Prayer 3/1/19
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Introduction
Introduction
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Wherewolf, Bohnanza, Fibbage, and more!
Who can you invite? Friends
Prayer jar
Body
Body
4 Chairs
Gifts
What did we talk about last week?
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
My oldest experience of prayer
It’s not about getting from God
Gel Surveys revealed a need for prayer
Parable of the Persistent Widow
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?
Luke 18:1-8
What does this parable teach us about prayer?
The one who’s in charge hears you
Even evil people hear each other and do good things, how much more God!
Don’t lose heart! God hears, and God will respond
How do we pray?
What should a prayer consist of?
It will fluctuate depending on what you’re going through, but God is always the same!
ACTS
A - Adoration
C - Confession
T - Thanksgiving
S - Supplication
This is not a recipe for the prayers God will hear
Conversations
Address someone, mutual information and emotional communication, salutation
NOT impersonal, input information, and a goodbye is optional
We were meant to be relational with God. ACTS helps us understand that
A - Adoration
Who is He? What has He done?
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Mt 6
Sometimes addressing God in hard times like this:
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
C - Confession
C - Confession
Who are you? What have you done? Why is there so much of a difference between you and God?
5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
No place to hide, but realize you are safe in God’s presence
Confessing for your group/family/culture, confessing for yourself
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
T - Thanksgiving
After adoration and confession, you realize who God is and who you’re not! You realize what you deserve, but now you have something to be grateful for...
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
In light of who you are and who God is, what are you grateful for?
Anything in your life!
S - Supplication
Easiest part!
Only part that unbelievers do
As believers, we have confidence God hears us, and He will answer. Yes, no, not now
Need mercy?
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
Need leading?
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.
You pray, God ACTS
Chair 2 —> 3
Not easier, but deeper, richer, and in fellowship with God
We want to help you deepen this journey, so this is what we’ll discuss and prepare for.
Questions
Questions
Icebreaker Introduce yourself, and answer this: What would you rather have, infinite knowledge or infinite power? Why?
We are going to spend some time in prayer after the breakup sessions, going over ACTS together as a class. This is a chance to talk about ACTS as a whole, and also to prepare everyone to pray individually. In each section are small questions which help one to reflect on how to pray. For example, answering the question, “who is God?” under the Adoration section with the answer “the one who created everything.” This answer can be remembered, internalized, and then used in prayer later by saying, “God, you are the one who created everything.” Answer all the questions individually as respectfully and honestly as possible. Bring up questions to the group. After everyone finishes, spend a little time on each section and hear what others have to say.
Adoration
Who is God? What has God created? What is God in control of? Who is Jesus?
Confession
Who are we? What have we done that God told us not to? What are the sins of our community or country that we need grace for? Is God a forgiving God or an unforgiving God? What attitudes or actions do you need to ask God for forgiveness?
Thanksgiving
What has God done in your life? What promises has God given that gives you hope? What are you grateful for? What have you been given that you don’t deserve? What is your position/status before God (loved or rejected)? What do you have in your life that you’re happy about?
Supplication
What is on your mind that you need God’s help with? What’s too powerful for you that isn’t too powerful for God? What are the needs of your friends and family? What future concerns do you have? What changes need to occur to make peace on earth? Who needs Jesus who is rebelling against Him?
Closing
Closing
Daniel Prayer
Set out to ask God for direction about Israeli captivity
3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.
Daniel 9:3-
7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.
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16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
Daniel 9:16
So enthralled with who God is He doesn’t get around to it
Cliche is true: “Don’t tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big God is”
However God responded — silence, yes, no, not now — Daniel would be satisfied
Do you want to grow in your prayer life?
Spiritual life to be Vibrant, contrasting colors, vibrant
Or just black and white, hopeless, misdirected, and boring?
Individual Prayer
Adoration
Who is God? What has God created? What is God in control of? Who is Jesus?
Confession
Who are we? What have we done that God told us not to? What are the sins of our community or country that we need grace for? Is God a forgiving God or an unforgiving God? What attitudes or actions do you need to ask God for forgiveness?
Thanksgiving
What has God done in your life? What promises has God given that gives you hope? What are you grateful for? What have you been given that you don’t deserve? What is your position/status before God (loved or rejected)? What do you have in your life that you’re happy about?
Supplication
What is on your mind that you need God’s help with? What’s too powerful for you that isn’t too powerful for God? What are the needs of your friends and family? What future concerns do you have? What changes need to occur to make peace on earth? Who needs Jesus who is rebelling against Him?
Time for worship— pray these words in singing. Adore God, look to Him, and know that He hears you
Closing
We love you and want you to have an exciting relationship with God
Fill up the prayer jar, but also fill up your life with close communication with God and us
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