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What Do You Believe?

Apr 09, 2017 | Rev. Dr. K. Rick Baker

The Truth about Prayer

Luke 11:1-13

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Prayer that gets results is praying for what God already wants to give you (1 Jn. 5:14-15).

6 things Jesus teaches us about prayer…

1. Prayer takes your eyes off the size of your burden so you can stare into the face of your powerful God to recognize his awesomeness (Lk 11:2, Acts 4:24).

That Almighty God would be right-sized and exulted in your situation.

That every obstacle is acknowledged as owned by God (cf. Acts 4:28)

That you would long for the rule and reign of your powerful God over your life, your church, 
 and your situation.

2. Prayer brings the reality of our total dependency on God to its rightful placement in our lives 
(Lk. 11:3; Acts 4:30).

God does give you more than you can handle!

3. Since sin messes with everything – for sure prayer; prayer is the only way to deal with the desperate state of hearts (Lk. 11:4; Acts 4:25-27).

Believers warehousing sin dampens the blessing of God (Ps. 66:18)

Thankfully God answers the prayers of sinners or he wouldn’t be answering prayers at all.

God will keep us from sin or sin will keep us from God

4. Persistence in prayer demonstrates how much we really care about what we ask or what we get, if we get it (Lk. 11:5-10).

Sometimes it’s “not yet” until you press in closer and prevail more passionately proving to be worthy stewards of what you claim to want.

We may ask but not seek, or ask and seek, but not knock until the answer comes or God says stop praying or God fits us for the ask.

5. Prayer recognizes God’s right to decide what is good for you (Lk. 11:11-13).

Why Pray? God included your future prayer in his past planning (cf. Acts 4:25-28).

If you ask for a fish, God will not give you a snake.

If you don’t even pray, you are not seeking God’s will over your own – what is God deciding is good for you?

6. There is a definite connection between desperate, faith – saturated prayer and the outpouring of God’s powerful Holy Spirit (Lk. 11:13; Acts 4:31).

The fear from “threats” of spiritual terrorists are replaced by audacious boldness for the truth by God’s prayed-up people.

 

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