Teach me to Pray 3

Question of the day: What is on God’s list?

simple answer is to ask him (we’ve talked about asking)

when I pray in private or public, I have made it a habit to pause and ask God what does He want me to ask for?

before I send out the three prayer reminders each day, I ask, “what do you want us to pray about today?”

next step is to seek God for what is on his list (we’ve preached about seeking)

diligent searching for that answer

that’s getting a clue, and then using that clue to get to the next clue

The great news is that the biggest set of clues about what is on God’s list, has already been revealed through the written Word of God

we all desire a “fresh word”, but every fresh word from God is connected to the word God has already established . . . the Bible is the foundation

Commercial: be careful of people who’ve got a word, but don’t know the Word

So we are going to look at God’s word, to get a good idea of how to see what is on God’s list for your life.

1 Kings 3:3 NASB95

3 Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

King Solomon loved the Lord

walked in the statues of his father David - obeying the Lord

except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places - King Solomon was not perfect

he loved and obey God, but was not perfect . . . that’s achievable

1 Kings 3:4 NASB95

4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

The king went to Gideon to sacrifice there - he had a giving spirit, give up something to please the Lord

Church nor Christianity is about how much money you can give, but your giving is a good indicator what we feel about God

giving is good indicator of your trust in God - will I reap what I sow?

giving is a good indicator of how much you love God (the more we love, the more we give)

people will spend hundreds on a Cowboy Game (tickets, parking, food), and $10 on the retirement party for a co-worker

for where your treasure is, your heart will be there also

Commercial - the giving was proportional

Solomon was rich so he gave a 1,000 offering

a poor man might only give 1 offering

in God’s eyes they are the same

so we have someone who is following God’s rules, someone who is gives generously

1 Kings 3:5 NASB95

5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”

And God comes to Solomon says ask me for whatever you want

what is on your list, Solomon

isn’t that what we all want?

billion, perfect health, long life, protection?

Wait . . . I thought we were to seek God’s list?

skip to verse 7

1 Kings 3:7 NASB95

7 “Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

Here’s the first key: Where has God placed you?

Solomon has been made king. David had many sons, we have the stories of 2 sons who tried to scheme their way to the throne.

But in the end, Solomon was made king, he didn’t have to scheme or backstab, God just opened the doors.

Look and see where God has placed you? Where you didn’t have to scheme your way in.

Role at church

Role at the job

role in the community

role in your family

for me as a musician, wasn’t looking to play music, dad had tried to teach me some things but it didn’t take

but we started church, Dad asked for a volunteer

Pastor Tucker’s wife recommended her mother, and the rest is history

pastor, did not want to be one (i love it now), did not ask to be one

just one day, dad called me into his office and said, I am going to make you assist. Pastor

I was placed

look at your life, and see where you have been placed - church, job, community, family

after you identify where you have been placed, be honest and see where you fall short of carrying out your role

for Solomon - I don’t have enough knowledge, experience, expertise, wisdom . . . young dumb and full of bubble gum

So God you have placed me as a supervisor at my job, but I don’t have . . .

leader of my family, but I don’t have . . .

at my church . . .

1 Kings 3:9 NASB95

9 “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

Since God placed you there, he wants you to do well

So on God’s prayer list, is what you need in order to do well where he has placed you

whatever you need to fulfill your calling is on the list

wisdom, favor, money, boldness, open door, vision, revelation, help

1 Kings 3:10 NASB95

10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.

Solomon’s request please God

in other words, Solomon asked for what was on God’s list

1 Kings 3:11 NASB95

11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,

God acknowledges this: you could have asked for the things on your list, but you asked for the thing that pleased me

you asked for what I wanted you to ask for

1 Kings 3:12 NASB95

12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.

so that prayer will definitely be answered . . . not only answered but a multiplied

not only give you wisdom, but wisdom above all others

1 Kings 3:13 NASB95

13 “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.

and since you were concerned with my list, I am going to answer the things on your list

Matthew six and thirty-three

riches, honor

example of John in revelation 22:20