ITS TIME TO WATCH
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THE COMMAND TO PRAY
THE COMMAND TO PRAY
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
pray without ceasing,
St. Luke 18:1
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
THE CONDITIONS TO PRAY
THE CONDITIONS TO PRAY
St, Matthew 6:5
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF PRAYER IS TO GET AUDIENCE WITH GOD!!!!!
HOW DO WE GET AUDIENCE WITH GOD??????
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
WE SEEK GOD BUT WHY DONT WE GET ANSWERS?
THE PORBLEM IS THE HEART!
WHAT ARE THE HEART PROBLEMS THAT HINDERS EFFECTIVE PRAYER????
HALF-HEARTED PRAYER (THIS IS THE DOUBLE-MINDED BELIEVER)
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
st. Luke 10:27
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
St. Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
st. Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
HEARTLESS PRAYER (THIS IS THE BELIEVER THAT IS DISCONNECTED FROM GOD)
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.
St. Matthew 6:12
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
GOD WILL MANIFEST HIS PRESENCE TO THOSE WHO ARE PURE IN HEART!
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
THE POWER OF THE CHURCH IS PRAYER!!!!!!
SHOW ME A POWERFUL CHURCH AND I WILL SHOW YOU A CHURCH PRAYERFUL CHURCH!!!!
PRAYER HAS TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND EVERY ACTIVITY AND PROGRAM OF THE CHURCH IN ORDER TO SUCCESS
THE EARLY CHRUCH UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF PRAYER!!!!
One of the most dominant features of the New Testament church was that they prayed.
Following the ascension of Jesus, the followers of Jesus were left in Jerusalem without Jesus' physical presence, but spiritually they were still in contact with him because they prayed.
When the disciples were selecting the replacement for Judas they prayed. The decision was too great to make by themselves.
Following Peter's sermon on Pentecost that resulted in many new believers, they were instructed in spiritual growth tools. Among those tools was prayer.
Prayer was such a way of life that they took time out each day, even in the afternoons, to spend time in prayer to God.
Prayer was so important to the apostles that they set aside other servants to care for the physical needs of the widows, so they could spend extended periods of time in prayer.
What Happens When A Church Prays?, Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
THE COMMITTMENT TO PRAY
THE COMMITTMENT TO PRAY
St. Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Before they call I will answer;
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
St. John 15:5-8
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.