1-4-15 PM 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Of all of the elements of the Christian Faith the one that seems to get either the MOST attention or the LEAST attention, depending upon the person is prayer. (M.G.)
They pray when they get up from bed, and when they put their feet in their slippers, and when they brush their teeth, and when they chose an outfit to wear, and when they leave the house, and when they drive to work, and when they choose what flavored coffee to get, and what doughnut to go with it, and so forth and so on... and if it is always sincere, that s great.
Others seem to feel prayer is for emergency use only.
Prayer isn t suppose to be a superstitious talisman one must constantly rub for luck. Nor is it supposed to be a kind of back-up parachute to use only after you ve used the chute you packed. It s supposed to be a deeply honest form of communicating with one s creator.
Why Pray? The Elements of Prayer" The Assumptions in Prayer" The Power of Prayer -- Its Blessings" Things for Which to Pray" Keys to Acceptable Prayer The Model Prayer Common Questions About Prayer"
The First and most important reason to me is, to be able to speak freely with My God. Understand, prayer isn t an end within itself. It is a means to an end. The desired end is a deep and trusting Fellowship and/or Relationship with God.
Direct communication with and through the Triune God - petitioning our Creator Father by the authority of His Son Jesus - Through the avenue [or with the assistance of ] the Holy Spirit. It isn t just a minor issue. Nor is it a ritual. Understood properly, it is THE most extraordinary opportunity (if you will) to speak directly to the Originators of the Universe in the anticipation a perfect hearing and a divinely provided answer.
The primary benefit for prayer again is in the quiet communication with God it affords us. Not in any of the potential subsequent benefits to follow.
My Jesus prayed (often all night) primarily because He wanted to be in fellowship with His Father.
A secondary reason is that God designed prayer to be our unique our access to His unique blessings...
1 What is it that causes fights and quarrels among you? Don t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 I mean, You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight He says here s the issue- You do not have because you do not ask God. (either at all or in the wrong manner)
3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James says we fight and scratch and struggle in this life to get those things we think we need- but that s not the way to get them. PRAYER is
3 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. God does not answer selfish prayers.
1. Yes, you may have it. (you can handle it) 2. No, that is not good for you. 3. Wait, I have something better for you. 4. My grace is sufficient for you. (2 Cor. 12:9). Ask faithfully - trusting that He will always Answer faithfully.
10 Everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?
12 Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 "If you then, being evil (human), know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
Sometimes, God wants to answer our prayer, but the timing isn t right. As I look back over my life, I realize that if God had answered certain prayers according to my schedule, it would have been a disaster I wasn t ready to receive it or appreciate it as His blessing.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, Give ear to my supplications! BUT -answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness! And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous.
In some cases, the problem isn t the number of prayers, or their intensity, or even the nature of our prayers. Sometimes, God is up to something we don t know about, something much bigger than we were expecting. Something that may simply require a different answer than the one we anticipated.
Thirdly, a reason we should pray is to give Glory to God Prayer gives the Godhead the glory and the recognition they deserve. In particular it praises Jesus as our Savior.
Acts 3:1-6 - 1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother s womb was carried whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk...
Peter clearly invokes the authority of Jesus in his prayer to heal the man. He specifically prays in the Name of Jesus, to provide clear evidence that the blessing to follow was from Jesus. The Name of Jesus is a recognition of the authority of Jesus, and not some magic formula.
13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. *Understand, Jesus meant anything within HIS WILL. Even so, He did say anything, indicating His divine authority in all areas of life.
12... Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.
14 "But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. 16 "And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus... That means for His service, within His will or pleasure, to His glory.
Our Father which art in heaven, Jesus said to address God as your Father. (A Relationship made known by Jesus own relationship with Jehovah)
Our Father which art in heaven, Jesus said to address God as your Father. (A Relationship made known by Jesus own relationship with Jehovah) Hallowed be thy name. Now, you can use any of the names of God. Jehovah Jireh OUR PROVIDER Jehovah Ropheka OUR HEALER Jehovah Shalom OUR PEACE
Thy kingdom come Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Carries with it the idea that we are always seeking after God s Righteousness and Rule in our lives.
Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Carries with it the idea that we are always seeking after God s Righteousness and Rule in our lives. Give us this day our daily bread. Ask Him for your daily supply; God wants to supply us on a daily schedule
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Unforgiveness frankly stops our prayers from being answered. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: Declare your victory from the oppression of the World.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Finish up with praise and a focus on God and His Kingdom.
Prayer is an extraordinary gift from God. In it we can communicate with our Creator. Petition and receive His blessings. Glorify His name. Is that why you pray?