A Powerful Prayer | 3-16-25
Sunday, March 16
A Powerful Prayer, Participant Notes
WHAT WE’RE GOING TO LEARN TODAY:
- How to pray prayers that have an eternal impact.
- 3 essentials to developing a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:16b-17, “…I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight, so that you may know Him better.”
FOR OUR PRAYERS TO HAVE ETERNAL (Lasting) IMPACT WE MUST LEARN TO:
- ___________ Asking!
Matthew 7:7-11, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
9“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
Parables Where Jesus Teaches Us To Keep Asking:
Luke 11:5-8
Luke 18:1-8
Soren Kirkegaard, “Prayer Does Not Change God, But It Changes The Person Who Prays.”
- Clearly Picture __________ You’re Praying To!
Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, Who Art In Heaven…”
Ephesians 1:17, “The God of Jesus, The Glorious Father…”
- Just Like God Worked In Jesus Life—He’s Going To Work In Your Life!
- Miraculous Things Can Happen In And Through My Life—When I’m Insync With God!
- You Have To Know ____________ You’re Praying For!
- I Must Know What To Pray For—That Will Cause My Prayers To Be More Powerful And Effective.
Learn to pray in Specific Ways for people to know Jesus better.
Ephesians 1:17b, “…I pray that you would know Him better.”
- To know Him personally is salvation—becoming a child of God.
- To know Him increasingly is sanctification—growing in relationship and becoming like Jesus in character and life.
- To know Him perfectly is glorification—in heaven Jesus will glorify us and make us perfect.
How Do I Pray For People To Increasingly Know Jesus Better?
- Pray for God’s Spirit to give us _______________.
- Isaiah 11:2 tells about the 6 fold ministry of the Spirit.
Isaiah 11:2-3a, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him (Jesus)—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.”
- Pray for God to reveal to Christians what they ____________________________.
“As Paul prays, he does not ask God to give us what we do not have. He asks God to reveal to us what we already have!” Warren Wiersby
- Pray for God to reveal what I and others need to change.
- Is there something in your life—that needs changed—for your prayers to get answered?
- In God’s wisdom and love—God always says no, grow, slow or go!
Matthew 7:7-11, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (NLT)
- When We Understand Jesus Will Always Do What’s BEST For Us—That Helps Us Understand His Answers To Our Prayers—And Makes Our Prayers More Powerful!
ENDING QUESTION:
What Do I Need To Apply Or Change—For A More Powerful And Effective Prayer Life?