http://www.pastordanwalker.org Truth from Life Church St Louis Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:02:10 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Truth from Life Church St Louis Pastor Dan's Blog no Truth from Life Church St Louis http://www.pastordanwalker.org/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://www.pastordanwalker.org http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/11/the-joy-strategy.htm http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/11/the-joy-strategy.htm#comments Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:12:14 +0000 Pastor Dan http://www.pastordanwalker.org/?p=702

The Joy Of Thanksgiving

How To Find Joy At Christmas

The Joy of Generosity

]]> http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/11/the-joy-strategy.htm/feed 0 http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/11/developing-a-thankful-heart.htm http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/11/developing-a-thankful-heart.htm#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:04:31 +0000 Pastor Dan http://www.pastordanwalker.org/?p=700

Developing A Thankful Attitude

The Joy Strategy

Learning To Be Thankful

]]> http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/11/developing-a-thankful-heart.htm/feed 0 http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/09/gods-message-in-911.htm http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/09/gods-message-in-911.htm#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:11:16 +0000 Pastor Dan http://www.pastordanwalker.org/?p=677 http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/09/gods-message-in-911.htm/feed 1 http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/02/breakthrough-prayer.htm http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/02/breakthrough-prayer.htm#comments Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:04:38 +0000 Pastor Dan http://www.pastordanwalker.org/?p=644

Advanced Prayer Disciplines

What Prayer Accomplishes

The Basics of Prayer

]]> http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/02/breakthrough-prayer.htm/feed 1 http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/01/hearing-gods-direction.htm http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/01/hearing-gods-direction.htm#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:16:05 +0000 Pastor Dan http://www.pastordanwalker.org/?p=641

Seeing God’s Goals for You

Getting Direction From God

Understanding Your World

]]> http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2011/01/hearing-gods-direction.htm/feed 0 http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/09/how-to-pray-for-lost-loved-ones-part-2.htm http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/09/how-to-pray-for-lost-loved-ones-part-2.htm#comments Mon, 20 Sep 2010 01:39:24 +0000 Pastor Dan http://www.pastordanwalker.org/?p=597

How To Pray For Lost Loved Ones – Part 1

A Church of Prayer

Advanced Prayer Disciplines

]]> http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/09/how-to-pray-for-lost-loved-ones-part-2.htm/feed 0 message,outreach,prayer We’ve been looking at the biblical principles that a believer needs to practice to pray powerful prayers. Our theme verse for the entire series has been James 5:16b (NIV) The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (http://www.pastordanwalker.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/100919.jpg)We’ve been looking at the biblical principles that a believer needs to practice to pray powerful prayers. Our theme verse for the entire series has been James 5:16b (NIV) The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Now this verse does not say that prayer by just anyone is powerful and effective. Only the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. A righteous person is a believer walking rightly before God, a believer that is not walking in any known sin. When you are living righteously, then you can be confident in your prayers being powerful. In this mini-series within our Power Prayer series, we’re looking at how we can pray powerfully and effective for those dear to us to be saved and walk with God. Last week, we began the discussion of why it is often not any easy task to seeing a loved one come to salvation. One of the first barriers is simply that most people think they are Christians already. 84% of adults in America think they are Christians. 88% say they feel accepted by God. Yet only 38% of adults actually believe they are saved by confessing their sins and accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Only 7% of adults have a correct understanding of 8 basic Christian beliefs. So, whereas the vast majority of people believe they are Christians, the true Christians are a distinct minority. Jesus came to save the lost, to set those in spiritual bondage free. Luke 4:18 (NIV) "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,” As a Bible-believing church, our mission is the same as Jesus, to set the lost free. Today we’re going to continue to talk about how to do that through prayer. Late one night, a woman named Chrissy was awakened as the phone rang. When she answered, it was her older brother on the line. He shouted. “Sis, I just invited Jesus into my life, I’m saved. The preacher said to tell someone immediately, so I called you because you’ve been praying for me for so long.” Chrissy was speechless. Her brother had screamed at her at their mother’s funeral when she tried to share Jesus with him. He had broken up a pastor’s home to marry his third wife. He had been antagonistic to the things of God for years and years. Yet somehow, her prayers had finally been answered. A captive had been set free. God wants to do the same for you, as you pray for your lost loved ones. So, let’s continue with the question, How can I pray for lost loved ones? Listen to my September 19, 2010 message "How to Pray for Lost Loved Ones - Part 2." [flashvideo file=http://www.lifechurchstlouis.org/images/stories/video/100919.mov stretching=fill /] Pastor Dan's Blog no 36:42 http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/09/how-to-pray-for-lost-loved-ones-part-1.htm http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/09/how-to-pray-for-lost-loved-ones-part-1.htm#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 01:33:47 +0000 Pastor Dan http://www.pastordanwalker.org/?p=595

How to Pray for Lost Loved Ones – Part 2

Is Mormonism Christian? Part 2

The Lost Tomb Of Jesus?

