Part 4 – Teach Us To Pray
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) (16) Rejoice always, (17) pray continually, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- The more you understand something, the more you can desire and love it.
- Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.
(Luke 11:1 NKJV) Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
(Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV) In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. (13) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
- Connect with God relationally.
“Our Father in Heaven”
(Romans 8:15 NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.”
- Worship His Name.
“Hallowed be Your Name”
(Proverbs 18:10 MSG) GOD’s name is a place of protection– good people can run there and be safe.
(Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV) (9) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- Pray His agenda first.
“Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
(Matthew 26:39 NKJV) He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
- Depend on Him for everything.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
(Psalms 121:1-2 NLT) A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. I look up to the mountains–does my help come from there? (2) My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!
(Psalms 68:26 NLT) Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the LORD, the source of Israel’s life.
(Acts 17:28 NLT) For in Him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’
- Get your heart right with God and people.
“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”
(1 John 1:9 NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(Mark 11:25 NIV) And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
- Engage in spiritual warfare.
“And do not lead us into temptations but deliver us from the evil one.”
Better translation: “And when we are tempted, deliver us from the evil one…”
(Ephesians 6:12 NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
(James 4:7 NKJV) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
(James 4:7 MSG) So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.
- Express faith in God’s ability.
“For yours is the Kingdom and Power and Glory forever.”
(Jeremiah 32:17 NIV) “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
(Revelation 5:13 NIV) Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”