PRAY WITHOUT CEASING OCTOBER 24 2015 ONE OF
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING OCTOBER 24, 2015
ONE OF 783, 137 Words in the KVJ of the Bible: 783, 137 Times 313 the word ‘Prayer’ occurs: times 245 times in the Old Testament 68 times in the New Testament
WHY TALK ABOUT PRAYER? “I’ll pray for you” Prayer is: Powerful, People effective, and a form of communication throughout time have prayed Even Jesus prayed
KEY SCRIPTURE 1 Thessalonians 5: 17 “Pray without ceasing. ”
PRAYER ISN’T PLANNED Just like a conversation with a friend, prayer should be spontaneous There is no set time or length for a prayer Prayer is not an obligation, it’s a choice There is ALWAYS something to pray about
FACETS OF PRAYER HOW should we pray? WHO prays? WHY should we pray?
HOW TO PRAY Matthew 21: 22 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. ” Don’t pray half-heartedly. Pray with faith.
MATTHEW 6: 5 -8 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. [b] 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. ”
EXAMPLES OF HOW TO PRAY Ephesians 6: 18 “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” Translation: Pray persistently and at all times. Philippians 4: 6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. “ Translation: Pray about everything Mark 6: 46 “After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. ” Translation: Alone Luke 5: 16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. ” Translation: Away from distraction James 5: 17 “Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for
MATTHEW 6: 9 -13 (THE LORD’S PRAYER) “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”
WHO PRAYS? Isaac - Genesis 25: 21 Job – Job 42: 10 Jonah – Jonah 2: 1 Jesus – Luke 22: 44
1 KINGS 17: 7 -24 Elijah is a man of God, he is obedient The widow is impoverished and without hope She listens to Elijah’s instructions despite her situation Her son dies, but prayer brings him back to life Verse 24 “Now I know that you are a man of God”
WHY SHOULD WE PRAY? There are many things to pray for, not just us Prayer re-aligns us with God Prayer is a way to say ‘thank you’ and way to say ‘help me’
JAMES 5: 13 -18 “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its
ROMANS 8: 26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ” We don’t need to know what to say We don’t need big words or proper grammar All we have to do is PRAY!
LET’S BE PEOPLE WHO “Pray without ceasing” -1 Thessalonians 5: 17
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