What? Pt 2
This week we will continue with our sermon series: The 5 W’s of Prayer. Last week we began the WHAT guestions and started with the 5 types of prayer.
Today we will continue the WHAT questions but I want to begin with some fun WHAT questions
Q: What has hands but cannot clap?
A: A clock
Q: What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment and never in one thousand years?
A: The letter M
Q: Mary’s father has 5 daughters – Nana, Nene, Nini, Nono. What is the fifth daughters name?
A: If you answered Nunu, you are wrong. It’s Mary!
I told you, Mary’s father has 5 daughters! You did not pay attention. If you don’t pay attention you cannot get these right.
I’ll ask one more but this one I will not answer until the end of the service.
Q: A man leaves home and turns left three times, only to return home facing two men wearing masks. What are they doing?
Now, some WHAT questions about prayer. We’ll begin with a few easy ones that we can answer quickly.
1. WHAT is the right way to pray?
Scripture has some answers.
a. In spirit and in truth
John 4:24 tells us that the only way to worship God is in spirit and in truth. And as I said last week, the first type of prayer and the first act of prayer is ADORATION – worship.
To worship God in spirit and in truth means that our spirit… not our hand or mind, has to reach out to God and touch him. There has to be a hunger, a passion, a sincerity in our approach.
Luke 18 is a wonderful chapter. It teaches us many truths about prayer.
b. With persistence
verses 1-8 give us a parable Jesus used to teach that we must persevere in Prayer… never giving up.
c. With humility
Verses 9-14 are the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. It teaches us that our prayers must come from a humble, broken and contrite heart.
d. In faith (believing)
James 1:6-7 tell us that we must believe when we pray
There are some other requisites. Look them up
2. WHAT if I don’t feel like praying?
Pray anyway!! God looks on the heart and He knows how you feel. But there are some things that are more important to God…
Obedience… faithfulness
1 Thessalonians 5:7 says PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
Does that mean we have to pray 24 hours a day? NO
Does it mean just being in a prayerful mindset all the time? NO
It means BE FAITHFUL in your daily prayers, do not cease… do not stop.
3. What if I miss a day
Don’t let it turn into two days. Confess it and get back the next day.
4. What if I don’t think God hears me.
You need a bigger God. God is OMNI-PRESENT and OM-NICIENT… He is everywhere and knows everything. How can He not hear?
Now… He may not be listening… does not answer.
Why? Unconfessed sin, doubt, not His will
5. What if I pray for something that is not His will?
You won’t get it!
6. What is the will of God
Go to google.com and search “verses about the will of God” and you will find many.
Here are a few
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
2 Peter 3:9 EVERYONE saved
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
John 6:38-40 That you be saved and through faith in Jesus
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
1 Peter 2:15 Doing good deeds
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Ephesians 5:15-20 Righteous living
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
Are you praying the will of God… or your will?
Prayer is not to bring His will in line with yours…
But yours in line with His!!!
****Answer to riddle
Q: A man leaves home and turns left three times, only to return home facing two men wearing masks. What are they doing?
A: A Catcher and Umpire.
