Kingdom Prayer
Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. 8 For each one who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks a loaf, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks a fish, will he give him a snake? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him? . Mt. 7:7-11 (MKJV)
Core assumptions
• Everybody PRAYS. (“O God, Help Lord, Jesus” etc.)
• There is no greater FORCE than prayer!
• There is no greater PROMISE than answered prayer.
Three key truths concerning prayer in Jesus’ Manifesto of Christianity.
1- True Prayer is SIMPLE. (informal, unpretentious, unceremonious)
1. Jesus said to"ASK" (v. 7)
• Illus. Child’s prayer – Not granted because of eloquence or length.
5 ¶ And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. 7 But when you pray, do not babble vain words, as the nations. For they think that in their much speaking they shall be heard. 8 Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him. Mt. 6:5-8 (MKJV)
2. God’s response to simple prayer is "GOOD gifts"! (v 11)
2- Real Prayer is INTENSE. (strong, profound, deep-felt, desperate)
1. Jesus said to "SEEK" (v. 7)
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jer. 29:13 (MKJV)
6 ¶ Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake His way, and the unrighteous man His thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Isa. 55:6-7 (MKJV)
2. God’s response to intense prayer is discovery – it will always “FIND”.
3- Real Prayer is PERSISTENT. (To continue without halting despite difficulties or setbacks. keeping on, carrying on, hanging on. True prayer is Tenacious)
1. Jesus said to "KNOCK" (v 7)
1 ¶ And He also spoke a parable to them to teach it is always right to pray, and not to faint, 2 saying, A certain judge was in a certain city, not fearing God, nor respecting man. 3 And a widow was in that city. And she came to Him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary. 4 And he would not do so for a time. But afterward he said within himself, Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, that she not wear me down in the end. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge says. 7 And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry day and night to Him, though He has been long-suffering over them? 8 I say to you that He will avenge them speedily. Yet when the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the earth? Lk. 18:1-8 (MKJV)
2. Persistent prayer gains an entrance into the SECRET treasures of God’s Divine resources!
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jer. 33:3 (MKJV)
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Ps. 50:15 (KJV)
I invite you to put these truths to work this morning!
