Matthew 6:9-12
Jesus gave us the model prayer. Hallowed (meaning Holy, consecrated, sacred, or revered
You should pray for God's mercy and grace and not for God's sympathy.
When was the last time you prayed to confess someone else's sin?
THE AWESOME POWER OF PRAYER
Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41 I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go." - Abraham Lincoln
WHY IS PRAYER SO IMPORTANT?
Prayer is the natural outcry from the heart of a human being to his Maker in response to the tug of the Word of God, implanted within the conscience.
That tug is even stronger in the heart of one who has had a visitation of the Holy Spirit's convicting presence or has heard the gospel message! The Holy Spirit's call to prayer becomes as natural and desirous as the call for food at mealtime! Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocked it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
Psalm 89:26 - King David said that God is our Father. We are from a royal bloodline. We should come to God as a son or daughter. You do not need to approach him as a beggar or slave asking for crumbs.
Romans 8:26-30 - The Spirit of God prays for us
1 John 5:12-15 - Further assurance that God hears us when we pray.
Isaiah 65:24 God knows our needs before we ask
Matthew 18:19-20 God, our heavenly father is perfect, Holy, gracious. He is in absolute authority over us. He first and foremost deserves our respect.
1. James 4:2 They are not offered.
a. When everything is well we forget God.
b. When trouble arises we cry out to God.
2. James 4:3 We pray with the wrong motive.
a. God looks at the motive.
b. You ask God for a better job, but will you witness for God on your new job?
c. You ask God for more money, but will you give God his part.
3. Psalm 66:18 We pray with the wrong Spirit in our hearts.
a. David said "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me"
4. John 15:7 We cannot have sin in our heart.
a. We must live rightly before God or he will not answer our prayer.
5. James 5:16 We are not Godly enough.
a. The passionate prayers of Godly men have the power to accomplish much.
6. We do not believe they are going to be answered.