10 Questions About Prayer: Crowd Shout-Out

10 QUESTIONS ABOUT PRAYER: “CROWD SHOUT-OUT”

INTRODUCTION

A. IDEA & TEXT

Tonight I want us to have a discussion about 10 aspects of PRAYER. Our key verse tonight is:

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Phip. 4:6

B. PRAYER IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE

Prayer is our greatest Christian privilege and our greatest Christian failure. The privilege of prayer refers to the opportunity for individuals to communicate with God, expressing their thoughts, needs, and gratitude. It allows believers to develop a personal relationship with God and seek His guidance and support.

QUESTIONS FOR THE CONGREGATION TO RESPOND TO:

1. WHY SHOULD WE PRAY WHEN GOD ALREADY KNOWS OUR NEEDS? We do not pray to impress or inform God, but to invite Him. We pray to fellowship with God, so He can develop and grow us, and because we depend on Him.

2. WHAT IS IT PROPER TO PRAY FOR? There is NOTHING in life that is OUTSIDE the reach of prayer. If it concerns you, it concerns God. We sometimes try to divide life into secular and sacred. We'll pray about the sacred parts but think we should handle the secular parts ourselves. Pray for EVERYTHING.

3. DOES GOD HEAR THE PRAYERS OF THE UNSAVED? Yes, God is the One who hears prayers, Ps. 65:2. Cornelius was an unsaved man, but God was aware of his prayer as told in Acts 10. God can hear the prayer of an unsaved person, but we, who are His children, have been given so much more - His promises found in His Word.

4. WHY SHOULD WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS? I’ve heard a couple of stories of how people got access to a U.S. President because they knew the president’s son. God’s Son has carte-blanche access. God promises that He will give us what we ask for when we pray in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14). When asking in Jesus' name, we should make sure we’re praying in the will of God and that our motives are right. Is my request going to bring glory to God?

5. DOES GOD ALWAYS GIVE US WHAT WE ASK FOR? No, and thank God! Sometimes we ask God for the wrong things (Numbers 11:11-15; Matthew 20:20-22). Other times our prayers are not answered because there's sin in our lives (Isaiah 59:2; Psalm 66:18). But God WILL do things when we pray that He would not do if we don't pray (James 4:2). Prayer effects what God does, but does not change Him.

6. WHAT DO WE DO IF OUR PRAYERS AREN’T ANSWERED?

a. Persist - There is a time to keep praying. Daniel prayed for three solid weeks about a matter before God sent an answer (Daniel 10; Luke 18:1).

b. Desist - There's a time to quit praying. Paul prayed three times for God to remove a thorn in his flesh. God did not give Paul what he asked, but God gave Paul something better than he asked (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

7. SHOULD WE EXPECT MIRACLES WHEN WE PRAY? Jesus never rebuked people for having too much faith, but He did rebuke people for having too little faith. I believe, if we’re going to err, we should err on the side of having too much faith. That being said, we should only expect a miracle if a miracle is required. The Pharisees tried to get Jesus to do a miracle for show; He wouldn’t. But whenever there was a need for a miracle, He performed one. Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to the one who believes.”

8. CAN OUR PRAYERS OVERRIDE THE WILL OF ANOTHER PERSON? No, God has given humans a free will (Revelation 22:17). If God were to force one person to be saved, He'd have to force all seven billion people on earth. However, WE can bind the powers of darkness and bring God's influence to people in prayer. God does not force salvation, but He frees people to be saved.

9. DOES GOD HAVE FAVORITES WHOSE PRAYER HE HEARS? God will hear your prayer just as quickly as He hears mine, or any famous Christians’ (Acts 10:34). On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with asking

another man or woman of faith to agree with you in pray. God DOES have intimates, but He does NOT have favorites.

10. HOW CAN I KNOW THE WILL OF GOD IN PRAYER? The prayer that GETS to heaven is the prayer that STARTS in heaven. We just close the circuit. The will of God is what you would want if you knew everything from God's viewpoint. The key is to abide in Christ/the Word. If you abide in Him (John 15:7), you will find that God will guide and direct your prayers, and you will be praying in the will of God.