PRAYER
Luke 11:1-10 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (2) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. (3) Give us day by day our daily bread. (4) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (5) And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; (6) For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? (7) And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. (8) I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. (9) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (10) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Emphasis on (Luke 11:9-10)
ASK SEEK KNOCK
INTRODUCTION: I would guess after salvation there is nothing more important to talk about doing. We are commanded to lead souls to Christ, but we must pray for them and for people we may not have met.
I. PRAYER IS FIRST DISCUSSED IN
(Genesis 4:26) And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
A. We Have A Need Of
Psalms 65:2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
I can’t imagine a day without prayer, our family, church family, friends, all our government people they need our, MY, YOUR, prayer. Ask for what we need but ask with sincerity and if it is God’s will it will be done.
B. Holy Spirit Aids In Our Prayers
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
We do not know God’s plan for our lives, consequently we do not have a clue as to what to pray for. So the Holy Spirit intervenes and gets the prayer to Jesus the way it is needed for Jesus to send it on to God.
ILLUSTRATION Unspoken Prayer
Unspoken prayers are kept that way so the devil doesn’t have a clue as what we said to God.
C. Our Prayers Are Odors To God
Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Prayer and praise should always go together.
(Revelation 8:3) And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
No prayer sent through Christ was ever denied. These prayers that have been accepted in Heaven have produced great changes.
We presume these odors to be pleasant odors, representing favorable Christian holy prayers.
What do you suppose deceitful, hateful prayers smell like? Do they get to God? Not according to the scripture.
II. OUR PRAYERS THROUGH CHRIST ARE INTERCESSORY
A. For Sinners
In these verses Jesus is praying for future believers.
John 17:20-21 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
B. For Weak Believers
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Though we may fall, we shall not be utterly cast down. we are asked to encourage others. We are like those of “little faith” such as Simon Peter, ME, YOU.
C. For Our Enemies
In this next verse Jesus was hanging on the cross.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
This prayer of Jesus’ was while He was being nailed to the cross or just after.
D. For Our Church
In this next verse John 17:9 Jesus is praying for His apostles (church). To all that receive Christ’s Word, and believe in Him. Christ has redeemed us , not to Himself only, but to God, by His blood.
John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
III. PRAYERS ANSWERED
A. Moses
Exodus 15:24-25 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
B. Gideon
Judges 6:39-40 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
IV. POSTURES OF PRAYING
A. Bowing
Genesis 24:26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
B. On Face before God
Joshua 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
C. Standing
1 Kings 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
V. WHERE SHOULD WE PRAY
A. Christ’s Command
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
VI. WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY
A. Morning
Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
B. Evening
Mark 6:46-47 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
C. All The Time
(1 Thessalonians 5:17) Pray without ceasing.
CONCLUSION: What is your prayer life like?
You must have your salvation? Prayers will be answered without salvation.
But he “God” requires salvation to enter heaven.
Are you ready? If you don’t know or aren’t sure
Get it settled today before it’s to late.
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