“Let Us Pray”

1. “Let Us Pray” A journey of discovery on basic biblical prayer…a life of prayer Wayne La France (cell: 263-6322, email: wayne@lakearchitectural.com)

2. “Let Us Pray” • Outline: Who, what, when, where, why, how (quick review then deeper review) • Who prays and for whom? • What is prayer? • When should we pray? • Where do we pray? • Why pray? • How do we pray? • Famous prayer: “Lord’s Prayer” • Attitude of prayer? • Physical position of prayer? • Tools of prayer? • Intercessionary prayer • Healing prayer • Restorative prayer • Prayer of peace • Prayer of salvation • “Sinners” prayer

3. “Let Us Pray” *Disclaimer * Not an expert on Prayer nor have the “gift” of teaching like Oz…. but I know to pray, and have had prayer answered! • So why hold a class on prayer at Grace Chapel..? (Suggestions) • What could be some positive outcomes of a class on prayer …? (personal and corporate) • Questions to ponder: • 1.. Aren’t we all doing it right already? • 2. Is personal prayer a measurement of our closeness to God? • 3. Is your current prayer time as rich and fulfilling as it can be? • 4. Is there room for improvement? • 5. Who steps should we follow?...................>

4. “Let Us Pray” Who prays? • Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoist, Wiccans …etc • Is there a difference between religions with respect to prayer? • For Christians we have the Gospel, (the good news) “Grace in forgiving people who have rebelled against Him, sending His Son to suffer and die in their place, to establish the throne of the resurrected Christ Jesus over a kingdom of perfect righteousness and to bring those who are saved and redeemed by His blood into His new heaven and new earth where sin and evil will be forever conquered!” – What is the Gospel, Greg Gilbert Luke 11:1 “Lord, teach us to pray” • “Prayer – secret, fervent, believing prayer – lies at the root of all personal godliness, “ wrote William Carey. • Webster’s definition of prayer: “devout petition to God or an object of worship.”

5. “Let Us Pray” Who prays? • For Christians it is “The sons and daughters of God.” …….. RELATIONSHIP! • Romans 8:17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. • Ephesians 3:6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. • Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. • Matthew 28:18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. • Mark 11:22-25 22“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” “Prayer catapults us onto the frontier of the spiritual life. Of all the Spiritual Disciplines prayer is the most central because it ushers us into perpetual communion with the Father. Meditation introduces us to the inner life, fasting is an accompanying means, study transforms our minds but it is the Discipline of prayer that brings us into the deepest and highest work of the human spirit. Real prayer is life creating and life changing.” - Richard Foster Celebration of Discipline

6. “Let Us Pray” What is prayer? • Talk with God. A conversation with God. Deut 4:7 “…our God is near us whenever we pray to Him.” • It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); • "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); • "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); • "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); • "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); • "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). • So what do you tell God during your conversation? • What does he tell you in return?

7. “Let Us Pray” When should we pray? • Anytime! All the time! James 5:13-15 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. • Times of stress • Times of thanksgiving • Formal vs. informal (Love this! )

8. “Let Us Pray” Where is a good place to pray? • Anywhere! • In the midst of your stress – “God help me not strangle my teenager” • In the midst of your joy – “thank you God she is finally married!” • Church / public • Bedroom / private Mark 1:35 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. • Where you pray can be special …so where is a good place for you?

9. “Let Us Pray” Why should we pray? • We expect to receive! Psalm 3:4 4 I call out to the LORD,  and he answers me from his holy mountain. Matt. 7:7, 8;     7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. • We expect results as saved, redeemed children of God James 16-1816 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. • We want to have a relationship with our heavenly father • We want to have a conversation with Him

10. “Let Us Pray” Why should we pray? (cont.) • We want to exercise our spirituality • Father, Son, Holy Ghost • Mind, Body, Spirit • Word, Temple, “Prayer” (emphasis mine) We exercise our mind with reading Gods word and memorizing Gods word, we exercise our body’s by treating it as a holy dwelling the repository of your spirit and mind and we exercise our spirit by Praying in the spirit, by the spirit, of the spirit as in John 4;24 God is spirit therefore we worship Him in spirit and in truth. • How is our health…Mind, Body and Soul (Spirit)? • Do we read the word, do we choose moderation in activities, do we spend the right amount of time in prayer?

