NJ - Our prayer life - Intimacy with God

Our prayer life - Intimacy with God

Intro:

This month we are studying the theme: “Make Common What is Uncommon - Prayer”. Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God as believers. Prayer is the heartbeat of all who follow after God, it is the defining mark of importance in our lives, knowing the difference that prayer makes.

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:12 NKJV

12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Let us open in prayer:

Father we thank You for your goodness and Your love towards us. We thank You for Your word and for Your Holy Spirit for we know it is He who brings revelation of Your word to our lives. Father bless Your people today in Jesus name Amen.

Throughout my message today, I want us to really get a hold of the importance of us having an intimate relationship between us and God

Psalm 63:1–8 NKJV

1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. 7 Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. 8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

Do you long to be with God, do you long to be in His presence?

There are a lot of people who make prayer a regular part of their daily walk, and there are a lot who don’t.

There are some people who find it hard to pray, and for others it may even be, what do I pray?

What words do I use? These are genuine questions that people today ask themselves.

How is it that we can help people get the answers that they are looking for.

In Matthew ch6 we see that Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray.

Matthew 6:5–13 NKJV

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The devils plan is destruction and his strategy is devision

Point 1

Prayer, Two Way Communication with God

God loves to communicate with us, we know this from the scriptures where God would come down in the cool of the evening and walk through the garden with Adam and Eve Genesis 3:8. Some other religions, for them to communicate with their God, require them to have a mediator.

Prayer is both speaking and listening

Communication removes any doubt, it helps us to understand, and we know God loves us.

Hearing – He who has ears let him hear Revelation 2:29

Revelation 2:29 NKJV

29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Point 2

Putting Prayer into Practice

For most people prayer does not come naturally, it requires action, motivation and a desire to practice and develop your prayer life. My thoughts are that prayer is an active/doing word. Discipline is needed to have a good prayer life.

We need to discipline ourselves to put priority into our prayer life.

Our relationship with God is strengthened through our prayer.

Pray without ceasing 1Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NKJV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

A prayer life:

1. Builds intimacy with God

2. Brings honour to His nature and Character

3. Causes us to have respect for God

4. Causes us to trust in His love

5. Affirms His purposes and will

Point 3

The Power in Prayer

All the power of God is at the disposal of true prayer; our power in prayer is in the word of God. “Your Kingdom come Your will be done”. Our prayers need to line up with the word of God, e.g. we can pray for Gods promises in our lives. If we are full of the word of God then we know that our desires are in alignment with God.

If we ask anything in His name 1John 5:13-15; John 16:23-24

Praying in the name of Jesus. Jesus’ name is the only name that can activate the power of Heaven. Philippians 2:9-10 (The name above every name)

Philippians 2:9–10 NKJV

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

All of us have the power to bring Gods will on Earth so the world can be healed and transformed by His grace. 2 Cronicles 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Conclusion:

As we come to the end of my message today, we have learnt that:

Prayer is Two Way Communications with God.

Putting Prayer into Practice.

The Power Prayer.

Prayer is a vital part of our Christian walk; it is the very essence of our communication with God. This being, talking and listening to the Spirit of God. It is important for us to discipline ourselves to build a strong prayer life that will sustain us.

Salvation Opportunity