Prayer 1

2 Chronicles 7:13–17 NKJV

13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 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. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 17 As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments,

The Purpose of Prayer

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 190014 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.God wants to bring HealingLuke 5:12–13 KJV 190012 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.For the land to be healed++God needs a people++We must understand the Call++We must Humble ourselves++We must be a people of prayer

What is Prayer?

Prayer is ++Communicating with God++Communion with God++Essential for spiritual intimacy

Spiritual Growth/Intimacy

There is a different in spiritual growth and spiritual intimacy.

There is a different in spiritual growth an spiritual intimacy.A couple or group can experience spiritual growth an not experience spiritual intimacy.

Spiritual Growth is Personal

Spiritual growth ++Development of a personal connection ++Vertical connection between man and God.

How do we grow spiritually?

This is done ++Devotional reading++Prayer++Fasting++WorshipThese vital disciplines draws us into a deeper understanding of God and subsequently self. It is impossible to draw near to God without it effecting us. This level of intimacy helps us understand the great love that God has for us. Through it we see that he values us.

Spiritual Intimacy is Relational

Spiritual intimacy++Focuses on knowing the object of our devotion. ++Keep the priority things priorityActs 6:3–4 KJV 19003 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.Revelation 2:1–7 KJV 19001 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

A Letter to the Preacher​

Hebrews 6:10 KJV 190010 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

God knows your works (Deeds)

Five things that God knows++Your hard work++Your perseverance++Your commitment to right++Your opposition to falsehood++Your reverence to my nameSatan is ++Against Spiritual Intimacy++A Spiritual enemy++Opposes both growth and intimacy Underlying all of these hindrances to spiritual intimacy is the fact that We have a spiritual enemy; Satan opposes both spiritual growth and spiritual intimacy.2 Chronicles 7:13–14 KJV 190013 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Humility recognizes our weakness.

Prayer recognizes ++His Power.1 Corinthians 2:4–5 KJV 19004 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.God’s Power++Something men long forJohn 6:28 KJV 190028 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?God’s PowerSomething men long for++Life GivingJohn 1:4 KJV 19004 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.John 8:12 KJV 190012 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.God’s PowerSomething men long forLife Giving++LimitlessIsaiah 40:28–29 KJV 190028 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, That the everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; And to them that have no might he increaseth strength.Philippians 4:13 KJV 190013 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.The Focus is not on himself.Paul speaks of the source of his effectiveness.Galatians 2:20 KJV 190020 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.Prayer recognizes His Power++His PresenceHebrews 13:5 KJV 19005 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.Prayer recognizes His PowerHis Presence++His PeaceEphesians 2:14 KJV 190014 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Prayer is more about the person of God than the power of God.

Prayer Power is ++Not about performance++Not about rituals++Not about ceremony++Our relationship to God1 Kings 18:21–24 KJV 190021 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.1 Kings 18:26–28 KJV 190026 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.1 Kings 18:36–38 KJV 190036 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.Acts 3:11–13 KJV 190011 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.Acts 3:16 KJV 190016 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.Pray is only one part of the equation++It wasn’t the prayer that brought deliverance++It wasn’t a religious activity++It Was God2 Corinthians 4:7 KJV 19007 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

It was God

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 19006 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.1 Peter 4:7 KJV 19007 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.1 Peter 4:7–10 NIV7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 190014 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.