Sermon Tone Analysis

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*Phil 4:6-7*

6 Be anxious for nothing(be anxious for those things that you can’t do anything about), but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, *will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.*

(NKJ)

 

·      In everything… I have seen the overly spiritual christian that prays about common things, or uses praying as an excuse not to do something, but I think over all we pray too little!

*James 4:2* You lust and do not have.

You murder and covet and cannot obtain.

You fight and war.

Yet *you do not have because you do not ask*.

3 *You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss*,(NKJ)

·      Remember we said that there is a battle for your minds, especially in this city?

Well here is our guard for our minds and hearts!

Prayer.

*Luke 11:9-10*

9 "So I say to you, *ask*, and it will be given to you; *seek*, and you will find; *knock*, and it will be opened to you.

10 "For *everyone* who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

(NKJ)

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*Let’s begin to talk about the three main types of Prayer*

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*Asking = Petitioning              Seeking = Devotional            Knocking = Intercession*

 

*John 16:23-24*

23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing.

Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

24 "Until now you have asked nothing in My name.

Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

(NKJ)

 

*Matt 7:11*

11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give *good things to those who ask Him**!*

 

·      We have to ask for salvation, for the Holy Spirit, Healing, deliverance, the gifts of the spirit, prosperity and all other blessings.

How does asking work?

How can we get our prayers of petition answered?

There are four conditions that must be met to get assurance that our petitions will receive a yes.

1.

We must ask I faith!

Simply asking God for things will not garantee a positive answer.*

Matt.

21:22* And all thngs, whatsoever you asking prayer, *believing*, ye shall receive!

2.    We must abide in a relationship with Christ!* Jn 15:7* When we abide in prayer, we develop spiritually so that hs desires are our desires.

Therefore he can trust us with a blank check.

*3.

*We must be properly motivated.

*James 4:3 *You ask and do not receive, because *you ask amiss*, (we miss the purpose of God’s blessings)that you may spend it on your pleasures.

It is God’s desire to give us all good things, we know that.

But so many requests come from pure selfishness.

God desires that what we ask for should in the end Glorify him.

*I King 3:9-14*

9 "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil.

For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"

10 The speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and *have not asked long life for yourself*, n*or have asked riches for yourself*, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,

12 "behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.

13 "And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.

14 "So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."(NKJ)

4.

We must ask according to the will of God.

This is why it is so important to have a good knowkledge of the Word of God.

The Bible tells us what the will of God is.

So when we ask for something that we know he has promised, we are certain that we are asking according to his will.

*I Jn 5:14* Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.15

And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

 

·      Let’s get a little more specific with our asking.

When we go into a store we do not say “Oh give me some food” Are we afraid to get specific?

Of course we can over do it and it will cost us more faith!

And time and patience!