Aligning Prayer with God's Will and Glory
Summary
In our gathering today, we focused on the profound and sometimes perplexing nature of prayer, particularly the gap between what we believe God has promised and what we experience. We began by acknowledging the challenges and burdens we all carry, and the invitation from Jesus to find rest in Him. This rest is not just physical but spiritual, a deep assurance that God is with us, guiding and equipping us for the journey ahead.
We explored a story of a nurse who, through her interactions with a praying family, encountered the complexities of faith and unanswered prayers. This led us to reflect on the gap between our expectations and God's actions, a gap that can sometimes lead to a crisis of faith. We acknowledged that prayer is a mystery, yet it is a vital part of our relationship with God.
Our main focus was on understanding what it means to pray in Jesus' name. We delved into John 14, where Jesus promises that whatever we ask in His name, He will do. This promise is not a blank check for our desires but an invitation to align our prayers with God's will and purposes. We used an illustration to show that praying in Jesus' name means going to God on Jesus' behalf, with a heart aligned to His will, seeking His glory above all.
We also discussed the importance of praying for God's glory to be revealed in our lives. When our prayers are centered on God's glory, we can expect the Holy Spirit to empower us, leading to extraordinary outcomes that testify to God's power and love. This is the essence of closing the gap—aligning our prayers with God's will so that His glory is revealed through us.
Finally, we addressed the personal aspect of prayer, affirming that we can confidently bring our needs to God, trusting in His goodness and provision. We are encouraged to approach God's throne of grace with boldness, knowing that He cares for us and works all things for our good.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Mystery of Prayer: Prayer is a profound mystery that invites us into a deeper relationship with God. While we may not always understand how it works, we are called to trust in God's goodness and faithfulness, even when our prayers seem unanswered. This trust is rooted in the assurance that God is always working for our good and His glory. [25:46]
2. Praying in Jesus' Name: To pray in Jesus' name is to align our requests with His will and purposes. It is not a formula for getting what we want but a way to participate in God's work in the world. When we pray with a heart aligned to Jesus, seeking His glory, we can expect God to move powerfully in and through us. [40:47]
3. The Glory of God: Our ultimate purpose in prayer is to bring glory to God. This means revealing His character and power through our lives. When our prayers are focused on God's glory, we become vessels through which His love and power are displayed to the world. [47:13]
4. Confidence in God's Provision: We are invited to bring our needs to God with confidence, trusting that He hears and cares for us. While we may not always receive the answers we expect, we can be assured that God is working for our good and will provide what we truly need. [58:33]
5. Growing in Faithfulness: As we grow in our relationship with God, we are called to be faithful stewards of His gifts and opportunities. This means being attentive to His voice and willing to act in ways that bring Him glory. As we prove faithful in small things, God entrusts us with greater opportunities to reveal His love and power. [01:09:30]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[05:21] - Entering God's Rest
[20:00] - The Story of the Nurse
[23:11] - The Gap in Faith
[25:46] - Understanding Prayer
[27:52] - Exploring John 14
[28:55] - The Promise of Prayer
[29:58] - The Condition of "If"
[30:39] - Meaning of "In Jesus' Name"
[32:45] - Prayer and Faith
[34:41] - Whose Prayer Works?
