a. What
is Prayer?
i.
Communication with God, someone talks
the other listens
b. Why is
Prayer Important?
i.
Builds relationship with God
ii.
Can give direction
iii.
Helps us to surrender problems to
someone who can do something about it
iv.
Can bring about change for you, those
around you, and even the world
c. How do
we Pray?
i.
What do I pray about?
1. Just
like regular communication between people it can be for all different kinds of
reasons
a. Get to
know each other, Request help, Request information, For fun, Thank the person,
To give information, etc…
2. Nothing
is too trivial, he won’t get annoyed, and you won’t waste his time (he is
outside of time and he is all powerful, he can handle all requests, without a
sweat)
ii.
What words do I use?
1. Any
you would normally use, as long as they are respectful
2. You
don’t have to be repetitive, you don’t have to say God’s name over and over
again, you don’t have to be fancy
3. You
can speak aloud or not
iii.
Where/When can I pray?
1. Anywhere
at Anytime
a. 1st
Thessalonians 5:17, 18b – “Pray continually…for this is God’s will for you in
Christ Jesus.”
b. Word
means “constantly reoccurring, throughout the day”
2. You
don’t have to stand, sit, bow, etc… whatever is the most natural
3. You
don’t have to close your eyes, bow your head, fold your hands, those are to
help you concentrate
d. How do
we know it works?
i.
The Bible shows it works
ii.
Other believer’s stories shows it works
iii.
Our own answered prayers show it works
1. Illus:
Car healing
e. Does
God answer every prayer?
i.
God hears every prayer, but he doesn’t
always give us what we ask for
ii.
Sometimes God says yes, no, and wait
iii.
Why does He say no sometimes?
1. Bad
motives – James 4:3 – “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with
wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
2. We are
living a life of sin – Psalm 66:18-19 – “If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my
voice in prayer.”
3. No
faith – Matthew 13:58 – “And he did not do many miracles there because of their
lack of faith.”
4. Not
good for us or the best for us (or for those around us)
iv.
The hard part is we don’t always
understand why he says no at the time, instead we get hurt because we didn’t
get what we wanted. But God has a plan
and that plan is for the best for everyone on this planet, including you.
II.
Conclusion
a. Be in prayer daily, find other opportunities
to pray: MCT, Pre-service prayer
b. Make a prayer list
c. Fill out Group Prayer Slip and Pray over with
extra Time
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