The Prayerful Christian

Intro:

Dear God: Please send a new baby for Mommy. The new baby you sent last week cries too much. Debbie, 7

Dear God: Who did you make smarter? Boys or girls? My sister and I want to know. Jimmy, 6

Dear God: How many angels are there in heaven? I would like to be the first kid in my class to know the answer. Norma, 8

Dear God: This is my prayer. Could you please give my brother some brains. So far he doesn’t have any. Angela, 8

Dear Lord: Thank you for the nice day today. You even fooled the TV weather man. Hank, 7

Dear God: Please bring me a new brother. The one I got socks me all the time. Agnes, 6

Dear God: Please help me is school. I need help in spelling, adding, history, geography and writing. I don’t need help in anything else. Lois, 9

Dear God: Do you have any helpers in Heaven? I would like to be one of Your helpers in Heaven when I have summer vacation. Natalie, 7

Dear Lord; Tomorrow is my birthday. Could you please put a rainbow in the sky? Susan, 9

Dear God: I need a raise in my allowance. Could you have one of your angels tell my father. Thank you. David, 7

Dear God; I am saying my prayers for me and my brother, Billy, because Billy is six months old and he can’t do anything but sleep and wet his diapers. Diane, 8

A young man goes into a drug store to buy 3 boxes of chocolate. The pharmacist says what size small medium or large "Well," he said, "I¡¦ve been seeing this girl for a while and she¡¦s really Beautiful. I want the chocolate because I think tonight¡¦s "the" night. We¡¦re having dinner with her parents, and then we¡¦re going out. If she lets me hold her hand I¡¦m going to give her the small box if she let¡¦s me kiss her on the cheek I¡¦m going to giver her the medium box and if she lets me kiss her on the lips I¡¦m going to give her the big box. The young man makes his purchase and leaves. Later that evening, he sits down to dinner with his girlfriend and her parents. He asks if he might give the blessing, and they agree. He begins the prayer, but continues praying for several minutes. The girl leans over and says, "You never told me that you were such a religious person." He leans over to her and says, "You never told me that your father is a pharmacist."...

Discussion:

How do we look at prayer? Do we just throw up something hoping that a blessing will hit us over the head? Do we thoughtfully make our requests to God and then believe? Do we only ask for stuff ¡V much like we would a list for Santa ¡V I need a new car, a new house, a new pair of shoes, a new this¡K.a new that. I need you to take care of this problem, or get me out of this¡K(Don¡¦t make me stronger or show me perseverance) ¡§Dear Lord¡¨. God is more than our convenient Santa Claus. A committed Christian is a prayerful Christian. That would make a good bumper sticker, that would be a good sign for the front of the church.

If you would turn with me this morning to our Text ¡V Matthew 7:7-12. I see three characteristics of a prayerful Christian. A Christian who truly has knowledge of God¡¦s will for their life. A Christian who is able to get through, by prayer, and trust that God will do what he says he will do.

A prayerful Christian is:

I. Persistent in prayer (7-8)

Proverbs 30:7-8 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD ; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.¡¨ (advance)

a. Ask

i. It means we need something, when we ask

1. usually something we can¡¦t provide for ourselves

I don¡¦t get lost, but I have found myself ¡V we¡¦ll call it ¡V ¡§Locationally challenged¡¨. I hate asking for directions because it means that I have to be dependent on someone else.

ii. Asking takes humility

iii. Asking takes trust

1. Trust that you are asking someone able to fill the need

2. Trust that you are able to receive (advance)

John 15:7 ¡V If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

I have been told that we should be careful of what we ask for, because we just might get it. It¡¦s a scary thought that the saints of God are asking for things we aren¡¦t ready for.