[36:09] - Jesus' Exaltation
[37:54] - Illustration of Prayer
[40:47] - Relationship with Jesus
[42:28] - Sons of Sceva
[43:38] - Asking with Right Motives
[44:51] - Going on Jesus' Behalf
[45:47] - Knowing God's Will
[47:13] - Bringing Glory to God
[48:49] - Revealing God's Power
[51:30] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[52:48] - Peter's Example
[53:14] - Heaven's Invitation
[55:50] - Story of the Scottish Pastors
[57:32] - Trusting God's Timing
[58:33] - Personal Needs in Prayer
[59:45] - God's Goodness and Provision
[01:03:56] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
[01:08:38] - Speaking Rightly About Prayer
[01:09:30] - Growing in Faithfulness
[01:12:25] - Invitation to Return to Faith
[01:13:35] - Prayer for the Church
[01:14:51] - Final Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 14:12-14
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus promise in John 14:13-14 about asking in His name, and what is the purpose of this promise? [27:52]
2. How did the sermon illustrate the concept of praying in Jesus' name using the story of Walter and Sue? [38:34]
3. What was the nurse's reaction to the family's prayers, and how did it reflect a common struggle with faith and unanswered prayers? [20:00]
4. According to the sermon, what is the ultimate purpose of our prayers, as highlighted in John 14? [47:13]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the promise in John 14:13-14 challenge our understanding of prayer when our experiences don't match our expectations? [25:46]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that praying in Jesus' name is more than just a phrase we add to our prayers? [30:39]
3. How does the story of the nurse and the praying family illustrate the gap between our expectations and God's actions? [23:11]
4. What does it mean for our prayers to be centered on God's glory, and how might this change the way we approach prayer? [47:13]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt a gap between what you prayed for and what you experienced. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now? [23:11]
2. Consider your current prayer life. How often do you pray with the intention of aligning your requests with God's will and seeking His glory? What changes can you make to focus more on God's glory in your prayers? [47:13]
3. The sermon mentioned the importance of trusting God's timing. How can you cultivate patience and trust in God's timing in your current circumstances? [55:50]
4. Think about a specific need or burden you have. How can you bring this to God with confidence, trusting in His provision and goodness? [58:33]
5. How can you grow in your relationship with God to better understand His will and purposes, so that your prayers are more aligned with His desires? [45:47]
6. Reflect on the idea of being a faithful steward of God's gifts and opportunities. What is one small step you can take this week to be more attentive to God's voice and act in ways that bring Him glory? [01:09:30]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to pray with a focus on God's glory and align their prayers with His will? [51:30]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Trusting the Mystery of Prayer
Prayer is a profound mystery that invites us into a deeper relationship with God. While we may not always understand how it works, we are called to trust in God's goodness and faithfulness, even when our prayers seem unanswered. This trust is rooted in the assurance that God is always working for our good and His glory. In the face of unanswered prayers, it is essential to remember that God's perspective is far greater than ours, and His plans are always for our ultimate benefit. [25:46]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Think of a recent prayer that seemed unanswered. How can you trust in God's greater plan and goodness in this situation today?
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Day 2: Aligning with Jesus in Prayer
To pray in Jesus' name is to align our requests with His will and purposes. It is not a formula for getting what we want but a way to participate in God's work in the world. When we pray with a heart aligned to Jesus, seeking His glory, we can expect God to move powerfully in and through us. This alignment requires a deep relationship with Jesus, where our desires become His desires, and our prayers reflect His heart. [40:47]
1 John 5:14-15 (ESV): "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."
Reflection: Consider a prayer request you have. How can you align this request with Jesus' will and purposes today?
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Day 3: Revealing God's Glory through Prayer
Our ultimate purpose in prayer is to bring glory to God. This means revealing His character and power through our lives. When our prayers are focused on God's glory, we become vessels through which His love and power are displayed to the world. This focus shifts our perspective from self-centered requests to a desire to see God's name exalted in every situation. [47:13]
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (ESV): "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
Reflection: How can you shift your prayers today to focus more on God's glory rather than personal desires?
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Day 4: Confidence in God's Provision
We are invited to bring our needs to God with confidence, trusting that He hears and cares for us. While we may not always receive the answers we expect, we can be assured that God is working for our good and will provide what we truly need. This confidence is rooted in the understanding that God is a loving Father who delights in caring for His children. [58:33]
Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV): "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Reflection: What is one need you have today that you can confidently bring to God, trusting in His provision?
