"Knight Of Prayer"

“…"Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.” Matthew 26:40

You can almost hear the loneliness and hurt and disappoint in His voice. When He returns the next time from praying – maybe coming back for encouragement – he finds His support group sleeping again. He doesn’t say anything this time. He just goes off by Himself – alone.

If Jesus needed praying knights around Him – I sure need it from my Church. I long to have a number of small groups around the community praying for me every week. Praying for our church. Praying for our needs in the church. Have you enlisted in the Lord’s Army? Have you joined the Nazarene Knights? If so – how about signing up to be a “Praying Knight”?

I’m longing for a few good men and women (the prayer of the righteous is effective and powerful) to commit to praying every day for me, our church, and our church family. And to gather together once a week for the remained of this year. It may be in someone’s home. It may be at church. It may be in a restaurant over coffee or tea. It may be a prayer breakfast or an evening prayer time. But for the next four months – you get together for a few people to pray regularly – as God enables you.

What I would like to see is a group meeting weekly in Dunsmuir, Mount Shasta, Weed, - and other places God directs. Are you with me? Let’s pray.

Jesus,

You know personally how desperately we need to pray. You have felt the disappointment of being let down in the Garden. As our Creator, you know how fragile and weak we are. Help us to become the Prayer Warriors we need to be. Inspire us. Motivate us. Lead us. Give us wisdom and the will to serve you.

In Jesus’ Name

“Knight of Prayer”

August 31, 2008

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13

1. It is just about impossible to do any of the things Paul did (at least successfully) without being _______

_____________ and having a great team of ______ _________________supporting you,

2. Jesus was a _____________________________.

Mark 1:35; Luke 5:15-16; Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46;

3. Times Jesus Prayed:

AT HIS WATER BAPTISM - LUKE 3:21-22

BEFORE CHOOSING APOSTLES - LUKE 6:11-13

PRAYING ALONE - LUKE 9:18

IN FAITH - MATTHEW 26:53

AT GETHSEMANE - MATTHEW 26:36-45; LUKE 22:39-46 AT THE TRANSFIGURATION - LUKE 9:28-29

INSPIRED OTHERS TO PRAY - LUKE 11:1

FOR CHILDREN - MATTHEW 19:13

FOR PETER - LUKE 22:31-32

FOR US - JOHN 14:16 ; JOHN 17:1,9,15,20; ROMANS 8:34; HEBREWS 7:25

4. How NOT to pray:

a. Don’t do it for _________________

b. Do not use ___________ ______________

5. What must be right for the prayer to be right?

6. What will hinder your prayers at home?

__________________________________________

1 Peter 3:7

7. God won’t hear our prayers if we have what in our heart? ___________________________Psalm 66:18

8. Reasons our prayers are hindered:

1. Lack of fellowship with God and His Word.

(John 15:7; Proverbs 28:9; Psalm 1:1-3)

2. Not seeking to please the Lord. (1 John 3:22)

3. Prayers of self-indulgence (James 4:3)

4. Wavering faith (James 1:6-7)

5. Unconfessed sin (1 Peter 3:12; Isaiah 59:1-2)