Prayer
October 26th, 2008
Prayer is our pathway to the Lord. Sadly many are frustrated with prayer. People have many misconceptions about prayer. Therefore, they become disappointed and think to themselves , “ what’s the use of praying I get little or no results.” My dear friends, don’t give up on God or on prayer , the promises of God are real and what He has done for others , He will also do for you! Today we will see how and why prayers are answered or not answered. When we do it God’s way , we get his results.
Who can pray so that they will be heard ?
Ps 66:18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. 20 Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me. NLT
God will not look upon any person favorably who has unconfessed sin in their life.
Hab 1:13 But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? NLT
Prov 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. NKJV
Prov 15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. NKJV
Those who disregard the Word of God have no hope of answered prayer.
Prov 28:9 God cannot stand the prayers of anyone who disobeys his Law. {the word of God} CEV
Consider what the Lord said to His people when they rejected the words of the prophets.
Zech 7:11 12 But everyone who heard those prophets, stubbornly refused to obey. Instead, they turned their backs on everything my Spirit had commanded the earlier prophets to preach. So I, the Lord, became angry 13 and said, “You people paid no attention when I called out to you, and now I’ll pay no attention when you call out to me.” CEV
Someone might think , I know I am a sinner, how can I ever hope that God will hear my prayer?
Rom 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” NKJV
Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of the early Christians.
Acts 9:11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” NKJV
Later the Apostle Paul who was formerly Saul of Tarsus wrote these words of encouragement.
1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. NKJV
When we have established our relationship with the Lord, then we have confidence to pray.
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Confidence and Compassion in Prayer
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. NKJV
Those who have received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior have the right and privilege of calling on God through Jesus Name.
Ps 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all. NKJV
Ps 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. NKJV
Ps 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. NKJV
Those who fear the Lord, are those who have reverent regard, and respect for His Word.
1 John 3:22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. NKJV
John 15: 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. NKJV
Prayer is communion with God. Communion, not religion, produces relationship.
Ps 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Ps 91:14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.” NKJV
Ps 9:12 When He avenges blood, He remembers them;
He does not forget the cry of the humble.
Ps 10:17 Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart;
You will cause Your ear to hear, NKJV
Ps 69: 33 For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people. NLT
Ps 102:17 He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas. NLT
The difference between religion and relationship.
Luke 18:9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,’God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” NKJV
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