Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: Who knows how to pray the best?

Prayer Problems:

We don’t feel like praying.

We don’t know what to pray.

We can’t think of the right words to pray.

We are in a rut and praying the same way and want to change.

We want a deeper experience of prayer.

Bottom Line: Praying scripture broadens and enriches our prayers.

1. Pray before you pray

to be attentive

to hear God

to understand

to draw near to God

2. Pray a prayer that’s in the Bible.

Choose a complete passage.

Philippians 4:13; 4:10-13

Be careful if you choose one verse.

We grow in our prayer as we are led to pray things we wouldn’t normally pray.

When we pick verses those are things we want.

Other things in a prayer passage may not be what we choose but what we should pray.

This verse is all about being content, and preservering through times of need, rather than simply being granted the strength to do anything.

Looking back a few verses, we can see that Paul is actually saying “I can be content through Him who gives me strength.”

In the previous verse, Philippians 4:12, Paul says that “I know what it is to be in need…I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry…” Paul makes no boast, to the church at Philippi, that he can achieve or endure anything through God who strengthens him.

He tells them, instead, that God grants him the strength to be content, no matter the circumstance.

So if you ever find yourself imprisoned or persecuted for your faith, it's appropriate to remember and quote Paul’s example, and his words in this verse.

Shouting it at the church baseball game so that you can Samson-strength the ball over the tree line, or grunting it out at the gym in an effort to bench 300?

Not so much.

Read more at https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/5-bible-verses-youre-probably-using-out-of-context.aspx?p=3#6GClUcrqjYTGzYrK.99

2. Consider the context.

Jeremiah 33:3; Psalm 55:15; Matthew 5:44-48

Some prayers are for us, some are not.

We can still pray prayers that are not for us, but we have to modify the way we pray them.

Jeremiah 33:3 is not a promise for us but we can still pray it.

Psalm 55:15 Imprecatory were against literal enemies.

These prayers aren’t consistent with Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 5:44-48.

Pray this against spiritual enemies.

Change the names.

3. Change the prayer to fit your life.

Psalm 3, Psalm 119.

3. Personalize a passage in prayer.

1. Personalize it for yourself and for others.

Psalm 119:36

Psalm 119:36 “I incline my heart to your testimonies.”

2. React to it.

If it’s something about God - worship, praise or thank Him.

3. Meditate on the passage as you pray it.

What is there in this passage that makes me love God more?

What does God expects of me?

Ask Him for help to do it.

What does this passage lead me to do?

Is there something in the passage we’ve done for God as we’ve obeyed Him? Rejoice.

Does this passage show us something we’ve done wrong, confess our sin

Is there something in this passage about God that we can believe Him for?

Ask Him to help us grow in faith.

What does this passage lead me to ask of the Lord?

4. Scriptures to Pray for various issues

Health - Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 32:39; Psalm 6:1-3; Psalm 147:3; Jeremiah 17:14;

Help - Psalm 9:9-10; Psalm 86

Needs - Philippians 4:19; Psalm 23:1; Romans 8:32

Protection - Psalm 71

Government leaders 1 Timothy 2:1-2.

Our nation 2 Chronicles 7:14

The church.

Ephesians 4:1-6; Ephesians 6:19-20

Ephesians 4:1-6 (unity and maturity) Ephesians 6:19-20 (to have the right words to share the Gospel) Ephesians 6:19-20

The lost - open hearts Acts 16:14; to see the light of the Gospel 2 Corinthians 4:4; for repentance 2 Timothy 2:25-26

The persecuted church Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 1:7-9

for hope Ephesians 1:18; inner strength Ephesians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 1:7-9

Those far from God. 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 16:8-11

Carnal Christians 1 John 5:16-17

Discussion questions:

Is praying Scripture something you have done or that you do regularly?

If you pray Scripture you’re in the habit of praying, which one or ones do you pray?

Is praying Scripture something you will incorporate into your prayer time (if you don’t already do it)?

Why or why not?