Prayer

I. Prayer is. . .

A. Talking to/with God

Numbers 11:17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.

-Daily communication

Matthew 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny

himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Genesis 3:8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was

walking in the garden in the cool of the day

-Bringing request

Daniel 9:19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God.

-Offering Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about

anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in

Christ Jesus.

B. A Spiritual Weapon

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

-This is one tool we use when we fight evil

C. Battle and Warfare

Deuteronomy 28:7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

- This is how we fight evil.

- Taking back ground that we have surrendered.

II. What does prayer do. . .

A. Takes us into the Throne of God

B. Makes us more sensitive to Gods voice

C. Brings peace

D. Brings mercy

Psalm 6:8 - 9 Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

E. Gives us power

F. Causes Satan to leave us alone

III. When do we pray. . .

A. Always

B. Jesus got up early to pray

Psalm 88:13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD ; in the morning my prayer comes before you

C. When we are alone

D. When we need answers & direction

E. In the good times

F. In the fair times

Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

G. In the bad times

Psalm 142:1 I cry aloud to the LORD ; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. 2 I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.

IV. How to Pray. . .

A. With God’s purpose and plan in mind

B. With great faith

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

C. Unselfishly