Go To God In Prayer

Background

Prayer was a common thing in the Ancient world. Different cultures had their ways of praying, but Christianity differed in that our God was a God who listened not a god who needed to be persuaded.

Before we think about doing anything we need to go to God in prayer

Why do we go to God in prayer before sharing the Gospel

Disciples Asked God To Teach Them

Why would the disciples ask God to teach them to pray?

Had a desire to know Jesus Deeper

Saw the importance Jesus placed on prayer

Illustration of Kid’s who know Disney Characters who sing songs voices being recognizable

Christians who are in the habit of listening to God will recognize his voice when he speaks to them.

Prayer is our path to a powerful relationship with God

How To Pray (Motives)

Matthew 6:5–8 CSB

5 “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

He starts by saying “whenever not if you decide” because he already understood the trials the Christians would face even to this day.

Jesus starts by saying to not be like the hypocrites who pray in public eager for attention

He says to enter into a private room so that these temptations are easier to deal with

Prayer is all about a mindset and plea to God. You aren’t going to sweet talk Jesus. He knows your hearts desires.

What are the problems with self-centered prayer?

Shows a deeper heart issue

Forgets the weakness of us without Jesus

Self-Centered prayer turns into self Centered Ministry

If Jesus is not doing the work then the work is not getting done

Because Of Jesus

Because of Jesus David went From Leading Sheep To Leading Armies

Because Of Jesus Daniel went from a captive to a king’s counselor

Because Of Jesus Peter Went from a fisherman to an apostle

Because Of Jesus We can be brought from death to life

That is our call. We are all just a bunch of nobodies trying to tell everybody about the man who means everything. If we don’t do it through him we will fail.

Question for the week:

Are you going to God in faithful prayer or self-centered prayer?