PRAY LIKE A MAN

INTRO

OPENING VIDEO: https://youtu.be/W6VyCFNBBVc

I’m talking to you about something today that is TRULY IMPORTANT!

Today we are talking about prayer

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PRAYER IS NOT MY STRONG SUIT

How many of you would say: “I’M REALLY GOOD AT PRAYER”

As men we typically don’t enjoy prayer very much

I FELT A VERY REAL SENSE OF INADEQUACY WHEN I WAS PRESENTED WITH MY TOPIC TO SPEAK ON PRAYER

This is one of the areas that I feel the least qualified to share insight…because it’s one of my greatest weaknesses in my faith journey.

I am a millennial…we are a sensory generation We need something to be entertaining us at all times.

I watch a show…while I scroll through instagram…while I check my email…while I check the score…while I text my friends…while I hang with my family.

PRAYER IS A STRUGGLE.....BUT PRAYER IS THAT IMPORTANT!!!

WHY IS PRAYER IMPORTANT? (GOOD TO GODLY)

Prayer is important because it is the only vehicle to take you from being a good man to being a godly man. (TOASTER: BREAD > TOAST)

OUR WORLD DOESN’T NEED MORE GOOD MEN….OUR WORLD NEEDS GODLY FATHERS, HUSBANDS, BUSINESSMEN, AND CITIZENS

The most important and successful outcome of this conference would be if it birthed a movement of MEN THAT PRAY within New Life Church.

I’m going to give you a practical starting place to try and create a pattern of prayer in our lives.

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PRAYER IS ABOUT POSTURE (NOT A PITCH…)

HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE PRAYER WAS A MAGIC CODE THAT YOU HAD TO GET JUST RIGHT IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE YOUR INTENDED RESULT?

You know how we try and figure out exactly how were going to present our case to buy a gun, play golf, video game system…to our wives.

We do not pray to change the heart of God…We are not trying to figure out the proper presentation to get our plans passed by God.

THIS APPROACH TO PRAYER IS ACTUALLY A DANGEROUS GAME TO PLAY (JACOB MANIPULATES INTO A BLESSING THAT ENDS UP BEING A CURSE)

I can tell you from experience that if you ask for something long enough…God will give it to you.

MOSES CONTINUALLY ASKS FOR A HELPER SO THAT HE WON’T BE THE ONE SPEAKING

IN THE PRODIGAL SON…THE FATHER GIVES THE SON HIS INHERITANCE

GOD GAVE ISRAEL A KING EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW IT WASN’T GOING TO ULTIMATELY BE IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.

BE CAREFUL HOW PERSISTENTLY YOU ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU YOUR WAY

METROPOLIS WAS THE RESULT OF MY PERSISTENT PURSUIT OF MY PLANS.

THIS TYPE OF PRAYER IS THE RESULT OF AN IMPROPER PRAYER POSTURE.

There has to be a dominant theme of the prayers we pray....

John 14:13–14 NLT

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

The redemptive theme that our prayers should be filtered through is THE GLORY OF THE FATHER:

Who do our prayers bring the most glory to?

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A GREATER GLORY

Your family needs to be pursuing a glory greater than your own.

You may be gifted…but you are not gifted enough to sustain your family.

You may have capacity to produce…but your production is subject to lack

You may have the capacity to love…but your love is flawed and insufficient.

Our families need men who live to love their wives, raise their children, and effect their circle for the glory of God.

EVERY GOOD THING IN ME SHOULD BE A TOOL POINTING TO THE GLORY OF THE GOD WHO GAVE THE GOOD THING.

GET YOUR POSTURE RIGHT....

But know when your posture is right…nothing is outside of the realm of possibility.

When our desire is to bring glory to God....the biggest dreams are achievable and the smallest moments are valuable.

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PRACTICAL TIPS ON HOW TO PRAY

Matthew 6 is a common place to go for how to pray....THE LORDS PRAYER

It gives you a pattern for approach

But we don’t have time to go into that today

SO I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU TWO SCRIPTURES WITH STRATEGIC PATTERNS FOR PRAYER.

Philippians 4:6 NLT

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

1. TELL GOD WHAT YOU NEED.

When my kids come to me and say they are hungry....it doesn’t annoy me.

It inspires me to do what I can to rectify their need.

GOD LOVES TO MEET YOUR NEEDS

God doesn’t need to be made aware of your need....He’s God…He’s ominiscient

When I pray about what I need it’s not me bringing my need to God’s attention…It’s God bringing it to mine so I will see what He is about to do.

It’s putting me in perfect position to get the best perspective of His glory.

2. THANK HIM FOR ALL HE HAS DONE.

Telling God what I need does not provide immediate encouragement.

Oftentimes you will pray about something....and leave your prayer moment to realize nothing has changed circumstancially.

So if all I do is tell God what I need…then I will find myself constantly focusing on the need…this has the potential to strip the glory from God and place it on my need.

But when I follow my request with a review of His resume…my perspective changes.

EVEN IF THE HEALING DOESN’T COME…HE’S DONE ENOUGH .

EVEN IF THE JOB DOESN’T GET BETTER…HE’S DONE ENOUGH FOR ME.

EVEN IF MY MARRIAGE ISN’T FIXED IMMEDIATELY....HE’S DONE ENOUGH FOR ME.

BTW: God isn’t going to change your marriage....he’s going to change you.

THIS IS MY PRACTICAL TIP FOR YOU AND YOUR PRAYER LIFE: TELL GOD WHAT YOU NEED…AND THANK GOD FOR WHAT HE’S DONE.

AND THEN THE FOLLOW UP TO THAT PRAYER PATTER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO LAUNCH FOLLOWING THIS CONFERENCE IS THIS.

HERE IS THE KEY TO BEING A MAN WHEN IT COMES TO PRAYER....DON’T STOP

Starting something is not all that manly....finishing something is what proves a man.

Nobody ever talks about sports stars who lead the league in first quarter scoring....it’s who shows up in the fourth quarter

We’ve got a lot of first quarter men of prayer.

we will pray today…we will go home and pray tomorrow…but what our families need are men who...

KEEP ON ASKING.

When it’s been a long week and I feel like sleeping in: keep on asking.

When it’s been a hard day and you’d rather retreat to your comfort of choice: keep on asking

When your wife isn’t as young as she used to be and you find yourself being drawn in directions that aren’t God’s plan: keep on asking.

Matthew 7:7–11 NLT

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.