Foundations: Prayer, Pt. 3

Prayer What is prayer?

Prayer Review: Understanding God’s dwelling place changes how I pray Understanding God’s dwelling place changes how I pray My forgiveness by Christ is contingent upon my willingness to forgive those who’ve sinned against me My forgiveness by Christ is contingent upon my willingness to forgive those who’ve sinned against me

Prayer Review: I approach God persistently, humbly, trusting and surrendering I approach God persistently, humbly, trusting and surrendering

Prayer Foundational Truth: ◦ Prayer is a powerful tool of communication that yields great results when handled correctly

Prayer Warm Spit

Prayer Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.

Prayer They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf.

Prayer They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'

Prayer "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

Prayer But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?

Prayer Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.

Prayer 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 in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ ”

Prayer Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened- Exodus 32:7-14

Prayer Cow-soup, anyone?

Prayer Freebie: A god you can drink isn’t much of a god…

Prayer Did Moses’ prayer change God’s mind?

Prayer Problem: Using an understanding of God to interpret scripture rather than interpreting scripture to better understand God

Prayer Note: Moses’ prayer is based on God’s character and God’s Word

Prayer Prayer moves the hand of God “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete”- John 16:24

Prayer “In my name”???

Prayer Prayer according to Christ’s name is in keeping with his nature and his Lordship Therefore, biblical prayer never demands of God, nor asks for that which God would never give

Prayer Prayer moves the hand of God “You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures”- Jas. 4:2-3

Prayer Arguing and fighting come from coveting rather than seeking God Biblical prayer is motivated by something other than a desire to serve myself

Prayer If I can’t ask God for it and trust his answer, it’s probably not his will for me

Prayer Prayer moves the hand of God Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 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 good gifts to those who ask him!- Matt. 7:9-11

Prayer Who God is guarantees that he: ◦ Is generous ◦ Wants to bless us with good gifts

Prayer Am I asking in prayer? What am I asking for?

Prayer Powerful Prayer: George Muller= having faith George Muller= having faith But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord- Jas. 1:6-7

Prayer Should I believe that God can? Or that God will?

Prayer Powerful Prayer: Billy Graham= Living the faith Billy Graham= Living the faith The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective- Jas.5:16 Context: Mutual confession of sin

Prayer Powerful Prayer: A relationship centered on faith A relationship centered on faith Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers- 1 Peter 3:7

Prayer If my wife and I are fighting and I’m unwilling to humble myself and make peace, I wasting my breath in prayer

Prayer Powerful Prayer: Faithful submission to God’s will and Word Faithful submission to God’s will and Word This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him- 1 John 5:14-15

Prayer Why should I submit my prayers to God’s will?

Prayer A God who doesn’t know best isn’t worth following A God who answers every prayer just the way I pray is no longer God

Prayer Powerful Prayer: Unrelenting faith Unrelenting faith "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”- Matt. 7:7

Prayer God didn’t come through… Now what do I do?

Prayer “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”- 2 Cor. 12:9

Prayer If any man lacks wisdom…- James To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me- 2 Cor. 12:7

Prayer When we spend our time focusing on what we’ve had and lost, we miss the gift God has for us today

Prayer What if: I prayed every day? I prayed every day? I believed God can and will if it’s his best for me? I believed God can and will if it’s his best for me? I lived the faith and refused to be discouraged as I prayed? I lived the faith and refused to be discouraged as I prayed?

Prayer “Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.”

Prayer “But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days”- Daniel 10:12-13

Prayer Layman is here and is who we are because faithful people prayed

Prayer Many of us have come to faith here because people prayed for us, believed God, invited us, lived out the faith in front of us

Prayer How many more might be able to tell the same story in the coming days?