Affectation of Prayer

Affected Prayer John 1:6-13 Affections in 2025 • The first Sunday of every month in ’25, we are asking God to heighten our religious affections. • Definition of Affection: Deep and lasting transformation of the soul that results in the zealous pursuit of God, overflowing love for God’s people, and joyful service in God. • Truth + Emotion + Action = Affection • Today, we’ll explore how the truth of our neediness ought to stir us to a robust prayer life. What Compels Prayer? • Genesis 18:20: “Because the outcry against Sodom is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me.” [Emergency: 11 verses of intercession follow] • Genesis 24:5: “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” [Difficulty: 24:12-28 record a prayer and an exact answer] • Genesis 32:6: “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him” [Fear: Jacob gives his longest recorded prayer] Jesus tells us of our Perpetual Need • John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” [present, strong doublenegative] • Matthew 11:26, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him” [“know” = intimate, personal relationship] • John 15:5, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” [present; double negative] • Matthew 16:17, “Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven.” Jesus Illustrates our Perpetual Need • Luke 11:5-8: A friend asks for assistance in hospitality at midnight – he can only plead and ask for mercy. • Luke 18:1-8: A poor widow is powerless against a godless judge – she can only remain steadfast in asking. • Luke 18:9-14: Jesus contrasts a proud and self-sufficient Pharisee with a humble tax collector. • Matthew 18:14: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” • Mark 10:13: “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Jesus Models Perpetual Need • John 4:34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work.” • John 5:19: “The Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing” • John 5:30: “I can do nothing on my own” • John 7:16: “My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me.” • John 8:28: “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” • John 12:49: “I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment” Jesus Models Perpetual Need • Matthew 4:4: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the FAther.” • Hebrews 5:8: “Although he was a Son, he learned obedience” • Philippians 2:8: “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.” • Matthew 26:38: “My soul is very sorrowful, even to the point of death.” Jesus Meets the Needs of Needy People • Wedding arty with no wine – John 2:1-12 • Man with no friends – John 5:1-15 • Crowds with no food – Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9; John 6 • Man with no sight – John 9 • People with no power to heal their children: 1. Canaanite Mother: Mark 7:24-30 2. Official’s Son: John 4:46ff 3. Jarius: Mark 5:21ff 4. Widow: Luke 7:11-17 Applications 1. Ask God to open our eyes to our true needs. 2. Ask God to expand our hopes for what is possible. 3. Set aside dedicated time. 4. Get over the fear of prayer before others.