How to Pray to Commune with God

"How To Pray To Commune With God"

Psalm 55:1–23 NLT

1 Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! 2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. 3 My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down. 4 My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. 5 Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. 6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! 7 I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude 8 How quickly I would escape— far from this wild storm of hatred. 9 Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city. 10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city. 11 Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets. 12 It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. 13 Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. 14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God. 15 Let death stalk my enemies; let the grave swallow them alive, for evil makes its home within them. 16 But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. 17 Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. 18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me. 19 God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them. Interlude For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God. 20 As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. 21 His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers! 22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. 23 But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.

Introduction:

TS: Real praying consists of three basic elements:

1. COMMUNICATION ().

A. Talking to God:

1. Sincerity and earnestness is required () .

Psalm 55:1 NLT

1 Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help!

a. You must sincerely desire to commune with God.

You must sincerely desire to commune with God.

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will I seek You; My soul drirsts for You; My flesh

Aawgs for you In a dry and Urirstv land When; there B no water "

Psalm 63:1 NLT

1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

there B no water "

b. You must seek with your whole heart.

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aestimom4 Who .sewer Him with Use whole

Psalm 119:2 NLT

2 Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.

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sought You... "

Psalm 119:10 NLT

10 I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands.

2. Openness and honesty are essential () .

a. Be open and honest about your need to talk to Him () .

Be open and honest about your need to talk to Him

Psalm 55:2 NLT

2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.

(vs. 2) .

b. Be open and honest about your emotional state () .

Psalm 55:4–8 NLT

4 My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. 5 Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. 6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! 7 I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude 8 How quickly I would escape— far from this wild storm of hatred.

(vs. 4-8) .

c. Be open and honest about your feelings toward people who have hurt you ()

Be open and honest about your feelings toward

Psalm 55:9–15 NLT

9 Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans, for I see violence and conflict in the city. 10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city. 11 Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets. 12 It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them. 13 Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. 14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God. 15 Let death stalk my enemies; let the grave swallow them alive, for evil makes its home within them.

people who have hurt you (vs. 9-152 .

d. Be open and honest about your fear of your circumstances (, ) .

Psalm 55:8 NLT

8 How quickly I would escape— far from this wild storm of hatred.

circumstances (vs. 8, 11) .

Psalm 55:11 NLT

11 Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

e. Be open and honest about the fact that God is your only hope () .

Be open and honest about the fact that God is your

Psalm 55:16 NLT

16 But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me.

only hope (vs. 16) .

B. Listening to God:

1- How does God speak?

a. Through His Word.

()

Psalm 119:105 NLT

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

b. Through Circumstances.

islet ands light unto mypath. "

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Acts 3:1–12 NLT

1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. 4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John. 12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?

c. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

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John 16:8 NLT

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

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Acts 19:21 NLT

21 Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!”

d. Through other believers.

• God spoke through the church leaders to Paul and Barnabas

and Barnabas

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and fasted, the Holy Ghost saint Separate me

Acts 13:1–3 NLT

1 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

Acts 13:21 NLT

21 Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years.

have called them. "

• God spoke to Paul through Agabus

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came unto us he :we Paul's girdle, and bound

deliver him into Ure hands of the Gentile And

Acts 21:10–14 NLT

10 Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. 11 He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 13 But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

when we heard thes=e thing; bod: we, and they

Jerusalem for me name of the Lord Jesus. And

2. How do I know He is speaking?

a. What He says will always move in harmony with scripture.

scripture.

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Malachi 3:6 NLT

6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.

b. What He says will always lead to a deeper relationship with himself.

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relationship with himself.

John 14:26 NLT

26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

c. What He says will always lead to holiness.

()

1 Peter 1:15 NLT

15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

d. What He says will always lead to Christ being glorified.

()

John 16:13–14 NLT

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.

()

Philippians 2:9–11 NLT

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

e. What He says will always result in God’s kingdom being built-up and souls being won to Christ.

()

John 16:8 NLT

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

()

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

II- CONSISTENCY ()

Psalm 55:17 NLT

17 Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.

A- Developing the practice of prayer:

B. Determining the plan for prayer:

1- Develop a consistent pattern in prayer.

a. ACTS pattern for praying

b. The Model Prayer

()

Matthew 6:9–13 NLT

9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

2- Develop consistency in personal worship and prayer.

a. Your time with the Lord must be given top priority.

b. The rest will fall into place.

()

Matthew 6:33 NLT

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

B. Determining the plan for prayer:

Determining the plan for prayer:

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1. Plan for particular times of prayer.

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Psalm 63:1 NLT

1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

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Psalm 5:3 NLT

3 Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

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Psalm 119:62 NLT

62 I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations.

2. Plan for a particular place of prayer.

a. Example: Jesus’s Practice

()

Luke 22:39–41 NLT

39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,

b. Us: set aside a place (a chair, etc.)

3. Plan to be prepared for personal Worship

Have what you need for prayer time at your place of prayer.

III- CONFIDENCE ()

A- Confidence is found in His faithfulness.

1- He is always faithful to hear us when we pray. (, )

Psalm 55:17b NLT

17 Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.

Psalm 55:18–19 NLT

18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me. 19 God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them. Interlude For my enemies refuse to change their ways; they do not fear God.

()

1 John 5:14–15 NLT

14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

2- He is always faithful to answer us when we pray.

B- Confidence is drawn from our position in Christ. ()

Psalm 55:22 NLT

22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 55:22 NLT

22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

1- We are sons and daughters of the living God.

2- We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

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Romans 8:16–17 NLT

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

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C. Confidence is expressed through faith. ()

Psalm 55:23 NLT

23 But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.

1. Faith is childlike trust in God.

2. Our trust in the Lord will not be disappointed.

Conclusion:

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