PrayerPrayer

Developing Out Relationship Developing Out Relationship With GodWith God

A Faithful Relationship is aA Faithful Relationship is aPrayerful RelationshipPrayerful Relationship

What is Faithfulness? What is Faithfulness? “1. a firm conviction…“1. a firm conviction…full acknowledgement of God’s revealed truth; 2. full acknowledgement of God’s revealed truth; 2. personal surrender to Him; 3. a conduct inspired by personal surrender to Him; 3. a conduct inspired by such surrender” (Vine’s).such surrender” (Vine’s).

Christian life not simply motions or Christian life not simply motions or actions—not robots who march to actions—not robots who march to services every Sunday.services every Sunday.

It is a life of conviction, of surrender It is a life of conviction, of surrender and devotion to the Almighty God!and devotion to the Almighty God!

What does this have to do with prayer?What does this have to do with prayer?

A Faithful Relationship is aA Faithful Relationship is aPrayerful RelationshipPrayerful Relationship

Such faithfulness is what gives prayer its Such faithfulness is what gives prayer its meaning and power.meaning and power.

To the Faithful…To the Faithful… Prayer is more that a way to help us feel better.Prayer is more that a way to help us feel better. It is more that a way to help us think things It is more that a way to help us think things

through.through. Prayer is our communication with our Prayer is our communication with our

heavenly Father!heavenly Father! When coupled with faithfulness, prayer When coupled with faithfulness, prayer

becomes the means through which we becomes the means through which we draw near to God.draw near to God.

A Faithful Relationship is aA Faithful Relationship is aPrayerful RelationshipPrayerful Relationship

True Christian life is about drawing near to God True Christian life is about drawing near to God as our Father:as our Father: Rom 8:15: “…Rom 8:15: “…but you received the Spirit of but you received the Spirit of adoption adoption by by

whom we cry out, ‘whom we cry out, ‘AbbaAbba, Father, Father.’” (See also Gal. 4:6).’” (See also Gal. 4:6) John 3:1: “John 3:1: “Behold what manner of love the Father has Behold what manner of love the Father has

bestowed on us, that we should be called bestowed on us, that we should be called children of children of GodGod..””

James 4:8: “James 4:8: “Draw near to God Draw near to God and He will draw near to and He will draw near to youyou.”.”

Humble obedience and heartfelt prayer are the Humble obedience and heartfelt prayer are the means through which we draw near to our means through which we draw near to our heavenly Father.heavenly Father.

For this reason Prayer has always played an For this reason Prayer has always played an important role in the lives of God’s people.important role in the lives of God’s people.

God’s Faithful Have Always God’s Faithful Have Always Been Devoted to PrayerBeen Devoted to Prayer

Abraham: Called “Abraham: Called “the friend of Godthe friend of God” (Js. 2:23).” (Js. 2:23). His communication with God was frequent and His communication with God was frequent and

personal. personal. Gen. 12:1ff; 18:22Gen. 12:1ff; 18:22

David: “David: “a man after God’s own hearta man after God’s own heart” (Acts ” (Acts 13:22). 13:22). From the time of his youth he wrote psalms, many From the time of his youth he wrote psalms, many

of which were prayers to God.of which were prayers to God. He is noted for his constant devotion to God: in He is noted for his constant devotion to God: in

times of peace and prosperity, times of turmoil, and times of peace and prosperity, times of turmoil, and in repentance (Ps. 51).in repentance (Ps. 51).

By the same faith with which he conquered Goliath By the same faith with which he conquered Goliath he constanly offered prayers to God.he constanly offered prayers to God.

God’s Faithful Have Always God’s Faithful Have Always Been Devoted to PrayerBeen Devoted to Prayer

Jesus: The Son of God—who is God.Jesus: The Son of God—who is God. While in heaven He had constant While in heaven He had constant

communication with the Father (Phil. 2:6) communication with the Father (Phil. 2:6) It was no different when He was on the earth, It was no different when He was on the earth,

for He continually prayed to the Father! for He continually prayed to the Father! He is our example: Luke 6:12; 5:16; 1 John 2:6He is our example: Luke 6:12; 5:16; 1 John 2:6 He first called the Father “Abba” (Mk. 14:36): He first called the Father “Abba” (Mk. 14:36):

through Him we too draw near as children; through Him we too draw near as children; through prayer we draw near with our hearts.through prayer we draw near with our hearts.

Paul: Acquainted with great turmoil, but Paul: Acquainted with great turmoil, but filled with the peace of God because of filled with the peace of God because of prayer: Phil. 4:6-7; 2 Tim. 1:3prayer: Phil. 4:6-7; 2 Tim. 1:3

Are You One of God’s Are You One of God’s FaithfulFaithful

The example of God’s faithful is set for us to The example of God’s faithful is set for us to follow:follow: 1 Thess. 5:16-18: Pray without ceasing1 Thess. 5:16-18: Pray without ceasing Phil. 4:6-7: In everything by prayer and supplicationPhil. 4:6-7: In everything by prayer and supplication Rom. 12:12: Continue steadfastly in prayerRom. 12:12: Continue steadfastly in prayer Eph. 6:18: Praying alwaysEph. 6:18: Praying always Col. 4:2: Continue earnestly in prayerCol. 4:2: Continue earnestly in prayer 1 Pet. 4:7: Watchful in your prayers. 1 Pet. 4:7: Watchful in your prayers.

Such prayers were characteristic of the New Such prayers were characteristic of the New Testament church: Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:23-30; Testament church: Acts 1:14; 2:42; 4:23-30; 12:5 12:5

Where does prayer fit into your life? Where does prayer fit into your life?

ConclusionConclusion This lesson is not for teaching us how to This lesson is not for teaching us how to

pray, but to put in us the DESIRE to pray, but to put in us the DESIRE to learn.learn.

Effective fervent prayers require faith Effective fervent prayers require faith and conviction.and conviction.

God’s faithful continually prayed to Him, God’s faithful continually prayed to Him, and we see that their prayers were and we see that their prayers were heard.heard.

We are God’s children. It takes time to We are God’s children. It takes time to learn how to talk to Him, but as our learn how to talk to Him, but as our Father He will listen if we will learn. Father He will listen if we will learn.