God Answers Prayer
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
When We Pray
When We Pray
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
What are some assumptions about prayer?
What are some assumptions about prayer?
It is an assumption
That all followers of Christ pray
That prayer is central to following Christ
For the believer prayer is not a matter of if it is a matter of when. Taking time to pray is one of the most important disciplines in the life of the believer.
What makes prayer so difficult?
Why do we not pray more?
What is prayer?
Prayer under the old covenant was
Ceremonial
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.
Prayer under the old covenant was
Ceremonial
Conditional for God’s Actions
13 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.
Jesus taught his disciples to pray
Jesus taught his disciples to pray
With Jesus prayer was
More than a religious activity
Relational
1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Teaching prayer was not new
Teaching prayer was not new
John taught his disciples to pray
His model of prayer
Was unwritten
Was unspoken
Was inadequate
Jesus became the first to model relational prayer.
Jesus became the first to model relational prayer.
2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
How do we pray?
How do we pray?
When you pray
++Say
Relational Prayer requires
++Communication
++Not meditation
Though prayer is not empowered by the multitude of words, it does require them.
When you pray
Say
++Our Father
Jesus saw God as his Heavenly Father
Prayer was seen as conversation