Matthew 7:7-11
I. What: prayer is asking, seeking and knocking
A. Asking and receiving - prayer according to the revealed will of God I John 5:14, 15
B. Seeking and finding - prayer according to the unrevealed will of God Jeremiah 29:12, 13 and Psalm 27:8
C. Knocking and opening - tenacious prayer, Matthew 17:14-21 (when God's will and your way is blocked by an obstacle)
II. Why: why should we pray?
A. Prayer is a command Luke 18:1, I Thes. 5:17
B. Jesus is our example throughout the NT
C. Prayers gets things from God, James 4:2
D. Brings joy, John 16:24
E. Delivers from troubles, Ps. 34:6
F. Brings wisdom, James 1:5
G. Sin not to pray, I Samuel 12:23 Pastor Bruce D. Cummons - "the greatest sin today in the ministry is prayerlessness".
H. Saves from Temptation, Matt. 26:41
III. How: how to pray
A. To God the Father in Jesus' Name, John 14:13, 14, by the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:26, 27; Jude 1:20
B. For God's will, Matt. 26:39
C. Daily needs
D. Forgiveness
E. Deliverance from evil
F. In faith, James 1:6-8
IV. Where: where to pray, Acts 12:5
A. In the assembly, Acts 1:13, 14 and Acts 2:42-47
B. In the closet, Matthew 6:6
V. Hindrances to prayer
A. I Peter 3:7, bad relationship with spouse
B. Selfishness, James 4:3
C. Unforgiving spirit, Matthew 5:22, 24
D. Unbelief, James 1:6-8
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