In writing about this, Yonggi Cho says the Holy Spirit wants to become your Senior Partner.

When we’re communing (fellowshipping) with the Holy Spirit, both the grace and the love of God become more real.

So, how can we do this?

Last week we looked at Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (ESV)

“Devote” – give a large part of one’s time or resources to (Oxford Dictionary)
- When the subject of time with God comes up, most people indicate they struggle with it.
- That’s why we need to: Make prayer a priority in our lives
- Because not making prayer a priority in effect says that we’re enough.

- John 15:5 – “Without Me you can do nothing”
- To be effective, we need a time set apart.

- Time: ask God to show you how much time – an hour? 30 minutes?

- “That’s legalistic!” No… my flesh can talk me out of this if I don’t schedule it in!
- Also, to be effective is knowing how to pray. Otherwise,
- You want to talk about walking in spiritual reality, this will do it! That’s why the early church devoted themselves to it.

- “Lord, I wish there was a place in the Bible where you teach us to pray.”

“Our Father In Heaven" - Paternal
- Connect with God relationally
- I thank God that because of the blood of Jesus, I can call Him my Father.

"Hallowed be your name" - This is “Kingdom Protocol”
- Psalm 100:4 - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. – Kingdom protocol.

I spend a significant part of my prayer time in praise. That’s when I usually experience His Presence.

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” - Purpose
- God’s Kingdom is His authority, power and influence.
- Personally, I pray this in ever widening circles:
- Me (oxygen mask on airline)
- My family
- My church
- My city/region/nation
- The lost

- Notice we pray this first, before our provision.
- Later in Matt 6 Jesus connects God’s Kingdom with your provision:
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matt. 6:33)

“Give us this day our daily bread” -
- Notice how far down this is in the list! By this time, I have real faith, and my prayer time is no longer need centered, but God centered!

- I still pray it though. Every day this communicates to God: “Everything I have is from you and everything I need comes from you.”

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” - Get your heart right with God and with people
- It is this part that Jesus repeated after the prayer:
- 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
- Greek translation – “do not allow me to be led into temptation.”
- Temptation is going to happen, and so you’re asking God to help you make good decisions when that time comes.
- Participate in spiritual warfare
- Put on the armor of God in Eph. 6.

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” - Power
- Declare your faith in His ability to do everything you just prayed about

7.) Power – “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Put your faith in God’s ability

Jer. 32:17 - 17 ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
- Nothing we pray makes God nervous
- Put your faith in His ability to do everything you just prayed about