LORD, TEACH ME TO PRAY…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
BY PRAYER… BUT THE LORD STOOD WITH ME… HE HELPED ME… JESUS GAVE ME STRENGTH… JESUS DELIVERED ME…
2 Timothy 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
2 Timothy 4:17 (MSG) the Master stood by me and helped me spread the Message loud and clear to those who had never heard it. I was snatched from the jaws of the lion!
PRAYER IS EFFECTIVE… FERVENT… POWERFUL…
*EFFECTUAL: to produce the desired effect, fruitful, potent, ready, sure, concrete…
*FERVENT: glowing hot, great intensity, emotional, passionate
*POWERFUL: great influence, potent, strong, great force, to achieve,
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16 (NIV) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5:16 (MSG) Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.
LORD TEACH ME HOW TO PRAY? LORD TEACH ME TO PRAY…
I was in a church service in Virginia many years ago. There was a Preacher teaching us. He was talking about Prayer. He had a very well prepared lesson. He was talking about Jesus’ teaching. He then stated: THE GOOD OL’ BOYS NEVER SAID TO JESUS: LORD, TEACH US HOW TO PRAY… I did not have my Bible with me so I had to wait until I got home to check him out. Guess I had always thought the disciples asked Jesus: TEACH US HOW TO PRAY? That is not what was said. They never asked Jesus: TEACH US HOW TO PRAY? The question is much different.
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
I HAVE AN OPINION: GOD WANTS TO CHALLENGE US TO DREAM BIG AND PRAY BIG AND WHEN WE DO GOD WILL GO BEYOND WHAT WE ASK…
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
WE HAVE A GREAT TOOL AVAILABLE… DO WE REALIZE HOW MUCH WE NEED GOD? I ACKNOWLEDGE I NEED GOD, I AM DESPERATE TO KNOW HIM MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. ON MY BEST DAYS I NEED JUST A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS.
DAVID SUGGESTED PRAYER AT MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT….
Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
We need to be so faithful to prayer.
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 18:1 (MSG) Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.
2020 has been a cruel year. Jesus we place each day of 2020 into your hands and we will PRAY and TRUST YOUR PLAN. Jesus this world is so full of confusion and craziness. Jesus we need your touch to bring DIVINE PEACE to reign in our hearts. Our anxiety and depression seems to smother us. GOD BRING HOPE, JOY AND LOVE to our words, PRAYERS and deeds.
GOOD PRAYER IS MORE THAN WORDS BEATING THE AIR… GOOD PRAYER REQUIRES FAITH AND TRUST.
1 Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1 Corinthians 9:26 (MSG) I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me!
EFFECTIVE PRAYER MUST BE COVERED IN FAITH AND TRUST… I WILL BELIEVE WHEN I SEE IT? OR I WILL SEE IT BECAUSE I HAVE BELIEVED!
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
WORRY KILLS FAITH AND PRAYER… FAITH AND PRAYER KILLS WORRY…
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:6 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 (MSG) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
When you find it hard to pray --- PRAY HARD.
HAVE WE LEARNED THAT GIVING SHOWS WHAT YOU LOVE? YOU WILL GIVE YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU LOVE.
WHAT DO YOU GIVE? SOME GIVE MONEY? OTHERS GIVE TIME? WHY NOT GIVE PRAYER?
Psalm 109:4 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
1 Corinthians 7:5 B … that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, …
SOME HOW WE ASSOCIATE PRAYER WITH LONG, FANCY AND POETIC WORDS… DO WE THINK GOD IS HARD HEARING AND WE MUST BE LOUD… PUBLIC? YOU WILL NEVER ARISE IN PUBLIC WHAT YOUR PRAYER LIFE IS IN PRIVATE.
Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
CONCLUSION: We must pray in the name of Jesus. Pray in the “FATHER’S WILL.” Don’t ask amiss of his will.
John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
James 5:16 B…, and pray one for another,
Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE ABOUT PRAYER, MORE IS SAID THEN DONE!
The church’s leanness might be attributed to the lack of Prayer. It is better in prayer to pray in your heart without words than to pray words without heart.
Prayer is conversation with God. Prayer builds a friendship with God.
