Prayer is the Key Romans 8: 14 – 37 Pgs 1043-44 “Faith is the power line, but prayer switches it on.” Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke

Prayer is the Key

Romans 8: 14 – 37Pgs 1043-44

“Faith is the power line, but prayer switches it on.” Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke

1. What is Prayer?

Definition.

- Asking God.

- Humble and a sincere request to God

- praise, thanksgiving and confession to God.

- Spiritual Communion with God.

- a supplication or intercession on behalf of others.

- a request obtained by begging God.

1. What is Prayer?

Two way communication

- fellowship and participation with God.

- helped by the Holy Spirit, Scriptures, and faith community (transform self and surroundings).

- Some prefer solitude (personal prayer).

- Getting God’s attention and intervention.

1. What is Prayer

Our whole being is involved (heart, mind, body soul and spirit)

“True, whole process of prayer is nothing but love.” Early church

Father, St Augustine

Prayer is a love language

2. Types of Prayer

- Praise, worship, adoration, confession, thanksgiving, contemplation, intercession etc.

Personal and communal - connects and builds up the faith

community. - Belonging to Christ and His Body (Church).

- Expression of love, joy and lament. - Increase faith, love and hope.

2. Types of Prayer

Preparation and training for eternity.

After this I looked, and there before me was a

great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10.

2. Prayer Ministry

“Our ministry of prayer (intercession) is made possible only because of Christ’s continuing ministry of intercession.” Richard J Foster; Prayers, Finding hearts true home, San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1992, 193.

3. Prayer Ministry

- Jesus is our mediator and High priest (Heb. 4:14-16; 9:15)

- Jesus has opened the way to God (Heb.8;9;10).

- Partnership and participation in Christ’s intersession ministry.

- Not our efforts but God’s divine mercy.

4. God responds to Prayer

Ask, seek and Knock

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Mathew 7:7-11

- God answers to all prayers: Yes, No or Wait.


- Ask according the God’s will.- God cannot be manipulated. - God acts to glorify His Name.

The condition for receiving is :

to BELIVE (do not doubt).

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Mathew 21:22


We don’t receive because

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4:3.

5. Attitude in Prayer

Preparations in needed.- prepare our hearts. - request for the Holy Spirit’s help. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8 : 26-27.


Preparations in needed.

- acknowledge God is Holy.

- confess sins.

- verbal or silent prayers (doesn’t matter God knows our heart)


Thanksgiving.

- God is always faithful and gracious.

-To draw closer to God involves getting His attention or calling for His intervention.

- Be grateful to thank God.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57.

6. Purpose of Prayer

1. Key to effective Relationship.

- David had deep relationship with God

- Book of Psalms is a Prayer Book.



- Jesus maintained a close communion with God the Father.

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up

prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to

the One who could save him from death, and he was

heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrew 5:7



Jesus taught His disciples how to pray.

“This, then, is how you should pray:“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.And forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors.And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.’ Mathew 6:9-13.



It a relational prayer.

- Abba, Father (Mt 6:9; Romans 8 :15-17)

- Loving and honoring God,

- Loving neighbor and self


2. Key to Spiritual Maturity. Romans 8: 18-25

- Strengthens us in present suffering

- Teaches us patience, submission and surrender.

- A Hope for a future glory.

- Transformation.


3. Key to get help from Holy Spirit.

- Holy Spirit helps us to pray

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8: 26-27


3. Key to get help from Holy Spirit.

- Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus.

“If Prayer is the key, the Door is Jesus Christ.” Richard J Foster; Prayers,

Finding hearts true home, San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1992, 2.

- We are led into God’s presence


4. Key to invite Jesus.

- Jesus also comes to us.For where two or three gather in My

name, there am I with them.” Mathew 18:20.

- Jesus is present when the Church comes together in unity.

-


4. Key to invite Jesus.

- He listens to us and speaks with

us.

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my

voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27.


- Reflection.

When was the last time God really spoke to you?


5. Key to Spiritual Formation. “29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:29.


5. Key to Spiritual Formation.

- Spiritual formation is to be like Jesus.- We need to submit and not resist. - Example of Paul and Silas.- Testing comes, blessings is on the way.


6. Key to Victorious Christian living. Romans 8: 31-37.

Prayer illuminates and aids us to live confidently

- God is is for us and His is with us.

- We are more than conquerors.

- Nothing can separate us from God’s love.


7. Key to Spiritual Warfare and Revival.

- Early church was united in prayer.

- Pushed back darkness.

- Ushered in God’s kingdom.

- Experienced miracles, angelic visitations, divine revelations etc.


7. Key to Spiritual Warfare and Revival.

- God helped the Church grow and spread.

- Past Revivals – key was Prayer.

- Asia, Africa, Latin America experiencing revivals.

- Experienced miracles, angelic visitations, divine revelations etc.

7. Self Reflection

- Prayer is partnership and participation with Christ intercession ministry.

- My prayer model is ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

- Help: Holy Spirit, Scriptures, faith and faith community (Church).

7. Self Reflection

- look back at 2013 and thank God.

- Seek the Lord for 2014.

- Morning prayers 7 – 7.45 a.m. (Mon, Wed, Fri)

- Pre-service prayers 9 a.m. Sundays.

- Overnight prayers Lent.

Living it …..

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

Documents

Prayer is the Key Romans 8: 14 – 37 Pgs 1043-44 “Faith is the power line, but prayer switches it on.” Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke