1. The Work of Prayer Work?! Sounds mechanical Certainly not relational
Definitely not positively emotional

2. The Work of Prayer Work is required for what is worthwhile
Effort, inertia, and expenditure of energy
Emotion comes from attitude

3. Luke 11:9-13 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

4. “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

5. “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? “Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?

6. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995

7. The Work of Prayer Two-sided partnership God initiates and invites
We respond and submit
God acts

8. The Work of Prayer
Three actions to prayer
Asking
Seeking
Knocking

9. Ask
Simple…make a request
It is humble
It is submissive

10. Seek To look or diligently search For what though??? The answer?
The means? No

11. Seek Seek the Lord Fellowship (Psalm 27:4) His kingdom (Matt. 6:33)
His righteousness (Zeph. 2:3)
His ways (Psalm 119:45)
His instruction (Mal. 2:7)

12. Seek Seeking the Lord Aligning our prayers with Him His purposes
His will and desires
With a worshipful and thankful heart

13. Powerless prayer comes from an ignorant and misguided understanding of what prayer is and what it is for.

14. Knock
To strike or hit
Speaks of…
Intensity
Consistency
Perseverance

15. Benefits of Prayer Ask…receive Seek…find Knock…opened
All are “indicatives”
Promises
Assurances

16. Benefits of Prayer Receive… God knows God will give Find…
God has revealed
We must look

17. Benefits of Prayer
Open…
God will reveal
We must look

18. Benefits of Prayer
Open…
God will reveal
We must look

19. Let’s Pray… Be assured Prayer must be combined with study
Prayer is an active continuum