Northside Church
Today we are learning about our prayer lives! Why even pray? What does prayer do? Is there a "right way" to pray?
Luke 11:1 ESV
Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
To have a successful life as a Christian, one must:
a. Read/study the Word of God
b. Meditate on God/Godly things
c. Fellowship with like-minded believers
d. Become/remain teachable
e. Pray
What is prayer?
a. The most basic definition of prayer is “talking to God.”
b. Prayer is not meditation or passive reflection; it is direct address to God.
c. It is the communication of the human soul with the Lord who created the soul.
d. Prayer is the primary way for the believer in Jesus Christ to communicate his emotions and desires with God and to fellowship with God.
Why Do We pray?
a. Commanded to
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Matthew 6:9-13 ESV
Prayer is for our good
Crayer should become a NATURAL desire
“I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me.”
C.S. Lewis
How Do We Pray?
Lord's Prayer(Matthew 6:9-13 KJV, Luke 11:1-13 ESV)
Acknowledge and know who you are talking to
Pray for God’s will and direction
Pray for provision
Pray for forgiveness and the grace to forgive
Pray for protection against temptation
Pray for protection against evil
Some find the A.C.T.S. formula of prayer helpful
1. Adoration
2. Confession
3. Thanksgiving
4. Supplication
Adoration
John 4:23-24 ESV
Confession
1 John 1:9 ESV
Thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
Colossians 4:2 ESV
Colossians 3:17 ESV
Supplication
Philippians 4:6 ESV
1 Timothy 2:1 ESV
When Do we Pray?
a. The biblical answer is ALWAYS
1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV
“I don’t often spend more than half an hour in prayer at one time, but I never go more than half an hour without praying.”
Smith Wigglesworth
Public or Corporate Times – Praying in church or in a restaurant
Consecrated Times – Called times of Prayer (announce the church opening for prayer)
Matthew 6:6 ESV
Circumstantial Times:
Temptation, struggle, distress, anger, confusion, guidance
What does prayer do?
Prayer helps you develop a relationship with God
What does prayer do?
Prayer makes you humble
(Proverbs 11:2, Romans 12:16, Ephesians 4:2, Philippians 2:3, Colossians 3:12, James 4:10)
Humility is a constant understanding that you have not arrived
Philippians 3:13-14 ESV
Prayer helps you gain an understanding of God’s divine nature
Grace, mercy, protection, guidance, deliverance, tolerance
James 1:5 ESV
Prayer keeps you focused
Your walk
Your thoughts
Your stress levels
Your health
What does prayer NOT do?
a. Prayer is NOT for God’s sake, but for ours
b. Prayer DOES NOT give directions to God
c. Prayer DOES NOT change God or His will for our lives
In our prayers, we must admit that God is greater than we are and ultimately knows what is best in any given situation
1 John 5:14-15 ESV
James 4:3 ESV
Prayer is a necessity for the child of God.
a. Must be habitual
b. Must be consistent
c. Must be quality
d. Must be sincere
e. Must be our first option and NOT optional