Prayer Discourse 2: Practice of Prayer
1. Come with humility – if we had true humility, that would be motivation enough to pray. Humility is recognizing who God is and who you are in relationship to Him.
Who is God? Acts 17:24-25
“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;”
So Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth, therefore let your words be few.”
AND YET – He wants to meet with you. Over and again He invites you to come. Isa. 55:1-2; Psa. 95:6-7; Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:16
On what basis? That you’re a good person and so deserve it? No. Because you’ve obeyed Him and you’re trying to do good and be a laborer in the kingdom? No. It’s not based on anything you have done.
Heb. 10:19-22
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
2. Be Authentic– come just as you are and where you are. You cannot come to God as someone you are not. Heb.4:13 ‘No creature is hidden from His sight but all things are open and laid bare before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.‘
Familiar song – “Just as I am without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me; and as thou bidst me come to thee, o lamb of God, I come.”
Corollary: Come as a child. What’s on your mind/heart? Do you already know it’s selfish and immature? Admit that it is and pray it anyway, asking God to change your heart. A child blurts out whatever is on his mind without trying to make it sound acceptable and appealing. God knows your heart.
3. Come in Faith Heb. 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
4. Pray in Jesus name. John16:24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”
Prayer is communion with God, often in words but it can also be in just enjoying one another’s presence, being quiet together.
When it’s with words, it’s a conversation. You talking to God, expressing what’s on your heart and mind, and then listening to Him, seeking to be open and understand what He’s saying. John 10:28 My sheep hear my voice…
His voice comes to us primarily through the scriptures.
In order to recognize His voice, we must come with the commitment/determination to obey. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me…
John 7:17 “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching…”