The Wilkes Team

“The Greatest stumbling block in the way of victory over prayerlessness is the secret feeling that we will never obtain the blessing of being delivered from it.” By Andrew Murray

I have been greatly encouraged by a book called Prayer by Andrew Murray. It is a book that has compiled 6 of his books into one!

The book with in the book    that I have been reading lately is “The Prayer Life” How convicting, thought provoking and motivating it has been.

We as American Christians don’t understand prayer. We look at it as a time waster instead of a time well spent. A question that Andrew Murray encouraged every follower of Christ to ask oneself is “What is the cause of my prayerlessness, of my powerlessness to effect any change in the matter? Here I live in the Spirit, I have been born again, but I do not walk after the Spirit– the flesh lords over me!”

The enemy will use all his power to lead us to neglect prayer. How does Satan do this? He brings on wandering thoughts, discouragement over our attempts, feelings of hopelessness, and despair. Tempting us to put it off. And the list could go on and on.

“As soon as the Christian becomes convinced of his sin in this matter of lack of prayer, his first thought is that he must begin to strive, with God’s help, to gain the victory over it. But alas, he soon experiences that his striving is worth little, and the discouraging thought comes over him, like a wave, that such a life is not for him – he cannot continue faithfully!” Have you ever experienced such thoughts and emotions? I know I have.

Andrew Murray shared two key ways to fighting against prayerlessness.

The first being when you seek to conquer prayerlessness in your own strength and ability it is then you must recognize it and turn your restlessness and effort over to Christ. We must fall helpless at the feet of the Lord Jesus and open up our hearts before him (Luke 11:1).

Matthew 11:29-30 

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Second being, we must realize that this is but the beginning. To fight against prayerlessness it will require deep earnestness, the exercise of all your power and a watchfulness of the entire heart. You must be eager to detect the slightest backsliding of your heart. Confessing of your sins and sharing your burdens must be precious to you. Not because you always enjoy it but because you know it is so key in keep yourself pure and close to your Savior (James 5:16).

Let nothing between your soul and the Savior. Jesus alone can subdue the flesh and the devil! It is so key that we keep coming to Christ. Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Matthew 6:24  “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” If you truly desire a prayer life with the Lord that goes beyond words of description,  it will require a surrender of something else. If you are not willing to forgive and to confess your sins then you will not be able to enter into and fully enjoy that closeness with your Lord and Savior

What is it that is holding you back from communing with God? A life of self-sacrifice is what God really wants, but are you willing to give up all for Christ?

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When Christ spoke to the people of Israel, what style of speech did He so often use? Parables! This highly visual and easily relatable use of words gave much wisdom and understanding to the farmers, fisherman, publicans, and shepherds. From every day circumstances, Christ was able to systematically convey both the Way to eternal life and over powerful 49 Commands to the nation of Israel.

Do we have a methodical way for discipling others? How are we preparing ourselves for the work of an evangelist and discipler for Christ?

Author, Dean, and Speaker Jim Berg lays out a practical plan for disciple makers in His book, "Changed Into His Image." Each fundamental truth expounded upon comes with rich analogies one can easily remember for the purpose of counseling fellow Christians. For example:

The Tea Bag Analogy: Almost every tea bag appears the same from the outside. The difference is quickly manifested when hot water is applied. When the hot water of trials and tribulation enter our life, it is then that our true colors, attitudes, and passions are revealed.

Motorcycle Analogy: A motorcyclist, rapidly approaching a stopped car, needs but to apply the break and cease the flow of gas to the engine. The engine will proceed to idle and the momentum comes to a halt. Such is the way of our flesh. While it will always be present (the idling cycle), we are to mortify the flesh. However, should one apply the break without ceasing the flow of gas, the breaks will soon wear out. So it is with the Christian. We cannot simply use will-power to resist the flesh but must renew our mind (Rom. 12:1) by remembering that we are dead to sin (Rom. 6), hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3), and seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). In so doing, the ‘gas’ is cut to the flesh and the clutch disengages the engine (the flesh).

These are but two of the analogies Mr. Berg relates. At the end of each of the 13 chapters, there is a ‘Word to Disciple Makers.’ Here, practical advice is laid out on how to convey the truths to those you are discipling.

If you are looking for some practical discipling tips, desire to deepen your understanding of the Lord, or are simply seeking to be changed into His image, I highly recommend

‘Changed Into His Image’ by Jim Berg.

