Colossians 4:2-4

Inward Change with Prayer (outward effect)

ILLUST (Keep these in mind through this)

Calling for tickets for a show, concert,

Needed to be persistent (no www, cell phone, etc.), relentless, especially with dial phones

Parallel this to the parable of the unjust judge, , woman is persistent, relentless, her cause is evident

Meeting place

Parents, dropping kids off; or at Six Flags - meet at the fountain

And YOU ARE THERE, it’s important to be

2 Extremes in life

Hidden (prayer) - today’s topic

Outward (active busy life in society) - next week

Prayer - blah, blah, blah; we talk, talk, talk

DEVOTED PRAYER - KEYS

Perhaps our most intimate time with God

Paul says, “Devote yourselves to prayer

“confirm steadfast,” fervor, MEAN IT!

Prayer should characterize the church, this church

Devoted prayer is...

1) ALERT/WATCHFUL

Not careless

Not casual

Not mechanical, rote, etc.

“Now I lay me down...” - but kids CAN develop good habits

Alert = “Understand the times” - not isolated

Know the needs, issues, etc.

Know life’s circumstances

Alert prayer - purposeful, personal, persistent, powerful

Alert is to stand guard, be ready

Always be ready to pray

Always be ready to talk to God

1 Timothy 2:8 NASB95

Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

Devoted prayer shows...

2) THANKFULNESS

The verse written literally is “watchful(alert) in thankfulness

Being thankful - the drive for the believer

Thankful - good environment for proper, “informed” prayer

Paul, here, is in prison, and he provides an excellent example of looking past his circumstances

Finally, devoted prayer is...

3) SPECIFIC

Here, intercessory, for others

Paul could have prayed for these issues himself, so why ask others?

(not just b/c “when 2 or 3 are gathered...” - wrong context)

(sure, I can pray alone, God’s still there)

“Careful what you pray for...”

Paul repeats the command (request, urging) - “PRAY” - this is important

The Gospel

Paul was consumed by, devoted to, the Gospel

THANKFUL for the Gospel

THANKFUL for the Gospel, not for his own blessing!

The Gospel is at the center of prayer

Specific Prayer - example here

a) open doors for the Gospel - opportunities

do WE pray for them?

do WE seek openings

b) clear proclamation

praying that God speaks clearly through me, others

praying that HIS Word is proclaimed - most important part

letting God supply the widsom

no need for ME to muddy things up

OUR SPECIFICS - Prayer bulletin

FIRST ask questions

WHY? - We want to talk to God

HOW? - In Jesus’ name (), lifting holy hands ()

WHEN? - Always, whenever ()

WHERE? - Private, corporate, public ( example)

FOR CORRECT “THINGS” -

James 4:3 NASB95

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

SO…The Cornerstone Prayer Bulletin

walk through the format

How would you fill it in?

Will you join us?

How will you let God change your prayer life?

This takes about 10-15 minutes to pray through

Challenge - set timer, 5 minutes, pray (seems like a really long time)

POINTS

The person of peace, true peace, is a person of prayer

God relentlessly, persistently, pursues us (His Word)

Guess what - need a meeting place?

God is right where He said He’d be!

Always with you

TALK TO HIM

Let HIM be your comfort!

PRAYER WORKS - You with us?