What? Series

WHAT?

Luke 18:9-14

Last week we began a series of messages on Prayer which I called: The 5 W’s of Prayer. We started with the WHO questions of prayer. Today we will continue with the WHAT questions. This may take two weeks.

1. What are the types of prayer?

There are several types of prayer. Basically there are the 5 Types of prayer. These 5 types are taught and/or exemplified in the scripture. The best way to remember them is to use a pneumonic device called ACTS. Each letter stands for a different type of prayer. Now, for those of you who are really quick, you notice that ACTS does not have 5 letters, for the five types of prayer. That is true but let’s look at it anyhow.

a. Adoration

Adoration, according to the dictionary means: The act of worshipping, paying homage, reverent esteem.

Jesus essentially taught us the same thing in the Lord’s Prayer, which begins, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name” (Matthew 6:9).

This puts things in perspective for us.

A good example of this type of adoration is found in Psalm 95:1-7. Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

3 For the LORD is the great God,

the great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5 The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

7 for he is our God

and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care.

When we take time to praise and worship God in our prayers, we are placing God where He rightfully belongs. As a result, our problems and needs come into their proper perspective.

What too often happens is that we come to our prayer time and immediately launch into our shopping list of requests.

It reminds me of the rabbit in Alice In Wonderland… I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date. No time to say “Hello” “Goodbye”, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late.”

There is often no time to even say “Hello God, How are you?”

This does not honor God. It does not lift Him up and give Him praise.

We treat God like we do the person at the fast food drive-thru. You don’t tell them Hello or ask them how their day is going. That is not what you are there for. It is not a relationship. You just want your Big-Mac and fries.

When we skip adoration in our prayers… it is treating God like the voice in the speaker.

Stop and spend some time just talking to God. Express your love and your awe. Praise Him for His awesomeness.

b. CONFESSION

David said, “If I had known about and ignored sin in my heart, God would not hear my prayers.”

If you skip this step… you are just wasting your time.

It is just like this… God is not listening.

Do you want your prayers to be received and answered? DO THIS… examine your life, allow God to show you your sin, and then FESS UP… ADMIT IT AND REPENT!

What is the #1, absolute most important way God chooses to show you your sin… to examine your life?

Now this is a great place, to explain how reading the bible and prayer go hand in hand.

The main reason God gave us the Word (bible) is not to be a policeman to discipline you or punish you.

>>>> Imagine that you went to lunch and were leaving the restaurant to go back to work or shopping. As you walk out you notice several people looking at you, some even smile. You wonder why they are looking at you. Then a woman reaches in her purse, pulls out a cosmetic case, opens it and hands it to you. You look at it and see in the small mirror that you have a noodle hanging off your chin and some marinara on your cheek.

Was the mirror a bad thing because it showed a problem?

Was the woman a bad person because she gave you the mirror?

The mirror is the bible and the woman is God.

If you don’t look in the mirror, you can’t know what is wrong.

If you don’t read the bible, God can’t show you your heart/sin

Read the bible and it will help you to CINFESS your sin.

c. THANKSGIVING

Surely I don’t need to explain this type of prayer.

Thanksgiving is just giving thanks to god, SAYING thank you for His many blessings in your life.