The Propose of Prayer and Perseverance

What is the purpose of prayer?

▸ To ________________________________________________

In a walk with God, what are two characteristics of prayer?

1. To _______________________________________________

Genesis 18:16-19 – 16 Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. 17 And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” (New King James Version)

2. To _______________________________________________

John 14:12-14 – 12 The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. 13 From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. 14 What-ever you request in this way, I’ll do. (The Message)

How does perseverance relate to prayer?

Luke 18:1-8 – 1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ ” 6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” (New Living Translation)

▸ Prayer is not ____________________________________

▸ Prayer is typically beset by ________________________ and ______________________

Proverbs 13:12 – Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, . . . (The Message)

Isaiah 40:28-31 – 28 Surely you know. Surely you have heard. The Lord is the God who lives forever, who created all the world. He does not become tired or need to rest. No one can understand how great his wisdom is. 29 He gives strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak. 30 Even children become tired and need to rest, and young people trip and fall. 31 But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again. They will rise up as an eagle in the sky; they will run and not need rest; they will walk and not become tired. (New Century Version)

What’s the difference between a fainted heart and a renewed heart?

▸ The characteristics of a fainted heart:

1. Looks at _______________________________

2. __________________________because it’s too painful

3. Dwells on _____________________________

4. Prays from a stand point of _______________________ instead of ____________________________

5. No longer ___________________________ at all

▸ The characteristics of a renewed heart:

1. Enjoys the _________________________ of God’s heart toward His people

2. Enjoys the _______________________ of receiving what God has promised as if it were already present reality

3. Rejects looking to _____________________________

4. Embraces __________________ and _____________________________ as reminders to trust God