FOLLOW: THE DISCIPLES' PRAYER
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PRAYER: A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER;
It’s not a negotiation. It’s not an unwelcome intrusion; it’s not a systematic thesis. Yet it may feel strange and daunting. even the disciples had questions about prayer.
PRAYER CAN BE STRANGE AND DAUNTING
Christian Comedian Michael Jr
9 “Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Billy Graham: here’s how to pray, “Daddy, I love you.” Prayer is a Conversation between Father and Child.
STARTS WITH A PROPER RELATIONSHIP. GOD DESIRES TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS CHILDREN!
20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
CHRIST’S TEACHING ON ADDRESSING THE FATHER
We need right thinking about God. If you want a letter to get to someone in the mail, you need an ADDRESS. He’s not a generic guy in the sky. He has a nature and attributes that distinguish Him from all other beings.
First:
WORSHIP SIMPLY FOR WHO HE IS. (Holy: separate; unique; no one like Him)
Second:
ADORATION FOR HIS ATTRIBUTES AND WHAT HE HAS DONE. (Gracious; Provider; Savior; Mighty; Loving; Just)
He is a giving and loving Father.
GRATEFULNESS
Count your blessings
FORGIVENESS
“Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship. Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
THEN ASK WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVE: TO BRING KINGDOM LOVE AND FOCUS.
3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says:
God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble.
Caleb Crane #30
This Year Caleb at IUPUI. Before the season started, several starters had difficulties. The coaches sent out an student body wide call out. We only have six healthy players. Caleb called his dad John Crane and said, “What do you think?” They had certain schooling expectations that he would have to keep up, but they prayed and he ended up walking onto the team.
So, they prayed for this to be a blessing back to God and they asked for some simple goals, that he could get in for at least 1 minute. That way Caleb would forever be a NCAA DIVISION 1 basketball player.
Their first game was at Iowa State. John went up there because he wanted to be there for Caleb’s first court appearance. Caleb went in for the last 2 minutes and got a rebound. With John’s cheering in the nosebleeds, you’d think Caleb won the MVP.
The next game vs Drake he got in and was fouled. John watched and talked to the TV and Caleb missed the first shot. Then he made the second one. Dad nearly put a hole in the ceiling.
He’s a D1 ball player and scored. ESPN has his name logged.
Well, since the team had little experience together, coach started Sunday practices. Caleb teaches middle school boys at church on Sundays. So he approached the coach because this was a commitment to the Lord. He asked if it would be possible for him to miss Sundays. The coach agreed.
Now heres where it gets goosebumpy. Remember, it was an ask to honor God and have fun basically. Caleb does not appear to be on track to be a starter or a scholarship. So their lofty goals had been exceeded. God has even loftier goals.
A few weeks after Sunday practices started, the coach who had been giving some spicy locker pep talks during half-time changed the process. He had the team sit on the benches and then turned to Caleb and asked, “Would you pray for the team?” Caleb did so. Wow. He was excited. Dad is excited. A few games later dad is waiting for Caleb after the game. He says son, why are you running late. Oh we were praying. You mean from half-time right? No dad, we now pray before at half and after the game.
A little later, the assistant coach approached Caleb. The coaches had been talking and said, would
GOD HAS POINT GUARD PROTECTION FOR HIS CHILDREN.
THAT TEAM BY HAVING A GODLY YOUNG MAN STAND IN THE GAP FOR THEM.
How is your prayer life?
Worship wise?
Adoration?
Thankfulness?
Asking?
Protection?