Is Praying Out Loud Important?
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· 36 viewsWhat can we learn from Jesus' prayer life that will improve our prayer life?
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MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH GOD
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH GOD
SELECT A TIME
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
There is always something to do
Satan is not only a liar but he is a theif
Work, chores, running around doing important stuff, running around doing not-so-important stuff
If you don’t control your time…something else will
It’s good to be flexible with your time…to a point
But some things need to happen regularly, no matter what!
sleeping, eating, hydration, bathing, working
Time with God is a daily appointment
If you begin to drift — look to Jesus’ prayer life as a reminder
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Read the Gospels and you will see a pattern in Jesus’ life — he regularly got alone with the Father — EARLY IN THE MORNING
Transitional: Jesus not only had daily time…He would always choose...
CHOOSE A SPECIAL LOCATION
CHOOSE A SPECIAL LOCATION
SELECT A PLACE
Please don’t misunderstand…you don’t have to be in a certain location to pray — we can pray anytime and at any place — sometimes silently, sometimes aloud — pray without ceasing
But we learn from Jesus how important it is to stop…and create space for praying and hearing from the Lord
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Away from distractions
Luke tells us in chapter 5 that “Jesus frequently went to solitary places to pray” (mountains, hills, fields, Garden of Gethsemane)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Solitary — lonely, secluded, just you and God
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
This doesn’t mean we cannot pray in public — because that is done many times in scripture
It means our prayer, service, and everything we do should flow from a sincere heart that desires to know God and please Him
Do you have a prayer closet?
go into your room
Greek: “Inner room or storage chamber”
It’s a good plan…spend time with God in a place that is conducive to prayer — away from distractions
Away from excuses
Jentezen Franklin’s prayer life was transformed during a time when things were really hopping for Him and the ministry/church. It was all good stuff — but he became increasingly busy with many demands. He prayed…but shallow, hurried prayers. One day as he was praying, he was frustrated that His prayer life was slipping away from Him. The Lord revealed to Jentezen that day “I am here waiting for you! If you come and take time to talk to me, I will listen and you will hear from me.” HE IS WAITING — it’s His plan that we spend time with Him
Jentezen Franklin’s prayer life was transformed during a time when things were really hopping for Him and the ministry/church. It was all good stuff — but he became increasingly busy with many demands. He prayed…but shallow, hurried prayers. One day as he was praying, he was frustrated that His prayer life was slipping away from Him. The Lord revealed to Jentezen that day “I am here waiting for you! If you come and take time to talk to me, I will listen and you will hear from me.” HE IS WAITING — it’s His plan that we spend time with Him
Application
There will always be distractions and excuses — how do we overcome those things?
If you really want something, you find a way to make it happen
When you have the Lord’s help, anything is possible
Transitional: Jesus had a time and a place to pray…He also did something we should pay attention to...
USE YOUR WORDS
USE YOUR WORDS
PRAY OUT LOUD
The kids’ lesson today is entitled “How do I pray out Loud?"(tough questions kids ask)
Please Remember: Silent prayers are also very important — we are to pray without ceasing. In real practical terms…sometimes praying out loud might not be appropriate. For example — have you ever lost a document on your computer? Either you forget to save it, or some glitch happens and poof — it’s gone! If you are home go ahead and pray aloud to your heart’s content. But if you are in Starbucks or the Library it’s probably unwise to throw yourself on the floor rebuking that demon computer.
Having said that…many of us have trouble praying out loud — shy, unsure of ourselves, etc.
QUESTION: What are some things you pray for when you pray silently?
These are the same things you pray for when you pray out loud
Jesus prayed out loud
Jesus prayed out loud on a regular basis — Read the Psalms and catch a glimpse of emotional and loud prayers and worship.
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”J
In 6, the Disciples asked Jesus how to pray and He taught them the Lord’s prayer
What is in that prayer?
Reverence (hallowed)
Faith (your kingdom come)
acknowledging that God’s plan is the best plan
Ask for needs to be met (give us this day…)
Need for forgiveness and the recognition that we must forgive others
Prayer for protection from temptation and the evil one
Many people in the Bible prayed out loud
Look throughout the OT and you will find many examples of people opening their mouths and talking to God — priests, prophets, poets, and others
Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious.
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
Psalm 66
I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
Psalm 66:
Noah is another good example
When he was alone — he prayed loud — in the belly of the great f ish — what kind of prayer was it? REPENTANCE — important element of our prayers
King David cried out to God in repentance more than once
SKIM OVER
We can pray out loud in our private prayers
There is a place for praying out loud when we gather together — PUBLIC PRAYERS
With a humble heart — otherwise our prayers are prideful and insincere
Do you think David was sincere in that prayer?
Are we sincere when we pray, aloud or silently?
Transitional: We learn from Jesus that a time and a place of prayer are essential. We also see Jesus, as well as others throughout scripture, praying out loud. Another powerful lesson we can learn from Jesus is that He named names
NAME NAMES
NAME NAMES
BE SPECIFIC
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
In — Jesus prays for His Disciples
Be specific - yes God already knows — but there is something important and powerful about naming names in prayer
Your wife, your children, your parents, your grandchildren, friends, neighbors, government and civic leaders, missionaries
Transitional: time, place aloud, names...
GET TOGETHER
GET TOGETHER
PRAY WITH OTHERS
Jesus prayed regularly with His disciples
He prayed in groups of people
He taught that we should come together in unity — the Holy Spirit joins us as we seek Him together
The gifts of the Spirit will be present as we pray together
Challenge
Jesus’ prayer life gives us a foundation for our prayer life
He had a time of prayer
He had a place of prayer
He prayed out loud (and silently b/c He was in constant communion with the Father…which is our goal too)
He prayed specific prayers — named names
He prayed in public and with groups of people
- Here are a few other points to challenge us today:
Pray by the power of the Holy Spirit
Ephesians
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Pray Continuously
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Pray from the heart and pursue God
Seek His grace and mercy
Worship Him
Honor Him
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Stay in His Word, study, fellowship, service
When these things flow out of your love for Christ…you are reminded all the time of how important it is to pray…