GrowingGrowing• In knowledge – 2 Pet. 3:18In knowledge – 2 Pet. 3:18• In character – 2 Pet. 1:5In character – 2 Pet. 1:5• TRAINING in godliness 1 Tim. 4:7TRAINING in godliness 1 Tim. 4:7

3 Aspects to 3 Aspects to RememberRemember

•A correct concept of the A correct concept of the Character of God – Character of God –

•A pervasive sense of the A pervasive sense of the presence of Godpresence of God

•A constant Awareness of A constant Awareness of our obligation to Godour obligation to God

Growing Thru Growing Thru PrayerPrayer

• Matt. 21:13Matt. 21:13– House of God – a house of PrayerHouse of God – a house of Prayer– House of God = CHURCH (1Tim House of God = CHURCH (1Tim

3:15)3:15)• Church is US – PEOPLE – Church is US – PEOPLE – • We then a people of prayer … We then a people of prayer …

Yet – often neglected among Yet – often neglected among usus

Definitions ?Definitions ?

•Prayer is the desire of the Prayer is the desire of the opportunity for the opportunity for the privilege of talking to God.privilege of talking to God.

•Prayer is the voice of Prayer is the voice of faith.faith.

Definitions ?Definitions ?

•Prayer in its simplest Prayer in its simplest definition is a wish turned definition is a wish turned heaven-ward.heaven-ward.

•Prayer is asking things of Prayer is asking things of God.God.

Verbal PicturesVerbal Pictures• Psalm 25:1 – “lift up my soul”Psalm 25:1 – “lift up my soul”• Psalm 143:8 – teach me – FOR Psalm 143:8 – teach me – FOR

unto thee I lift up my soul’unto thee I lift up my soul’• Psalm 62:8 – pour out your heart Psalm 62:8 – pour out your heart

before Him … before Him … • 1 Pet. 5: cast all your cares 1 Pet. 5: cast all your cares

upon Him for He careth for you.. upon Him for He careth for you..

John 17John 17• Jesus PRAYEDJesus PRAYED• He talked to GodHe talked to God• He talked about what was He talked about what was

happeninghappening• He talked about his friends and He talked about his friends and

what they would dowhat they would do• He talked about God’s people He talked about God’s people • He talked about God’s glory -- He talked about God’s glory --

Knowing GodKnowing God• John 17:3 – This is eternal life, John 17:3 – This is eternal life,

that they know thee, the true that they know thee, the true and living God.and living God.

• KNOW ? – intimate conversationKNOW ? – intimate conversation• Such is prayer -… Such is prayer -…

Elements of PrayerElements of Prayer• A – Adoration and PraiseA – Adoration and Praise• C – ConfessionC – Confession• T – ThanksgivingT – Thanksgiving• S – Supplication, request, S – Supplication, request,

intercessionintercession

Praise & AdorationPraise & Adoration• Heb. 11:27Heb. 11:27

– By faith he forsook Egypt, not By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; fearing the wrath of the king;

for he endured as for he endured as seeing seeing Him who is invisible.Him who is invisible.

First ThingFirst Thing• Contemplate WHO God is… Contemplate WHO God is… • Picture Him – His character – Picture Him – His character – – HolyHoly– RighteousRighteous– Powerful Powerful – Mercy and goodnessMercy and goodness– Wrath against evil … Wrath against evil …

Isaiah 6Isaiah 6• Serephaim with 6 wings .. Serephaim with 6 wings ..

– 22 with two he covered his face, with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. and with two he flew. 33 And one And one cried to another and said: cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"His glory!"

Rev. 4:8-9Rev. 4:8-9• Four living creatures: they do Four living creatures: they do

not rest day or night, saying: not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" to come!"

THEN…THEN…

• Whenever the living creatures give Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders elders fall downfall down before Him who sits before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and lives forever and ever, and cast their cast their crowns before the thronecrowns before the throne, saying:, saying:

• 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."Your will they exist and were created."

