THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER Psalm 55:16-17
Psalm 55:16-17 THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER Psalm 55. 1-14- After feeling downcast and defeated, David remembered the privilege of prayer. Too many believers forget the tremendous, glorious privilege that belongs to us as children of God. We have a privilege that is unequalled by any other in the world. PRAYER ALLOWS ACCESS TO GOD Psa. 55:17 When we pray, we are addressing the Creator - The false gods - Psa. 15:1-9. To whom we are praying - Eph. 3:20; Isa. 40:12; Col. 1:16-17. Prayer Brings Us Into His Presence - Heb. 4:16. Eph. 2:6 - I am in Jesus, when I pray, the Son intercedes and the Father sees me through the filter of His Son and He hears me. We have access into the throne room of Heaven! He is always there for us - Our Access Is By Royal Invitation - In Esther chapter 4 God invites us to come before Him - Psa. 50:15. Ours is a great privilege to go before Him
PRAYER IS AVAILABLE TO ALL BELIEVERS John 15:17 Prayer is not just the activity of the spiritual giants. Prayer is open to all saints, without exception! Many great Bible prayers are from the ordinary: - Hannah - 1 Sam. 1:1-20 - The Publican - Luke 18:13 - The Dying Thief - Luke 23:42 God calls on you to pray - your family needs you to pray, your community needs you pray, this church needs you to pray! Prayer is a privilege that deserves to be exercised.
PRAYER ANTICIPATES GOD S ANSWER Jer. 33:3; Isa 65:24 Prayer is a privilege because GOD has promised that He will hear and that He will answer! This should give us confidence when we pray - John 14:13-14; 16:23-24. We are not just talking to the air. God desires to answer our prayers more than we want them answered, Luke 12:32. - the prayer of faith is possible - James 4:2-3.
PRAYER ACHIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE Matt. 17:20 Prayer has the ability to unleash the supernatural in this natural world! - Elijah on Mt. Carmel - 1 Kings 18:36-38 63 Abraham for Sodom - Gen. 18:23-32 - Moses for Israel - Exodus 32:1-14 Jesus for the Multitude - John 6:11 - The Thief for His Own Soul - Luke 23:39-43 Many of us here are living impossible lives because of the supernatural power of prayer. Never say God cannot do it! Prayer is a privilege because it has the ability to achieve the impossible! - James 5:15.
PRAYER ADVANCES THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 2 Thess. 3:1 Our prayers can be effective in places where we cannot go physically. - prayer warriors are needed and why they are essential! Matt. 6:5-6. True power lies not in the preacher, or the church, The real power source is those who know how to use the prayer closet! Prayer opens door, hinders evil, touches the sick, convicts the sinner. Prayer works! Our greatest need is for more people to PRAY. Paul was a prayer warrior! Rom. 1:9; Rom. 15:30. He believed in the power and the potential of prayer. Everything we do must be soaked in prayer! Being useful in His kingdom makes prayer a great privilege!
PRAYER ADVERTISES GOD S GREATNESS. 1 Kings 18:1-39 When Elijah prayed and God answered, the people glorified the Lord. Prayer advertises His greatness as few other things can. - How? - Prayer Declares His Grace - He allows sinners access. Prayer Declares His Goodness - He is willing to hear and answer. Prayer Declares His Greatness - Prayer says, He is worthy to be bowed down before.- Rom. 14:11
Prayer Declares His Glory - It is through prayer that God reveals Himself, His purposes and His ways to us Prayer unleashes the power of Almighty God on the earth! Matt. 18:19 Prayer says - I can t, but I know One who can. Prayer is a privilege because it gives us an opportunity to exalt our Heavenly Father! By their simple willingness to place their faith in God, the saints honour Him. Prayer is the privilege of God s Saints. When we exercise this great privilege we can impact earth and Heaven. We can reach beyond today and touch tomorrow. Prayer is a great privilege, let s exercise it at every opportunity.
What Does It Take To Grow? Prayer The Goal: - To Commit to the habits necessary for spiritual maturity. 2 Pet 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Habits of Maturing Christians 1. In order to grow we need to eat The Bible 2. In order to grow we need to breathe Prayer 3. In order to grow we need good spiritual hygiene Confession of sin 4. In order to grow we need a caring family Fellowship 5. In order to grow we need regular exercise Service 6. In order to grow we need protection Temptation 7. In order to grow we need to give Stewardship.
Being in the Habit of Prayer Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come, endure them patiently; steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer. Romans 12:12 Where are you on the Prayer Growth Chart? Committed prayer casual prayer Combat Prayer
Elements to effective prayer 1. Praise. Begin by expressing your love to God. Our Father in heaven, may your name be honoured.(v.9) 1.Paise Him for Who He is His character. 2.Praise Him for what He does His works. I will praise God for who He is and what He does. 2. Secondly Purpose- Commit yourself to God s purpose and will for your life. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. I will obey God no matter what He asks of me.
3.Thirdly Your Provision: Ask God to provide for your needs. 11 Give us our food for today I will depend on God s provision for all of my needs. 4. Fourthly - Pardon: Ask God s forgiveness for your sins. 12 and forgive us our sins, a. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal every sin. b. Confess each sin specifically. c. Make restitution to others when necessary. d. By faith accept God s forgiveness. I will confess my sins as God reveals them and accept His forgiveness.
Five - Purity: Let go of your grudges and bitterness. just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. I will release those who have sinned against me because God has forgiven me. Six - Protection: Ask for divine protection. 13 And don t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. I will learn my areas of weakness and depend on God s protection.
Suggestions For Growth In Prayer Block out a regular time in your day, your week, for prayer: I will pray minutes per day, days per week. I will keep a list of prayer requests and God s answers. I will ask another person to be my prayer partner, and pray together times per week. Meet together or use the phone! I will plan to pray every Saturday morning at church. I will set aside regular times in my day when to pray: stopped in traffic, in the shower, etc.
I will join the Prayer Chain. I will give up one meal a week and spend that time praying. I will begin using a prayer list - personal needs, family needs, spiritual leaders, missionaries, government officials, neighbours, friends, those who need Christ. I will begin praying out loud - if you re in the habit of praying silently. I will regularly pray for minutes and not ask God for anything, just thank Him for His blessings and character. I will join the Ladies Bible Studies on prayer - or start one!
I will attend Saturday morning prayer meetings. I will sign up today to join with a few other men or women, once a month, to pray. I will read a book this month about prayer. I will join a small group and pray each week, and/or offer to keep track of prayer requests and God s answers. I will reserve time to participate in the annual Fasting and Prayer. I will pray through the Psalms and personalize them. I will give up one meal a day, or fast one day a week, and devote the time I d have spent eating to prayer instead. I will attend the prayer school.
I will begin writing out my prayers in a journal or on a computer - try this if your mind wanders. I will join with others once a week to pray for God to cleanse our hearts, revive our church and heal our land. I will call the church office and ask to receive a copy of the weekly prayer guide, then I will pray for the needs listed I will read through the Bible this year and colour code all the verses on prayer - promises, hindrances, examples, prayers, answers, etc. I will purchase a hymnal and use it as a supplement for praying- many hymns are prayers!
Suggestions For Growth In Family Prayer We will pray as a family times per week. Each day we will pray for God to develop a Biblical virtue in our family. We will keep a family prayer journal and track our needs and God s answers. Walk through the neighbourhood and pray for families, widows, single people, the neighbors God has placed on your block. Pray each week that God will give you opportunities to share the love of Christ as a family. Try praying sentence prayers sometime no one says more than one sentence.