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How many of us sometimes struggle with knowing the will of the Lord?

George Muller (1805-1898) was a man of prayer and one who regularly sought the will of the Lord. In so doing, he saw God answer prayer in amazing ways. His life is a tribute indeed to the Words of Christ, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13)."

The following notes are taken from Mr. Muller’s own journal. During our time of study in the Wisdom Booklets this morning, we read this excerpt & were greatly inspired.

May God bless you as you seek to pray according to His will.  

How to Ascertain the Will of God

1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has now ill of its own in regard to a given matter.

2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the word of God…If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4. Next, I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.

6. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly.

7. In trivial matters and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.

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I have been learning in science about fungus. It has so fascinated me that I would like to write about my experience.
Sometime fungus may seem pretty gross but instead of focusing on the bad part let’s look at the way it is formed and how it stays alive. God has made some species of fungi that produce up to five different kinds of spores. Spores are involved in reproduction and survival through unfavorable growth conditions.

I started studying about the Mushroom, since it is a fungus. The main parts of a mushroom plant are, the cap, the stalk, and the gills which hold the spores. I really enjoyed finding fungus and showing it to the family. One day this past month I was playing outside with my younger siblings and found a mushroom plant. It was living during the middle of winter. I was so excited and brought it to the house. The mushroom was pretty large. It was fun to find all the different parts that I had learned about, and then show everyone where the parts were located.
I am glad God created and formed even the ugly mushroom. An encouraging thought about the mushroom is how it endures through hard growing conditions and continues to send out spores to produce new life. When we, as Christians, endure hardness, God gives us testimonies that will encourage other believers to persevere.

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The power of a letter ought never to be underestimated. People are encouraged, behavior is influenced, and lives are changed through the writing of letters. The secular world recognizes this effect. As a matter of fact, over the next few weeks you will probably notice a rather interesting cancellation stamp on the mail you receive. It reads, “Let us dare to read, think, read, and write (John Adams 1765).” Former U.S. President John Adams and his wife Abigail took the time to write extensively to each other when apart during the early beginnings of America. This simple discipline provided strength in their relationship and an example that continues to inspire many to this day.

Recently, I had the privilege of reading a compilation of nine letters from John Quincy Adams to one of his sons attending school in Massachusetts. Letters received from a father leave a profound impact on his children and even generations to come. John Quincy was apparently impacted by the letter writing of his father. The book, entitled, “The Bible Lessons of John Quincy Adams for his son, shows the love Adams had for his son, the passion he had towards the Scriptures, and the proper balance he had between his time consuming responsibilities and fatherly obligations.

The letters’ contents are rich with doctrine. Many encouraging thoughts were shared by Adams. At one point he describes the three points of doctrine and how in absence of any one, man will have no conscience. One will reject the Gospel if he rejects anyone of these principles. It would be a wonderful list to remember while witnessing.

He further summed up the essence of Christian morality in six practical ways which will make one “superior even to a sense of wrong, or the resentment of injuries.” Adams clearly laid out the fallibility of the flesh but left his son with a key for overcoming. Each of us desire character in our life, yet find the propensity towards evil to be overwhelming. How can one live a life of moral excellence? Adams gave one simple practical statement that, to the degree it is applied, will produce moral excellence in one.

This book was of great inspiration to me as I know it will be to each one of you. I would be happy to lend our copy or feel free to purchase your own here.

I close now with an excerpt from a poem John Quincy Adams wrote at the age of 74 entitled, “The Wants of Man.”

I want a kind and tender heart
For others’ wants to feel,
A soul secure from Fortune’s dart,
And bosom armed with steel –
To bear diving chastisement’s rod,
And mingling, in my plan,
Submission to the will of God
With charity to man.
Par. 18 of 25

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Last night Mommy read us a book from the Lamp Lighter Company called Jessica’s First Prayer. It was about a little ragged beggar girl who was inspired by a cold hearted, but gentle man named Mr. Daniel. He owned a small coffee shop in London where he sold hot buns and coffee every morning for 1 pence each. Through a series of scary, sad, and sometimes funny events, Jessica warmed Mr. Daniel’s heart and not only received physical nourishment but also spiritual nourishment. You will enjoy hearing of her desire to understand three spritual things. What I was encouraged about was her faithfulness in not focusing on personal needs, but in praying for others.

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