January
January
The Series - PRAYER
Jeremiah
29:11-13
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
January 2, 2011
Topic: "What do we get with prayer?"
“What do we get with prayer?”
Answer:
- Jeremiah 33:3
- ‘Call to me and I will answer and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’
We
can go through life at peace with the knowledge that there's a PLAN from
God.
Purpose
- What matters most is to know WHY
- It makes the HOW easier
Leverage
- A tool to lift heavy things
- A helping hand
- For that much need push when you need it
Answers
- Yes
- No
- Wait
Nestle
- Situated near God’s presence
- I call this “The Zone”
January 9, 2011
Topic: "Why should we pray?"
Intro:
Sir Isaac Newton, the brilliant science pioneer, said that he could look through his telescope and see millions and millions of miles into space. Then he added, “…but when I lay the telescope aside and I go into my room and shut the door and get down on my knees in earnest prayer, I see more of heaven and feel closer to the Lord than if I were assisted by all the telescopes on the earth.”
Some people don’t pray, and most of those who do, do so because they just want something. They do it for the wrong reasons. Prayer is more than just about us and about our needs. It is Sir Isaac Newton’s way of looking at heaven in a deeper and broader sense. If telescopes whether small or big can magnify things, prayer magnifies the creator of all things.
We should pray, for us to…
I. Acknowledge that God is God.
a. He is the Creator – everything belongs to Him. Isn’t it right that we ask the owner for anything that we need?
b. He is our Father – we are His children (Romans 8:14-16). We can come to Him without hesitation. Just like our earthly fathers, God has His plans for us. So we come to Him for provision and security.
II. Acknowledge that God is in control.
a. He is actively involved - the “unseen ruler” who sits at His “controls” and pulls switches and punches buttons to make people dance like “marionettes”. Remember the times when Israel goes to war. God wins wars for them. They need only to tell Him.
Phil 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. “
b. He is a “hands-on” God - everything was created by the spoke of a word, except man. In Gen 2:7 it is that “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. “ God will never allow for anything to interfere with His plans for man.
III. Acknowledge that God is able. (Jeremiah 33:3)
a. He responds to our call – He answers each and every prayer simply because He can!
b. He is true to His words – what He promised, He fulfills!
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Sam 12:23 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. By prayer we nurture our relationship with the Father, Creator and All-Powerful God. We are dependent on Him. We need Him. We are His and He is ours. He wants us to come to Him, to trust Him and to know what it is like to have Him as our God!
Conclusion:
By prayer we nurture our relationship with the Father, Creator and All-Powerful God. We are dependent on Him. We need Him. We are His and He is ours. He wants us to come to Him, to trust Him and to know what it is like to have Him as our God!
Listen to the Audio
Topic: "How should we pray?"
Luke 11:1-4 NIV
11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'"
Matt 6:4-13 NIV
5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
1 Thess 5:16-18 NIV
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Intro: Jesus is many things to His disciples, a carpenter, a healer, a preacher, a miracle maker and a great teacher. Among these things, they could’ve asked Him for coaching. One of His most notable attribute is His prayer life and this is where His disciples really admired Him. It came to a point where they asked Him in Luke 11:1 to teach them how to pray.
Opening Prayer
This then is how we should pray:
We should pray with…
I. Sincerity (Mt 6:5-6)
5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
- · Pray not for show, not seek attention to yourself, and rather pray to seek God’s attention. Make Him notice you.
- · Always remember that God knows everything, so there’s never a need to fool Him.
II. Quality (Mt 6:7 cf. v.11)
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
- · Take time to pray, don’t just say things, think about it thoroughly. God is not impressed with the amount of words we can say per minute.
- · Make it meaningful; praying is our way to talk to God, so tell him what is really on your mind and in your heart.
- · Are you aware of what you really need from God?
- · Ask Him specifically!
III. Reverence (Mt 6:9, 10, 12 cf. Lk 18:9-14)
"'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
- · Always remember who you’re talking to, though He’s our Father in heaven, He is still the almighty God.
- · Never lose sight of who we are versus who He is.
- · We pray not to exalt ourselves, know who you are in the presence of God. We are all sinners so it doesn’t really matter if you sin less than others.
Luke 18:9-14 NIV
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Conclusion: (Mt 6:13)
Mattew 6:13 ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
God wants us to depend on Him for everything, especially regarding our spiritual concerns.
1 Thess 5:16-18 NIV
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.Listen to the Audio
January 23, 2011
Topic: "What should we pray for?"
Introduction: Ask for Rain, Carry Umbrella
Dr. Guthrie, that great Scotch preacher, prayed in the morning service for rain. As he went to church in the afternoon, little Mary, his daughter, said, "Here is the umbrella, Papa." "What do we need it for?" he asked. "You prayed for rain this morning, and don't you expect God will send it?" They carried the umbrella, and when they came home they were glad to take shelter under it from the drenching storm.
We should pray for…
I. Needs
a. God’s will
Matt 6:10- “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Illustration: Jesus in Gethsemane;
b. Daily bread
Matt 6:11- “Give us today our daily bread”; give us today the food we need. NLT
Illustration: Israel’s manna; rice and tooth paste
A minister said, “A day without prayer is a day without blessing.”
c. Forgiveness
Matt 6:12- “and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” NLT
Illustration: David with Bathsheba; forgive and forget
d. Deliverance
Matt 6:13- “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”. NIV
Luke 22:40b- "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." NIV
Illustration: Joseph with Potiphar; Daniel in the lion’s den
II. Others
a. Friends (brethren)
James 5:16- Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.NIV
1 Sam 12:23a- As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. NIV
Col 4:3- And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains
Illustration: Praying for the sick;
b. Enemies (persecutors)
Matt 5:44- But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Luke 6:28- “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”. NIV
Illustration: Your unwanted neighbor;
c. Authorities (leaders; civil servant; nation)
Rom 13:1-Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. NIV
1 Tim 2:1-3- I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.NIV
2 Chronicles 7:14- “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”. NIV
Conclusion:
Rom 8:26- In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. NIV
The Spirit intercedes for us when we pray, he guides us what to pray for.
Illustration: A child prayed for a recipient of her Barbie doll; a mother who simply prayed for protection for her son.
“A powerful prayer is effective not because of how good we are in praying, or we know what to pray for but because of a powerful God we have.”
