Praying in Faith
Notes
Transcript
Lord’s Prayer, components - Matthew 6 or Luke 11
FAITHFULNESS
Talking “faithfulness” represents our relationship to the LORD
Prayer is a key element to that relationship
Prayer affects us and others
The effectiveness to which we pray in faith-demonstrates to God and to ourselves the level of our faithfulness to Him
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
The effectiveness of our prayer is dependent on our faithfulness, and our faithfulness is directly tied to our prayer life
Illust. - Me: “I’m going to get you a puppy tomorrow”
You (tomorrow): “I’d like my puppy, please”
Me: “Here you go, here’s your puppy”
OR
You: “May I please have a puppy?” or even “Give me a puppy”
Me: “Yes, No, Maybe, Not now” (No promise was given)
Our general thoughts on prayer:
Talking to God, communication, in a a relationship
Does faith really drive that prayer?
DO we REALLY trust Him with His plan and His promises?
Heb 4:16
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
A major blockade with our prayer life is trying to take the place of God:
Someone is sick-so we pray, and the person gets worse
“If only I had more faith, we could move God”
We convince ourselves of the outcome we expect. Then it goes badly
We blame ourselves- or We blame God
We end up bearing a burden that is not ours to bear
Everything we pray about must be grounded in God’s power, His strength
We pray, or we say we do, and we can get frustrated, not knowing if our prayers are effective (I hope we want them to be)
Faithful Prayer - Shown by Attitude and Action
Faithful Prayer - Shown by Attitude and Action
Attitude 1: Assurance
Attitude 1: Assurance
Praying for what God has revealed - When God promises something, it will happen
Key words/mindset in this attitude of faithful prayer: “Lord you said..., now I am asking”
Prayer based on God’s stated promises, and what He has said will come to pass
What are those promises? (one example here, God stated what would happen)
Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and then that it would - 1 Kings 18-19 account, him and Ahab
God made it known that it would rain, so he tells Ahab and then prays (easy assumption that God has also revealed that He would make it not rain as well, and Elijah prayed)
What about His promises to US? - When you pray about these, you do not need to add “if it be your will.” He’s already said what His will is
Call on Him, He WILL answer you - Psalm 50:15
He is coming again soon! - Rev.22:12
Strength to the weary-rest - Is. 40:31, Matt. 11:28-30
Love never fails - Is. 54:10
You are redeemed - forgiven; he forgives for the asking 1 John 1:9
The devil WILL flee, if you resist James 4:7
Old self is dead-so....put away sin, surrender! - Rom. 6:6
You’ve been set free!
Exalts the humble - Matt. 23:12
Will never forsake you - Deut 31:6
Eternal life is certain - a place is prepared for you John 14
Your needs will be met
All things work for good.... - Rom.8:28
Wisdom - James 1:5
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Desires of your heart - Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Best way to learn contentment - ask God to shape your desires
Doesn’t Jesus say ask for anything and you will get it?
Big difference between trusting God and trusting what He can give us
Trust God, not outcomes
Disclaimer: I will NOT be able to tell you exactly how God may reveal something specific to you
Revealed directly in Scripture or prompting of the Spirit
God’s promises open the door to praying boldly
It would be much easier to pray if God told us everything that would happen- but He does not
Attitude 2: Submission
Attitude 2: Submission
Praying for what God has kept hidden
Key words in this attitude of faithful prayer : “If it is your will”
This type of prayer is equally effective - still complete trust in God
Prayer resting in God’s un-revealed will
We struggle with what we expect of our prayers - we expect tangible, right now, results.
While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
The lame man knew Jesus could heal him, but he did not demand it, because God had not made it known to him that He would - but it was possible...
We get lots of prayer requests for those who are ill - prayers of submission
Paul - 2 Cor 12:8
Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
God’s Answer?- 2 Cor 12:9
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Jesus prayed the ultimate “if it is your will” - Gethsemane
And His prayer was not the Father’s will...
What About Daily and life decisions
We tend to make decisions first, and then pray, and then talk about having “peace” with the outcome.
We have it backward
We should have peace, then ask, then decide
Prayers in submission require humility - asking, not commanding
Assurance + Unknown
Assurance + Unknown
ILLUST: 10 years, someone prayed for me to get saved. He knew it was God’s desire for ALL to be saved. God kept putting people in front of me, the Gospel, still giving me the choice to place my trust in Jesus.
What are we willing to pray about for 10 years? 5 years? Even 10 minutes...
CHALLENGE
Not all prayers are answered the way we’d like them to be
Not all prayers are answered the way we’d like them to be
How faithful a “pray-er” are you?
How faithful a “pray-er” are you?
What kind of relationship with the Lord do you desire?
What kind of relationship with the Lord do you desire?
How will you pray, with assurance and in submission?
REM: He’s God, we are not
We are to pray without ceasing, attitude of thanksgiving
Are you the kind of pray-er that people come to, or call, when someone is in need?
We would all do well to find people we know who are very faithful with regard to prayer
Many people who are not faithful will ask us to pray
We can be frustrated that they are not here with us, not connected with us, but we should be thankful that they trust us to pray in faith
This is an area where you can quickly grow- and an area where you will quickly grow closer to God.
Pray with assurance, where you know God has promised and said it will happen
Pray in submission when you do not know the outcome, you desire an outcome, and you trust God fully, not just with the outcome.
These prayers show we are faithful in prayer