Connecting with God: The Power of Prayer
Summary
In today's message, I wanted to convey the simplicity and importance of prayer, especially for the children among us. Prayer is like speaking on a phone; you don't start talking until you know the other person is listening. Similarly, in prayer, it's crucial to ensure that God is listening before you begin. This assurance comes from having a clear line of communication with God, which is often hindered by sin or a wrong attitude in our hearts. Psalm 66:18 reminds us that if we harbor sin in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us. Therefore, it's essential to maintain a pure heart, free from malice or ill will towards others, to ensure our prayers reach God.
Moreover, prayer is akin to offering a gift to God. Before presenting this offering, we must reconcile with those we have wronged. Matthew 5:23-24 teaches us to seek forgiveness from those we have offended before approaching God in prayer. This act of reconciliation keeps our communication line with God open and clear. Just as we are diligent in ensuring our phones are connected, we must be equally vigilant in maintaining our spiritual connection with God.
Faith is another critical component of prayer. Once we have ensured our hearts are pure and our relationships are reconciled, we must believe that God is listening. This faith assures us that God will answer our prayers, perhaps not in the way we expect, but in a way that is ultimately better. James 5:16 emphasizes that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. By keeping our hearts clear and our faith strong, we can be confident that our prayers will accomplish much.
Key Takeaways:
- Prayer requires a clear line of communication with God, free from sin and malice. Just as we ensure our phones are connected before making a call, we must ensure our hearts are pure before praying. This purity allows us to be confident that God is listening. [01:48]
- Reconciliation is crucial before prayer. If we have wronged someone, we must seek their forgiveness to maintain an open line with God. This act of humility and responsibility ensures our prayers are not hindered. [10:19]
- Faith is essential in prayer. Once we have cleared our hearts and reconciled with others, we must believe that God is listening and will answer our prayers in the best way possible. [13:09]
- The power of a righteous person's prayer is immense. By maintaining a clear conscience and a pure heart, our prayers can accomplish tremendous things, as exemplified by Elijah's one-minute prayer that brought fire from heaven. [14:21]
- Constant vigilance in our speech and actions is necessary to keep our communication with God clear. By being careful with our words and seeking forgiveness when needed, we ensure that our prayers are effective and our relationship with God remains strong. [12:24]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - Prayer as a Phone Call
[01:11] - Importance of Knowing God is Listening
[02:06] - God's Answers are Better
[03:10] - Morning Prayer Habit
[03:44] - Sin in the Heart Blocks Prayer
[04:45] - Attitude Towards Others
[05:37] - Confession and Cleansing
[06:59] - Preaching on Sin and Prayer
[09:12] - Prayer as an Offering
[10:19] - Reconciliation Before Prayer
[11:41] - Keeping Communication Open
[12:24] - Guarding Our Speech
[13:09] - Faith in Prayer
[14:21] - Power of a Righteous Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 66:18 - "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."
2. Matthew 5:23-24 - "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."
3. James 5:16 - "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Psalm 66:18, what is the consequence of harboring sin in one's heart when praying? How does this relate to the sermon’s analogy of ensuring a clear phone connection before speaking? [03:44]
2. In Matthew 5:23-24, what steps are outlined for someone who remembers they have wronged another before offering a gift to God? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on reconciliation before prayer? [10:19]
3. How does James 5:16 describe the prayer of a righteous person? What example from the sermon illustrates the power of such a prayer? [14:21]
4. What analogy does the sermon use to describe the importance of ensuring God is listening before we start praying? How does this analogy help in understanding the process of prayer? [00:22]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might harboring sin in one's heart prevent God from hearing prayers, according to the sermon and Psalm 66:18? How does this understanding affect one's approach to prayer? [03:44]
2. How does the act of reconciliation, as described in Matthew 5:23-24, maintain an open line of communication with God? What does this suggest about the relationship between human relationships and spiritual practices? [10:19]
3. In what ways does faith play a role in ensuring that God hears and answers prayers, as discussed in the sermon? How does this relate to the concept of a "clear line of communication" with God? [13:09]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the power of a righteous person's prayer through the example of Elijah? What does this example teach about the potential impact of prayer? [14:21]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current prayer life. Are there any attitudes or sins you need to address to ensure a clear line of communication with God? How can you begin to address these issues this week? [03:44]
2. Think of a relationship in your life that may need reconciliation. What steps can you take to seek forgiveness or offer it, in line with Matthew 5:23-24? How might this improve your spiritual connection with God? [10:19]
3. Consider a recent situation where you prayed with doubt. How can you strengthen your faith to believe that God is listening and will answer in the best way possible? What practical steps can you take to build this faith? [13:09]
4. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to be more vigilant with your words and actions. How can you practice being more careful in your speech to maintain a clear communication line with God? [12:24]
5. Reflect on a time when you felt your prayers were not being heard. What changes can you make in your prayer habits to ensure they are more effective and aligned with God’s will? [05:14]
6. How can you incorporate a habit of morning prayer, as suggested in the sermon, to start your day with a clear conscience and a focus on pleasing God? What might this look like in your daily routine? [03:10]
7. Think of a person who has wronged you. How can you release any desire for revenge or ill will towards them, trusting God to be the judge? What prayer can you say to help you let go of these feelings? [07:37]
Devotional
Day 1: Purity in Prayer
Prayer requires a clear line of communication with God, free from sin and malice. Just as we ensure our phones are connected before making a call, we must ensure our hearts are pure before praying. This purity allows us to be confident that God is listening. [01:48]
"If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." (Psalm 66:18, ESV)
Reflection: Is there any sin or negative attitude in your heart that might be hindering your prayers? How can you address this today to ensure a clear line of communication with God?
