Download seeking the things of god

SEEKING THE THINGS OF GOD
7 Talking to HIM
What Prayer is NOT…
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A rabbit’s foot
Good luck charm
Amulet
Magical incantation
Spiritual narcotic
Coin for a God
dispensing machine
• A magic lamp, and
God is not a genie
or a fairy godfather
• A last ditch,
desperate measure
to escape personal
ruin or harm
Prayer is a privilege, a gift
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot
save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your
iniquities have made a separation between you and
your God, and your sins have hidden his face from
you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2 ESV)
…let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek
peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on
the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
(1 Peter 3:11-12 ESV)
Prayer is a privilege, a gift
• Prayer is communication,
i.e., information sent,
received and responded to
• Spiritual communication can
be US-ward or GOD-ward
• Communication is a real,
productive, sharing part of
any relationship
Prayer, communication seeking a response
• Prayerful entreaties; pleas,
petition, humble & sincere
requests, supplications
…praying at all times in the
Spirit, with all prayer and
supplication. To that end
keep alert with all
perseverance, making
supplication for all the
saints, (Ephesians 6:18)
Prayer, communication seeking a response
• Prayerful entreaties; pleas,
petition, humble & sincere
requests, supplications
do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to
God. (Philippians 4:6 ESV)
Prayer, communication seeking a response
• Prayerful entreaties; pleas,
petition, humble & sincere
requests, supplications
NOT DEMANDS
And this is the confidence that
we have toward him, that if
we ask anything according
to his will he hears us.
(1 John 5:14 ESV)
Prayer, communication seeking a response
• Prayerful entreaties
• Prayerful appeals, asking
God for help with problems
or circumstances
• GK. parakaleol – to pray,
implore, seek comfort, urge
someone to act
Prayer, communication seeking a response
• Prayerful entreaties
• Prayerful appeals
• Prayerful praise
Through him then let us
continually offer up a
sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that
acknowledge his name.
(Hebrews 13:15 ESV)
Prayer, communication seeking a response
• Prayerful entreaties
• Prayerful appeals
• Prayerful praise
Continue steadfastly in prayer,
being watchful in it with
thanksgiving.
(Colossians 4:2, ESV)
Prayer, communication seeking a response
• Prayerful entreaties
• Prayerful appeals
• Prayerful praise
CONCLUSION?
Whether it is entreaty,
appeal, or praise with
thanksgiving, the
child of God can go
before God at
anytime and with
anything that is in
God’s will and on
their heart.
How are we taught to pray?
• Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive
us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)
How are we taught to pray?
• Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive
us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)
How are we taught to pray?
• Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive
us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)
How are we taught to pray?
• Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive
us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)
How are we taught to pray?
• Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive
us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)
How are we taught to pray?
• Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive
us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)
How are we taught to pray?
• Believing in prayer
– Tenacious, Luke 18:1-8
– “Ask, and it will be given to
you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened
to you. For everyone who
asks receives, and the one
who seeks finds, and to the
one who knocks it will be
opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV)
Or which one of you, if his son asks him for
bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for
a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who
are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father who is
in heaven give good things to those who ask
him! (Matthew 7:9-11 ESV)
How are we taught to pray?
• Believing in prayer
– Tenacious, Luke 18:1-8
For we are his
– “Ask, and it will be given to
you; seek, and you will find; workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for
knock, and it will be opened
good works, which
to you. For everyone who
God prepared
asks receives, and the one
beforehand, that we
who seeks finds, and to the
should walk in them.
one who knocks it will be
opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV) (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)
How are we taught to pray?
• Believing in prayer
– Tenacious, Luke 18:1-8
– “Ask, and it will be given to
you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened
to you. For everyone who
asks receives, and the one
who seeks finds, and to the
one who knocks it will be
opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV)
How are we taught to pray?
• Expect the answer of a
Great God
• Therefore, confess your sins to
one another and pray for one
another, that you may be
healed. The prayer of a
righteous person has great
power as it is working.
(James 5:16 ESV)
For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways,
declares the LORD. For
as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so
are my ways higher than
your ways and my
thoughts than your
thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)
Now to him who is able to
do far more abundantly
than all that we ask or
think, according to the
power at work within us, to
him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)