Lord, Teach Us To Pray!

LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Did you hear about the grandmother that bought her grandson a book of prayers?

The little boy read a prayer every night before he went to sleep.

One night he got in bed and had forgotten to read his prayer.

The lights were already turned off when he remembered to read a prayer.

So the little boy said, "God, You can see in the dark, there is the prayer book, read the prayer for yourself!"

TEXT:

Luke 18:1 --- that men ought always to pray and faint not...

Psa 109:4 --- but I give myself unto prayer.

Matthew 21:13 And Jesus said unto them, It is written, MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER.

1 John 5:13 ---That ye may know ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14. If we ask anything according to His Will. He hearth us. 15. --- whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we desire of Him.

1. FAINTING FAITH? COULD THERE BE A CORRELATION IN FAINTING AND THE LACK OF PRAYER?

Why are people fainting?

Why are there fussing, arguing, and warring within ---

could it be we are being led away by our own desires and lust?

PRAYER IS ACTIVELY SUBMITTING TO GOD’S SPIRIT!

Luke 18:1 --- that men ought always to pray and faint not...

Why are people fainting?

Ever heard the line --- When all is said and done about prayer, more is said than done?

I would like to hope this is not true? But it is easy to fall into the trap of not praying as we should.

2. PRAYER IS THE WAY TO OPEN GOD’S DOOR OF OPPORTUNITIES!

Through prayer God opens a door for us to join with Him in creating a better world.

Many books are written on prayer. Many tapes are sold about prayer.

We have discussions without end about the importance of prayer.

3. HOW DO WE LEARN HOW TO PRAY?

I think prayer is like learning how to swim, you have to get into the water first.

All the lessons in the world on swimming sitting in a dry classroom, may or may not teach one to swim. But jumping in the water increases the chances of really learning how to swim.

Prayer and Bible reading are disciplines, we learn by doing.

Practice makes perfect.

The family that prays together stays together?

4. CALL JESUS’ HOUSE A SINGING SOCIAL CLUB? OR A HOUSE OF PRAYER?

Matthew 21:13 And Jesus said unto them, It is written, MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER.

Jesus desires the house of God to be a house of prayer...

In the average church service we sing much longer than we pray?

Have you ever seen 15 minutes taking prayer request, and 5 minutes of prayer?

Ever heard of OJT, On the Job Training --- maybe prayer works that way.

We learn to pray by praying. If God’s house is to be known as a house of prayer, we should gather and pray individually and collectively at church and pray.

5. EVER NOTICE WHO IS ABSENT FROM PRAYER MEETINGS?

In the Bible we see God’s good leaders never skipped prayer time! They knew the value of prayer.

Today, I am concerned when religious leaders skip prayer meetings?

Why do we lack joy in praying? Do I have to pray --- May be a bad attitude about prayer?

Is it a lack of priorities? If we are to busy to pray, we are simply TOO BUSY!

Daniel had an open window to Jerusalem, the window was a release --- because of prayer!

Daniel didn’t skip prayer? He prayed 3 times a day!

Look at David’s heart --- How can David be known as a man after God’s own heart with his failures?

David learned a secret.

Psa 109:4 --- but I give myself unto prayer.

In prayer, David touched God, and God touched David.

The benefits of prayer cannot be measured.

David learned that growth is proportional to the power of prayer.

We practice with the worship teams? We train our Sunday School teachers? But the battle in the spirit

realm can only be accomplished through faithful, persistent prayer.

6. WHERE ARE WE LOOKING FOR OUR SOLUTIONS?

We are seeking the business leaders to teach the church how to grow?

Well, there is merit to that.

But the most valid point might be the relationship of the knees to the power?

If we are not careful Prayer can be just lip service? Mouthing words?

Many words alone does not make effective prayer.

The heart must connect... Beware of half hearted prayer. (Matthew 6:5)

7. PRAYING FOR MEN’S EARS TO HEAR?