Maturing Your Relationship With God Part 2
Maturing Your Relationship With God. • Sermon • Submitted
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Hey guys I am going to start teaching now because what I have for you is short
and I want to spend our time together in a spiritual exercise of worship and Prayer.
Before we do.. I want to talk encourage you into being a prayer warrior:
E.M. Bounds Said: “When faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live.”
When faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live.”
A few weeks ago we talked about Maturing your relationship with God
and looked at how each Epistle helps mature our relationship with God.
I hope that some of you found a book that really has grown you.
In fact if that has happened to you let us know what book in the Bible
Today we will talk about maturing your relationship with God by Prayer.
Because I think that while Christianity is out trying to find better methods,
God is trying to find better believers.
Pray
Importance of Prayer:
Importance of Prayer:
Without a doubt there are many prayers answered
The Bible is full of prayers & answered prayers
Biblically:
The Bible is full of them
It is mentioned at least 374 times
But what is interesting is that while prayer is all over the Bible there is no how to pray book in the Bible,
How long was your longest prayer?
How short was your shortest prayer?
But what is interesting is that while prayer is all over the Bible there is no how to pray book in the Bible,
But what is interesting is that while prayer is all over the Bible there is no how to pray book in the Bible,
instead there are just hundred and hundreds of examples.
Some of the most famous prayers are from:
The trend you see through the Bible is that the more active in prayer they were the more was accomplished.
Which i think can teach us something:
And each hero in the Bible had an active prayer life.
You almost see that the more active in prayer they were the more was accomplished.
In the OT the person who prayed the most based on
1. King David - he has the most prayers because Psalms that is full of prayers
What I love from these prayers is that often David starts with his problem and as he continues to pray
his prayer changes to praise
Teaching me how prayer changes my perspective
and God chose David to be king over his brothers that appeared more capable to be king.
and as King he accomplished so much.
by freeing Israel from their enemies and establishing the city Jerusalem.
He also led many people to God by him being a man after God’s own heart.
2. Nehemiah prayed possibly the most but because he has less writings we cant compare.
Prayer was the key to God that brought on his success.
His prayer life likely started while he was just a shepherd boy, and God chose David to be king over his brothers that appeared more capable to be king.
Nehemiah prayed possibly the most but because he has less writings we cant compare.
But Nehemiah was able to accomplish so much:
rebuilding a wall in like a month, rebuilding Jerusalem, encouraging discouraged people, fighting the enemy, and probably more.
Teaching me that praying according to God’s purpose can accomplish much
Hannah was a prayer warrior you can read about in 1 Samual 1
Her story teaches me that God’s honors a persistent prayer
Now there are many examples in prayer
I can go on & on with great people in Bible that prayed and were used mightily for God
but just these three examples show us the power of prayer
May we pray for perspective, pray with purpose, and pray persistently
Now I used to think that God only heard the prayers of the righteous men of God....
My guess is that there are some of you that wonder the same....
So lets understand whose prayers are heard.
1.NOT sinners (unless it brings them to a relationship with God): .
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
also ,
2. Prayers leading to repentance:
: David prayer of repentance for his sin over Bathsheba and Uriah
: Daniels prayer of confession for the nation
: His prayer of repentance of disobedience
: Ezra’s confession for the nation
: Cornelius prayers led him to Grace.
3. A Disciples prayer:
“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
So if you trust in Jesus your prayers are heard!
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Okay so now that we know your prayers are heard… then how do you pray
check out:
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
The Holy Spirit helps us pray.
This may be a mind blow but God’s not hearing our imperfect english , flawed speech in our prayers.
Instead the Holy Spirit translates it to be worthy for the kingdom of God.
This means we can pray as sincere and as honest as possible and the holy spirit will correct and translate that prayer for us.
1.NOT sinners (unless it brings them to a relationship with God): .
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
NOT sinners (unless it brings them to a relationship with God): “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.” “3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”Prayers leading to repentance:Psalm 51: David prayer of repentance for his sin over Bathsheba and UriahDaniel 9:4-19: Daniels prayer of confession for the nationJonah 2: His prayer of repentance of disobedience : Ezra’s confession for the nationActs 10:4: Cornelius prayers led him to Grace.A Disciples prayer:Matthew 21:22 “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”
15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
So there is no such thing as a good prayer or a bad prayer.
I
also ,
The Holy Spirit takes our trash prayers no matter how Christianize or not and makes it worthy for the kingdom
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power
So be honest with God, if you mad be mad, if your stressed be stressed talk to God.
