Petition (Part Two)

Sermon Outline - Petition - Luke 11:9-13

Sermon Outline

INTRO

Review of Sermons 1-3 We pray to worship, we pray for his will His kingdom is advancing, his will is being accomplished, his earth is being altered

We pray for requests, both personally and congregationally. We pray for provision, pray for pardon, pray for protection.

We pray boldly. As the friend who knocks on his friends door at midnight.

Finally, MBL: We pray by petitioning God.

Illustration of a petition: When we think of that word petition, I think of when folks use to carry clipboards around for a particular cause, whether social, political, whatever and ask you to sign your name, and if they get enough signatures the petition or request would then be recognized.

Example: Trader Joe’s Petition

In God’s Kingdom However, you don’t need 100 signatures, 1000 signatures, you just need one. And that signature is Jesus. And you don’t have make a case, you listen to his case. Not your own merit validates your prayers, but his merit. Not your own will, but his will.

Jesus says in John 14:6… I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to father except through me.

You and I can go to the Lord and ask him, petition him, for the needs, the issues, problems, opportunities, and much more in this life on the basis of Jesus’ blood. And in this final piece of the Disciple’s Prayer…Jesus teaches us some of the most profound truth, that if you listen closely, will ignite a fire in your life to pray.

Let’s read Luke 11 and learn from Christ.

BODY

I - Petitions - God GRANTS our Requests.

Point back to 9 & 10. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened. (Remember he is talking about prayer in this whole section from 1-13). Does this mean will we receive everything. No… Illustration of a brother I sat under who said the story of how he received his dream job because he delighted in God (Psalm 37:4). Well no, that’s not why. Consider how this prayer began, your kingdom come, your will be done. So your petitions will mold and shape to his will, not yours. But does he answer and does he say yes to our prayers? Absolutely.

When you ask, God answers.

Misconception: That is God is reluctant to say yes. But this is the furthest thing from the truth. Don’t take my word for it, take his word for it.

- There is a hesitation that can exist (or even when we do ask, we don’t believe it will happen). Where folks struggle because they afraid of being rejected, afraid of getting a no.

- It’s like someone who never takes a risk because they are afraid of failure and so it cripples them from ever progressing forward, ever asking questions, every taking big moves. And we take that mindset and place it on prayer with God.

God does not work this way. He always responds. And I believe in our fear of getting a no, we lose opportunities to receive a yes. And listen folks, if God says yes, wait, or no to a prayer request You realize, that all three of those things are good things. If yes, praise the Lord. If its a wait, praise the Lord, he’s is growing you, teaching us patience, teaching us humility. If no, praise the Lord, he is preventing something from coming to you for your own good. Did you in your childhood ever ask something of your parents that was a bad idea? Do you think we ask God something that’s probably a bad thing but we don’t know? He is a good father, and even in no’s, its actually for your good.

Like when Heidi wants to shove her entire plate of food in her mouth at one time, I’ll stop her, because she doesn’t understand yet that that is not safe. But I assure you, its out of love that I do that. God does for you in the No’s.

God’s default is for us to ask. Let us be a church that experiences answered prayer because we took the intimate to give everything, ask, seek, and knock.

II - Promise - God GIVES us the Holy Spirit.

Read again in verse 9-13 Explanation of the wrong gifts If a earthly father can give a good gift to his children, how much more could God himself give to us? What does he say? He gives The Spirit. He gives us himself. And what happens? He comes and lives within us. The greatest gift of all.

- This seals us (Ephesians 1)

- He intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray (romans 8)

- He gives us life (John 6)

- He allows to bear fruit (Galatians 5)

- and so much more!

Illustration: You have receive the greatest gift of a..

CONCLUSION

So, we need to give it all to him. There are things that are going on in your life, and today I’m going ask you to come. To kneel down at this alter and pray.

I know aisle walking is a old thing, but so is prayer. I know that can be nerve wracking, to walk an aisle and come pray. Let me just remind of last week, Anaideia, boldness. Of the friend who goes to the friend at midnight, let’s be bold with this. Unashamed of what it might look like to others, but completely focused on petitioning God!

If you have a dear friend that is far from Jesus, I want you to come, let’s pray. If you have sin you need to repent of, I want you to come and pray. If you have a request to share with another brother or sister in this place, I want you to come pray. If you need to give your life to Jesus, I want you to come and pray that he would save you today. And as soon as you do, I want you to let me know you have. Whatever it is come on, Let’s go. If your marriage is broken, come on. If you are functioning as the captain of your soul, come pray. If you are addicted to pornography, sexual sin, lust, come pray. Let Jesus take that from you. If you are anxious, depress, and worn down from life. Come pray. Yoke yourself to Jesus, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. If you have fear, come give it to the shepherd. Come pray that God would send a revival in our day, in our generation, in our city. If you are a Christian who has no desire to pray, come pray he would grant this in you.

This is our opportunity to go to God as a church family. Let’s take it.

Some new members, Plina, Ethan, Bree, Blake, Lily, Theo, Kirby ….Let’s cheer them on,