Sermon Series on Prayer

I have some questions for you today. Be honest with yourself when you answer them.

1. How often do you pray?

2. What do you pray about?

3. What motivates you to pray? More than likely it’s not the good times of life BUT, fear, pain, suffering, or heartache.

4. Do you have confidence that God will answer your prayer?

5. What keeps you from praying?

*Most people do not pray because of S I N...... When you have sin, ongoing sin in your life.....lets be real here.....you just don’t want to be in the presence of a Holy God and talk

Him about your life! Well do you? Unless you are ready to get real with Him and repent of your sin and get in right standing with Him.

Church we must understand that prayer is the most important thing we do as believers, talking with God! The creator of the universe!

I’m going to be very honest with you and want you to pay close attention here! If you have ignored Jesus Christ and have refused to acknowledge Him and make Him the Lord of your life.......YOU CAN FORGET THE PRAYING! I have watched people in hard times such as 9/11, people who live like hell everyday, mock God’s word, not one thought about God and ridicule those who profess Christ ALL OF A SUDDEN WANT TO SAY A PRAYER, HELP US GOD, WE NEED HELP! GOD DOES NOT HEAR THEIR PRAYER!

**THE ONLY PRAYER THE ONE TRUE GOD WILL HEAR FROM A LOST PERSON IS THE PRAYER OF REPENTANCE AND ASKING FOR SALVATION, MAKING CHRIST THE LORD OF THEIR LIFE!

Again prayer is the most important thing we do as believers!

Philippians 4:6

The New King James Version Chapter 4

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God

At this time the Philippians were under persecution, they were suffering for Christ- BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING (IN THE MIDDLE OF SUFFERING)

BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER and SUPPLICATION (a humble request)request=desire, when you are in good relationship with Christ your desire will match his!

Let’s look at two kingdoms and compare. One is the kingdom of this world and the other is the kingdom of God. They coexist in this space we call time!

Lets compare the two. Paul instructs us that we are to do EVERYTHING BY PRAYER!

1. The kingdom of this world says EVERYTHING BY MONEY! MONEY TALKS, MONEY IS PRIVILEGED, MONEY IS POWER, MONEY OPENS DOORS! MONEY MONEY MONEY.

God’s kingdom says: Christ didn’t have a penny, no place to lay his head. But the church is wise enough to know that that God uses money in his kingdom, and he instructs us to lay up in store on the first day of the week. 1 Cor 16:2 We know that God takes our gifts of money and He blesses it and spreads it out for His kingdom. The blessing comes because everything in God’s Kingdom is done by prayer!! See the difference!

2. The kingdom of the world says EVERYTHING BY SOCIAL PRESTIGE. Your social status, who you know, that’s what matters in life!

God’s Kingdom says: Christ was born in a manger. Peter was a fisherman, John was a Fisherman, Levi was a tax collector, the early church was born out of the common people. 1 Cor 1:26 Social Prestige doesn’t work God’s Kingdom EVERYTHING BY PRAYER!

*The point is this: God’s ways are different from the kingdom of this world!

Everything we do MUST BE DONE IN PRAYER!

1. How we should live each day

2. How we should spend our time

3. How we should talk to others

4. How we should love each other

5. How we spend our money God blesses us with

6. What we should give to His church for His Kingdom

7. How we conduct the business of His Church

8. How we should react to problems, health, financial, family, work

9. What place of service God wants us to be a part of

10. Should I buy this or not?

11. Should I do this or not?

12. Should I consider dating this person

* Do you get the picture? EVERYTHING MEANS EXACTLY THAT EVERYTHING BY PRAYER.

REMEMBER MY QUESTIONS?

1. How often do you pray?

2. What do you pray about?

3. What motivates you to pray? More than likely it’s not the good times of life BUT, fear, pain, suffering, or heartache.

4. Do you have confidence that God will answer your prayer?

5. What keeps you from praying?

I’M GOING TO ADD FEW MORE! HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP? HOW DOES THIS LOCAL CHURCH MEASURE UP? HOW DOES THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS CHURCH MEASURE UP? HOW DOES THE PASTOR MEASURE UP?

IF WE DON’T GET THIS RIGHT WE WILL NOT ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING FOR CHRIST! WE MUST DO EVERYTHING BY PRAYER! TRUE PRAYER.

FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF SUNDAY’S WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON THIS TOPIC!

ANNOUNCE THE NEW PRAYER SERVICE, THURSDAYS AT 6:30, WEDNESDAYS WILL BE YOUTH ONLY AND THE YOUTH WORKERS AS WE FOCUS ON THEM DURING THAT TIME.