Sermons on Key To Prayer:

Prayer Keys - Holiness Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 6, 2011

A holy life is characterized by being separated from the world to God. A holy life is characterized by godly sorrow for sin. “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer.” A holy life is characterized by effective prayer.

Discuss this sermon at http://prayerkeys.blog.com/holiness/ “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer,” 1 Timothy 2:8. A priest was building a trellis for a climbing rose beside the church. He did not think the rickety things at the local garden center were worthy of being used ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:8

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - In The Spirit Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 24, 2011

We sometimes pray with the Spirit’s intercession. We should always pray as the Spirit leads.

Prayer Keys - In the Spirit “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 Much of this verse is easy to understand. “On all occasions” refers to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Earnestness Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 29, 2011

When we pray fervently, all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is focused on praying as the Spirit leads. We may fool ourselves with the other prayer keys, but not this one.

Prayer Keys - Earnestness “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” James 5:17-18 George Washington and Thomas ...read more

Scripture: James 5:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys: Obedience Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Sep 15, 2011

If we want to learn to pray, we must learn to obey. If we want to pray well, we must obey well. If we want to become prayer warriors, we must become obedient children.

Discuss this sermon at http://prayerkeys.blog.com/obedience “[We] receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him,” 1 John 3:22. Not just once again, but twice again I was reminded last Sunday that God’s timing is remarkable. When he is ready to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:22

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Sincerity Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Dec 15, 2011

Prayer keys are not ways of manipulating God. Rather, they are like a boat hook. If I am in a row boat and cast a hook to shore, does pulling move the shore to me or does it move me to the shore? Prayer keys do not pull God to our will. They pull us to Go

“These people come near to me with their mouth & honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” Isaiah 29:13 Before saying anything else to introduce sincerity as a prayer key, I want to repeat something about ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 29:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Submission Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jan 9, 2012

Jesus often prayed privately. When he said, “Not my will, but thy will be done.” He did not get what he wanted, but he got what he needed. He had the strength to face what was to come. The time to choose submission is now. If we wait, we may not desire to

“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 Our list of prayer keys uses Matthew 26:39 as the text for submission. I generally use the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:39

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Introduction Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 4, 2011

Introducing a 30 part series on prayer keys. These are not incantations manipulating God to submit to our will, but guides leading us to submit to God’s will. "Lord teach us to pray."

A 30 part study of prayer keys during our Wednesday night prayer meetings? You may think it will become boringly repetitive. No, No, NOOOO! During this study, we will hear how Mary, Queen of Scots, feared the prayers of John Knox more than the combined armies of Europe. We will hear Jonathan ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Be Specific Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 13, 2011

BE SPECIFIC when praying. Specific prayers emphasize our need and God’s power. Specific prayers may even clarify our calling.

Prayer Keys - Be Specific “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Lk 18:41 Praying specifically is a key to effective prayer. The blind man’s first request is for Jesus to have mercy on him. Jesus asks him specifically, “What do ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:41

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Fasting Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 22, 2011

Legalistic fasting is not a prayer key. It is just going hungry. Spiritual awareness that prompts us to pray may also prompt us to fast. May God make us more spiritually aware. May his spirit prompt us to pray, even to the point of forgetting to eat.

Prayer Keys - Fasting by Mark Stepherson “But when you fast, put oil on you head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:17-18 Did you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Privacy Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 3, 2011

This is the first time Jesus taught his first disciples about prayer. His first lesson was, “Spend time alone with the Father in prayer.” If we don’t follow his first lesson, we are not following the example or the command of Christ.

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 A little boy was saying his bedtime prayers when his mother passed by his room and stopped to listen. “Bless Mommy and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:6

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Unity Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 10, 2011

When we pray as the first church prayed, God will empower us as he empowered the first church and our altar calls will look like Peter’s altar call.

“They all joined together constantly in prayer...” Acts 1:14 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day,” Acts 2:41 When he went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle, it was a ramshackle building with only a handful attending. They were ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Forgivenss

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 14, 2011

Forgiveness enhances our prayers. Forgiveness enhances our faith. Forgiveness enhances our battle with doubt. Forgiveness enhances our fruitfulness. Forgiveness is powerful.

Prayer Keys - Forgiveness “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25 In the last few days there was an item on the news about residents in a local neighborhood finding a bobcat in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:25

Denomination: Baptist

Keys To Effective Prayer

Contributed by Brian Menear on Jan 3, 2007

Have you ever prayed and felt God did not answer? Following and understanding these keys will ensure an answered prayer

The Key To Effective Prayers Prayer is one thing that every Christian does or should do, but not everybody does correctly. To make our prayers more effective, we must first have a better understanding about prayer. What is Prayer? What is is not 1 Prayer is a relationship, not an ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer Keys - Alert Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Apr 23, 2012

Jesus commanded the disciples to "watch and pray." Paul encourages us to "be alert and always keep on praying." The same word is used for "watch" and "alert." Both are in the context of spiritual war. Like it or not, every time we engage in prayer, we eng

Prayer Keys - Alert Pray and ask in the Spirit all the time. Keep this in mind. Watch out. Keep praying. Pray for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18. Jayme Biendl, a 34-year-old prison guard, was strangled to death in the prison chapel. The chief suspect was serving a life sentence. Even in the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Thanksgiving Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Feb 23, 2012

“Returning thanks for blessings already received increases our faith and enables us to approach God with new boldness and new assurance.... As one meditates on the answer to prayers already granted, faith waxes bolder and bolder, and we come to feel in th

Prayer Keys - Thanksgiving “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” Philippians 4:6. Rudyard Kipling was one of the few writers of his day who had opportunity to enjoy his success while he lived. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Denomination: Baptist