Hebrews 12:28Hebrews 12:28• Heb 12:28 Therefore, since we Heb 12:28 Therefore, since we

are receiving a kingdom which are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have cannot be shaken, let us have

grace, by which we may grace, by which we may serve serve God acceptably with God acceptably with reverence and godly fearreverence and godly fear..

ReverendReverend• Ps 111:9 He sent redemption Ps 111:9 He sent redemption

unto his people: he hath unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for commanded his covenant for ever: ever: holy and reverend is his holy and reverend is his name.name.

To Revere: To regard with To Revere: To regard with AWE, deference, and AWE, deference, and devotiondevotion

ReverendReverend• b. b. Synonyms: revere, 1worship, Synonyms: revere, 1worship,

venerate, adore, idolizevenerate, adore, idolizeThese verbs mean to regard with These verbs mean to regard with the deepest respect, deference, the deepest respect, deference, and esteem. and esteem. RevereRevere suggests suggests awe coupled with profound awe coupled with profound honor:honor:

Psalm 89:7Psalm 89:7

• God is greatly to be God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those in reverence by all those around Him.around Him.

Ps 46:10Ps 46:10

•Be still, and know that I Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!be exalted in the earth!

Coming Before GodComing Before God• Picture YOU – and God … Picture YOU – and God … • Picture the Throne – Rev. 4:2ffPicture the Throne – Rev. 4:2ff• Picture YOU before such Throne !Picture YOU before such Throne !• Picture JESUS with YOU … Picture JESUS with YOU …

Heb. 4:14Heb. 4:14

–– – He is our high priest – He is our high priest – let us draw near with let us draw near with boldness unto the throne boldness unto the throne of God that we may find of God that we may find mercy and grace to help mercy and grace to help in a time of need. in a time of need.

Know The PsalmsKnow The Psalms• Study them … Study them … • Begin prayer by reading – and Begin prayer by reading – and

making it your own..making it your own..

Psalm 63Psalm 63O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek

you;you;my soul thirsts for you;my soul thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you,my flesh faints for you,as in a dry and weary land where there is as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. no water.

[2] So I have looked upon you in the [2] So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory. beholding your power and glory. [3] Because your steadfast love is better [3] Because your steadfast love is better

than life,than life,my lips will praise you. my lips will praise you.

[4] So I will bless you as long as I live;[4] So I will bless you as long as I live;in your name I will lift up my hands. in your name I will lift up my hands. [5] My soul will be satisfied as with fat [5] My soul will be satisfied as with fat

and rich food,and rich food,and my mouth will praise you with joyful and my mouth will praise you with joyful

lips, lips, [6] when I remember you upon my bed,[6] when I remember you upon my bed,and meditate on you in the watches of and meditate on you in the watches of

the night; the night; [7] for you have been my help,[7] for you have been my help,and in the shadow of your wings I will and in the shadow of your wings I will

sing for joy. sing for joy. [8] My soul clings to you;[8] My soul clings to you;your right hand upholds me. your right hand upholds me.

Use Song BookUse Song Book• Psalm 148 – #21 – Praise the Psalm 148 – #21 – Praise the

Lord..Lord..• Psalm 23 – #364 – Psalm 23 – #364 – • Be With Me Lord … #72 Be With Me Lord … #72 • Holy, Holy, Holy,…. #1Holy, Holy, Holy,…. #1• Worthy art thou … #34Worthy art thou … #34• We Praise The, Oh God …. #37We Praise The, Oh God …. #37• How great thou art - #5How great thou art - #5

PrayerPrayer

•Pray without ceasing . Pray without ceasing . • Instant in PrayerInstant in Prayer•A – Adoration & PraiseA – Adoration & Praise•C – ConfessionC – Confession• T – ThanksgivingT – Thanksgiving•S – Supplication / S – Supplication /

intercessionintercession