What is Prayer and Why is it Important?

Luke 11:1-4; Psalm 63:1-3; Psalm 6; Psalm 5:3

Recap last night: Learning about how each of us is created; learning about the purpose in God creating each of us (two-fold); and learning about how we are live more like Jesus Christ every day (imitating Him)

This mornings topic: Highlights two (2) spiritual disciplines that are vital in living out our faith & identity in Christ:

The first part of our discussion this morning will be discussing what prayer is (1) the nature/language of our relationship with God, (2) our heart’s posture (condition of our heart when we pray), and (3) when we ought to pray

The second part of our discussion will be learning the value of our relationship we are to have with our Bibles—getting to know God must include a relationship with our Bibles

(PRAYER)

Prayer is one of those disciplines we talk about a lot, encourage one another in, read about in the Bible, and something that should consume our lives as Christians (believers). Yet, prayer often times seems elusive or difficult; it can seem religious (something we “are just supposed” to do); it can be something we assign “rules” to; it can be something confusing

(ASK) How did you get to “know” your best friend? How about your parents?

(ASK) How much time do you spend talking to them each day? Each week?

(ASK) What would happen if you “rarely” or every “once in a while” communicated with you friends or family?

SWITCH THE FOCUS

(ASK) What would your screen time or your “pick up” number be if we checked your phone settings…in other words how many times a day do you pick up your phone to talk, text, or communicate with family, friends, and others?

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Prayer is all about the posture/position/condition of our hearts. Prayer is the language or our relationship with God. In fact prayer indicates we have a relationship with God---apart from a relationship with God—our prayers are one-sided (ours)

The nature of prayer is the worshipful communications we have with God; it is reserved for believers (Christians); and only directed to our Father in heaven (we don’t pray to Mary, to the apostles, to angels, to relatives who have passed away, etc.); we pray in the name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gives us the greatest example of the heart we need to have in prayer---this is where we begin this morning

(READ LUKE 11:1-4)

I. Our hearts posture in prayer

(v.2) Prayer indicates our relationship (Luke 11:2 “So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father...”)

Biblical prayer is reserved for those in a relationship with God

Proverbs 28:9 “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.”

In receiving salvation, we are brought into a relationship with God, where we are His children—born again and adopted into God’s family; we are then indwelt with His Holy Spirit—it is only then, that we can address God as our loving Father

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”

Romans 8:15-17 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

(v.2) Prayer recognizes where God is (Luke 11:2 “...Our Father in heaven, )

God is in Heaven—on His throne

(v.2) Prayer recognizes God’s name (Yahweh, Jehovah) (Luke 11:2 “So He said to them, “... Hallowed be Your name.)

Yahweh/Jehovah—mean that God is personal, intentional, He is immediate and involved; He is our Redeemer, our Savior, and our Deliverer

His name(s) describe who He is and His attributes (see handout)—and what’s even greater is that for those who are born again and followers of Christ—He acts upon His name—His attributes—His nature—His character

He’s faithful—He acts on it

He’s forgiving—He acts on it

He’s protecting—He acts on it

He’s ever-present (He’s there)—He acts on it

He’s peace—He acts on it

He’s a provider—He acts on it

(v.2) Prayer recognizes it’s about God’s plan and will, not our own (Luke 11:2 “... Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” )

God desires to hear the things on your heart; yet the more you pray

God will change how you pray so that you pray what matters most to Him and less about our “wants” and “desires”

(v.3) Prayer recognizes where our dependency/provision is to come from (Luke 11:3 “Give us day by day our daily bread.”)

O/T manna from heaven—God’s provision for His people

N/T Jesus is the bread of life—He is who ultimately sustains, strengthens, protects, teaches, guides, guards, and chastens our hearts

Note the words, “day by day” and “daily bread”

Value of needed Jesus every day

(Talk about the Armor of God—when to put it on, how much of it to put on, etc.)

(v.4) Prayer is where we confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, so we can do the same (Luke 11:4 “And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.)

Define confession/Define repentance/Define restoration

Why we can’t withhold forgiving others: creates bitterness, anger, resentment, and sin in our own hearts

Matthew 6:14-15 ““For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

We cannot give the excuse that we “refuse to forgive” b/c of what someone did to us if we are a Christian. Why? Because Jesus forgave you of all things you have ever, are currently doing, or will do, to Him

(v.4) Prayer is where protect ourselves against trials and temptations (Luke 11:4 “...And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.””)

