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Sunday January 17, 2021
1 Thessalonians 5:16,18- “Always be joyful. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1Thessalonians 5:17- “Never stop praying.”
Luke 18:1- “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.”
WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO DEVELOP A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER?
I believe it’s when prayer becomes our FIRST response and not our LAST resort!
John 15:4-5- “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot 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.”
What do you think is the theme of these two verses?
A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER
If you and I are going to develop this lifestyle of prayer what needs to be highlighted?
- The Priority of Prayer
Daniel 6:10- “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.”
A law was passed that people should pray to no other than the King of Babylon, Darius!
Daniel 6:11- “Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.”
If I’m going to develop a lifestyle of prayer I’m going to highlight the priority of prayer!
2. The Place of Prayer
Mark 1:35- “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”
Matthew 6:6- “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
(MSG)- “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God.”
The Place of Prayer. This is the place I meet with God! I believe a place speaks of priority. I also believe it speaks to this third point to highlight to develop a lifestyle of prayer.
3. The Plan of Prayer
The disciples were eyewitnesses to Jesus life and ministry, yet we don’t see one recorded time in scripture where they asked Jesus to “Teach us to preach.” “Teach us to heal.” “Teach us to do miracles.”
Come on Jesus, “Teach us to walk on water without sinking.” “Teach us to turn that water into wine.”
WHAT DID THEY ASK JESUS TO TEACH THEM?
Luke 11:1-2- “It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” He said to them,
“When you pray, say:…..”
PRAY THIS WAY!!!
Developing a Lifestyle of Prayer!
When Prayer is a priority and you establish a place to pray and a plan to pray then you have the
4. The Pleasure of Prayer
Psalms 16:11- “You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
The Pleasure of God’s Presence! The Pleasure of spending time with Him!
Psalms 84:10- “For just one day of intimacy with you is like
a thousand days of joy rolled into one!
I’d rather stand at the threshold in front of the Gate Beautiful,
ready to go in and worship my God,
than to live my life without you
in the most beautiful palace of the wicked.”
WHY IS PRAYER A PRIORITY? WHY HAVE A PLACE TO PRAY? WHY HAVE A PLAN TO PRAY?
BECAUSE GOD I DON’T WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU!
CONCLUSION: How is it possible for me to pray to a Holy God?
Oh the wonderful AMAZING GRACE of Jesus Christ!
Hebrews 4:15-16- “Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.”
He is so ready to extend His grace and His mercy to you!
Let’s pray!