How to Pray Effectively - Part 2

Click on the link below to listen to sermon English Sermons How to Pray Effectively (2) Allow God to transform us into Christ’s image & Ask Him for His provisions Dr. Sidney Yuan (swyuan@ucla.edu) Preached at Hillside Community Church of the Nazarene 2804 S. Fullerton Rd, Rowland Heights, CA 91748 The Disciples’ Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) A) Accessing into God’ Presence- Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name (v9). B) Aligning Our Heart with God’s Sovereign Plan- Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (v10). C) Asking for God’s Provisions- Give us this day our daily bread (v11). C) Allowing God to Transform Us- And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (v12). B) Aligning Our Heart with God’s Sovereign Plan- And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom (13a) and A) Accessing into God’s Presence- the power and the glory forever. Amen (v13b). Definition of Praying To pray is to Access into the presence of God, Align our heart with His sovereign plan, Allow Him to transform us into His image, & Ask Him for His provisions Prayer of Jabez Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request - 1 Chronicles 4:9, 10 Prayer of Hezekiah • • • • Isaiah pronounced Hezekiah’s death (2 Kings 20:1 ) Hezekiah’s prayer (2 Kings 20:2-3) God added 15 years to his life (2 Kings 20:6) Hezekiah showed Babylonians all he had (2 Kings 20:13) • Isaiah pronounced judgment on Judah (2 Kings 20:16-18) • Hezekiah said, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?” (2 Kings 20:19) 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you 1) worthy of this calling, and 2) fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and 3) the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Worthy of the Calling – Ephesians 4:1-3 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Worthy of the Gospel – Philippians 1:27-30 27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Worthy of the Lord – Colossians 1:10- 12 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. Worthy of God – 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. Goodness Fulfilled by God • Psalm 21:2, 3- You have given him his heart’s desire, And have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah. For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. • Psalm 37:3, 4- Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. • Psalm 138:8- The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Work of Faith with Power • Faith is not passive; it is ceaselessly active, appropriating God’s blessings and using God’s power for God’s service • James says, “Faith without work is dead” (James 2:17) • Paul says, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) Conclusions • Pray for our Physical Needs • Pray for our Spiritual Needs – To have knowledge of what’s worthy of our calling (2 Thessalonians 1:11a) – To have a change of heart for God’s goodness (2 Thessalonians 1:11b) – To have work of faith with power (2 Thessalonians 1:11c) – So that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him (2 Thessalonians 1:12) Other Sermons by Dr. Sidney Yuan (袁惠鈞博士) Please Click Below to Access: • • • • • His Sermon Collection His Sermons on Church.com.hk His Sermons on JGospel.net About The Speaker If you like his sermons, please like his Facebook page