Transcript of a published teaching by Farlan Williams, transcribed from YouTube. An attributed primary source — not Acts 2:38 Life doctrine text.
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Summary
Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.
The Battle of Prayer
- Oswald Chambers, quoted from the devotional book: the battle of prayer is against two things — wandering thoughts, and a lack of intimacy with God's character as revealed in His Word.
- Neither can be cured at once, but both can be cured with discipline.
Perfect Peace for a Stayed Mind
- Isaiah 26:3: God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Him, because he trusts in Him.
- Discipline in prayer will change every aspect of life for the better; in a world where so many things pull for our time and attention, only prayer will bring perfect peace.
- God Himself promised to personally keep in perfect peace whoever keeps his mind on Him; He did not say the waters of life would never rage — the peace He gives cannot be taken by anything that happens to us.
- The decisions we make daily to discipline ourselves in prayer, along with reading God's Word, are the greatest achievements we do.
Scriptures: Isaiah 26:3
Wonderful Peace
- Recalls a verse and chorus of the old hymn 'Wonderful Peace': a treasure buried deep in the heart of the soul, so secure that no power can mine it away — peace coming down from the Father above, sweeping over the spirit in fathomless billows of love.
- Jesus came bringing a promise of peace; prayer and a relationship with God are the key to having that peace.
Closing Prayer
- Thanks God for the time we can spend with Him in prayer, knowing He will bring perfect peace into our lives as a result, and that we can come to Him anytime, any day, anywhere, in any situation.
- Asks God to help us keep our minds set upon Him throughout this day, and to go with us — lead, guide, and direct us.
Scripture index: Isaiah 26:3.
Transcript
Good morning. My name is Farlan Williams, and welcome to day 11 of 21 Days a Breakthrough Prayer with the Pentecostals of Murfreesboro and LifeBridge Church. I'm so glad that you could join us today, having a little trouble with my computer, but I'm so glad you could join us today. I encourage you to go back and catch up on previous days if you haven't already. Each day someone new will walk through the day's devotional. Today's devotional is titled Discipline in Prayer Brings Peace, and the title along pretty much says it all.
Oswald Chambers was an early 20th century Scottish Baptist and holiness movement evangelist and teacher, best known for the devotional My Utmost for His Highest. He said, the Battle of prayer is against two things: wandering thoughts, and a lack of intimacy with God's character as revealed in his word. Neither can be cured at once, but they can be cured with discipline.
Isaiah 26 and 3 says, you will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon you, because he trusts in you. You know, discipline in prayer will change every aspect of your life, no doubt for the better. God said that he would keep in perfect peace whoever's mine, whoever keeps his mind on him. Perfect peace. Think about that: what would the world pay to have perfect peace? In today's world, there's so many things that's pulling for your time and attention, and only prayer will bring perfect peace.
This is day 11 of seeking God together in these devotionals. Perhaps you've decided that the world will not dictate your peace, because your peace comes from God, and God alone. Are you convinced that your peace is his peace living inside you? Nothing that happens to you can ever take that peace. God Himself promised you that, if you keep your mind on him, he will personally keep you in perfect peace. You know, you didn't say that the waters of life would never rage, or then all hell wouldn't come against you. He said that he would keep in perfect peace whoever's mind is on him. We must be disciplined to pray, and keep out thoughts of them, and keep our thoughts upon God. Only then we will have perfect peace.
During that hour, 21 days of prayer, perhaps you've decided yourself to pray and seek God for peace that only he can provide. The decisions you make daily to discipline yourself in prayer, along with reading of God's Word, are the greatest achievements that you do.
I was thinking about peace, and there was an ode song that came to, to mine, and look back and found out it's about 125 years old, and I know you'd recognize the course, but you probably don't recognize the verse. But here's how one of the verses goes. It says, what a treasure I have in this wonderful piece, buried deep in the heart of my soul, so secure that no power can mine it away, while the years of internal tear, Oh. Peace, peace, wonderful peace, coming down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, in fathomless billows of love.
Do you need peace in your life? Well, Jesus came bringing a promise of peace, wonderful peace. Prayer, in a relationship with God, is the key to having that peace.
Let's pray. Lord, we are so thankful for time that we have to spin with you in prayer, knowing that as a result, you will bring perfect peace in our lives. We're thankful that we can come to you in prayer anytime, any day, anywhere, and in any situation. Help us, Lord, to keep our mind set upon you throughout this day. Go with us, lead, guide, and direct us, I pray, in Jesus name.
Thank you for joining me for day 11, Discipline in Prayer Brings Peace. And please take some time today and read the devotional for yourself if you haven't already. Join us live again tomorrow at 7 a.m. with day 12, as we discuss Praying with an Open Bible. Have a wonderful day. God bless.
Scripture references as spoken: Isaiah 26:3.