NJ - PRAYER MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

INTRODUCTION

Good morning and welcome to Oasis Church, it is great to have you join with us today. If you are visiting with us, we welcome you, and look forward to chatting with you after the service around morning tea.

I believe as we spend time studying Gods word, He is going to speak to us, we will receive revelation from Holy Spirit, we will be challenged to grow and we will be blessed.

Let's Pray:

Father I pray that as we hear from your word today, that it will help us to understand what we have in You.

I pray that your Holy Spirit will help us outwork in all that you have called us to do.

Father we thank You for your goodness and Your love towards us.

We thank You for Your word and for Your Holy Spirit for we know it is He who brings revelation of Your word to our lives.

I pray our minds will be alert and our hearts open to receive all that You have for us today

Father bless Your people today in Jesus name Amen.

Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God as believers. Prayer is the heartbeat of all who follow after God, it is the defining mark of importance in our lives, knowing the difference that prayer makes.

There are a lot of people who make prayer a regular part of their daily walk, and there are a lot who don’t. There are some people who find it hard to pray, and for others it may even be, what do I pray? What words do I use? These are genuine questions that people today ask themselves.

How is it that we can help people get the answers that they are looking for. In Matthew ch6 we see that Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray.

Matthew 6:5–13 NKJV

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Point 1

Prayer, Two Way Communication with God

God loves to communicate with us, we know this from the scriptures where God would come down in the cool of the evening and walk through the garden with Adam and Eve

Genesis 3:8 NKJV

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

· Prayer is both speaking and listening

· Communication removes any doubt,

helps us to understand,

and we know God loves us.

· Hearing – He who has ears let him hear

Revelation 2:29 NKJV

29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

There is no Condemnation

Romans 8:1–5 NKJV

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Point 2

Putting Prayer into Practice

For most people prayer does not come naturally, it requires action, motivation and a desire to practice and develop your prayer life. My thoughts are that prayer is an active/doing word. Discipline is needed to have a good prayer life.

· We need to discipline ourselves to put priority into our prayer life.

· Our relationship with God is strengthened through our prayer.

· Pray without ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:16–19 NKJV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.

True prayer:

1. Builds intimacy with God

2. Brings honour to His nature and Character

3. Causes respect for His integrity

4. Causes trust in His love

5. Affirms His purposes and will

6. Appropriates His promises

Ephesians 3:14–21 NKJV

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Point 3

The Power of Prayer

All the power of God is at the disposal of true prayer; our power in prayer is in the word of God. “Your Kingdom come Your will be done”. Our prayers need to line up with the word of God, e.g. we can pray for Gods promises in our lives. If we are full of the word of God then we know that our desires are in alignment with God.

· If we ask anything in His name

1 John 5:13–15 NKJV

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

John 16:23–24 NKJV

23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

· Praying in the name of Jesus. Jesus’ name is the only name that can activate the power of Heaven.

(The name above every name)

Philippians 2:9–10 NKJV

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

· All of us have the power to bring Gods will on Earth so the world can be healed and transformed by His grace.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Conclusion:

As we come to the end of my message today, we have learnt that:

Prayer is Two Way Communications with God.

Putting Prayer into Practice.

The Power of Prayer.

Prayer is a vital part of our Christian walk; it is the very essence of our communication with God. This being, talking and listening to the Spirit of God. It is important for us to discipline ourselves to build a strong prayer life that will sustain us.

Salvation Opportunity