Christian Prayer From the Inside Out

Pastor Timothy Chan

Chinese Grace Bible ChurchSunday, November 20, 2011

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Introduction

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Luke 18:9-14 (NIV1984)

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:

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Luke 18:9-14 (NIV1984)

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

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Luke 18:9-14 (NIV1984)

11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

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Luke 18:9-14 (NIV1984)

12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

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Luke 18:9-14 (NIV1984)

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

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Luke 18:9-14 (NIV1984)

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV1984)

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

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Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV1984)

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

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I. Test #1: Check on this area of blockage: _________________ (the Pharisee’s prayer).

self-righteousness

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I. Test #1: Check on this area of blockage: _________________ (the Pharisee’s prayer).

self-righteousness

A. Check on this dangerous _____________assumptio

n

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I. Test #1: Check on this area of blockage: _________________ (the Pharisee’s prayer).

self-righteousness

B. Examine this________trend

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I. Test #1: Check on this area of blockage: _________________ (the Pharisee’s prayer).

self-righteousness

C. Trace this______________development

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I. Test #1: Check on this area of blockage: _________________ (the Pharisee’s prayer).

self-righteousness

D. Check out this downward ________cycle

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• Habit builds ___________self-worth

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• Humanizing habit can be the first step to ____________. It is easy to see God as a _________ and ignore proper __________.

superstition magicia

ntheology

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• Self-worth often reinforces __________self-identity

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• Self-identity can lead to ________________self-

justification

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• We become our own ________idols

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II. Test #2: Do an X-ray and look for ________________________ (the Publican’s prayer).

authenticity and humility

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The Publican’s prayer was heard. Why?_______________

Openness

The Pharisee’s prayer was denied. Why?____________________

Self-Righteousness

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A. Understand this…

• Prayer is about the “__________.” Prayer is _______, __________, ________, and ______________.

real Isimple natural

common

unobstructed

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A. Understand this…

• ________ and articulate what is truly in us!Unmask

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B. How do we reach this level of authenticity?

• Deep awareness of _____ in our lives

sins

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Galatians 5:17 (NIV1984)

17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

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B. How do we reach this level of authenticity?

• Agony turns to true __________admission

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B. How do we reach this level of authenticity?

• Admission yields to ____________repentance

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Exodus 25:21 (NIV1984)

21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you.

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Leviticus 16:15 (NIV1984)

15 “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it.

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B. How do we reach this level of authenticity?

• Repentance leads to _________petition

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Faith Humility

Dependence

Openness

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III. Test #3: Take a pulse and feel for the presence of ____________ and ______(the Gentile’s prayer).

assurancetrus

t

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A.. The greatest character of the Christian prayer is: _______________________His promise and assurance

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Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV1984)

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

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Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV1984)

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

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B. Our greatest challenges:• Abandon __________ and

___________self-will

self-love

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B. Our greatest challenges:• Abandon the ____________:

repetition, bribery, negotiation, and manipulation

fuzzy language

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C. The Great Physician’s ________:• Turn away from __________

to _______assessment

remedy

trust

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C. The Great Physician’s ________:• _______ upon a healthy

____________ with the Abba Father

Build

remedy

relationship

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Luke 19:8 (NIV1984)

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

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C. The Great Physician’s ________:• _________ the great

assurance from the Word of God

Live out

remedy

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Isaiah 41:10 (NIV1984)

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;    do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

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Romans 8:37-39 (NIV1984)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

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Romans 8:37-39 (NIV1984)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

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Romans 8:37-39 (NIV1984)

39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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C. The Great Physician’s ________:• You are in the _______ of His

care, the apple of His eyecenter

remedy

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Deuteronomy 32:10 (NIV1984)

10 In a desert land he found him,    in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him;    he guarded him as the apple of his eye,

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Psalm 17:8 (NIV1984)

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;    hide me in the shadow of your

wings

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Conclusion

• ______ people _________ to understand the love of God.

• Rediscover a healthy path.• ______ one’s self-imposed

identity and find the _______ in trusting Him.

Lost struggle

Denyreal I