In Sermons: showing 16-30 of 39

Prayer Keys - Repentance And Confession Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Dec 8, 2011

Subtle sin hinders our prayer as surely as the blatant ones. It does not have to be blatant. It does not have to be an outward action. It does not have to be anything anyone else knows about. If we regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not listen.

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Psalms 66:18 Before writing, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” before becoming a leader of the Reformation, before his 95 Theses, Martin Luther was a Catholic priest. One thing that did not change for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 66:18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Pure Motives Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 18, 2011

Selfishness paralyzes prayer. God will cause us to accomplish more through sincere prayer than we ever could on our own through murderous rebellion, warring, and quarreling. When the church in Acts prayed, they received power and God received glory. When

Prayer Keys - Pure Motives “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ...read more

Scripture: James 4:3

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Unity Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 10, 2011

When we pray as the first church prayed, God will empower us as he empowered the first church and our altar calls will look like Peter’s altar call.

“They all joined together constantly in prayer...” Acts 1:14 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day,” Acts 2:41 When he went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle, it was a ramshackle building with only a handful attending. They were ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Privacy Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 3, 2011

This is the first time Jesus taught his first disciples about prayer. His first lesson was, “Spend time alone with the Father in prayer.” If we don’t follow his first lesson, we are not following the example or the command of Christ.

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 A little boy was saying his bedtime prayers when his mother passed by his room and stopped to listen. “Bless Mommy and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:6

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Persistence Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 27, 2011

Please forgive me for stating the obvious, but persistent prayer is hard work. It drains us. It is hard, but it is eventually worth the effort.

Prayer Keys - Persistence “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 Have you seen that cartoon with the pelican having a frog for dinner? His dinner is not agreeing with him. In fact, his dinner is violently ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Fasting Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 22, 2011

Legalistic fasting is not a prayer key. It is just going hungry. Spiritual awareness that prompts us to pray may also prompt us to fast. May God make us more spiritually aware. May his spirit prompt us to pray, even to the point of forgetting to eat.

Prayer Keys - Fasting by Mark Stepherson “But when you fast, put oil on you head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:17-18 Did you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Delight In The Lord Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 17, 2011

As we repeatedly expose ourselves to scripture, as we anticipate receiving help, strength, joy, and other blessings from the Bible, as we experience the hope of his promises, we will learn to delight in God’s law and in God himself. Then we will pray with

Prayer Keys - Delight in the Lord Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Ps 37:4 Our relationship with God should bring us more satisfaction, more pleasure, more joy than any other relationship or possession we have. To be honest with you, that is only ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Be Specific Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 13, 2011

BE SPECIFIC when praying. Specific prayers emphasize our need and God’s power. Specific prayers may even clarify our calling.

Prayer Keys - Be Specific “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Lk 18:41 Praying specifically is a key to effective prayer. The blind man’s first request is for Jesus to have mercy on him. Jesus asks him specifically, “What do ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:41

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - According To God's Will Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 7, 2011

Praying ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL is not an incantation to pull God to our will, but a guide to pull us to His will.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us,” 1 John 5:14. Praying according to God’s will is a key to effective prayer, but how do we know God’s will? It may be easier to know what is not his will. In ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:14

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Introduction Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 4, 2011

Introducing a 30 part series on prayer keys. These are not incantations manipulating God to submit to our will, but guides leading us to submit to God’s will. "Lord teach us to pray."

A 30 part study of prayer keys during our Wednesday night prayer meetings? You may think it will become boringly repetitive. No, No, NOOOO! During this study, we will hear how Mary, Queen of Scots, feared the prayers of John Knox more than the combined armies of Europe. We will hear Jonathan ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys: Bearing Fruit Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Sep 19, 2011

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name,” John 15:16. A prayer key sermon that can also serve as a witnessing sermon.

Prayer Keys - Bearing Fruit “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” John 15:16 One Wednesday, we looked at the second prayer key in this verse, asking in ...read more

Scripture: John 15:16

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys: Obedience Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Sep 15, 2011

If we want to learn to pray, we must learn to obey. If we want to pray well, we must obey well. If we want to become prayer warriors, we must become obedient children.

Discuss this sermon at http://prayerkeys.blog.com/obedience “[We] receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him,” 1 John 3:22. Not just once again, but twice again I was reminded last Sunday that God’s timing is remarkable. When he is ready to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:22

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - Earnestness Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 29, 2011

When we pray fervently, all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is focused on praying as the Spirit leads. We may fool ourselves with the other prayer keys, but not this one.

Prayer Keys - Earnestness “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” James 5:17-18 George Washington and Thomas ...read more

Scripture: James 5:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - In The Spirit Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 24, 2011

We sometimes pray with the Spirit’s intercession. We should always pray as the Spirit leads.

Prayer Keys - In the Spirit “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 saints.” Ephesians 6:18 Much of this verse is easy to understand. “On all occasions” refers to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Keys - In Jesus' Name Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Aug 15, 2011

This most legally controversial prayer key is not an incantation giving our prayer more power. It is recognition that Jesus is our mediator (1 Timothy 2: 5), our advocate (1 John 2:1), and our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Prayer Keys - In Jesus’ Name “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” John 15:16 I started this list of prayer keys back in the 80 s. I doubt any ...read more

Scripture: John 15:16

Denomination: Baptist