FOLLOWING JESUS THROUGH PRAYER (LUKE 18:1-8) January 19 ...
FOLLOWING JESUS THROUGH PRAYER (LUKE 18:1-8) January 19, 2011 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:2b-3 The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
James 5:16
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving… Pray without ceasing…
Colossians 4:2 1 Thessalonians 5:17
1. The What and Why of Prayer. Prayer is communication with God, personally or corporately. There are various types of prayers. There are prayers of adoration and praise to God for His greatness and works; there are prayers confessing sin and the need for God’s grace; there are prayers of thanksgiving for all of God’s blessings in our lives; and prayers of request for others or ourselves (A.C.T.S). God speaks to us through His word by His Spirit, and we in turn communicate with Him based on these truths in these different forms of prayer. What a privilege to commune with Almighty God! Examples of Adoration (Psalm 104:1-5), Confession (Psalm 51:1-4, 10), Thanksgiving (Romans 1:8), Supplication (Matthew 6:11). >The Lord Jesus Christ expects us to pray (See Matthew 6:5-8). >Prayer expresses our trust in God and is a means whereby our trust in Him can increase (Luke 18:8). >Prayer brings us into deeper fellowship with God, and the fruit of our prayers proves that we are Christ's disciples (See John 15:7-8). >Through prayer God allows us as His creation to be involved in activities that are eternally important. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
Matthew 6:10 Luke 12:32
2. Jesus’ example of Prayer. Jesus lived a life filled with prayer. He prayed early in the morning in solitary places (Mark 1:35), after work (Mark 6:45-46), in the midst of success and popularity (Luke 5:15-16), before making major decisions (Luke 6:12-13). He prayed consistently and honestly (Luke 22:39-44).
3. The example of the early church’s Prayer. The early church diligently and earnestly practiced prayer. They demonstrated an intense commitment to the spiritual disciplines. Prayer, the word of God, discipleship and fellowship were each used as a means of God’s grace to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Their daily lives were bathed in prayer. The 120 disciples in the upper room sought God in prayer before receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Acts 1:14 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Acts 2:42 Prayer was a huge part of the daily life of the church! Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour of prayer.
Acts 3:1
4. How to pray effectively. There are different elements involved in effective prayer such as: praying in Jesus’ name (John 14:13-14), praying in faith (Matthew 21:22), praying boldly (Hebrews 4:16), praying continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), praying reverently and humbly (Luke 18:13), and certainly the Lord wants us to pray persistently (See Luke 18:8)! 5. What to pray. God clearly tells us what to pray for, through the scriptures. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14-15 Paul prayed that the word would spread rapidly and be glorified (1 Thessalonians 3:1). He prayed that the Lord would direct believer’s hearts in the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ (1 Thessalonians 3:5). Here are some other petitions Paul made to God (For open doors for the gospel to be preached-Colossians 4:3-4; for perception and power-Ephesians 1:15-20; for inner fullnessEphesians 3:14-21; for comfort and stability-1 Thessalonians 2:16-17; for utterance and boldness to preach the gospel-Ephesians 6:18-19). Prayer Practice: Get in groups of 3-4. Pray in short bursts, conversationally. We’ll turn in our Bibles together to the scripture reference. I’ll read it, then release you to pray for each other based on the subject presented in the scripture. Pray that God would give us: Increased hunger and thirst for God-Psalm 63:1-3; opportunities and boldness to share the gospel-Romans 1:16; Colossians 4:3-4; and spiritual wisdom, faithfulness to God, joyful endurance in our walks with Christ-Colossians 1:9-12. Conclusion - May we follow Jesus in prayer and commune with Almighty God. Come to Him in adoration, confess all known sin, make your requests known to God, and thank Him for His answers as well as for all that He’s done for us in Christ Jesus. Let us persistently seek God through the discipline of prayer. Seek Him early, often, scripturally, passionately, humbly, and persistently in order that when Jesus comes, He will find faith in our hearts!
James 5:16
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving… Pray without ceasing…
Colossians 4:2 1 Thessalonians 5:17
1. The What and Why of Prayer. Prayer is communication with God, personally or corporately. There are various types of prayers. There are prayers of adoration and praise to God for His greatness and works; there are prayers confessing sin and the need for God’s grace; there are prayers of thanksgiving for all of God’s blessings in our lives; and prayers of request for others or ourselves (A.C.T.S). God speaks to us through His word by His Spirit, and we in turn communicate with Him based on these truths in these different forms of prayer. What a privilege to commune with Almighty God! Examples of Adoration (Psalm 104:1-5), Confession (Psalm 51:1-4, 10), Thanksgiving (Romans 1:8), Supplication (Matthew 6:11). >The Lord Jesus Christ expects us to pray (See Matthew 6:5-8). >Prayer expresses our trust in God and is a means whereby our trust in Him can increase (Luke 18:8). >Prayer brings us into deeper fellowship with God, and the fruit of our prayers proves that we are Christ's disciples (See John 15:7-8). >Through prayer God allows us as His creation to be involved in activities that are eternally important. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
Matthew 6:10 Luke 12:32
2. Jesus’ example of Prayer. Jesus lived a life filled with prayer. He prayed early in the morning in solitary places (Mark 1:35), after work (Mark 6:45-46), in the midst of success and popularity (Luke 5:15-16), before making major decisions (Luke 6:12-13). He prayed consistently and honestly (Luke 22:39-44).
3. The example of the early church’s Prayer. The early church diligently and earnestly practiced prayer. They demonstrated an intense commitment to the spiritual disciplines. Prayer, the word of God, discipleship and fellowship were each used as a means of God’s grace to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. Their daily lives were bathed in prayer. The 120 disciples in the upper room sought God in prayer before receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Acts 1:14 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Acts 2:42 Prayer was a huge part of the daily life of the church! Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour of prayer.
Acts 3:1
4. How to pray effectively. There are different elements involved in effective prayer such as: praying in Jesus’ name (John 14:13-14), praying in faith (Matthew 21:22), praying boldly (Hebrews 4:16), praying continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), praying reverently and humbly (Luke 18:13), and certainly the Lord wants us to pray persistently (See Luke 18:8)! 5. What to pray. God clearly tells us what to pray for, through the scriptures. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14-15 Paul prayed that the word would spread rapidly and be glorified (1 Thessalonians 3:1). He prayed that the Lord would direct believer’s hearts in the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ (1 Thessalonians 3:5). Here are some other petitions Paul made to God (For open doors for the gospel to be preached-Colossians 4:3-4; for perception and power-Ephesians 1:15-20; for inner fullnessEphesians 3:14-21; for comfort and stability-1 Thessalonians 2:16-17; for utterance and boldness to preach the gospel-Ephesians 6:18-19). Prayer Practice: Get in groups of 3-4. Pray in short bursts, conversationally. We’ll turn in our Bibles together to the scripture reference. I’ll read it, then release you to pray for each other based on the subject presented in the scripture. Pray that God would give us: Increased hunger and thirst for God-Psalm 63:1-3; opportunities and boldness to share the gospel-Romans 1:16; Colossians 4:3-4; and spiritual wisdom, faithfulness to God, joyful endurance in our walks with Christ-Colossians 1:9-12. Conclusion - May we follow Jesus in prayer and commune with Almighty God. Come to Him in adoration, confess all known sin, make your requests known to God, and thank Him for His answers as well as for all that He’s done for us in Christ Jesus. Let us persistently seek God through the discipline of prayer. Seek Him early, often, scripturally, passionately, humbly, and persistently in order that when Jesus comes, He will find faith in our hearts!
