How To Receive New Wine In 09 (Prayer) Pt 2 Series

o. Pray for the people you encounter each day.

p. Look for prayer moments and pray.

Video Clip” from September Dawn – Blessings and cursing– how not to pray having the wrong attitude in prayer.

IV. Types of prayer that people pray today.

a. The Trivial Prayer: “Help me Lord to get over this cold!”

b. The Self-motivated Prayer: “My brother is being shipped to Iraq -Lord but don’t let this happen.”

c. The Controlling Prayer: “Please Lord, bless my plans that I have worked hard on.”

d. The Blaming Prayer: “Lord change Pastor Mike’s uncaring heart and have him change his mind about giving me money to pay my bills.”

e. The Manipulative Prayer: “Lord deal with Mary’s bitterness – deliver her Lord – she is so deceived.”

i. This is when people pray at others!

T.S. – We need to pray with right motives and with determination to see God do breakthroughs in our lives and in the church.

Video Illustration: From Wing Clips – Sept. Dawn “Blessings and Cursings.”

Conclusion: Why should we pray with pure hearts and pure motives – because then God will answer our prayers?

1. Because the enemies plan to destroy the church will be thwarted and the church will see miracles.

2. Because the spread of the Gospel will continue as the church prays.

3. Because people will find Jesus and be saved.

4. Because there will be jail breaks wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit and prisoners will be set free.

5. Because there will be testimonies shared about the delivering power of God through prayer.

6. Because people will be encouraged to PUSH through by praying.

7. Because if we stop praying through then the church will float aimlessly like a ship without power on a wind tossed ocean.

Close with Jim Cymblala’s Quote!

Cymbala shares in his book, “Fresh Power” - There are players and watchers in the church! He states, “But just as there are people who watch from the bleachers and never know the challenge of competing on the court, we have millions of church goers who sit in pews every week without ever entering the game. They sacrifice nothing, strain toward no ministry goals, never agonize in prayer for one soul, but pass judgment on how well the contest of faith is being played. Often they act as if “they know” It looks easy from where they’re sitting, but then again, they have never really attempted much for God” (Page 140,141).

I Thess. 5:17 “Pray continually”

Ephesians 6:18: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

I don’t believe that God wants us to pray and expect quick fixes. Yet many of us are in the habit of believing that this is how God should work. I honestly believe that prayer as described in the Bible is an act that takes effort and perseverance. It is a determination like the pioneers of old who pushed their way across the Dakotas through raging blizzards and cold to get to sunny California or Oregon. I have read many of their stories. Their adventures were filled with unbelievable obstacles, setbacks, and loss. But they had a fortitude that drove them through the storms to their desired location of sun and prime farm land. They had a hope – the kind of hope we need in the church today.

Altar call: It’s vital that we pray!