2. Prayers leading to repentance:
and while that goes against christianize prayers it doesn't go against God.
: David prayer of repentance for his sin over Bathsheba and Uriah
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
look at king David, even Jesus on Gethsemane.
: Daniels prayer of confession for the nation
The purpose of prayer is to come to God as we are.
: His prayer of repentance of disobedience
: Ezra’s confession for the nation
: Cornelius prayers led him to Grace.
I love hearing new believer prayers:
they’re so raw, and honest.
3. A Disciples prayer:
“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
ames 5:17-18 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”
So you don’t experience the work of God in your life not because your not worthy or great but
because you are not looking to God and following the Spirit of God that lives in you.
But to this day God does great things that are started with prayer
But even last week I shared a post about a revival that was birthed in prayer.
So if you trust in Jesus your prayers are heard!
It is simply just because they were willing to be used by God and they prayed.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Now so often people look at these great men and say well they were greater than me
and thats why there prayers were answered and why they did great things.
Spirit interprets for us
Romans 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Talk about greatness!
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.
So we need to get out of our heads that some people are closer to God
because the same Spirit of God lives in us speaking for us
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
The only difference is that some are walking in the Spirit God has given us and some of you are not.
So being used by God is all about being willing not worthy
It is amazing to me that there is so many people who try to have a strong walk with God with minimal prayer.
It is amazing to me that there is so many people who try to have a strong walk with God with minimal prayer.
It is amazing to me that there is so many people who try to have a strong walk with God with minimal prayer.
Every single man or woman of God in the Bible had a prayer relationship with God.
Prayer is one of the most amazing things we can do, yet it is so simple and often neglected/
but those who pray are the ones that pray more because they start to see answered prayers, miracles, and things change.
There is a power that comes through such a humble, simple thing.
There is a power that comes through such a humble, simple thing.
If prayer is the most power a man can have so why are our words weak about it?
So if prayer is the most power a man can have so why are our words weak about it?
With the power of words why don’t we have powerful words about prayer?
however power is not in the prayer but in the one receiving the prayer.
I want to share with you a poem titled Prayer Pretense.
PRAYER PRETENSE
By Pastor Nathan Wendell Tyson
What is a powerful prayer?
Is it praying boldly?
Is it causally speaking to God?
Is it praying intimately?
What is the method to powerful prayer?
Find a quiet place?
On your knees?
Request, a confession, proclaiming consecration?
Has God ever thought, “That was a powerful prayer!”?
No, it is God that has the power, not my prayer.
We pray so small to a big God
Like He is a genie to give answers, or a fortune cookie to inspire all of our selfishly desires.
The world is full of people going to hell, starving, and suffering.
God sees it all.
Yet we pray, “God bless this food, make my day good.”
When were feeling spiritual we ask God to bless some others too.
If we saw the world as God sees it we would be quick to fall on our knees
It wouldn’t matter how strong of Christian you are.
Prayer is just for the willing.
Prayer connects to the power of God to do the plan of God
So when we pray lives would change.
We would see sicknesses healed, poverty transformed to provided, anxiety changed to peace, haters becoming lovers, depression turning into joy, death transforming to life,
Prayer allows us to wreck all the characteristics of Hell to establish His Kingdom
So you have a calling, God is hearing, prayer isn’t for the religion it is for the willing.
God, bless Your will not mine!
What would happen if you prayed more?
No doubt you would be closer to God (), more loving of a person (mt 5:44), will protect you from Satan (), kept from temptation (,), submits us to God purpose (),makes us obedient ()
You may see a miracle happen, & God answer your prayer.
You may see a miracle happen, or God answer your prayer.
So whats stopping you from praying?
So whats stopping you from accessing the greatest power in the universe by praying?
Be real in your prayers
What to pray
How to pray
+
Whose prayers are heard?
Ablity of prayer
Way to Pray
Keeps us from being disobedientJesus commanded us to prayLuke 18:1 “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.”
So look up to the stars and realize the creator hears you, and loves you.
Goal
Goal
Now what will you pray for?
I want to take the rest of our time to do a prayer exercise and worship.
Exhortation for meditative prayer.
A desire to devote time to prayer.
But before we do here is a video:
Play video:
No doubt you would be closer to God, more loving of a person
You may see a miracle happen, or God answer your prayer.
So whats stopping you?
what will you pray for?