Prayer

What is PRAYER?

1.0 INTRODUCTION:

There may be some of you here today who have never prayed in your life to the One and True God. You may ask yourself:

. Is there a God who cares about me? Yes, so much so that Jesus came to die for us.

. How can I know about Him? Well the Bible reveals Him very clearly

. How can I communicate with Him? By prayer.

2.0 PRAYER

I would like to look at three points about PRAYER

2.1 Why do we pray

Many people see prayer merely as a religious duty that we have to carry out. Some pray for a number of motives.

There are many people who even go to Church on Sunday and do not know how to communicate with Him.

Story:

A friend of mine, Alun Morris once told a story of a very irreligious man, who he knew in Switzerland. One Sunday he met him going to a confirmation service. And as the man walked in, Alun watched as he bowed his head for a minute standing in front of the altar. Alun was very impressed.

After the service Alun went up to him and said: I didn’t know you were that religious,I liked the way you prayed up there. The man looked at Alun furtively and said: Well actually I didn’t pray, I just counted from one to ten.

So why do we pray?

2.1.1. As a Divine insurance policy.

To appease an angry God. If we do not pray and bring God offerings things will not go well for us. I won’t get that promotion or I will lose a loved one?.

2.1.2. As a religious duty.

God wants us to pray, I’ve no idea why, but I must do it. Then I will be blessed.

2.1.3. To make them a better person

When I was little, when I had to pray it was "God bless Mummy and Daddy and make Martin a good boy." IT DIDN’T WORK!!!!!!

2.1.4. Spiritual Snobbery

I pray because I am a better person and in this way I can reach a higher plane of consciousness.

2.2 What is Prayer?

2.2.1 Turning to God

It is the turning of a person to God

As it says in 2 Chr. 7.14

If my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land.

If we don’t repent and come in a humble attitude we can FORGET to PRAY.

2.2.2 Communication

It is talking to God a conversation between us and God as a friend

- Needs to be TWO WAY.

We need also to LISTEN to the Voice Of God.

As it says in the Psalms: Be Still and Know that I am God. Ps. 46:10

2.2.3 The Presence of God

It is the experience of the Presence of God

It is a divine experience. It should be one of awesomeness. It is not a time to be rushed. We sometimes fall into the trap of being too "chummy" with God. We lose our respect for Him. We really need to watch out for this. He is an awesome God.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

Guard your steps when you go to the House of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

2.2.4 Contact of heaven to earth

It is where heaven and earth meet.

Jesus promises us ABUNDANT LIFE.

I am come that they may have life and have it to the full (Jn 10:10)

Prayer is that ACCESS to ABUNDANT LIFE in CHRIST JESUS.

This week I want to deal with my second point:

2.3 How to Pray:

Here is a mnemonic on how to pray

Praise

Repentance

Asking

Yes it’s for You

Expect to hear

Response from God.

2.3.1. Praise

The book of Psalms is full of praise to God. Psalm 150 is a psalm full of praise.

How do we do it? By speaking and singing to God

Ps. 33.2 Praise the Lord with the harp. Make music to him on the ten stringed lyre.

Aside: We had to make do with a twelve stringed guitar instead this morning!!

Why should we do it?

A fourfold reason:

1 Peter 2.9: You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,

a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

It is a call for Christians to do: