Prayer Hues 2
(topical)
1. There are a lot tricks when it comes to prayer.
2. The temporary Sunday School teacher was struggling to open a combination lock on the supply cabinet. She had been told the combination, but couldn't quite remember it.
Finally she went to the pastor's study and asked for help. The pastor came into the room and began to turn the dial.
After the first two numbers he paused and stared blankly for a moment.
Finally he looked serenely heavenward and his lips moved silently.
Then he looked back at the lock, and quickly turned to the final number, and opened the lock.
The teacher was amazed. "I'm in awe at your faith, pastor," she said.
"It's really nothing," he answered. "The number is on a piece of tape on the ceiling."
Main Idea: If we understand the different types, slants, and hues of prayer — and we incorporate them when appropriate — our prayer times will be more varied, more interesting, and more effective.
IV. The ASKING Family
A. Petition, ask, REQUEST, entreat, supplicate
I Timothy 2:1, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people…”
Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
• Addressing Needs: This is often what we pray for in our prayer meetings when we take requests
• Health issues
• Spiritual issues (salvation, backslidden, tempted)
• Sustenance issues (finances, daily bread)
We are nowhere told to make demands of God; we ask and submit ourselves to His will, as Jesus did in Gethsemane.
Our motives and our diligence in prayer come into play, but that is another sermon.
B. Seek FAVOR (asking God to be especially gracious towards us)
2 Kings 13:4, “Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them.”
C . CALL on His Name
Jeremiah 29:12, Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”
• Sometimes an audible call
• Begin our prayers by addressing God and being aware of Who He is, whether “Father” “Lord,” or “Dear God.” This refers to Who we pray to.
• He is not some non-descript higher power. We pray to Yahweh.
V. The DIRECTION and Growth Family
A. Inquire or WAIT
Ps. 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
1. Wait for the Lord to work
2. Tricky: passivity or waiting? Fearing to take action or knowing this is something to trust God with and keep hands off. Often refers to something we cannot take into our own hands in a way that pleases God.
3. We trust God is at work in our lives.
4. We allow Him to decide the terms of His answer, including timing.
5. Waiting is connected to patiently persevering in prayer.
B. MEDITATION on the Word (talking it over with Him)
Psalm 1:2, “… his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
VI. The PURIFICATION Family
A. SEEK (draw near)
Orbit of the earth around the sun is elliptical. Always in orbit, but sometimes closer than other times. That is how we are. It is natural to wander away from the Lord because we are forced or choose to focus upon so many things in life.
James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
B. RETURN (repent)
Although the NT word for repent means a change of mind, it is a translation of the Hebrew word teshuva. “One of the Hebrew words for sin is chet, which in Hebrew means “to go astray.” Thus the idea of repentance in Jewish thought is a return to the path of righteousness.” [myjewishlearning]
C. CONFESS and cleansing (I John 1:9)
• To confess means to stop justifying a wrong, admit it as wrong and our fault; we harmonize our opinion with God’s.
• One hymn that speaks to me, “Search Me O God…”
D. SUBMIT
James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1. To show up for duty and orders from God.
2. To yield our wills and plans to His.
3. We submit to God but resist the devil; they are opposites.
4. “OK God. You win.”
5. Implication is that we bother to struggle with God about our decisions.
VII. The MILITANT and Kingdom Family
• Actually a sub-category of the Asking Family, but more militant
A. Alert prayers AGAINST the enemy
Ephesians 6:18, “keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…”
John 17:15, “ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”
Should you address Satan? Maybe, but not in prayer.
B. Blessing the presentation of the GOSPEL
Ephesians 6:19-20, “[praying]…for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
C. Battling the FLESH
The best way to battle to flesh is to feed the Spirit
Psalm 86:11, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
D. Praying for believers to MATURE
E. Praying for God’s Kingdom to come to EARTH