]]> http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/09/how-to-pray-for-lost-loved-ones-part-1.htm/feed 0 message,outreach,prayer Prayer is one of the most important things you can do with your time. Now it’s not the only important thing, but it should have the priority in our lives. One of the reasons that prayer is so important is that it is one of the essential things that lea... (http://www.pastordanwalker.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/100912.jpg)Prayer is one of the most important things you can do with your time. Now it’s not the only important thing, but it should have the priority in our lives. One of the reasons that prayer is so important is that it is one of the essential things that leads people to become believers. So prayer affects the eternal destinies of people. A lost person is someone who has not believed in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They may or may not believe in God, they may or may not attend church, but they do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Everyone in the world is in one of two categories, they are either a believer or an unbeliever, they are either saved or lost. Luke 19:10 (NIV) 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. The reason that Jesus came to this earth was to save the lost. He loved us so much that He came from heaven to die on the cross that our sins might be forgiven. Everyone who believes in Jesus has their sins forgiven and moves from being lost to being saved. Now, if this was Jesus’ purpose in life, shouldn’t this be our purpose as well? An executive hirer, or “head hunter” whose job is to hire corporate executives for large corporations, told this story. He said that when he tries to assess a potential executive, he tries to disarm them. He takes them out to dinner, takes off his coat and tie, talks about sports or family until they’re relaxed. Then he leans over, looks them square in the eye and asks, “What’s your purpose in life?” He said, that it’s amazing how many executives fall apart at that question. However, when he interviewed an executive named Bob, he asked him the question, “What’s your purpose in life, Bob?” Bob looked him squarely back in the eye and without hesitation answered, “To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.” The headhunter was speechless. I think Bob had a great answer. I also want to go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can. How about you? For many of us, we especially want to make sure that our loved ones will be with us for eternity. Our spouses, parents, children, grandchildren, friends and whoever else is dear to our hearts. Yet, sometimes, these are the people that seem most resistant to the Gospel. Sometimes, it seems impossible that they will ever be saved. Prayer is the key to seeing a lost loved one saved and that’s what we’re going to talk about today. So keep in mind someone that you love that is far from God today. Listen to my September 12, 2010 message "How To Pray for Lost Loved Ones - Part 1." [flashvideo file=http://www.lifechurchstlouis.org/images/stories/video/100912.mov stretching=fill /] Pastor Dan's Blog no 34:27 http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/09/a-church-of-prayer.htm http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/09/a-church-of-prayer.htm#comments Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:26:49 +0000 Pastor Dan http://www.pastordanwalker.org/?p=592

Advanced Prayer Disciplines

What Prayer Accomplishes

The Basics of Prayer

]]> http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/09/a-church-of-prayer.htm/feed 0 message,prayer In this message, I want to step back and look at the importance of prayer to our church as a whole. God's Word teaches us that when the people of God gather together to pray, great power is released. Matthew 18:20 (NIV) "For where two or three come to... (http://www.pastordanwalker.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/100905.jpg)In this message, I want to step back and look at the importance of prayer to our church as a whole. God's Word teaches us that when the people of God gather together to pray, great power is released. Matthew 18:20 (NIV) "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Jesus is present in a special way when believers come together in unity to pray. I believe that there are prayers you'll never see answered if you just pray them by yourself. There are loved ones that may never come to know Jesus if you pray alone. However, the prayer of agreement, when believers gather together has the power to overcome every obstacle. Acts 4:31 (NIV) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. After the early church had a prayer meeting, the very building in which they met was shaken. That was some powerful prayer and their prayers were answered very quickly. There is great power released when the church prays together. Behind every great move of God when many people are saved, you'll find at least one group of people who met for prayer. Behind every great church that impacts a whole city, you'll find a serious prayer ministry where people pray together to see God move. Prayer is the fuel of our lives and of our church. Listen to what Jesus wants for His church, for our church here at Life Church. Mark 11:17 (NIV) And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'?" In this verse Jesus is saying that he wants His house, His church, to be a house of prayer. He wants the church to be known first and foremost as a place of prayer. Now Jesus was not talking about a building, He is speaking of the church as the people of God. God wants Life Church to be called a church of prayer, not just for ourselves, but a church of prayer for all nations. To better understand what Jesus is talking about in this verse, we're going to study the surrounding passage found in Mark 11:12-25 to answer the question, How can we become a church of prayer? A church of prayer is filled with people of prayer. Listen to my September 5, 2010 message "A Church of Prayer." [flashvideo file=http://www.lifechurchstlouis.org/images/stories/video/100905.mov stretching=fill /] Pastor Dan's Blog no 31:02 http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/08/what-prayer-accomplishes.htm http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/08/what-prayer-accomplishes.htm#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:35:57 +0000 Pastor Dan http://www.pastordanwalker.org/?p=584

