What is prayer? – Chris
Prayer is talking and listening to God
A moment between you and God,
A chance to surrender your heart, burdens and wishes.
- Some churches or people misunderstand and think it is a way of getting what you want, they use God as a genie in a bottle, asking whenever they want something in the world. Never praying for his will to be done, only when it suits them. ( warning from God: John 2:15-17 2
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
- It is to know God and see his will for your life e.g. “ Plans to give you hope and a future”. He wants the best for you, simply ask and you will receive if you have faith (trust) that he will answer.
- When was the last time you took God’s word to him and asked for it in prayer?
Heart Posture. Act of Worship
Ephesians 6:18 “And pray on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people”
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful”
Prayer does it have to be long or short? Jesus warns us about praying just to be seen and praised by others because you use fancy words (Matthew 6:5)
Prayer is a position of the heart where we say God I looked into your word and you want me to trust you and you will make my paths straight ( Proverbs 3:5-6)
“I can’t see what you are doing so please give me faith to trust your word and that I will see breakthrough, Amen.”
Persist, Rest and Rely
Persist on in prayer this is God's will for you: (Matthew 7:7)
Seek, Ask and Knock. They are a call to act on what your praying about.
Prayer isn’t about what you want so you wait around for God to magically give you the solution. Example: “God please provide me a job” a recruiting agency is less likely to find you if you then hide at home. Even if some doors shut on you, God is faithful and will give you peace when you find a job that is right for you. Depend on his character not your feelings.
Question: What examples can you see in your life where you kept asking, but eventually God answered your prayer in accordance with his will.
Why we pray? - KL
The importance of prayer
Is prayer important?
Y / N
Important to whom?
Prayer is important to You.
A. Important to You:
1. to be watchful and not falling in temptation.
“Watch and pray. Then you won’t fall into sin when you are tempted....” (Mt 26:41)
A. Important to You:
2. to be rewarded (?) by God
When you pray, go into your room. Close the door and pray to your Father, who can’t be seen. Your Father will reward you, because he sees what you do secretly. (Mt 6:6)
A. Important to You:
3. to be aligned with God
He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.” (Mt 26:39)
Is your prayer important to God?
B. Important to God:
1. to accomplish His will
...the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them ...11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?
B. Important to God:
1. to accomplish His will
...Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars...14 Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.(Exo 32:9-14)
Important to God:
2. He wants to bless us with Himself
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Important to God:
2. He wants to bless us with Himself
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13)
How to pray - Daniel
An old question.
Luke 11: 1 – 4 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples spoke to him. “Lord,” he said, “teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples…”
Jesus’s answer;
Matthew 6: 9 – 13 “This is how you should pray. “ ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come. May what you want to happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, just as we also have forgiven those who sin against us. Keep us from sinning when we are tempted. Save us from the evil one.’
This is not what to pray but how to pray
Not Just a recital but a Format of prayer.
For example; if you ask me to teach you how to drive or cook, I won’t cook for you but give you a pattern of how to cook.
Jesus’s answer on how to pray - Seven key points on how to pray
Matthew 6: 9 – 13 “This is how you should pray. “ ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come. May what you want to happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, just as we also have forgiven those who sin against us. Keep us from sinning when we are tempted. Save us from the evil one.’
1. Our father, Who art in Heaven – Hallowed be thy name.
ü Talk to God as a Father;
… not a father on earth but in heaven!
ü Holy is your name.
Holy – uncommon. You can’t say, “ Name God and give two kinds” – He is God alone.
Summary – Talk to a Father who is special.
2. Matthew 6 : 10 “May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Christ came to introduce the kingdom of God.
Luke 17: 21 …. God’s kingdom is among you.”
He preached about the Kingdom.
Matthew 4: 23 Jesus went all over Galilee. …He preached the good news of God’s kingdom. ..
A kingdom of peace & righteousness. UN
2. Pray that the will of God be done on earth.
ü Your family, community, country, continent – Issues of wickedness and evil is not God’s will.
The will of man controls the earth. In Genesis – God gave the earth to man; man must invite God’s will to the earth!
3. Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6 : 11
A humble way of saying God is my source of success.
ü Talk to Him about your bread matters.
4. And forgive us our sins, just as we also have forgiven those who sin against us Matthew 6 : 12
§ Forgive others and ask God to also forgive you
§ – Pray with a clean conscience.
5&6. Matthew 6: 13 Keep us from sinning when we are tempted. Save us from the evil one.
ü 5. Pray for protection & salvation in temptation.
ü 6. There is evil in the world, but God can keep us, our families, and nations.
7. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6 : 13
‘For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the Glory’
ü Kingdom – King’s dominion
ü It is made up of Power – Authority – Throne
ü Glory – Presence - Temple.
God alone has the ultimate authority,
In His presence – Glory.
§ Lastly, in Prayer, – Praise God!
Summary of how to pray:
1. Talk to Him as a Father; no special format, you can’t be totally wrong.
2. Pray God’s will on earth.
3. Pray for His provisions
4. Pray with a repentant heart
5. Protection physically
6. Being Kept from sin
7. Praise Him in prayer
