We
were created to commune with God
Here,
as we glorify God and enjoy Him forever, we find our greatest pleasures. Thus prayer as a means of communing with God
is a delight. As it is our access to
God, the sinful flesh does everything it can to disrupt our embracing God.
Prayer
The KEY is our
attitude about God.
The Lord’s Prayer actually begins
with the foundation that we have the right attitude about God, and thus
ourselves. (Luke 11:1-10)
The
parables and teachings of Jesus taught…
·
God listens when we
ask rightly
(motives, faith, holiness) (Centurion,
Luke 5:20. 7:9, 12:28)
·
God promises to
bless-
He does not need to be convinced or badgered (Luke 11:11-13)
·
God is not like us,
no bartering-
He has a love motive (Luke 18:1-8 persistent widow/unrighteous judge)
·
He delights when we
pray.
(Matthew 6:5-9)
The focus is on God
and not our offering
·
Repentance is
important-
we must see ourselves rightly (Undeserving) (Acts 17:30, Luke 13:3-5)
·
Worship is important-see God rightly
(God centered) (John 4:23 Samaritan
woman at the well)
·
Power to pray is
provided by the cross
(Grace centered) (Matthew10:38, 1 Cor 1:17-18, Eph 2:16)
Heart Change-Things
to be doing to proactively seek to abide and live life with zeal
·
Look for God
expectantly
(In all your ways acknowledge Him, every good and perfect gift is from God,) Jas_1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from
the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
·
Have God on your
heart continually.
(Pray without ceasing) 2Co_12:9 But he
said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect
in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
·
Praise Him and
answers and in trials
(James 1 count it all joy when you encounter various trials)
·
Seek His involvement
and direction
(Jas_1:25 But the one who looks into the
perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets
but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.)
·
Thanksgiving and
Worship
(Be in awe of God, fear and trembling) Act_2:43
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done
through the apostles. Heb_12:28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be
shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and
awe,
·
Attitude I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge
you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in
love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph
4:1-3) Not that I have already obtained
this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ
Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my
own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to
what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of
God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in
anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (Php 3:12-15)
·
Speech (Greet with psalms,
hymns, spiritual songs) addressing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to
the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of
reverence for Christ. (Eph 5:19-21) And
above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were
called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And
whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:14-17)