Breakthrough Prayer

Advanced Prayer Disciplines

A Church of Prayer

]]> http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/08/what-prayer-accomplishes.htm/feed 0 message,prayer I think that a lot of people have no idea of the importance of prayer. I believe that prayer is the most powerful force for change in the world. Prayer is the force that shapes world events and changes history on the global scale. (http://www.pastordanwalker.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/100829.jpg)I think that a lot of people have no idea of the importance of prayer. I believe that prayer is the most powerful force for change in the world. Prayer is the force that shapes world events and changes history on the global scale. On the individual scale, prayer rescues lives that are destined for failure and death. Yet, for many believers, prayer is simply an afterthought. If we've tried everything else, we might as well pray, it can't hurt. Many people think that things happen in the world simply by chance or luck. What effect could prayer have on chance? God's Word teaches us that nothing happens by chance, God is in control of everything. And even more astounding than that, is the fact that God does nothing but in answer to prayer. In other words, God has limited Himself to only moving in the world in response to the prayer of believers. Amos 3:7 (NIV) Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. God reveals his plans to his servants so that they can cooperate in prayer with God to bring those plans into reality. In the Old Testament, the prophets were limited to a few people who walked with God. In the New Testament, Jesus said: John 15:15 (NIV) I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. If you're a believer this morning, Jesus calls you a friend. He wants to share with you His plans for your life, for the lives of people around you, for your church and for your country. Why would He want to do that? So that you can bring those plans into reality through prayer. Remember what we are to pray in the Lord's prayer. Matthew 6:10 (NIV) Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We are to pray for God's will, His plan or purpose to be done on earth. This is not just praying for the distant future when Jesus comes back again. This is praying for today, tomorrow and next month. And if you and I don't pray, God's plans are not going to happen, at least not in our lifetime. Prayer matter because it changes things, in fact, prayer can change everything. Listen to my August 29, 2010 message "What Prayer Accomplishes." [flashvideo file=http://www.lifechurchstlouis.org/images/stories/video/100829-message.mov stretching=fill /] Pastor Dan's Blog no 36:24 http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/08/praying-with-the-bible.htm http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/08/praying-with-the-bible.htm#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:46:19 +0000 Pastor Dan http://www.pastordanwalker.org/?p=578

Advanced Prayer Disciplines

What Hinders Your Prayers?

A Church of Prayer

]]> http://www.pastordanwalker.org/2010/08/praying-with-the-bible.htm/feed 0 discipleship,message,prayer Prayer is one of the most important activities that a believer can do. Prayer can be defined simply as talking and listening to God. There are many aspects to prayer. In the Lord's prayer, Jesus teaches us about five aspects of prayer. (http://www.pastordanwalker.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/100822.jpg)Prayer is one of the most important activities that a believer can do. Prayer can be defined simply as talking and listening to God. There are many aspects to prayer. In the Lord's prayer, Jesus teaches us about five aspects of prayer. The first aspect is praising God for who He is. Next is committing yourself to God's purpose in this world. Third is requesting something from God. Fourth is asking for forgiveness for sin committed. And finally, prayer asks for protection from sin and evil. Right in the middle of the Lord's prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray. Matthew 6:11 (NIV) Give us today our daily bread. We learn from that simple six word request a lot about prayer. We are to present our requests to God every day. Asking God for things is not just to be done when we are in trouble, it is to be a daily habit. Asking God for things is not something that we are to be shy about or ashamed to do. Not only does God give us permission to ask, but Jesus encourages us and tells us to ask for our own good. If we are to ask for our daily bread, for food to fill our table, surely no other request is too small or too big for God to honor. Matthew 21:22 (NIV) If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. God wants you to receive answers to your prayers. You want to receive answers to your prayers. So, how can you improve your track record, how can each of us receive more answers to our prayers? Last week, we looked at how unconfessed sin in your life can prevent God's answers from coming. So the bottom line was don't sin, but if you do, confess and stop doing it right away if you want your prayers answered. This week, I want to look at something positive that will greatly increase the number of answers that you get to your prayers. Today, my message is entitled "God's Word and Prayer." One of your greatest resources in prayer is the Bible, God's Word. Trying to pray without using God's Word will lead to meager results. Now you don't have to have a Bible in your hand every time you pray, but you surely need to have God's Word in your heart to pray the kind of prayers that God answers. So today we want to ask the question, "How can God's Word help me to receive more answers to my prayers?" Listen to my August 22, 2010 message "The Bible and Prayer." [flashvideo file=http://www.lifechurchstlouis.org/images/stories/video/100822-message.mov stretching=fill /] Pastor Dan's Blog no 36:13