Prayer: The First Priority
1Ti 2:1-4 NASB20
1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, [and] thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
I. Our Christian lives begin with a prayer
Rom 10:8-13 NASB20
8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart [a person] believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same [Lord] is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for "EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
II. Our ability to live the Christian life well depends on our having a living conversation with the LORD daily. This is really “Private Worship” – A.C.T.S.
a. Adoration
i. Just being with the Lord in silence
ii. Reviewing and appreciating who God is:
1. Good
2. Great
3. Full of Grace
4. Grieving with our griefs
5. Guaranteeing our grief will be used for gain
iii. Singing to the LORD
b. Confession of our sins
i. Review the day
ii. Admitting our failures and repenting of them
iii. Releasing to the Lord our cares (1 Peter 5:6,7)
c. Thanksgiving – All good things are from God
d. Supplication - Asking for God’s help
i. Our needs - Monday
ii. Our friends and family - Tuesday
iii. The needs of the Church - Wednesday
iv. The needs of our nation - Thursday
v. The needs of all nations – Friday
vi. The forgiveness of our enemies – Saturday
vii. Deliverance from the world, flesh, and devil – Sunday
III. Application
a. Is conversation with God your first priority in your life?
b. What could you do to improve your prayer life?
c. What hinders you from praying more?
d. Join us at 7 AM for prayer on ZOOM Monday thru Saturday
e. Join us on Wednesday in the Café for Prayer at 7 AM
f. Join us for prayer at 8 AM on Sundays at the J-house or ZOOM
g. Plan to be part of the next 777 week of prayer
h. Join the daily prayer e-mail list from me
i. Join those who get prayer requests from Karen
Recommended Reading –
How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig
God on Mute: Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayers by Pete Greig
On the web Prayer Course (I) - https://prayercourse.org/sessions/ Prayer Course (II) on unanswered prayers - https://unanswered.prayercourse.org/sessions/ A toolshed on prayer - https://unanswered.prayercourse.org/toolshed/