The Invitation to Pray
The Invite • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 9 viewsTheme: Prayer Invites us into God's Will. Purpose: To pray the Will of God for lost sinners. Gospel: Prayer is how we participate in Gospel Work. Mission: Prayer is Serving in Christ's Name.
Notes
Transcript
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.
All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
Introduction: https://skitguys.com/videos/change-the-story
Mike shared with us the importance of Inviting people to Jesus, Last week we talked about our Courage to invite comes from the Holy Spirit. This week I wanted to dive more into how Prayer is integral to the Invite.
John is writing to a group of house churches in the area around Ephesus -
- False teaching, He emphasizes what Jesus taught in his last supper instruction in the Gospel of John 14 - 16.
- This passage is no different as he picks up the themes of prayer,
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
John talks about what we Know in this passage.
10 - What “We Know” About Prayer.
10 - What “We Know” About Prayer.
Major part of our life.
- pray for our friends and family church members
- An invite alone isn’t enough to change the heart of someone,
- In prayer we can be assured that the Lord will work.
Boldness in prayer comes from being certain about the Gospel.
Three things John Says we are certain about.
11 - God’s will is good, but the world is established by evil. - vs. 19
11 - God’s will is good, but the world is established by evil. - vs. 19
Satan's Guide to the Bible.
What was life before the Fall, what is life like when he comes to restore all things. This is God's will - We can pray for those things with confidence.
12 - Those in God’s family guard themselves from evil. - vs. 18
12 - Those in God’s family guard themselves from evil. - vs. 18
- Does not mean that believers will not sin ever, but their trajectory in life is to be cleansed from and to move away from sin. - Present tense, does not continue sinning.
- Does God protect his children from evil or evil one, or do we. Yes, in prayer we agree with God’s will and rebuke the evil and ask for cleansing.
- Here we are invited into doing spiritual warfare on behalf of others who sin. - Why not do spiritual warfare for those in our life who are not believers?
13 - Jesus is God’s will for our world. - vs 20
13 - Jesus is God’s will for our world. - vs 20
1. “John states that ‘if we ask anything … he [God] hears us.’
- the condition of answered prayer in 3:22 is that ‘we obey his commands and do what pleases him,’
- here it is ‘according to his will.’ - The closer aligned we are with Jesus the more we will pray according to his will - The key is union.
- Jesus is the truth in this passage, and we are in Him.
IN Jesus is God's will for our World - Quoting Jesus does what the Father Does. If you see me you see the Father.
Are we inviting God to join our invite, or is God inviting us into his will?
14 - Prayer Invites us into God’s Will for sinners.
14 - Prayer Invites us into God’s Will for sinners.
Motivation is important - The prayer should not be for personal gain. - The prayer is to Glorify God and Restore the person.
- For pride, to check off our task list.
Lay down some scripture about God's will in Jesus.
- I did not come to condemn the world, but to save the world. - John 3:17
- All who came to him were healed. - Throughout Scriptures Sozo in the book of Luke means healing, forgiven of sin, saved from a storm on the Galilee (Protection), and cleansed from an evil spirit.
- Peter and John knew God's will for the Paralytic. - Acts 3
It is not the healthy who need a Doctor, but the sick. - Luke 5:31-32
- We know that it is the will of God that unbelievers be saved, which is why our prayers covering those who we invite to church are so important.
- When we pray for the person we invite, we leave it all up to God and show that we care for their well-being.
- Prayer doesn’t just start and stop at the invitation but should follow through to the end. If we really have a heart for those we invite to church, then we will not stop fighting for them after they’ve attended one time. We should constantly pray afterward that their heart be softened and opened to the experience and what they heard. This also helps us become more selfless instead of selfish, because focus is not just on “getting them there,” but focused on their full redemption, no matter if they come to your invite.
How can we pray God’s will?
15 - How to pray God’s will.
15 - How to pray God’s will.
Pray Boldly - Because of What We Know
- Translated Confidence has the sense here of boldness - the trait of being willing to undertake activities that involve risk or danger; especially that involve being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech.
Like inviting someone to a movie - You prepare the person for the kind of movie you are going to watch. - Prayer prepares hearts.
My Quiet Time - Restoration with God, Restoration within, Restoration with others, Restoration with our call to care for creation.
Praying with People - The most effective evangelistic tool. - Examples of when I prayed with people - Generally they always feel cared for.
Listening Prayer: Stories from God Guides - Tim Vink's story about the girl that stood on her head - ask for that book he read from.
Being honest about your will. - Jesus, but your will be done.
17 - The Hexagon.
Conclusion: Are you praying? I am trusting you are.