What's Missed Without Prayer
Notes
Transcript
Have you ever been on the wrong end of a missed opportunity?
A sell ends before you can take advantage of it.
A coupon expires before you can use it.
A job is filled before you apply for it.
Each day, opportunities for good or for bad flash before us.
We have the opportunity to eat healthy in order to avoid health issues later down the road.
We have the opportunity to invest or spend our money in ways that add or diminish value in our lives.
Life is filled with opportunities many of those we miss and never know.
EX: It’s a Wonderful Life; Sweeney Todd
A Life without Prayer is an Unprovided Life. (vs. 7-8)
Three commands are given by Jesus concerning our prayer life.
The acting out of these commands become attributes.
If the act of prayer is painted in such a positive light, then why do we so often fill like God’s not listening?
James 4:2-3
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
A Life without Prayer is an Unfortunate Life. (vs. 9-11)
Notice the common illustration that Jesus places before them.
The conditional statement drawn from the illustration.
The reasonable conclusion is either we do not prayer for what we need, or what we do pray for is not what we need.
A Life without Prayer is an Uncaring Life. (v. 12)
In v. 12, we have what has come to be known as the golden rule.
I have never noticed this until preparing this sermon, but there is a connection between the golden rule and our prayer life.
In other words, a prayer life centered on self misses the mark of God’s revealed word and becomes uncaring.
Conclusion: “What a friend we have in Jesus!”