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Pray!. Mt 6:9-13. Why pray?. Prayer develops relationship. Intimate prayer helps to develop intimate relationship. Believing in prayer is not the same as praying. Believing God can answer prayer is not the same as believing He will (or already has).
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Pray! Mt 6:9-13
Why pray? • Prayer develops relationship. Intimate prayer helps to develop intimate relationship. • Believing in prayer is not the same as praying. • Believing God can answer prayer is not the same as believing He will (or already has)
"Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work." Oswald Chambers • "Prayer is not learned in a class-room but in the closet. Talking to men for God is a great thing; talking to God for men is greater still." E.M. Bounds • “ We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth." Andrew Murray
Jesus taught us to pray • Jesus gave us the perfect pattern for prayer: the focus is on attitude and relationship. “pray like this” • With tenderness & reverence • With respect & devotion • With humility & thankfulness • With forgiveness & awareness • With submission & genuine awe
Personal prayer ACTS • Adoration: He is worthy • Confession: We humbly confess our sin/failures & repent • Thanksgiving: We come with gratitude for Who He is/what He’s done • Supplication: We make our requests known to our All Powerful God
How shall we pray? • The Scripture indicates there are ways in which to pray: • 1.Pray in faith • 2.Pray with confidence • 3.Confess any sin in our lives • 4.Pray the will of God • 5.Pray with right motives
Praying in faith… • Heb 11:6 “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He is…rewards those who seek Him.” • Jas 1:6-8 “Let him ask in faith with no doubting…or a man will not receive anything from the Lord…that man is unstable/double minded…”
Praying with confidence • Confidence: trust, reliance, assurance • Heb 4:16 “Draw near with confidence to the throne of grace…” • 1 Jn 4:16 “And we have come to know & have believed the love which God has for us…”
Sin can hinder… • Ps 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” • Ps 25:21 “Let integrity & uprightness preserve me, for I wait upon Thee…” • 1 Jn 1:9 “If we confess our sin, He is faithful & righteous to forgive us…and to cleanse us…”
Pray God’s will • Pray according to the Scriptures, the expressed will of God. • 1 Jn 5:14 “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” • Mt 6: 10 “…Thy will be done on earth as it’s (already being) done in heaven.”
Check your motives… • Jas 4:3 “You do not receive because you ask with wrong motives.” • A motive is the “why” behind the “what.” • Ps 51:10; 139:23 “Create in me a clean heart, o God, let me be like You in all my ways… Search me..try me, know my thoughts, O God…”
The challenge… • What keeps you from having meaningful and intimate dialogue with your Father in Heaven? • When’s the last time you were “silent” long enough to hear what He had to say to you?
Be blessed! • Ps. 91:15 “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer.” • Jas 1:5 “But if any of you lacks wisdom (Gr: the broad picture) let him ask of God who gives to all men generously and without reproach (disgrace) and it will be given to him.”