First Christian Church
This is Us (Week 5)
Ephesians 6.10-11ESV
Ephesians 6.12-13ESV
Ephesians 6.14-16ESV
Ephesians 6.17-18ESV
Ephesians 6.19-20ESV
- The Lion And The Lamb
- You're Worthy Of My Praise
- The Well
- The Stand
- How Great Thou Art
- “PRAYER ISN’T JUST A SMALL PART OF WHAT WE DO AS A CHURCH, IT IS IN OUR SPIRITUAL DNA AS THE BODY OF CHRIST. IT IS OUR CONSISTENT ACT OF COMMUNICATION, WORSHIP AND DEPENDENCE UPON THE LORD FOR EVERYTHING.”But first, if God knows everything… then what’s the point of even praying?I’d like to suggest 7 reasons why we should pray, even if God knows everything.WE PRAY BECAUSE...God desires for, His creation, His children to communicate with Him.John 10:27
John 10:27 NIV My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.God has created us with this profound ability to hear His voice, and follow Him.He loves when His creation or His sheep so to speak to call out to Him. He knows each of our voices.2 Corinthians 5:17-182 Corinthians 5:17–18 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:The means of reconciliation is communication, the end is restoration.As Christians, God gives us this ministry of reconciliation to everyone around us, however we must first be reconciled to God. THIS IS HIS DESIRE.He wants to take our worries1 Peter 5:71 Peter 5:7 NIV Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.God loves to give good gifts to His children.1 John 5:14-151 John 5:14–15 NIV This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.Matthew 7:11Matthew 7:11 NIV If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!Luke 18:1-8 (READ FROM BIBLE)Parable of the unjust judgeGod is not like the judge, he is always listening to us and we are encouraged to continue asking until an answer is revealed.God’s answer is often clear… Yes, No or Wait!Famous quote… “Faith in God includes faith in God’s timing”Story of not giving exactly what a child wants (instrument)Prayer encourages earthly relationships and aligns them with the kingdom of heaven.Seeking the Lord in humility, through prayer often leads to great things2 Chronicles 7:142 Chronicles 7:14 NIV if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.Corporate confession of sin and praying for one another is suggested, for us to healJames 5:16 (HAVE SLIDE)Always prayer for othersEphesians 6:18 (HAVE SLIDE)1 Timothy 2:1-3 (HAVE SLIDE)Jesus taught His disciples how to align with heaven in prayerMatthew 6:9-13 (JUST MENTION, WILL LOOK AT IN A LITTLE BIT)“It’s so much easier to read about prayer than to actually pray.” -John On-wu-chek-waAnd I would add “it’s so much easier to read (or talk) about prayer than to actually pray.”Most people would rather gossip, I mean talk about prayer requests, than to actually pray. And that is a slippery slope.Jesus prayed continuously and urges us to do the same.Luke’s gospel highlights Jesus’ prayer lifeIn Luke 3:21-22, He prays before receiving the SpiritIn Luke 6:12, He prays all-night before selecting the Twelve disciplesIn Luke 11:5-12 and Luke 18:1-8, He teaches the disciples about being persistent in prayer with two parablesJesus prays for othersJohn 17:6-18 (JUST MENTION)He prayed for the protection of His disciples and that they would be in the truth.Prayer heals our soulsWe need forgiveness, we need to forgive others1 John 1:91 John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.Matthew 5:44Matthew 5:44 NIV But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t have wordsHard times in life (ie; grieving, joy filled, confused, etc.)Romans 8:26Romans 8:26 NIV In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.Ephesians 1:16-17 (HAVE SLIDE)“The infallible test of spiritual integrity, Jesus says, is your private prayer life.” -Tim KellerWE ARE ENCOURAGED TO PRAY!Philippians 4:6 (HAVE SLIDE)Colossians 4:2 (HAVE SLIDE)1 Thessalonians 5:16-181 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Timothy 2:81 Timothy 2:8 NIV Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.WE PRAY FOR BATTLE!Ephesians 6:10-20 (READ FROM BIBLE)HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?Luke 11:1Luke 11:1 NIV One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”Luke 11:2Luke 11:2 NIV He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.That God’s name be honoredFocus on his everlasting joyThat God’s kingdom comeFocus on His eternal willLuke 11:3Luke 11:3 NIV Give us each day our daily bread.That God’s provision is givenFocus on our presentLuke 11:4Luke 11:4 NIV Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ”That God’s forgiveness is grantedFocus on our pastThat God’s deliverance will be providedFocus on our futureI started by saying, “PRAYER ISN’T JUST A SMALL PART OF WHAT WE DO AS A CHURCH, IT IS IN OUR SPIRITUAL DNA AS THE BODY OF CHRIST. IT IS OUR CONSISTENT ACT OF COMMUNICATION, WORSHIP AND DEPENDENCE UPON THE LORD FOR EVERYTHING.”I truly believe this.I am so grateful that we have had such a faithful group of prayer warriors in this church.I know many of you have experienced this in your lives!-Wednesday night Prayer group-Small group prayer time-Sunday services-Board meetings-Elders in homes, meetingsI wanted to end on something that took me by surprise this morning.-Light that drew me (SLIDE PIC)-Glare in window (SLIDE PIC)-Looked outside, just a light (SLIDE PIC)-Opened the window curtain and looked outside (SLIDE PIC)***It reminded me that prayer also brings us to the cross.Jesus prayed to His Father to see if there is any other way to accomplish His will, but there wasn’t.He went willingly to the cross, despite the pain and persecution.If we struggle to pray in our lives we can look to the cross for motivation to get back on track in our prayer life as Jesus did.Challenge question:What is one step you will take this week to be proactive in your prayer life? John 10:27ESV
2 Corinthians 5:17–18ESV
1 Peter 5:7ESV
1 John 5:14–15ESV
Matthew 7:11ESV
2 Chronicles 7:14ESV
1 John 1:9ESV
Matthew 5:44ESV
Romans 8:26ESV
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18ESV
1 Timothy 2:8ESV
Luke 11:1ESV
Luke 11:2ESV
Luke 11:3ESV
Luke 11:4ESV
- Resurrection Power
Ephesians 6.10-11ESV
Ephesians 6.12-13ESV
Ephesians 6.14-16ESV
Ephesians 6.17-18ESV
Ephesians 6.19-20ESV
Red Bluff Bible Church
(530) 527-4688
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