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?
James addressed prayer --- the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous ...
Are effectual fervent prayers a religious oddity?
Many prayers today are for men’s ears.
The Pharisees knew how to pray, they had long, repetitive prayers, they could stand in the corner and impress everyone, but God.
8. WHERE ARE THE FAMILY ALTARS?
We used to sing --- If I could hear my Mother pray again ---
Mothers would gather during times of war and call out to the Lord for mercy for the soldiers. Today, there are many dying on battle grounds, not just on foreign soils, but there are drug wars and sexual revolutions killing our children.
Aids has killed more than died in Viet Nam?
Where are the praying mothers?
9. PRAYER FINDS SOLUTIONS!
The church was in big trouble, the Pastor was in jail.
The civil authority took great joy in killing the Preachers.
Seems like the death of the preachers was a popular act.
Let’s write letters and get petitions? The church appears hopeless and helpless?
Peter knew the recent headlines about John the Baptist leaving jail head first.
Acts 12:6 Says Peter was chained in prison between two guards.
People gathered and talked, but there was a serious need, and there was no human solution, the need was prayer.
Peter was freed by on duty angels because of prayer!
Peter returned to the church, not after a committee meeting, but after a prayer meeting.
10. PUMP UP THE PEOPLE? Vs PRAY DOWN THE ANOINTING?
I hear more and more a serious, loud, cry what is the church going to do?
The church is straight lining. There is a cry for entertainment and polished professional teams to pump up the people.
There seems to be a growing timidity within the body of Christ about prayer?
Lord, give me the crumbs from the table?
We must come boldly before the throne of God.
Our prayers must reach beyond the attitude of Us Four and no more...
Have you heard the recent gospel hit song?
Lord, all I ask You for is that my family might be saved ---- ?????
God I am praying for my whole area, my state, my nation and my world!!!
God give me souls or give me death!
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.
11. GOD IS LOOKING AT THE HEART FINE TUNED BY PRAYER.
There is a cry from within seeking some magical formula, like E=MC2?
The heart must learn to cry out to the Most High, Holy God!
Matthew 6:7 But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think
that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Prayer is communion, talking intimately, talking with deep feeling and warm friendship.
Prayer is man’s activity that opens the door to God. Through prayer we join with God to create a better world.
12. LORD TEACH US TO PRAY?
How sad are the words: YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASKED NOT?
I was a young man, I heard an old preacher preach. In the lesson the preacher said, the disciples never asked Jesus TEACH US HOW TO PRAY?
He said, they asked Jesus to TEACH US TO PRAY!
I had never heard that, I didn’t believe him, so I looked it up, and sure enough, Jesus’lesson was to teach His men TO PRAY, not just how to pray?
Luke 11:1 The disciples came to Jesus and asked Jesus, LORD TEACH US TO PRAY!
Will you come to the heart of God today, and humbly, yet boldly ask God to:
TEACH US TO PRAY?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Could you enlarge my hands and pass this on to another?