11. “Let Us Pray”(review) • Who prays? - Everyone • What is prayer? – Communication with God • When should we pray? – all the time • Where do we pray? - anywhere • Why pray? – to receive from God • How do we pray? …….. • How did Jesus pray? • Mind, Body, Soul - scripture, kneeling, spirit

12. “Let Us Pray” How do we pray • Luke 11:1 “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.” • Mat9-13 (Lord’s prayer) : 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 And 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. • Mat 6:5-8, 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 others. Truly I tell you, 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. • Attitude (Luke 18:9-14) 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone 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 by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—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 all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

13. Faith • Mark 11:22-25 • 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” • Thoughts • Philippians 4:4-7 • 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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. • Philippians 4:8-9 • 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

14. “Let Us Pray” Famous prayer: “Lord’s Prayer” • Our Father (special relationship) • in Heaven (special location) • Hallowed be your name (divine power) • your kingdom come (in enemy territory) • your will be done, (obedience) • on earth as it is in heaven (not yet done here) • Give us today our daily bread (expectation to deliver on promise) • And forgive us our debts(we were in sin) • as we also have forgiven our debtors (how we are to mimic God) • Lead us not into temptation, (weakness of the earthly body) • but deliver us from the evil one (we are Gods Children, He owns us)

15. “Let Us Pray”(Review) • Who prays? - Everyone (Christians have ticket and plug) • What is prayer? – Communication with God • When should we pray? – anytime • Where do we pray? - anywhere • Why pray? – to receive from God • How do we pray? – Lords Prayer (Mat 6:9-13) • (Did you notice “Our” “Father” makes us Brothers and Sisters in Christ!!??) • Exercise : the Mind – study/read the Word/Bible • the Body – feed/work the Temple • the Soul – frequent/fervent Prayer • “Holy Contamination” – time with God in Prayer • Called to be Prayer Warriors since we are in the mist of spiritual battle here on earth (see Ephesians 6)

16. “Let Us Pray” Ephesians 6:10-18 • “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18 And pray in the Spirit 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.”

17. “Let Us Pray” “We are not human beings in search of a temporary spiritual experience…. We are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience” - Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955 French philosopher and Jesuit priest) That is why Christ calls us to lay up our treasures in heaven where they are eternal and not on earth where they remain mortal and corruptible. (Mat 6:19,20) John 14:15-17 The Spirit of truth 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. Acts 2:38-39 the gift of the Holy Spirit 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Romans 8:14-17 the Spirit …to sonship 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory Galatians 5:22-26 fruit of the Spirit 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. James 5:16 powerful prayer righteous man 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

18. “Let Us Pray” Physical position of prayer? (What does our posture say about our condition?) • Standing • Sitting • Kneeling • Lying down (prostrate) • Walking • Working What can the wrong position do to your prayer life?

19. “Let Us Pray” Attitude of prayer? (How do we approach the “Throne of Grace”?) • Worship • Praise • Healing • Intervention • Loving • Celebration What can the wrong attitude do to your prayer life?

20. “Let Us Pray” Tools of prayer? • Bible verses (word) • Song Acts 16:25 “and Silas were praying and singing hymns” • Silence • Meditation on verse • Meditation on Nature/Creation • Action/works What can the wrong tools do to your prayer life?

21. “Let Us Pray” Types of prayer • Intercessionary prayer • Healing prayer • Restorative prayer • Prayer of peace • Prayer of salvation • “Sinners” prayer • Corporate prayer • Prayer of thanksgiving What can the wrong prayers do to your prayer life? “Eye of God”

22. “Let Us Pray” History of Prayer • Pre-Christ – Levitical Law – dept owed – sacrifice – “pay to pray” • Post Christ – Law fulfilled – debt paid – sacrifice of praise & worship – “paid to pray” • Purpose of “tent of meeting” and tabernacle – Holy of holies – Meet God, priest only – holy ground – pillar of smoke and pillar fire • Purpose of the Temple – Holy of Holies – Meet God, priest only – holy ground – smoke and increased filled • Purpose of Church Sanctuary – Holy of Holies – Meet God, no priest (we are) - holy ground – praise and worship *(Did you know that the small windows up high in sanctuary represent the 12 tribes of Israel and that they are OUTSIDE the sanctuary/Holy of Holies)

23. “Let Us Pray” God’s Power! • Prayer - often to God • Listen - intently to God • Understand - God’s will • Gift - yours is to be used from God • Intercede - on God’s behalf, representative, salt & light • Need - of the weak is to be met by you and God You!

24. “Let Us Pray” Thank you and God bless!