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Prayer 2007
By Steve Romig
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1. What is prayer?
Burden for everyone: talk to God!
Some ideas:
- Heb 10:19-22 - we can have bold and confident access to God. Don't need to be ashamed, guilty, hide from God, etc.
- Rev 3:20 - God stands at the door and knocks. How do we open the door and fellowship with him? Prayer.
Why pray
- It’s a chance to talk with the creator of everything. Wow.
- Some things won't get done if we don't ask god (Matt 7:7ff, James 4)
- Helps others (see praying for others)
- We need it to grow. Invite God to challenge you (see praying scary below). Gives us a chance to practice proper perspective: concern for others, praise, thanks. Sets our mind on things of the spirit (in order to walk in the spirit)
Will God answer all my prayers?
- Mat 21:22, Mat 26:39 (Jesus’ example - not my will, but your will), John 14:13ff, John 15:7ff, John 16:23, James 4 (wrong motives), 1 John 5:14-15. God isn't a wishing well, or a slot machine. Can't manipulate him through some special "wording" to do things.
- What if God says, “NO!”?
Get into the Word!
- If we're supposed to pray according to God's will, how do we know what God's will is?
- By getting into the Word on our own
When to pray
- Eph 6:18, 1 Thess 5:17 - all times. What does that mean? What does it look like?
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2. How should I pray?
NX- start with forgiveness
Xians: practice praying!
Some ideas:
- Don't feel bad if you don't feel "strong" in prayer - it takes practice. Rom 8:26-27 - the Holy Spirit will help.
- Out loud is fine, to yourself is fine.
- Don't need special flowery language.
- Be honest with God. He knows what's going on in your heart, soul anyway.
- Biblical examples of great prayer warriors (James: Elijah, Luke 2, persistent widow, Daniel, Nehemiah, Jonah, Paul etc.)
- Follow example of the Lord’s prayer
One thing to suggest is that its helpful to pray through the Word, both in praising/thanking God and in praying for yourself, others.
Practice ideas [Give practical suggestions on how to cultivate some of this. Can go light on petition (covered in “Praying Scary” next week) and intercession (covered in praying for others in two weeks). I'd hit worship and thanksgiving hardest.]
- Worship - not that God *needs* worship, but that we need to learn to worship him for who he is!
- Thanks - for his promises, fulfilled prayer, circumstances, etc.
- We take so much for granted. Need to learn
- Thankfulness. Doesn't come naturally.
- Petition - asking God for stuff for us. See “Praying Scary” below.
- Intercession – praying for others.
- Spiritual warfare - it is a spiritual war, the only weapons and armor that we have are from God. See Eph 6:18.
Possible additions
- Maybe discuss Matt. 6:5 (don't pray to be seen by others), is this saying that we shouldn't pray in public or in groups? No! It’s talking about our attitude in prayer. See Matt. 18:19ff, “fix me”
- Maybe discuss Mat 6:7 - not meaningless repetition. Talk about Lord's prayer?
Persistence important - Luke 11:5-10, 18:1-7
- Why is it SO HARD to pray (Spiritual opposition)
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3. Praying for others
NX- Accept Christ
Xians: practice praying for others, not just yourself
The example of Paul and others in the NT who pray for others
- Col. 4:12
- Col. 1
- Eph. 1:15-23; 3:16-21
- Phil. 1
What does Paul pray about for others?
- Know god's love, etc.
- Coach students to pray these things for others
Ripped out of self-focus
- Heb 10:24 - consider how to encourage one another.
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4. Praying scary
NX- Accept Christ
Xians: pray for things you’re afraid God will answer
The example
Why?
- Eph 3:20 - God is big, able to do far beyond what we ask or think. See James 5:16b-18.
Ministry opportunities
- In Eph 6:18-20 Paul asks for opportunities to speak, boldness. He apparently wasn't naturally outgoing, this would have been a scary prayer for him.
Other things
- Phil 4:6-7 - praying for worry. Turning things that bother us over to God. What are the key elements? Pray, with thanksgiving.
- Humility, breaking (1 Peter 5:5,6)
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