:10

Honor one another      Romans 12:10

Teach one another       Romans 15:14

Submit to one another Ephesians 5:21

Encourage one another           1 Thessalonians 5:11