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Documents about different biblical subjects

Prayer Life

March 31st, 2013

Pattern
 
Our Father
 
We are his sons and daughters – Galatians 4:7
God is our father – he really loves us
Not a servile fear, but a confident affectionate love 
  1. Psalms 16:3, 103:13-14, 147:11, 149:4
  2. Proverbs 3:12
  3. Isaiah 62:4, 65:19
  4. Zephaniah 3:!2
  5. Romans 8:1, 15-16
  6. Galatians 3:26-4:7
  7. Ephesians 3:12
  8. Hebrews 10:19-23
  9. 1 John 3:19-20, 4:16-18  
in heaven,
 
Confidence to enter into the very throne room of God
God has control on earth and in heaven 
  1. Romans 8:22-25
  2. Philippians 4:19
  3. 1 Peter 1:3-5
  4. Revelation 4,5,7:9-17, 19:1-10, 21:1-4, 22 
hallowed be your name,
 
God is holy – set apart, above all else
Honoring God
 
your kingdom come,
 
Pray for the kingdom where it has not gone – every person to be saved
Pray for the Lord of harvest to send out workers
Open door to preach the word
Speak boldly and the wisdom to preach (Ephesians 6:19-20, Colossians 4:3)
Pray for leaders in the kingdom
Salvation for your family and friends 
  1. Matthew 9:35-38
  2. Ephesians 6:19-20
  3. Colossians 4:2-6
  4. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
 
God wants us to pray with a surrendered heart
Search my heart and life and point out anything that was missed (Psalm 139:23-24)
Is there challenge or a trail that you wish to avoid? (Matthew 26:36-44)
What keeps us from doing God’s will? Pride, rebellion, and unbelief 
  1. 1 John 5:3-5
  2. Acts 16:6-10
  3. 1 Peter 4:1-2 
Give us today our daily bread.
 
Bring specific requests to God – none too big or too small
Depend on God for our spiritual needs
Pray for to-do list – every detail
Pray for calendar/schedule – every detail
Jesus could do nothing apart from God (John15:5) 
  1. Exodus 16:1-32
  2. John 15:5 
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
 
Confession of sin
All sin must be taken seriously
Not practicing confess – results in a hardened heart
Do not be vague in your confession – results in insecurity and self-consciousness
Have times of self-examination
Extend forgiveness to others
Forgive freely as God freely forgives you 
  1. Psalms 139:23-24
  2. Matthew 18:21-35
  3. Colossians 3:13
  4. James 5:16  
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ' 
 
Help in facing temptation
Pray for your weakness – where Satan strikes
 Depending on God’s strength and power
  1. Luke 4:13, 22:31, 32
  2. Ephesians 6:10-20
  3. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
  4. 1 Peter 5:8-9
 
For yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
 
Return again to praise and glorify him
Recognize that He has all power
 
 
Persistence 
  • What for the answer that is in God’s will
  • Never give up praying
 
Pointed 
  • The more detailed you are in your prayers, the more you trust God. 
Postures
 
There are many ways to pray.
 
Kneeling
  • Solomon – 1 Kings 8:54
  • Elijah – 1 Kings 18:42
  • Daniel - Daniel 6:10
  • Peter – Acts 9:40
  • Paul – Ephesians 3:14 
Standing
  • Jesus instructed – Mark 11:25
  • Tax collector – Luke 18:13 
Lifting and spreading out hands
  • Psalms 28:2, 63:4, 88:9, 119:48, 143:6
  • Ezra – Ezra 9:5
  • Moses – Exodus 9:29
  • Solomon – 1 Kings 8:22           
Gazing upward
  • Matthew 14:19
  • Mark 6:41, 7:34                                   
Dust on hands
  • Genesis 37:34
  • Numbers 14:6
  • Joshua 7:6
  • 2 Samuel 1:11
  • Nehemiah 9:1
  • Esther 4:1ff
  • Daniel 9:3
  • Acts 14:14           
Out loud
  • Ester 4:1
  • Hebrews 5:7
  •  James 4:7-9
 
Obstacles to Powerful Prayers
  1. Psalm 66:16-20 ~ If you cherish sin in your heart God will not listen to your prayers.
  2. Proverbs 21:13 ~ If you ignore the cry of the poor you too will cry out and not be answered.
  3. Proverbs 28:9 ~ If you close your ears to God's word then your prayers are an insult and detestable in God's site. 
  4. Luke 18:1-8 ~ A lack of persistence in prayer can result in them going unanswered. 
  5. James 1:6-8 ~ If you doubt, you are a double-minded person and will not receive anything from God. 
  6. 1 Peter 3:7 ~ Being a bad husband will assuredly hinder your prayers. 
  7. 1 Peter 4:7 ~ Not concentrating and being alert will prevent you from having effective prayers. If you are drowsy then walk around and pray aloud.
  8. 8. 1 John 5:14-15 ~ Prayers contrary to God's will shall not be answered. Great men of the bible have experienced this:
    1. 2 Samuel 12:15-23 - David begs God for his son's life but God refuses his request.
    2. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Paul's request was turned down by God.
    3. Mark 14:32-42 - Even Jesus was unable to change God's mind on the crucifixion issue !

{There are 667 specific prayers in the bible with 454 traceable answers}

 

What prayer is not for?
  1. Just to feel better (a spiritual placebo), although it will be a by-product.
  2. A means for God to do our will on earth  
What prayer is for?
  1. A means for God’s will to be done
  2. Help to understand God’s will better
  3. Helps us to changes our hearts to do his will
  4. Helps us find strength to do his will