Questions about Prayer

questions in in General

Sermon Series follow up

Who do we pray to?

God . . . . Father, Son, Holy Ghost?

Father . . . answers

in the model prayer (The Lord’s prayer), we pray to the Father

Jesus - gives us access

Ephesians 2:18 NLT

18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

in Hebrews - let us come boldly before the throne of grace (Jesus is our high priest)

Holy Spirit - intercedes

Romans 8:26 NASB95

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

if you mix up names, God can handle it. it is about the heart

What should I refer to God as?

Father, Lord, Father God, or something else?

Jesus used Father, but you also see Lord used by apostles

which title gives you more faith

faith that he cares - Father

faith that he is in control - Lord

faith that he will deliver - Savior

Should I speak to God formally or informally?

some churches it is stylish to be formal

some churches it is stylish to be informal

either can turn into vain repetitions

just be real

realness will dictate the formality - we do it all the time in real life

wife will call me honey, Dimitri, Pastor Caver depending on situation

somethings are so traumatizing that it is hard to be formal

Elijah was fed up and talked very informally (a hit has been put out on him after Mt. Carmel)

1 Kings 19:4 NASB95

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.”

somethings call for formality (dedication of Temple)

2 Chronicles 6:14–15 NASB95

14 He said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart; 15 who has kept with Your servant David, my father, that which You have promised him; indeed You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.

Do I have to kneel, bow my head, close my eyes, lay prostrate?

it is a matter of the heart, humility, focus (every talk to a distracted person?)

use those things if they help focus on the reality of your prayer

privilege, praying to an all mighty God

prayer of sorrow should exhibit some sorrowful - in old Testament was tear clothes, dust on your head

some situations you might not be able to do those things - injuries, age, driving, public place

don’t let it turn into a show but don’t be irrevelant

How long should I pray for and does it matter?

pray as long as needed, as much as you can

Depends on situation

Nehemiah prayed a long six full verses in Nehemiah 1, and he wept and fasted

he prayed a 1 second prayer in his head without any emotion in . . .

Nehemiah 2:4–5 NASB95

4 Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”

Should I expect to feel anything?

What does praying in his name mean?

authority - “in the name of the law” “it’s the police”

pronouncing the authority

and also operating under that authority/law

praying according to God’s will

what would Jesus pray about in this situation?

When we don’t see the answer we wanted, what does that mean?

Assume God is a good father - he knows how to give good gifts to his children

we are going to assume faith (you were not just throwing a dart against a wall)

Remember that God will supply all your need

if you didn’t get it, you don’t need it . . . or don’t need it right now

The answer could be no, because that request does not align with God’s plan for you

direction, character development

trust that God saying “no” will work it out for your good

The answer could be yest, but it is still on the way

Daniel 10:12–13 NASB95

12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

Sometimes sin is in the way

2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB95

14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

1 Peter 3:7 NASB95

7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

What are spiritual things?

things that deal with people and their relationship to God

think evangelism - getting people saved (family, friends, acquaintances)

think restoration - (family, friends, acquaintances)

spiritual growth - love of God, service to God

things that deal with ministry - helping people, changing lives

think non material needs - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, forgiveness

think of material in order to reach the spiritual - miracles of Jesus were to get people’s attention on who he was (food program in order to share Christ)

What do you do if you ask God what to pray for and nothing comes to mind?

first believe that God wants to reveal things to us

1 Corinthians 2:10–12 NLT

10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

show us deep secrets

know wonderful things

Romans 8:32 NASB95

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

god revealed who his son was to us, so he certainly will reveal other things

and Jesus told disciples that I don’t call you slaves anymore, because slaves don’t know what their master is doing, but I call you friends because I am sharing all things freely with you

next, you have asked, so now it is time to focus on seeking

seeking - fasting, got some prayer partners, faith holding up (expectation)

it might not come overnight, patiently wait (that’s a faith thing too)

thirdly, we are in a learning process - learning to hear and recognize God’s voice, so don’t give up

listen and look more closely, God might be speaking in a small voice

after the majestic Mt. Caramel, God spoke to Elijah in a small voice, a whisper

changing the bible study topic was a small voice (chapter 18 revealed nothing to me)

the more we talk to God, and work on our communication, the better

spouses, close family and friends, don’t even have to talk to communicate (eyes)

“let’s go . . . stop talking . . . she is crazy!”

If I keep asking God for something (as an encouragement to myself), is that an indication that I lack faith?

i think the ultimate faith is asking and moving on, knowing that it’s taken care of

but it also takes a lot faith to keep asking when you are not getting an answer

ex. the woman who kept asking Jesus to heal her daughter, though Jesus ignored her and then talked about her . . . Jesus marvelled at her faith, which means most people have not reached this level

it would have been more impressive, if she had said thank you and just walked off, knowing Jesus would do it.

Summarized Question: My prayers are not always supposed to be about me, but when I am in need, is it ok to pray about my situation?

Yes!

you can pray about any and everything (including your things), the main thing is priority

prioritize the spiritual and thinking of others first

but does not mean you don’t pray for the material or for yourself . . . just priorities

made up example: you get cussed out for no reason

this person who cussed you has a problem, an issue . . . they are broken and they definitely need prayer (that’s spiritual)

“I don’t know what’s going on in their lives, but have mercy”

you probably need prayer not to cuss them back out, not to get revenge, best way to handle the situation - being obedient to God, letting your light shine is spiritual

you need peace of mind - spiritual

another example: in a natural disaster and everyone in neighborhood loses home

certainly pray for help, rescue, food and supplies

but pray for others in the same situation - Lord, let them see that you love them. Let them see that they need you . . . . bless them with the help they need

How to have confidence in your prayers?

faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God - get more word through church, bible study, personal study

work in progress . . . gaining experience praying according to God’s will

Is prayer an active way to pursue goals?

yes, first prayer is . . . Lord is this the right goal?

you might be on target

you might be off just a little

or you might be way off

How do you acknowledge answered prayers?

prayer journal or record . . . share it

How can I make sure my prayer is answered?

pray according to the will of God (God’s list)

1 John 5:14–15 NASB95

14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

Sermon Review

look at where God has placed you

music was brought to me

pastoring was brought to me

deacons was brought to all of our deacons

what do you need in order to serve the people you influence

even if what you need is material, the requests is spiritual because you are dealing with your calling

Announcements

Thank you for good attitudes all month long

Deacons have transponders in those bracelets

Sunday is Communion