1. “Sweet Hour of Prayer” Matthew 21:12-13

2. I. God’s house is to be a house of prayer. There is a distinct purpose for the church. –The purpose for the Tabernacle was to be a place where God met with His people and spoke to them. Exodus 29:42-43, “For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the Lord. There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated to my glory.”

3. I. God’s house is to be a house of prayer. There is a distinct purpose for the church. –The purpose for the Tabernacle was to be a place where God met with His people and spoke to them. –The purpose for the house of God is to be a place of communication between God and man. We communicate through acts of worship. He communicates through Scripture and prayer.

4. I. God’s house is to be a house of prayer. There is a definite problem for the church. –The problem today is that we do not pray enough. –The problem we face is that many other things have superceded the importance of prayer. Matthew 15:8, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

5. II. God’s people are to be people of prayer. There is a promise for the church. –He has promised to hear us and act on our requests when we pray. 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

6. II. God’s people are to be people of prayer. There is a promise for the church. –He has assured us of answers to our prayers. Matthew 21:21-22, “Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’

7. II. God’s people are to be people of prayer. There is a promise for the church. –He has assured us of answers to our prayers. Luke 11:9-10, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

8. II. God’s people are to be people of prayer. There is power for the church. –The Lord will strengthen where we are weak. Psalms 105:4, “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”

9. II. God’s people are to be people of prayer. There is power for the church. –The Lord will strengthen where we are weak. –The Lord will take us to new heights. Jer 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

10. II. God’s people are to be people of prayer. There is power for the church. –The Lord will strengthen where we are weak. –The Lord will take us to new heights. Acts 2:42-43; 47, The early church “devoted themselves to... prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles...And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”