3-legged stool series - Prayer
Prayer…The Example of Jesus
Intro
Last week…the Word. Talked about the Word first, cuz must know and be growing in the Word to have a truly effective prayer life. God revealed Himself to us through His Word. We can know His will through knowing His Word. It makes praying a whole lot more effective, it is our manual…our how-to book for relationship with the King.
Without the Word our souls can wander and we can hear all kinds of things and think that they are God.
John 6:15 (NKJV) "Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone."
Luke 9:18 (NKJV) "And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him…"
Matthew 14:23 (NKJV) "And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there."
Matthew 26:36 (NKJV) "Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”"
Jesus would always retreat to be alone with the Father. As Jesus withdrew to pray as an example, He also left us an example of how to pray….
Matthew 6:5-15 (NKJV) "“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. 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. 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. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 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. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Prayer brings intimacy
“When you pray go into your room (prayer closet).” Private time. Intimacy.
Most people would be ok with the definition of friendship being “one you can tell your secrets too.” Not that it’s about the secrets, but it’s about the level of trust that exists between people. We long to be able to share the deepest parts of our being with at least one person, but the more the better if we can trust.
God wants to have that level of intimacy with you. “Being real.”
Some people get trapped into this view of God or this experience with what they think is God by every time they think of the Lord, everything they are doing wrong pops into their minds. No one wants to be around someone like that. Someone that constantly reminds you of what you do wrong. But that is not the Lord. That is the enemy and the power of shame at work within you.
Today it seems like no one can stand to be alone, they can’t stand to be in their own skin. I don’t think that people like themselves too much.
It’s amazing what time with the Father will do to your self-image. Secure, confident, whole.
Prayer Brings Fruit
pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Bible talks about fruit. You will know a tree by it’s fruit. It also talks in John 15 about abiding in the vine, which is Christ and out of that abiding (by prayer) there will be fruit in our lives.
I believe that out of our connection with God through Prayer, all life flows. (LifeBlood)
It is how rivers of living water flow our of our bellies. It is how we stay filled with His Spirit, and walk according to the Spirit
Prayer brings trust
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. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Pagans would sit and chant prayers to their gods. They believed that they earned favor by repetition. They would also work themselves into trances at times.
My kids and knock-knock jokes.
Doesn’t mean you can’t ever bring up a subject again…in fact the Lord values persistence!
Luke 11:5-10 (NKJV) "And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
Prayer Brings Identity & Praise
“Our Father…honor to your Name!”
It is a declaration. It is a pronouncement of praise!
1 John 3:1 (NKJV) "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!...”
Often prayer and worship are so intermingled that they cease to be separate things.
Prayer brings purpose
Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
It is aligning ourselves with God’s agenda.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. "
It is often in prayer that we receive our marching orders, and get direction.
Times alone in intimacy with the Father bring a sense of who we really are.
Prayer Brings Provision
Give us this day our daily bread.
It lays hold of the endless treasures of Heaven to provide for all your needs for the day. It lays claim to your rights and privilege as a son or daughter of the King, to have provision for your needs.
Also speaks to walking in perfect health and healing.
Prayer Brings Mercy
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
Prayer taps into the mercies of our God…both for us and for others.
Prayer forces us to deal with our feelings towards people who have wronged us…we don’t get to skip over that part!
Our level of forgiveness that we receive relies upon the measure we extend to others.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Prayer Brings Deliverance
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
The enemy has traps laid for you every day.
Luke 4:12-13 (NKJV) "And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time."
We also know that part of prayer is spiritual warfare. We are in a war of the worlds. (if you go see it, listen to narrative at beginning from that perspective)
Prayer brings power
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
There is an empowerment as we focus and communicate with our Father.
Acts 1:14 (NKJV) "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."
Acts 2:1-4 (NKJV) " When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Altar
The power of shame
Shame will cause us to avoid Him.
It will cause us to seek other counsel. “Itching ears”
It will cause us to hide.
It will
Intimacy - communication
Prayer is a time of listening as well