Pray First: I Need a Pattern

REVIEW

Last week we talked about the fact that we are lacking in some areas of our life that are essential.

Peace, Hope, Joy, Love

This lack is not based on a lack of substance but rather a misplaced sequence.

Genesis 1:1 tells us that “In the beginning God.”

When we put God first we get our sequence right.

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TEXT

Luke 11:1 ESV

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

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INTRO: CONVEY THE NEED FOR A PATTERN

Christmas season with kids = putting together ALOT OF THINGS

Kayla came home to find me assembling a trampoline

Did you read the instructions...

I’ve had some poor experiences while assembling furniture...

(left over screws, pieces that didn’t make it on, broken items…)

WHEN I HAVEN’T ENDED UP WITH THE PRODUCT THAT I WANTED IT OFTEN HAS BEEN THE RESULT OF NOT PROPERLY FOLLOWING THE TEMPLATE THAT WAS LAID OUT FOR ME!

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If you need a template

Today’s message is for the person who would love to be a person of prayer, but really feels like they don’t know what they’re doing…this is for you..

I’M NOT A GREAT PRAYER PERSON - easily distracted

If you feel like you need a template…we are going to look at one of my favorite templates from scripture.

We will look at one of the GOATs of scripture.

Moses

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Context for Moses

Moses led the people of God out of captivity in the land of Egypt.

4,000,000 people in the desert from Egypt to Israel...

should have taken a few months…it took forty years

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(SIDE NOTE) Provision can turn into bondage when you stay there.

They’re captivity in Egypt was the result of the provision of God through Joseph.

What is provision in one season can serve as captivity in the next.

Don’t become addicted to the gift at the expense of closeness to the giver.

God opened the door for Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt…but He wasn’t just leading them out of Egypt…He was leading them into Caanan.

God doesn’t simply call you out…He calls you to.

We miss the best part of following Jesus when all we focus on is the things He removes from our lives!

He removes what harms to make room for what heals.

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Tide-me-over until the temple

When they got to the promised land they were going to build a temple....but that was a ways away.

So God gave them a plan for a portable temple while they were in the wilderness…they called this the tabernacle.

The tabernacle was a rectangle tent that possessed six pieces of furniture. (SHOW SLIDE)

Exodus 25:8–9 ESV

And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

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The tabernacle was about the presence of God.

The tent and furniture were a tool that God was giving them with one intended purpose…His dwelling in their midst.

In the OT God’s presence dwelled in buildings…NOW IT DWELLS IN US!

The elements of the tabernacle created a protocol to enter God’s presence

This is the heart of God concerning prayer…He doesn’t want you to pray so that you can check religious boxes.

As we look at this pattern…it’s important to understand this truth about prayer.

God desires our prayers because our prayers give Him permission to manifest His presence in our lives!

We can find a pattern of prayer to generate the presence of God in our lives by looking at the elements of the tabernacle.

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1. The Outer Court: Give God Thanks

Psalm 100:4 NKJV

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

The Psalmist gives us a stipulation for entrance into the outer court.

Praise is the prerequisite to stepping into the outer court.

When we try to enact prayer without an entry of praise…we are doing it wrong.

Many of us don’t get anywhere in our prayer because we never use the door.

One of the most transformative additions you can make to your prayer life is the practice of beginning your prayer time with a praise session.

Gratitude is the most healthy and freeing emotions we can experience.

Gratitude makes what you have enough.

Some of us need to replace the grind with some more gratitude.

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2. The Brazen Altar: Focus on the cross.

When they walked through the outer court, they would come to a place with an altar.

The brazen altar was the place that sacrifices were made.

When you saw the altar you saw the stains from blood shed by perfect lambs to make atonement for the sin of God’s people.

It was a reminder that the only way to get into the presence of God was by the shedding of blood.

We no longer have to enact sacrifices in order to pay for our sins because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice who paid that price once and for all!

When you have praised Him and given thanks for other areas…always remember to look at the cross and thank Him for the blood.

My eternity is changed because of the blood.

My sicknesses are healed because He shed His blood.

Psalm 103:2–5 ESV

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

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3. The Laver: Offer every part of my life to God

When you came to the next element it was the laver.

The laver was a bowl of water with mirrors at the bottom.

This would be a place that you could clearly see every imperfection and gain access to a means by which to cleanse it .

When you have praised Him and thanked Him for His sacrifice…ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit to reveal how He might have you live differently today!

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Start at the top and go down the line.

My thoughts

My eyes

My ears

My mouth

My hands

My feet

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4. The Candlestick: Invite the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

At this point you would go from the outer area into a smaller tent.

The first element inside this smaller tent was a candle stick.

The candlestick that is lit is representative of the Spirit of God.

Revelation speaks of the candlesticks as though they are the church...

YOU AND I ARE THE CANDLESTICK...

A candlestick with no fire…is useless!

When we pray through this pattern…the candlestick is a reminder that we need the flame of the Holy Spirit to rest upon us.

WE NEED THE FIRE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN 2023

2 Timothy 1:6–7 ESV

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Take time at this level and ask the Holy Spirit to set a fire in your Spirit!

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5 The Table of Shewbread: Claim the promises in God’s Word

This was a table with twelve loaves of bread sitting on it.

It was fresh baked…you could smell it…you wanted it…it reminded you of God’s promises.

Matthew 4:4 ESV

But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

God’s promises (His Word) is the bread to us as believers!

It’s good to include scripture in your prayer time.

It’s especially good to pray scripture in your prayer time.

THE BIBLE ISN’T JUST A DEVOTIONAL BOOK...

THE BIBLE ISN’T JUST A HISTORY BOOK...

THE BIBLE IS A WEAPON!

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6. The Altar or Incense: Worship His Name.

Right before you would enter the place where His presence was within the tabernacle...

There was an altar that was burning incense ALL THE TIME

Our prayer time should never be lacking a time of worship.

I praise Him for what He’s done…but I worship Him for who He is!

Psalm 95:6–7 ESV

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,

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7. The Ark of the covenant: Intercede for others.

Only the priest was allowed into the area where the ark of the covenant was kept in the tabernacle.

It was in this place that they would do the work of intercession for God’s people.

Now we all have been given access to this level of God’s presence because of the work of Jesus.

We have all been made kings and priests in order to fulfill and propagate the kingdom of God.

We now have the privilege of doing the work of the priest by interceding on behalf of others.

1 Timothy 2:1–2 ESV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Intercede on behalf of those in your life

Pray for your family

Pray for your nation

Pray for our leaders

Pray for your pastor

Pray for our church!

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Closing

The truth is the only wrong way to pray is not to...

But here you have a pattern for a well rounded approach to prayer…certain days certain parts will engulf you.

TOGETHER LETS SPEND SOME TIME PRAYING THROUGH THIS PATTERN.

Outer Court - Give Thanks

Altar - Look at the cross

Laver - Let Him cleanse you

Candlestick - Holy Spirit anoint me

Showbread - Claim His promises

Incense - Worship His Name

Ark - Pray for Others