Simply Talking With God
Spiritual Habits • Sermon • Submitted
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· 14 viewsTheme: Effective Prayer is Simple and Heartfelt. Purpose: That We Increase Our Desire to Pray. Gospel Connection: Jesus has opened the line of communication and empowerment the The H.S. to pray effectively. Mission Connection: Prayer is vital in our Mission.
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“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
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.
Introduction: Walkie-Talkie Illustration
1. Have you ever tried to communicate via walkie-talkie with someone who doesn’t really know how they work? They might not hold down the button long enough before they start to talk, so you miss part of what they are saying. Or, worse yet, they might hold down their button the entire time, cutting off the ability to hear what you have to say at all. It’s not a very effective way to communicate! We tend to treat prayer like a one-way conversation where we talk and God listens, and we are the ones holding down the button on the walkie-talkie the entire time! It’s helpful to know how prayer is supposed to work. Biblical examples of prayer include not only petition and thanksgiving, but also asking questions, listening, and God answering. In order to hear God respond in prayer we have to be listening by reading the Bible regularly and quieting our hearts. You might use a pair of walkie-talkies to illustrate this point.
Praying can seem Hard.
Praying can seem Hard.
Difficulties with Prayer.
Alone: Staying focused, Not falling asleep, It feels like we are just praying into the air (one-way conversation)
With Others: Shy, Don’t want to sound ridiculous (people are judging), Don’t want to make God angry with our prayers, Don’t know what to say.
- Teaching a Life Group Participant
What is prayer: Communication with God
What is it’s ultimate Goal: To align ourselves, lives, goals with God’s. - Purpose of humanity - to rule over creation with God.
Effective prayer: Grows our relationship with God, aligns us with God’s direction and power, thereby creating greater effectiveness in the mission God has given us.
Prayer -
-Allows us to hang out with the Father, Son, Holy Spirit,
-Participate in his work on earth as in heaven
-Ask him for our needs
-Bring healing to our broken hearts through forgiveness
-Protect us from the Enemy so we are free to do our calling
-Gain Guidance in the direction God is calling us.
James Passage on Elijah a man like us who prayed on Mt. Carmel.
Effective Prayer is Simple
Effective Prayer is Simple
1. Jesus encourages us in this passage to not pray lengthy or fancy prayers, thinking our eloquence will get God’s attention. We can pray honestly and simply, just like a child does. This paraphrase for children of the Lord’s Prayer is found in The Jesus Storybook Bible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLoWBKEQLf4.
Listen - to those you are praying for and with. - Empathize
Listen - to God - Ask God what he wants you to pray for.
Scripture, impressions, thoughts
- Praying through the Hexagon
-Use Your words, and the words you heard from others and God.
Praying with people in the hospital - CPE
Effective Prayer is Heartfelt
Effective Prayer is Heartfelt
Pouring Prayers into a bottle
Demonstrate - Ask Someone
Pouring the Bottle onto your concerns
Demonstrate - Ask Someone
Conclusion: Challenge - 40 Days of Prayer - Starting February 14th.
Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Chatechism: Q&A 116 - 129