1. Prayer = Encountering God
Prayer is communication with God. However, conversations can remain mere exchanges of information without true personal encounter and relationship.
In this presentation:
1. Who God is / 2. how we can encounter Him

2. 0. Whom We Encounter: A Triune God
All equally divine / All objects of worship
God exists eternally, and the three Persons have love relationship and communal life.
Son
Spirit
Father
God calls us to join this fellowship and share His joy and happiness through prayer.
Our prayers can be heard only through the distinct work of every person in the Godhead.

3. 1. Whom We Encounter: Our Heavenly Father
God the Father --- Jesus the Son (in Trinity)
Ga4:4 …God sent his Son, ….5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Jesus vs Us only begotten (divine) Son adopted sons
[Family resemblance]
Us=
sons
Holy God=
Father
We now have an access to God and love/relationship.
Prayer is the way to appropriate this access and fatherly love.

4. 2. How We Encounter: The Spirit of Adoption
Ro8:15 … the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
“Abba, Father” (아빠)
sons
Father
The Spirit gives us confidence/certainty that He is our Abba.

5. 2. How We Encounter: The Spirit – the Intercessor
Ro8:26 …the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 ….the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, ….
We don’t know what God’s will is and what the right prayer topic is.
Spirit injects into our hearts a deep desire/longing to do God’s will. In our specific requests, this longing comes through.

6. 3. How We Encounter: The Mediator
God is perfect and holy, we are sinful. There is a chasm! How do we come near to God?
He10:19 …we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God …
sons
Father
He4:14 …..we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,... 15 .…a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, …

7. Knowing God for Who God is
Ga4:6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
We often pray to get things, to avoid problems.
But when the gospel takes a deep root in us, we came to know Him and find complete happiness in God Himself. And we pray for who God is.

8. Summary/Conclusion Us
Holy God
Son
Spirit
Father
sons
Father

9. Prayer
led by Pauline Ahn

10. P&A
Pray for Uic to be missin al community. Pray for missin al leaders. Won lee based Mn his prayer topics. P h d students. For c Uic. Sunny s visa. Leibins visa. Baby dedication. Membership meeting. Marks gospel study.