The Priority Of Prayer
1. "Pray your WILL be done!"
God always answers prayer! ____________________________ "No" not good for you ____________________________ "Slow" circumstances not right ____________________________ "Grow" we're not right ____________________________ "Go" everything is right - YES!
Matthew 6:10
Matthew 6:10 NIV
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Mark 11:25-26
Mark 11:25-26 NIV
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Matthew 5:23-24
Matthew 5:23-24 NIV
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Accept God's COMMANDMENTS as the standards of your life.
To receive the PROMISES of God, we must obey the PRINCIPLES of God.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Four attitudes for effective prayer:
-SINCERELY ____________________________ "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their full reward." Matthew 6:5 ____________________________ "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins." James 5:13-20 ____________________________ SECRETLY ____________________________ "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 ____________________________ THOUGHTFULLY ____________________________ "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Matthew 6:7 ____________________________ FAITH ____________________________ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7 ____________________________ When you're in TROUBLE. (v. 13) ____________________________ When you're SICK. (v. 14) ____________________________ "Call the ELDERS of the church to pray." (v. 14) ____________________________ "Anoint him with OIL in the Name of the Lord" (v. 14) ____________________________ "The prayer offered in FAITH will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up!" (v. 15) ____________________________ "If he has SINNED he will be forgiven." (v. 15) ____________________________ "Therefore CONFESS your sins to each other, and PRAY for each other, so that you may be healed." (v. 16) ____________________________ We are only as sick as our secrets.
Foundations for an effective prayer life
Prayer Priorities ____________________________ When a believer is STRAYING (v. 19,20) ____________________________ think the "de-churched" ____________________________ This is about praying for the straying! Bring him back! Turn a sinner from the error of his way! (they are NOT the "enemy" - they are the "victims" of the enemy) ____________________________ The "KEEPING" power of God is as great as the "SAVING" power of God! ____________________________ THE COMPASSION CHALLENGE: Everyone here knows at least one formerly vibrant Christ-follower who has drifted away from a growing relationship with the Lord and the local church ("wandered from the truth")...lovingly BRING THEM BACK!