Prayer: The Key to Heaven’s Resources
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Tommy and Sarah Learn How to Pray
Tommy and Sarah Learn How to Pray
Tommy and Sarah were excited as they sat in their Sunday school class. Miss Anna, their teacher, had promised to teach them something very special that day: how to pray.
“Prayer is like talking to God,” Miss Anna began, holding up her Bible. “It’s not about fancy words or being perfect. It’s about having a conversation with Him.”
Tommy raised his hand. “But Miss Anna, how do we know what to say? What if we mess up?”
Miss Anna smiled. “Great question, Tommy! Jesus gave us a guide to help us. It’s called the Lord’s Prayer.” She opened her Bible to Matthew 6:9–13 and read it aloud:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’”
Tommy and Sarah listened carefully, their eyes wide with curiosity.
“What does all that mean?” Sarah asked.
Miss Anna explained, breaking it down:
“When we say, ‘Our Father in heaven,’ we’re calling on God as our loving Father. It reminds us He cares for us.”
“When we say, ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done,’ we’re asking for God’s plans to happen, not just our own.”
“Daily bread means asking for what we need today, like food, help, or strength.”
“Forgiving others shows we understand how much God forgives us.”
“And asking God to protect us from temptation and evil helps us live the way He wants.”
Tommy raised his hand again. “Can we try it?”
“Of course!” Miss Anna said. “But first, let’s make it personal. What’s something you want to thank God for?”
Sarah thought for a moment. “I’m thankful for my family and my puppy, Max.”
Tommy grinned. “I’m thankful for soccer and that I passed my math test!”
Miss Anna nodded. “Great! Now, is there something you need from God?”
Tommy said, “I want to be better at sharing with my little brother.”
Sarah added, “I need help being brave when I’m scared.”
“Perfect!” Miss Anna said. “Let’s put it all together. I’ll start, and you can repeat after me.”
Together, they prayed:
“Dear God, thank You for being our Father. We love You and praise Your name. We ask for Your will to be done in our lives. Please help us with what we need today, like sharing and being brave. Forgive us when we mess up, and help us forgive others. Protect us from anything that could hurt us. Amen.”
When they finished, Tommy and Sarah both smiled. “That wasn’t so hard!” Tommy said.
“It felt like talking to a friend,” Sarah added.
Miss Anna beamed. “That’s exactly what prayer is! Remember, you can talk to God anytime, anywhere, about anything.”
As Tommy and Sarah left class that day, they felt a little closer to God, knowing He was always ready to listen whenever they prayed.
A: The Lord’s Prayer and Application
A: The Lord’s Prayer and Application
Key Scripture:
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is 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 also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Focus: Understanding and applying the Lord’s Prayer as a model.
I remember when I went to school we said the Lord’s prayer everyday to start the day, Yes it was a public school
Our Schools have become so Godless, kids aren’t even allowed to pray anymore.
But the issue is, these words are not to be repeated over and over again
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
Rather Jesus gave His disciples and us, a template or a pattern to follow when we pray.
the issue with repeating the same words over and over again is it very impersonal.
Just think if you wake up in the morning and read the same paragraph to your spouse every morning.
How well would that go?
Would that better your relationship.
I know there is a trend with many denominations and people to produce prayers you can pray.
Like if you do the incantation using the right words in the right order God has to listen to you!
That’s Not how it works,
anyone remember when the prayer of Jabez what a popular prayer
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.”
10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.
It was a popular prayer for a real long time , I believe Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book about it that made it real popular
Now I’m not saying its wrong to pray that prayer, but it cannot replace the need for relationship that prayer is intended to prosper
Its not the words, but the heart and intention behind the words.
How can I say this?
28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’
29 “And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went.
30 “The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.
Jesus is clearly teaching that our actions weigh much more than our words.
yes words are important....but the action with the words is of much greater importance.
So if we aren’t just supposed to repeat the words, what is Jesus teaching us?
Adoration:
Adoration:
"Hallowed be Your Name" — Start prayer with worship and reverence.
Application:
Cultivate a heart of gratitude and honor for God’s holiness.
Worship puts you in the right position
Alignment:
Alignment:
"Your Kingdom come, Your will be done" — Submit to God’s purpose over personal desires.
Application:
Pray for discernment to align with God’s will daily.
God will never answer a prayer that doesn’t line up with His will
Provision:
Provision:
"Give us today our daily bread" — Depend on God for all needs.
Application:
Trust God for both physical and spiritual sustenance.
Remember verse 8b
8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
God is aware of our needs.
Our asking is more of a reminder for us than Him
its so you can recognize in a greater way when He answers that prayer
You not actually informing Him what you want or need, He already knows,
rather you are recognizing that you need Him in this situation
24 “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.
Again if your’ve gone though the alignment step, it makes this step a whole lot easier
Forgiveness and Relationships:
Forgiveness and Relationships:
"Forgive us... as we forgive" — Seek and extend forgiveness as a reflection of God’s grace.
Application:
Commit to resolving conflicts and walking in love.
Deliverance:
Deliverance:
"Deliver us from evil" — Ask for protection and strength against temptation.
Application:
Pray proactively for spiritual victory.
If you struggle with temptation, and yes we all do!
take it to God, ask him to show you the way out
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
God does not condemn us when we fall to temptation? the evil one most certainly does...
rather God is there to cheer us on to do the right thing
The next part of prayer is to listen.
remember prayer is 2 way communication
2 ears 1 mouth
much more beneficial to shut up and let God talk!
So as a quick overview, I have several sermon online about hearing God’s voice, if you want more detail
B: How to Hear God’s Voice
B: How to Hear God’s Voice
Key Scripture:
27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
"My sheep hear my voice" we all can hear His voice
but How can we verify Its God talking to us.
There can be many voices.
our own voice
some people talk to themselves outloud..eg Pastor Rick
the enemies voice
Jesus Temptation give us an idea of how the enemy speaks to us
God’s voice
the most important voice to hear
Focus:
Practical steps to discern and validate God’s voice.
Practical steps to discern and validate God’s voice.
Ways God Speaks:
Through Scripture — The Bible as the primary standard.
Logos
2. Through the Holy Spirit — Inner impressions and guidance.
a. Rhema
3. Through others — Wise counsel and confirmation.
How do we verify what we are hearing is coming from God?
Validation Tools:
Biblical Alignment: Does it align with Scripture?
Peace: Do you experience God’s peace in the decision?
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Ill: Shirl and My 1st house purchase attempt
3. Confirmation: Is it confirmed by mature believers or circumstances?
4. Fruit: Does it produce godly outcomes?
16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
Application:
Practice silence and listening in prayer, soaking
Journal insights and impressions for clarity and reflection.
Conclusion
5 Things to be praying for:
Believers would have a passion for the lost Luke 19:10; 2 Peter 3:9
2. Believers would have a desire to return to Church Heb 10:24-25
3. Believers would experience the release of God’s glory in their personal, and corporate times of worship 2 Cor 3:18; Psalm 22:3
4. prebelievers would be drawn into the church because they feel God’s presence 1 Cor 14:24-25
5. Believers would passionately desire to serve Matt 9:37-38
Let’s pray
