PRAYER MAN’S WAY AND GODS WAY!
I. Man says: We get an answer now and then:
A. God wants to answer all the time
(Jer 33:3 KJV) Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
(Luke 11:9 KJV) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luke 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
II. Man says: We pray about some things.
A. We pray about everything and without ceasing.
(Phil 4:6 KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(1 Th 5:17 KJV) Pray without ceasing.
(Luke 18:1 KJV) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
III. Man says: God does not do what we ask.
A. God does what we ask.
(John 14:13 KJV) And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
IV. Man says: God give us what we ask and no more.
A. God gives us more.
(Eph 3:20 KJV) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
V. Man says: Prayer changes things.
A. God says Prayer changes us while changing things.
(2 Pet 1:4 KJV) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
VI. Man says: Prayer is just something separate.
A. God says the Christian life is a life of prayer. We should speak of the prayer life of the Christian. (1 Th 5:17 KJV) Pray without ceasing.
VII. Man says, Prayer starts with man. He is the one who is in need.
A. Prayer begins with God. He is the Alpha and Omega.
(Jude 1:20 KJV) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
VIII. Man say: We pray a while, perhaps even a long time before we get faith for the answer.
A. God says to pray in faith right away. Trust, Rely and Expect, knowing He is hearing.
(1 John 5:14 KJV) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
(James 1:6 KJV) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
IX. Man says pray when you can.
A: God says to be concerned and to: (Mark 13:33 KJV) Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
X. Man say that praying is not a joyful experience:
A. God says our joy can be full through prayer.
(John 16:24 KJV) Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 15:11 KJV) These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
XI. When we knock in prayer we prevail on Gods reluctance through importunity.
A. God says for us to seek, knock and ask for Gods wanting to give more than we want to receive.
(Luke 11:8 KJV) I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luke 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
(Psa 86:7 KJV) In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
(Psa 102:2 KJV) Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
XII. Man says that we work up the praying.
A. God works the praying in through us. We are workers together with God.
(Rom 8:26 KJV) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
(2 Cor 6:1 KJV) We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
XIII. Man says our asking is our work, answering is Gods.
A. God inspires both the asking and answering. Both departments are His. His Word provides both. Col 1:29 KJV) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (Phil 2:13 KJV) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
God want to cover a lot of ground when we pray "Lord Teach Us To Pray."
