65 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
65 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
Title: necessary steps to a true prayer
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Think about question: how do prayer and faith work together.
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Pray
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We get to pray with God--a one-on-one conversation. It's a privilege that we are able to talk to God. Prayers don't have to sound perfect, but in faith and trust in God.
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Why are prayers difficult?
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Are my priorities out of order?
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Am I spiritually dry?
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If you answered yes, trust Jesus--he wants to guide and answer our prayers.
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Start to worry about the words and what others are thinking.
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Example: went to collegiate day of prayer. Wanted to have a sincere prayer. I ripped my pants. Distracted me constantly in my mind.
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Couple of other distractions: when got into group, room was loud, multiple people praying. Decided to pray when room was quiet--actually prayed over soft-spoken girl! Felt bad and embarrassed. God was listening to us both. God heard both, praying over each other didn't cancel each other out.
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Ps 100:45 - no limit to God's understanding that He hears all prayers, all over the earth, all at the same time
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Hebrew 10:19-25
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Meant to encourage us and a stern warning.
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Heb 10:22 - let us draw near w/ sincere heart, full assurance of faith,
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Context - old covenant would not take away sin
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NT is God and the follower of Christ
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Main teaching of Heb 10 is that animal sacrifices would not take away sin--foreshadowing the perfect sacrifice of Christ
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Now an offering is not required. Doesn't mean we don't do anything. We have to take the initiative in asking forgiveness for sin.
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Now that we know Jesus has paved the way, we can draw near.
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Five things are part of drawing near.
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1. Let us draw near
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1. To whom: God
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2. How: all parts of worship, conversations, how would you?
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2. A true heart
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1. Without hypocrisy
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2. Embodies the truth, believing the gospel is true
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3. Full assurance of faith and salvation
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4. Towards: God, selves, others
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5. Jer. 17:9 - heart deceitful, we can't pray with a deceitful heart, a true heart is one given up to God
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6. Matt 6:10 - Jesus gave a true prayer, God's will be done on earth as in heaven
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7. Praying for his will
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3. A full assurance of faith
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1. Do doubt to our acceptance in God
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2. Sometimes we have doubt--God understands because we are human
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3. Fully trust that God forgives out sins and Christ was that sacrifice
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4. Having hearts sprinkled from evil conscience
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1. First glance: not knowing what it meant
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2. Sprinkled from: hearts need to be cleansed
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3. Indicates consistent character and dedicated to God
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4. Evil conscience: murder mystery-type shows and how the murderer has an evil conscience, but this is extreme! But we all have it, just a guilty conscience from sin
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5. When we confess, God cleanses our heart
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5. Our bodies washed with pure water
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1. Our outward body, is the outward man, the flesh
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2. No longer condemned as bodies are washed clean
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When we draw near, we need to ask for forgiveness in trust in God.
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Back to original question: how do prayer and faith work together? Simple: cannot have true prayer without faith. We pray because we know we are not self-sufficient.
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Quote from John Bunyan: A sincere, sensible and affection pouring out of the heart and soul through Christ. |