Just Pray

God answers prayer…

-We must be willing to seek the face of God.

-God is willing to hear and able to answer prayer

Pray with Reverence for God

Luke 11:2-4

*The Lord’s prayer…(He taught but did not have to pray it)

-The Model Prayer

-The God who answers prayer is God all by Himself.

-We must be willing to pray God-sized and God-reverenced prayers

And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

*We can always count on God to be out Father…

-God is not a deadbeat dad or an absentee father; He is the perfect Heavenly Father…

-We can take our issues and desires directly to God!

-We can go to God as His children

*Pray about things that brings God glory “hallowed be your name…”

Pray prayers that are bigger than you

*Pray as though everything depends on God…

Give us each day our daily bread

-We must be reminded that God is in control of every moment of our lives.

-Only God can provide

Pray with Dependance on God

Luke 11:5-8

*Parable of he “Friend at Midnight” (We must be willing to keep on knocking)

*Although the host did not have any resources he knew where to find some…

-It’s good to know where you can find help in a time of need!

-This parable raises 2 questions about our dependence on God:

*Do you pray? (Where do you go in times of need?)

-Do you bring your issues to God?

Are you totally dependent on God?

Proverbs 3:5-6

***Story of slaves praying in the fields***

*Is there grass in your field? Are you neglecting spending time in prayer to God?

*How do you pray?

-The host was persistent in his knocking on his friend’s door because he was in need

-He was bold enough to knock “without shame”…

*When we really need God we will “keep on knocking”

(I don’t care if the whole neighborhood wakes up…I need something from you!)

*We must be too desperate to be denied!!

“When pangs of death seized on my soul, unto the Lord I cried, ‘til Jesus came and made me whole I would not be denied”

*Jesus wants us to pray without shame; we have to be willing to pray like we need something from God!

Pray with Confidence in God

Luke 11:9-13

*The Lord orders us to pray

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

*Jesus commands us to ask for what we need (Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking)

-Pray until things change…pray until you get an answer, pray until something happens

Don’t stop praying

*God answers prayer! (He may not answer the way we want Him to but He does answer prayer)

-God does not answer every prayer with a yes, but He does answer prayer!

-Sometimes it is good to shout that God said “NO”

-If God answered every prayer of mine I would be married to the wrong woman…

-I would be living in the wrong city; I would be pastoring the wrong church!

*God is willing to answer prayer (vs. 11-13)

-A good father will take care of His children’s needs.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

-God gives “good gifts” (Matthew 7:11)

*God can give you stuff that you cannot give yourself!!!

-He’s able!!!

*God places the Holy Spirit inside of us to give us the strength to make it through.

-All we need is on the inside of us!

“Something within that holdeth the reins, something within that banishes the pain, something within that I cannot explain, all I know is that there is something within”!

-God will take care of you!

*God is not a “sleepy friend” God is our GREAT Father!

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER