Sermon Tone Analysis

(5) Qualities that lead to effective prayer

Sin

Disobedience

See also ;

Selfishness

Injustice

Lack of faith

Qualities that lead to effective prayer

1) Humility

Two personalities take center stage in this parable.

The first is a Pharisee.

Hearing the word Pharisee, the crowd would have had two reactions.

This was a religious man who kept all the rules.

This was also a man who opposed Jesus and constantly heard Jesus’ condemnation and ridicule.

The second character was a tax collector.

Hearing this word, the audience would have felt disgust and betrayal.

Two personalities take center stage in this parable.

Two personalities take center stage in this parable.

The first is a Pharisee.

Hearing the word Pharisee, the crowd would have had two reactions.

This was a religious man who kept all the rules.

This was also a man who opposed Jesus and constantly heard Jesus’ condemnation and ridicule.

The second character was a tax collector.

Hearing this word, the audience would have felt disgust and betrayal.

The first is a Pharisee.

Hearing the word Pharisee, the crowd would have had two reactions.

This was a religious man who kept all the rules.

This was also a man who opposed Jesus and constantly heard Jesus’ condemnation and ridicule.

The second character was a tax collector.

Hearing this word, the audience would have felt disgust and betrayal.

Dedicated kingdom living involves prayer that confesses one’s sin and seeks God’s forgiveness, not prayer that extols self and excludes others.

Dedicated kingdom living involves prayer that confesses one’s sin and seeks God’s forgiveness, not prayer that extols self and excludes others.

See also ; ; ; ;

2) Obedience

We may silence our condemning hearts in two ways:

We may silence our condemning hearts in two ways: (1) by confessing our sin (1:8) so that we are forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness, and (2) by resting in the fact that God knows all things, looking not just at our deeds but at our hearts.

Once our hearts no longer condemn us, we can have confidence before God.

This confidence leads us to fruitfulness in prayer.

Characteristically, John states it in absolute terms: we receive from him anything we ask.

By confessing our sin (1:8) so that we are forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness, and

by resting in the fact that God knows all things, looking not just at our deeds but at our hearts.

Once our conscience no longer condemn us, we can have confidence before God.

This confidence leads us to fruitfulness in prayer.

Characteristically, John states it in absolute terms: we receive from him anything we ask.

Turn to

John did not intend to promise a blank check for any and every prayer, but that answered prayer is the ongoing experience of the Christian.

Even Jesus’ request that the cup of crucifixion pass from him was not answered affirmatively ().

We should observe, however, that the request was followed by the statement, “Yet not my will, but yours be done.”

John did not intend to promise a blank check for any and every prayer, but that answered prayer is the ongoing experience of the Christian.

Even Jesus’ request that the cup of crucifixion pass from him was not answered affirmatively (Luke 22:42).

We should observe, however, that the request was followed by the statement, “Yet not my will, but yours be done.”

See also ;

3) Righteousness

Righteousness: here its defined primarily as the fear of the Lord and humility it is more a matter of motives than deeds and thus excludes self-justification.

Biblical righteousness is fundamentally an attitude of trust in God, an attitude implicitly and explicitly demanded

Wickedness, too, is more than simple disobedience to the commandments; it is above all manifest in an attitude of pride

Biblical righteousness is fundamentally an attitude of trust in God, an attitude implicitly and explicitly demanded

Wickedness, too, is more than simple disobedience to the commandments; it is above all manifest in an attitude of pride

The supreme qualities of the righteous life are “love and faithfulness”, and it is by these that one attains to the forgiveness of sin.

Similarly, the fate of the wicked and the benefit of righteousness are also amplified in the New Testament.

Righteousness is here defined primarily as the fear of the Lord and humility

The supreme qualities of the righteous life are “love and faithfulness” (16:6), and it is by these that one attains to the forgiveness of sin.

Similarly, the fate of the wicked (death, 15:10) and the benefit of righteousness (a peaceful life, 16:7) are also amplified in the New Testament.

See also ;

4) Single-mindedness

The 13th verse says that God is accessible.

If we seek Him, we will find Him when we want Him more than all else, with all your heart, will all you mind and all your will.

God assured his people that when they sought him wholeheartedly, he would be found.

The definition of single minded is a focus on one thing at the expense of anything else.

When we will spend the time to focus on what the Lord has for our lives, instead of what we want, we would be able to feel and see his glory for our lives.

See also ;

5) Faith

In fact, faith cannot be exercised in any way except according to God’s will.

It is not the faith which moves mountains, but the power of God in response to the expression of faith.

True faith is always in keeping with God’s will and is based on intimacy with God and an understanding of his heart and will.

In fact, faith cannot be exercised in any way except according to God’s will.

It is not the faith which moves mountains, but the power of God in response to the expression of faith.

True faith is always in keeping with God’s will and is based on intimacy with God and an understanding of his heart and will.

The weaker we realize we are, the greater the working of God’s power through us ().

The weaker we realize we are, the greater the working of God’s power through us (2 Cor.

12:7–10).

Turn to 2 Cor.

12:7-10

Prayer is an expression of our powerlessness and dependence on God.

Prayer is an expression of our powerlessness and dependence on God.

See also ; ; ;