Day 2: Reconciliation Before Prayer
Reconciliation is crucial before prayer. If we have wronged someone, we must seek their forgiveness to maintain an open line with God. This act of humility and responsibility ensures our prayers are not hindered. [10:19]
"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: Is there someone you need to reconcile with today? How can you take the first step towards seeking forgiveness and restoring that relationship?
Day 3: Faith in God's Listening
Faith is essential in prayer. Once we have cleared our hearts and reconciled with others, we must believe that God is listening and will answer our prayers in the best way possible. [13:09]
"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." (Matthew 21:22, ESV)
Reflection: Do you truly believe that God hears your prayers and will answer them in His perfect way? How can you strengthen your faith in His listening today?
Day 4: The Power of Righteous Prayer
The power of a righteous person's prayer is immense. By maintaining a clear conscience and a pure heart, our prayers can accomplish tremendous things, as exemplified by Elijah's one-minute prayer that brought fire from heaven. [14:21]
"The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16b, ESV)
Reflection: How can you strive to live a more righteous life today, knowing that your prayers have the potential to accomplish great things?
Day 5: Vigilance in Communication
Constant vigilance in our speech and actions is necessary to keep our communication with God clear. By being careful with our words and seeking forgiveness when needed, we ensure that our prayers are effective and our relationship with God remains strong. [12:24]
"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" (Psalm 141:3, ESV)
Reflection: Are there areas in your speech or actions where you need to be more vigilant? How can you practice greater mindfulness in your communication with others and with God today?
Quotes
Prayer is like speaking on a phone, and you children have all seen your parents speaking on a phone. If you see how they begin that conversation, they will click on a name or put a number there, and then it'll ring, and they don't start speaking. They start speaking only when the other person has come online. [00:00:22]
The most important thing in prayer, please remember, there's one more thing and that is Faith, but this is the most important thing to know that God is listening. Because once you're sure that God is listening, you can be absolutely sure he's made a record of your prayer, and then you can be absolutely sure that he will answer. [00:01:48]
If I regard sin in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Very clear, he will not. So it's not what you do, it's what you think in your heart. In your heart, if you're thinking something bad about somebody else, or you're very critical of someone, it's none of your business. [00:03:44]
Make sure that in your heart when you pray today and always, there is no wrong attitude towards anyone, because that will break the line. Connection with God is gone. You can keep on praise like little children sometimes pick up a phone and keep on saying hello, hello, and say a lot of things and nobody's at the other end. [00:04:45]
If you want to pray, make sure you don't allow any sin to be in your heart. That's why I say, as soon as you're aware of some sin in your heart, immediately confess it and cleanse it in the blood of Jesus. It doesn't take long, not even one second, gone. Then you pray. [00:06:07]
Prayer is like making an offering to God. I'm offering a prayer to God. So here it says how to make an offering, Matthew 5:23. When you're presenting your offering, that is your prayer now at God In God's Presence, those days it was an altar, and there now as you're about to pray, you remember. [00:09:12]
You've got to be reconciled to your brother. You've got to go to that person and say, hey I'm sorry for what I did or said to you, please forgive me, sorry for having hurt you, or whatever you did, then come. So that's being reconciled means okay, you've told now whether he forgives you or not is none of your business. [00:10:19]
Determine that you will ask forgiveness and settle the matter immediately so that your line of communication with God is open all the time. How careful we are to make sure that our phones are always connected to the phone company's lines. You're disturbed because you may suddenly want to make a phone call. [00:11:41]
For that you must be very careful about your speech. So often we say things which we should not have said. In future you say Lord help me to be more guarded in what I say, so that I don't sin, and I don't hurt people. I want to be careful because a lot of the things. [00:12:24]
Faith is to believe that when the line is clear, according to these conditions I just mentioned, God definitely picks up the phone, and even though you can't see the person at the other end of the phone line, yes you know he's listening. So God is listening. It's one of the most important things I want in my life. [00:13:09]
The prayer of a righteous person can accomplish it tremendous Lord James 5:16. The righteous person is the you can be one of those righteous person you you children can be righteous people, your prayer can accomplish a tremendous lot. The righteous person is the person who's got nothing between him and God. [00:14:21]
Let's learn to pray with the clear conscience always. [00:14:49]
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