Prayer Method

Mathew Henry

Prayer method

Q. What is Prayer

Prayer is talking to God

I always like to say that prayer is talking to God

and reading His word is Him talking back to us.

This is one of the best ways we cultivate that relationship (prayer - scripture)

A good relationship of any sorts includes communication

ILLUSTRATION

Imagine If I never talked to my (husband/wife)

What type of relationship would that be

Its the same way with God

We need to be in an active relationship with God

and Prayer is vital to this relationship

Q. How many of you have had struggle praying longer than 3 minutes?

Im not talking about

10 seconds before your meal

Or

Asking for traveling mercies

Or

A quick prayer before bed

These are all good prayers

But we want to cultivate a more robust prayer life…..

Today were going to learn a basic method

To help establish a more intentional prayer life

Get your pen and paper ready

we also want to introduce the benefit of a prayer journal

keep this journal around and write down the things you are praying for

This method was introduced by Matthew Henry over 300 years ago

It includes 6 sections to guide your prayers

I want you to write them down

adoration and praide

confession

petetion and supplication

thanksgiving

intercession

conclusion

We will learn about each section and then we will put this into practice as a group

Adoration and praise –Address God in Adoration

This is Telling God what you think of Him

Here you start and Get your heart ready to address God

( focus on coming into His presence)

WRITE DOWN - something good you can say about God…

A statement of his power, goodness, love

Start with God you are …………

An example would be

Psalm 95:6

[6] Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! (ESV)

Also in

B. Matthew 6:9

[9] Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name. (ESV)-------

*The Lords prayer starts proclaiming God is Holy

the next one is

Confession - tell God the areas you have fallen short

Everyone write one down something you can confess

Maybe its anger, hurtful words, disobedience to parents,

Fear, not trusting Him, loving the world, wasting time, disobeying parents

1 John 3:4

[4] Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (ESV)

Sin --is disobeying what God has commanded

We all sin and should seek to come to God and confess to Him where we have fallen short

1 John 1:9

[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

Jesus has forgiven you of all of your sin when you repented

and put your faith in Him

Yet He wants us to continue to confess our sin to Him on a regular basis

the next is

Petition- means request (SUPPLICATION)

When we pray we should make requests

James 4:2

[2] You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. (ESV)

Q. What do we need to ask of GOD

Needs — example in the Lords prayer

Matthew 6:11

[11] Give us this day our daily bread, (ESV)

Write some personal ones down

Help- depression, anxiety, pornography, lust,

strength-fight sin

wisdom-

be careful about patience--

humility--

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

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.

we see prayer and requests before God are to be made with thanksgiving

you should always keep a thankful heart to Jesus for paying the penalty for your sin…

and that is part of the next one

Thanksgiving - literally what you are thankful for

pertaining to God

*Write down some things that you are thankful for

Psalm 136:1 NKJV

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

the next section is

Intercession- asking God to act on behalf of others

this is simply who are you praying for

and what is it that your praying for them

We see this play out in the way Jesus is always interceeding for us

Romans 8:34 NKJV

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

If I sin, I have Jesus who is going to the father on my behalf

and defending me … This should lead you to repentance not more sin…

through intercession

we want to make a list of the people we are praying for

**Write down some people you want to pray for

and what it is they need

this is where we pray for the lost

the sick

peoples trials

other people in general

Conclusion- end your prayer

in the same way you start , end your prayer in praise to God

This is how Jesus ends the Lords prayer

Matthew 6:13 NKJV

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.

Now remember

every prayer doesnt need to follow this method

you need to be able to talk to God whenever and wherever.....

This is just a tool to help you develop a deeper

and more meaningful prayer life

now lets put this into practice as a team

dont be nervous to pray,, we are going to go in a circle and pray together

this is corporate prayer…

I will start and we will go to the left starting with Adoration and praise..

each person pray as long or as short as you would like in giving God praise.

2. confession

petetion and supplication

thanksgiving

intercession

conclusion

( if you finish early just talk or go outside to get ready for kickball )