January 29 2017 Getting A Grip On Prayer

GETTING A GRIP ON PRAYER

Luke 11 and John 15

Luke 11:1 – And they said, Lord, teach us to pray.

Misconceptions About Prayer:

• Magic wand.
• Make God into a genie.
• First aid kit.
• Tug of war.
• Religious duty.

Four Purposes Of Prayer:

1. It’s an act of dedication.

John 15:5 – I am the Vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, but apart from Me, you can do nothing.

John 15:5 – If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

John 15:7 – But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

2. Prayer is an act of communication.

John 15:15 – I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.

John 15:16 – You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name.

3. Prayer is an act of supplication.

Phil. 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer present your request to God.

Phil. 4:7 – And the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

John 16:23 – I tell you the truth, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name.

John 16:24 – Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.

James says – You have not because you ask not.

Psalm 145:16 – You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desire of your heart.

Psalm 84:11 – No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

4. Prayer is an act of cooperation.

John 14:12 – I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things, because I am going to My Father.

John 14:13 – And I will do whatever you ask Me, for anything you ask in My Name, I will do it.

October 16 2016 Connecting with Jesus - "I am the vine"

Connecting with Jesus - "I am the vine"

John 15:1-8. "I am the true grapevine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit. He prune the branches that do bear fruit, so they will produce even more." "You've already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me and I will remain in you for a branch cannot produce fruit if it severed from the vine. You can not be fruitful unless you remain in me." "Yes I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.","Anyone who doesn't remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned." "But if you remain in me my words remain in you. You may ask for anything and it will be granted. When you produce fruit you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my father."

FOUR VITAL STEPS TO LOVING JESUS AS OUR VINE

1. I start my connection to Jesus by believing in him.

John 14:6 " I am the way the truth and the life. No one can come to the father except through me.

John 15:16. You didn't choose me. I chose you.

2. I strengthen my connection to Jesus by obeying him.

John 15:10. Jesus says, "When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love. Just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in His love."

John 15:14-15 You are my friends if you do what I command. Underline that. He says, I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now, you are my friends since I have told you everything the Father told me."

John 15:6-7. "Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be granted."

3. I show my connection to Jesus by loving others.

John 15: 12-13. "This is my command. Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

4. I see my connection to Jesus in my joy.

John 15:11. "I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

Memory Verse: John 15:5. "Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing."

June 12 2016 Reviving Prayer That Works

REVIVING PRAYER THAT WORKS

Does God Promise To Answer Everyone’s Prayer?

Five Conditions:

1. You must have an honest relationship with God.

John 15:7 – If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.

Three Evaluation Questions

• Have I refused to admit my wrongs?

Psalm 66:18 – If I regard sin in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

Isaiah 59:2 – But your iniquities have separated you from your God.

Proverbs 28:13 – He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

1 John 1:8-9 – If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.

• Am I ignoring any of God’s principles?

1 John 3:21-23 – Dear Friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.  And this is His command, to believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and to love one another as He commanded us.

• Do I want God’s will for my life?

1 John 5:14-15 – This is the assurance we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of Him.

2. You must have a forgiving attitude towards other people. 

Mark 11:24-25 – Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours, and when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so your Father in heaven may forgive your sins.

Hebrews 12:15 – See to it, that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

1 Peter 3:7 – Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

3. You must be willing to share the results.

Proverbs 21:13 – If a man shuts his ear to the cry of the poor, he too will not be answered.

1 John 3:17 – (Giving to those in need.)

James 4:3 – (Asking with right motives.)

4. You must believe that God will answer.

James 5:5-8 – But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt.

Mark 9:29 – According to your faith, it will be done unto you.

5. Pray in Jesus name.

John 14:13-14 – And I will do whatever you ask in my Name, you may ask me for anything in my Name and I will do it.

June 2 2013 Five Conditions For Answered Prayer

FIVE CONDITIONS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER

If you meet these conditions you have every right to expect that what you ask for will be answered in prayer.

1. You must  Have an Honest Relationship with God

John 15:7 "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you can ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you." 

Three questions on how to evaluate if you  have an honest relationship to God. 

* Do I or have I refused to admit things that I have done wrong in the past?  

1 John 1 /  Psalm 66:18 / Isaiah 59:2

Proverbs 28:13 "He who tries to conceal his sins cannot prosper but he who admits them, confesses them, forsakes them will have mercy."  

1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we're just deceiving ourselves.  The truth is not in us.  However, if we confess our sins, He's faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 

* Am I currently in the present ignoring any of God's principles? 

1 John 3:21-22 "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us we have confidence before God and we receive from Him anything we ask [That's the promise] because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.  This is His command: To believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and to love one another as He has commanded us."  

*  Do I really want God's will for my life?  

1 John 5:14 "This is the assurance we have in approaching God that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and if we know that He hears us then whatever we ask we know that we have what we've asked of Him." 

2. You must HAVE A FORGIVING ATTITUDE     TOWARD OTHER PEOPLE. 

Mark 11:24-25  "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you've received it and it will be yours. Condition:  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins."  

Hebrews 12:15 (LB) "Watch out that no bitterness take root among you for as it springs up among you it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives." 

1 Peter 3:7 "Husbands, in the same way [just like he's talked to the wives in the previous verses] be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect.... so that nothing will hinder your prayers." 
 
3. You must WILLING TO SHARE THE RESULTS
 
Proverbs 21:13 "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."        

1 John 3:22.   "We receive from Him anything we ask because we obey His commands."   "His commands are believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ ... love one another as He has commanded us."  

1 John 3:17 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"            

James 4:1 "What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?  You want something but you don't get it.  You kill and you covet but you can't have what you want.  You quarrel and you fight.  But you have not because you don't ask God...

James 4:3  When you ask you don't receive because you ask with the wrong motive that you  may spend what you get on your own pleasures."         

4. You must______________________________

James 1:5-7 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.  He's a double-minded man unstable in all he does."  

Mark 9:29 "According to your faith, it will be done unto you."              

Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

5.  You must_____________________________

Memory Verse: John 14:13 "And I will do whatever you ask in My name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask Me for anything in My name and I will do it."

John 16:24  "You've not asked anything in My name.  Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete."

March 18 2012 The Effective Lifestyle For The Life Without Limits

The Effective Lifestyle For The Life Without Limits

Mark 13:35 - So you also must keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back.
Luke 21:34-36 - Be careful or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. Be always on the watch and pray.

1. Prayer is an act of dedication.

John 15:5 - (Jesus) I am the vine and you (Christians) are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in Him, he will bear much fruit. But apart from Me you can do nothing.
Verse 6 - If anyone does not remain in Me he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Verse 7 - But if you remain in Me (if you remain dependent upon Me) and my Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you.

2. Prayer is an act of communication. 

John 1:15-16 - I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his Master’s business. Instead,
I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have make know to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit. Fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name.

3. Prayer is an act of supplication.

Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer, present your request to God.
Verse 7 - And the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 16:23 - I tell you the truth, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name.
Verse 24 - Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.
Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 84:11 - No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

4. Prayer speaks of an act of cooperation.
John 14:12-13 - I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater thins because I am going to My Father and I will do whatever you ask in My Name.

Two Great Truths To Remember

1. We are to be faithful to God to the end.
Matthew 6:33 - Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

2. We are to communicate His love and enable other people to know Him.