Practice and Purpose of Prayer
Notes
Transcript
Practice and Purpose of Prayer
Practice and Purpose of Prayer
Introduction: Last week we talked about he Altar of Incense and that each piece of furniture was created for intimacy with God.
The Altar of Incense was to be a representation of Prayer and Worship before the Lord set right before the veil right before the entrance of the Holy of Holies
Interestingly enough God’s presence was represented by a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night.
1. Intimacy with God
1. Intimacy with God
Prayer is talking to God. It’s human to communicate. We listen to the spoken word in all kinds of communication. News, T.V. Radio, etc. Parents, friends, co-workers,
Model prayers in the Bible. You can look up prayers. Our Father who art in heaven.
Prayer is not just talking to God it’s also listening
God will talk to you in your own voice most of the time. Rarely do you hear the Charleston Heston voice. Exodus 3:4-6 Moses and the burning bush. The bible says still small voice.
And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
Through the word of God
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Through other people, brother’s and sister’s in christ, sermons like this one, pastors, mentors,
God will not tell you to do anything that is against his word.
God will not tell you to do anything that will hurt you or someone.
Discerning Spirits- it takes time to hear it’s God’s voice, if you don’t know the word of God very well you might need to get some advice from a pastor or a seasoned believer to make sure you are not just hearing yourself
You build your personal relationship with God through prayer with God through spending time in prayer the way you do spending time with a person.
God created it this way for our relationships to mirror how we interact with him.
The problem is we make people idols and we go to them more than we pray or read God’s word in building relationships
If you are having and issue and you don’t know the bible or not sure your hearing God or yourself or something else always lean on your brothers and sisters.
a. Pray Alone Just you and God
a. Pray Alone Just you and God
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Jesus gives us the example right here in this verse and not just here many times as he walked this earth he withdrew to pray alone by himself.
Intimate private conversations don’t happen with the T.V. on, Music on, or looking at a computer someone else in the room that would be considered rude
God wants your undivided attention
Jesus gave us the example doing the same thing. He withdrew to spend time with God. The son of God needed time with the father. We are his children we need to spend time with our father. Even the model prayer that Jesus teaches us starts with “Our Father who art in heaven......... He says this is how you should pray.
b. Pray for Other’s Unselfishly
b. Pray for Other’s Unselfishly
We need to pray for others. I started praying and fasting for specific things in my life and then i heard the audible voice of God says to pray for others. And man was it work, it felt weird at first, i worried that i might miss something they needed. But God isn’t interested in how you say or a right combination of words even in your own prayers he is looking for obedience.
Joyce Meyer story grandson- Mommy ouchy heal jesus amen. - small words
Michaels feet- weirdest story
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Being doers of the word also means not just the bible the things you hear from God like we said before if discerning it was God and it’s not going to harm you or someone else and it lines up with God’s word be bold. Be doers. Doers are obedient. God loves obedient servants.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Pray for the lost. Some of our family are the lost ones and we need God to send Harvesters to them because they can’t hear the word from us.
Pray for those who have left the church or need to be restored to their church home.
c. Pray for Ourselves
c. Pray for Ourselves
Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Repentance
We have to ask for forgiveness for the sins we know of and the one we do not know of and ask God to bring it to our remembrance.
We cannot possibly know every sin we commit on a daily basis
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Worry
Prayer is the opposite of anxiety
Prayer keeps you from worry
Give it to god and don’t take it back
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Forgiveness and Healing
This can fit in the category with others but the truth is if we don’t forgive on our end and heal on our end there is no need to pray for others in this area. Remember when you point at a person their are 3 fingers pointing back at you.
Give it to God and give it to God.
Needs and Provision
911 - we might not get to these times if we are in constant prayer about our lives
Scriptures you can pray:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
In the weeks to follow we will highlight specific types of prayers and ways to pray. Next week we are going to talk about Prayers of Healing.