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Day 5: Growing in Faithfulness
As we grow in our relationship with God, we are called to be faithful stewards of His gifts and opportunities. This means being attentive to His voice and willing to act in ways that bring Him glory. As we prove faithful in small things, God entrusts us with greater opportunities to reveal His love and power. Faithfulness in prayer and action is a journey of continual growth and surrender. [01:09:30]
Luke 16:10 (ESV): "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."
Reflection: What small act of faithfulness can you commit to today that aligns with God's calling in your life?
Quotes
"If we're going to be honest, if we pray, which I believe everyone here in this room, it's going to apply to you and probably every single person listening, doesn't matter your age. We pray and we have this concept of what God said. But if we are honest, we have struggled with the fact that sometimes there's things that he said that we think, but we're not experiencing. And that causes people's faith to be shipwrecked." [00:23:58] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Do you know when you pray to God, you pray on the merit of Jesus. And based on your relationship with Jesus, that's what it means to go to God in Jesus' name. And in this specific text, what he was promising was that if, Jody, you would go in my name to the Father because of your relationship with him, you can ask for anything that is aligned with my will, that is anything that I am sending you for, and anything is possible because God is all the richest and he will cash the check every time when you go in my name because of me, not because of you." [00:41:36] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"What God is saying to us, in this text, is when you come and Jesus sends you to go to ask for anything that you're going on his behalf for that's going to bring glory to God, I'll do it. And you're going to do things that Jesus did and you're going to do even more amazing things because he's going to the Father. You'll be able to ask in his name so that the Son will be glorifying to the Father. That is what it's all about." [00:47:13] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"So in this text, we are talking about going on Jesus' behalf, in him, because of him, to the Father, asking for things that will bring glory to his name. That's what it's about. I can't ask him. We're going to get to that. But this text is about going on Jesus' behalf to then allow the work of God to be done in your life so that people see and know God. And do you know what happens when we do that? The Spirit backs it up with power." [00:49:59] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"God will always answer the prayer to bring glory to Jesus. That is the point. The gap is closed. That's what that scripture is talking about, that we would be able to do things that would bring glory to Jesus. So ask and he'll do it. Amen? Amen." [00:57:09] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"The same, the same, the same point about Jesus being the exalted king. In Hebrews 4, it says, we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus, the son of God. Okay? So Jesus is interceding for us. He's praying for us. He is the exalted king and Lord of all. Let us hold firmly to the faith we possess. For we don't have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness." [00:58:06] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"This scripture means that I get to go to God in every single situation, and I can have 100. close the gap confidence that he will answer for my good that he will give me what i need that he is my provision my daily bread he's my living water he will comfort me listen to me care about me heal me he is working for my good i always know that church the problem happens when we get mixed up with understanding what he said about prayer when i go to him asking him on my behalf for my needs i just don't demand i do what jesus did look what jesus did in the garden that's my final point that i want to make jesus knew what he came for and he went to the father and he said if it's possible what did he say if it's possible let this cup pass from me i don't want to have to do this but then it's what he said next nevertheless not my will but your be done yours be done when jesus taught him his people to pray he said pray father keep your name holy may your kingdom come see jesus had his priorities always right it was that god be glorified in everything we want god to be glorified in every situation no matter what i'm going through no matter what my problem with my relationships or my finances or things i want to say god be glorified he will say yes to that he will always work for my good but he will always listen so i hope today that as you go forward and have situations where god doesn't seem to answer the prayer that we prayed in faith or god doesn't seem to be coming through according to his word you will always always rest on this if god said it i believe it and that settles it and when it doesn't make sense or line up i'm gonna dig dig dig into the word and god will close the gap and he'll reveal himself but church i think we need to change our hearts a little bit it's not that i'm minimizing our needs we have needs you heard me say that we go to him right don't hear what i'm not saying today go with your needs but i wonder if you were to think about the percentage of your prayers how many of your prayers are really that god's glory would be demonstrated through the situations of our lives worship team come" [01:01:01] (154 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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