We cannot fight sin/trials/temptations on our own—we are not match for the powers of the Hell and the Devil

We cannot use “our armor” to fight these battles—the only armor we have is Christ’s and it must be prayed for every day

Ephesians 6:18 “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”

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II. When we are to pray

(ASK) Why is it hard to pray to God sometimes?

(ASK) When do we “typically pray” to God?

(ASK) What do we “typically ask for” in praying to God?

NOTE WHAT PAUL TEACHES—(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”)

(ASK)-What does this look like mean? Does it mean we are to walk around with our hands folded all the time, our eyes closed all the time?

What this means—is that our character as Christians to be people of prayer

Praying in times of trials/temptations/hard things

Praying in times of joy, seasons of peace, times of God’s Work in our live

Praying for others—including our enemies and those who are lost

NOTE WHEN/WHAT DAVID PRAYS—(Psalms 63:1-3 “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.”)

David doesn’t focus on the trial—but on the character and nature of God

In times of trial and temptation—focus your prayers on God’s nature and goodness, on His character and His promises

Note what Jesus teaches (Luke 18:1-8) in the Parable of the Persistent Widow

Prayers are to be consistent—not one and done

Prayers are demonstrative in our faith in God

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III. The Benefits of Prayer

Prayer draws out our faith/proves our faith

Mark 5:29-30 “Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?””

John 5:5-6 “Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?””

Prayer grants our hearts and minds the protection of God’s peace in times of stress and anxiety

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Prayer, “gets us on God’s page,” not our own

Psalm 143:8 “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.”

Prayer may not always change your circumstances but prayer will always change you

Daniel 3 (Shadrach, Meschach, and Abed-Nego)

Prayer can be full of distractions—from ourselves or someplace out

In times in prayer, when thoughts distract you—-pray the distraction

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(GOD’S WORD)-The Discipline of Reading our Bibles

Prayer is essential, of course—but having a relationship with the Bible is vital!

The Bible teaches two vital truths we need to know

*Salvation

*Sanctification

(ASK)—What is the primary reason Jesus came to earth?

(Matt 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”” )

(ASK)—Where do we learn what salvation is and Who is come from?

(2 Timothy 3:15 “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” )

(ASK)—Where do we learn what it means to be sanctified and what that looks like?

(2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”)

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(READ JOHN 5:38-39)

We all share one commonality in life---we are all broken (Explain brokenness circle in 3 Circles bracelet). Because of sin—somethings missing, there’s a gap where God should be—there’s a void, a hole, a emptiness inside our souls that only God can quench

In our brokenness and because of our sinful nature—we are prone to fill this void with other things:

Sports

Relationships

Technology

Addictions

Even religion

The truth—is there’s only one way out of our brokenness, out of the sins we struggle with—and that’s through Jesus Christ

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

And what’s even better, is that once we come to terms with Jesus and surrender our lives to Him, He doesn’t leave us alone:

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

In salvation, our sins are forgiven, we are liberated and set free from the bondage of sin—to LIVE in Christ. We have new life—as new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”) with a goal, an aim, and a purpose

And throughout our journey as believers, we are gifted the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, (1) making us living temples where God dwells, (2) conforming and molding us more and more into the image of Jesus.

The beauty of all this? God has given us the greatest resource, the greatest Book, the greatest Letter to provide us all of this: And the Bible centers on the perfect Son of God, Jesus Christ:

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God’s Word reveals Who He is so that we can know Him

John 5:38-39 “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”

What do these verses teach us?

The Bible is God’s story of redemption given to us

The Bible is God’s gift so that we know Him and we can be known by Him

The Bible’s focus is centered on Jesus Christ

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

1 John 1:1-5 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

DESCRIBE ALL THE DISCIPLES WITNESSED WHILE JESUS WAS ALIVE ON EARTH

The O/T points us and directs people to the cross and to promise of Jesus Christ coming to earth

Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.””

The N/T directs us to see that Christ came, He died, He arose from the grace, and He is ALIVE sitting at the right hand of the Father

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 19:30 “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

Luke 24:5-7 “Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ””

Hebrews 12:2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

God’s Word teaches us How God calls us to live

We have a purpose/aim/goal

Psalm 119:9-11 “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

God’s Word is more than just knowledge—it leads us to a changed heart and a changed life

Matthew 7:24-27 ““Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.””

John 8:31-32 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.””