Through Prayer Pt. 4 Series

Series: Find Joy in The Journey Through Prayer

Thesis: Jesus was filled with joy and this inner joy came from His relationship with God the Father through prayer. Prayer and inner joy are linked together because prayer opens a door to the presence and guidance of the Lord. Prayer is connected with joy!

Scripture: Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Summary:

Sermon 1: We observed some of the prayers of Jesus – to show us how He prayed.

Sermon 2: We studied the prayer Jesus gave us on - How to Pray called, “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Sermon 3: We studied last week “Why Pray” and looked at Matthew 7:7-11 (summary):

• Prayer is a way to honor God and serve God see (Luke 2:36-38) it’s rooted in being obedient to what Jesus instructed us to do – we should do it daily!

• Got Questions reminds us - Why Pray? (The following gleamed from GotQuestions.org)

o We pray because God commands us to pray (Philippians 4:6-7).

o God intends prayer to be the means of obtaining His solutions in a number of situations (like):

? In preparation for major decisions (Luke 6:12-13)

? To overcome demonic attacks and barriers (Matthew 17:14-21)

? To gather workers for the spiritual harvest (Luke 10:12)

? To gain strength to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41)

? To obtain the means to strengthen others spiritually (Ephesians 6:18-19)

? To be healed or delivered:

• The Syrian woman with the demon possessed daughter asked Jesus to deliver her and He did – but if she had not asked her daughter would not have been set free (Mark 7:26-30)

• The blind man outside Jericho called on Jesus to heal him – if he had not asked he would not have been healed and been able to see (Luke 18:35-43).

? The truth is we often go with out because we don’t ask or pray to God for a solution or need (James 4:2)

? Our Scripture Text last week was: Matthew 7:7-11: 7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

T.S. – Last week we were reminded why we should pray and this week we will explore where to pray!

Sermon 4: Find Joy in The Journey Through Prayer – “Where should we pray?”

Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 2:8 “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”

Thesis: We are instructed to pray to God because this brings great joy – we can do it at any time and at any place – in any and every place, situation or condition and we can be assured that He hears our prayers.

Introduction:

The following thoughts gleamed from https://www.godlife.com/en/new-believers-guide/day-24-where-to-pray

Prayer can happen anytime, anywhere. Have you ever had a cell phone conversation cut off because you lost your signal? That will never happen with prayer, because God’s Spirit is everywhere and even lives inside of you!

• 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth, that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..."

o So, wherever you are—whether it’s the grocery store, Walmart, the Mall, a bus, a train, your room, or your job—God always hears your prayers.

• "The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous." Proverbs 15:29

o This Scripture is our promise that He will hear our prayers!

• "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit and with this in view be on alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18

o Pray at all times also implies pray anywhere at any time! God is always listening!

God life states, “Jesus knew this better than anyone else. He said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. I know you always hear me” (John 11:42). As a Christian, you have the same assurance as Jesus to know that God hears your every prayer. This is a great source of comfort, as God is never more than a prayer away.”

Did you hear that – God is never more than a pray away from you and your situation! God is always ready to hear you at all times, but sometimes to hear Him, you have to go somewhere without distractions.