Our last (out of 4) congregational address to “recast our vision”

• 1,189 Chapters in the Bible
• 650 recorded prayers
• Jesus is our example to pray
  • Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
    • At the beginning of His ministry
    • In the middle of great triumphs
    • Right before they began to attack
  • “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” -Mark 1:35
  • After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.” -Matthew 14:23
• Ephesians 6:18 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 Lord’s people. 
• Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. –
  • loyal, constant, and steadfast.
• Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. –
  • • Devote: zealous or ardent in attachment, loyalty, or affection:
    • Ardent: Burning, fiery, hot
• (we started here)John 14:13-14 “Whatever you ask in MY name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. –

We don’t want to pray, but why?

• James 4:2-3 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. –

Wartime Walkie Talkie

• Matthew 26
  • When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” – Matthew 26:1-2
  • “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’” -Matthew 26:36
• John Piper “wartime walkie talkie, not a domestic intercom for changing the thermostat”

What’s the mission?

• (NLT) Matthew 10:39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
• Matthew 16:25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
• Mark 8:35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
• Luke 9:24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
• John 12:25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

You can ask anything ON MISSION

• (we started here) John 14:13-14 “Whatever you ask in MY name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 
• John 15:7-8, 16 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples… You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you. 
• John 16:23-24 “Truly, Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive that your joy may be full.” 

But how?

• Romans 8:26 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
• Matthew 6:9-13 New International Version (NIV)
  • 9 “This, then, is how you should pray:“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
  • 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
  • 11 Give us today our daily bread.
  • 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
  • 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Conclusion

• This won’t change you into what you want
• You will be accountable before God at the Bema Seat
• John 14:26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you