Prayer

Prayer
Matthew 7:7-11

I. What: prayer is asking, seeking and knocking

A. Asking and receiving - prayer according to the revealed will of God I John 5:14, 15

B. Seeking and finding - prayer according to the unrevealed will of God Jeremiah 29:12, 13 and Psalm 27:8

C. Knocking and opening - tenacious prayer, Matthew 17:14-21 (when God's will and your way is blocked by an obstacle)

II. Why: why should we pray?

A. Prayer is a command Luke 18:1, I Thes. 5:17

B. Jesus is our example throughout the NT

C. Prayers gets things from God, James 4:2

D. Brings joy, John 16:24

E. Delivers from troubles, Ps. 34:6

F. Brings wisdom, James 1:5

G. Sin not to pray, I Samuel 12:23 Pastor Bruce D. Cummons - "the greatest sin today in the ministry is prayerlessness".

H. Saves from Temptation, Matt. 26:41

III. How: how to pray

A. To God the Father in Jesus' Name, John 14:13, 14, by the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:26, 27; Jude 1:20

B. For God's will, Matt. 26:39

C. Daily needs

D. Forgiveness

E. Deliverance from evil

F. In faith, James 1:6-8

IV. Where: where to pray, Acts 12:5

A. In the assembly, Acts 1:13, 14 and Acts 2:42-47

B. In the closet, Matthew 6:6

V. Hindrances to prayer

A. I Peter 3:7, bad relationship with spouse

B. Selfishness, James 4:3

C. Unforgiving spirit, Matthew 5:22, 24

D. Unbelief, James 1:6-8