Prioritizing our lives with an Eternal Perspective Faith With an Eternal Perspective Growing Spiritually with an Eternal Perspective Viewing Our Marriages From an Eternal Perspective Homes With an Eternal Perspective Passing the Torch: An Eternal Perspective Serving God From the Eternal Perspective

If Not Careful, We Can Become Spiritually Wearied Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; (Hebrews 12:1-5 NKJV)

3 Keys to Spiritual Growth Prayer Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:6 NKJV)

Jesus Offered a Solution For Spiritual Weariness: Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, (Luke 18:1 NKJV)

Prayer: Man’s Opportunity to Communicate With God As Job Was In Prayer: Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. (Job 42:4-5 NKJV)

Prayer: A Skill to be Taught/Learned Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1 NKJV)

Prayer: A Priority of a Christian "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." (Acts 6:4 NKJV)

Jesus: Example of Earnest Prayer And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44 NKJV)

Jesus: A Man of Prayer Began ministry at baptism w/prayer (Lk. 3:21) Dying on the cross He ended His life in communication with the Father (Lk. 23:46) (Lk. 9:18) He went out alone to pray (Lk. 6:12) Jesus prayed all night (Mk. 1:35) Jesus Got up before daylight to pray (Lk. 5:15) He withdrew Himself to pray Made it a priority: Mk. 3, Jn. 4 Jesus to busy to eat Jesus to busy to sleep Lk. 6 Never to busy to pray the Father

Prayer: Man’s Means of Obtaining Blessings If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5 NKJV)

Prayers to Avoid: "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. (Matthew 6:7 NKJV)

Prayers to Avoid: You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:3 NKJV)

3 Keys to Spiritual Growth Prayer "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32 NKJV) Study

Study: God’s Way of Communicating With Man So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 NKJV)

God’s Word: Our Only Source of Knowing Truth "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17 NKJV) Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32 NKJV)

Psalms 1:1-6 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. (NKJV)

3 Keys to Spiritual Growth Prayer Study Gathering w/Saints

Do Not Forsake the Assembling Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:23-27 NKJV)