Deepening Our Relationship with God Through Prayer

 

Summary

The sermon emphasizes the significance of prayer as a means to foster a deeper relationship with God, likening it to a conversation with a loved one. The speaker encourages expressing gratitude for God's blessings, including family, church, and the sacrifice of Jesus, while seeking forgiveness and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The importance of prayer extends beyond personal desires or informing God, as He is already omniscient. Instead, prayer is about not manipulating God but drawing closer to Him.

The speaker also highlights the role of the Holy Spirit's gifts, such as love, joy, peace, and self-control, in believers' lives. They express reliance on the Word of God, particularly the book of Ephesians, for overcoming worry by surrendering anxieties to God. The speaker declares victory over life's challenges through God's triumph and calls for prayer to be the first response in every situation, offering peace that surpasses understanding to those burdened with anxiety or fear.

The congregation is reminded of the power of Jesus' sacrifice, which allows them to be in God's presence, and the speaker expresses excitement about being a "House of Miracles." The service format is described as different from Sundays, with extended worship and scripture guidance, and an upcoming service with a special mission partner is teased.

The sermon underscores the necessity of having Jesus in one's life, regardless of challenges faced. Prayer is portrayed not as a means to receive things but as a way to grow closer to God. The congregation is encouraged to turn their worries into prayers, surrendering them to God to experience His wholeness and peace.

The speaker discusses the upcoming 21 days of prayer and fasting, with a focus on miraculous movements of God, gratitude, and resources like the "Pray First" app to aid in prayer. They express a commitment to daily prayer, referencing Philippians 4:6-7 to illustrate how prayer can alleviate anxiety, and emphasize the choice to pray instead of worry.

The sermon series "Pray First" is introduced, with 21 days of prayer starting September 11th, focusing on seeking God's voice. The speaker reflects on past prayers, realizing they were treating God as an errand boy, and emphasizes that prayer is about moving towards God, not getting Him to move towards us. The importance of replacing worry with prayer is reiterated, comparing it to fasting, where hunger prompts prayer, and encouraging praises to God rather than demands.

Key Takeaways:

- Prayer is a vehicle for deepening one's relationship with God, not a means to inform or manipulate Him. It is a conversation that should be filled with gratitude, worship, and the pursuit of God's will, rather than a list of personal requests. This approach to prayer fosters a more profound connection with the divine and aligns one's desires with God's purposes. [41:02]

- The gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as love, joy, and peace, are crucial for navigating life's challenges. By focusing on these gifts and the victory that God provides, believers can approach every situation with confidence and peace. Prayer should be the instinctive response to life's difficulties, offering a pathway to tranquility and a reminder of God's sovereignty. [01:01:38]

- Recognizing Jesus' sacrifice and the privilege of being in God's presence transforms the worship experience into a "House of Miracles." This awareness should inspire joy and a sense of anticipation during worship services, as believers come together to experience God's presence and learn from His Word. [33:19]

- Turning worries into prayers is a transformative practice that shifts focus from one's problems to God's greatness. This act of surrender allows believers to experience God's peace and wholeness, replacing anxiety with a sense of divine completeness. It is a conscious choice to trust in God's ability to handle any issue. [50:58]

- The "Pray First" initiative underscores the importance of seeking God's voice and aligning with His desires before presenting personal needs. Prayer is a journey towards God, an intentional act of seeking His presence and guidance. It is not about changing God's mind but about changing our position to be closer to Him. [35:58]

Study Guide

### Bible Reading

1. Matthew 21:22 (NIV)
"And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

2. James 4:8 (NIV)
"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

3. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

### Observation Questions

1. What conditions are mentioned in Matthew 21:22 for receiving what is asked in prayer?
2. What actions are suggested in James 4:8 as a way to draw closer to God?
3. According to Philippians 4:6-7, what should replace anxiety, and what is the promised result of presenting requests to God with thanksgiving?

### Interpretation Questions

1. How might the condition of belief, as mentioned in Matthew 21:22, affect the way one approaches prayer?
2. In what ways could the actions of washing hands and purifying hearts, as described in James 4:8, be symbolic of a deeper spiritual process?
3. Considering Philippians 4:6-7, what might be the relationship between thanksgiving in prayer and the peace of God that transcends understanding?

### Application Questions

1. Reflect on a recent prayer request. Did you fully believe in what you were asking for? How can you cultivate a stronger belief in your prayer life moving forward?
2. Identify a specific habit or thought pattern that may be distancing you from God. What is one concrete step you can take this week to "wash your hands" or "purify your heart" in this area?
3. Think of a situation that is currently causing you anxiety. What is a prayer of thanksgiving you can offer in this situation, and how can you remind yourself to do this every time anxiety arises?
4. When you next face a difficult decision or challenge, how can you make prayer your first response? Plan a specific time and place to do this.
5. Choose one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as love or peace. What is one way you can actively seek to demonstrate this gift in a challenging relationship or environment this week?

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer as Divine Dialogue
Prayer is not merely a list of requests but a conversation with God, filled with thanksgiving and a desire to know His will. It's an intimate exchange, where one opens their heart to God, expressing gratitude and seeking His guidance, much like a heartfelt talk with a close friend. This form of prayer strengthens the bond with the Creator and aligns one's heart with divine purposes. [41:02]

James 4:8 - "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: How can you make your daily prayer more like a conversation with God, focusing on relationship rather than requests?

Day 2: Embracing the Spirit's Gifts
The Holy Spirit bestows gifts such as love, joy, and peace, which are essential for overcoming life's hurdles. By embracing these gifts, one can face any situation with a sense of calm and assurance, knowing that victory comes through God. Prayer becomes a reflex, not just in times of need, but as a continual acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and provision. [01:01:38]

Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you need to cultivate more in your life, and how can you pray for God's help in this area?

Day 3: Worship as a Miracle House
Recognizing the power of Jesus' sacrifice transforms worship into a space where miracles are expected and God's presence is palpable. This realization brings joy and anticipation to the worship experience, as believers gather to encounter God and receive from His Word. Worship is not just a routine; it's a celebration of the divine presence among us. [33:19]

Hebrews 10:19-22 - "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings."
Reflection: How does the understanding of Jesus' sacrifice change your personal worship, and how can you carry that sense of God's presence into your daily life?

Day 4: Worry Transformed into Prayer
Turning worries into prayers is an act of surrender, shifting focus from personal struggles to God's omnipotence. This practice allows believers to lay down their burdens and receive God's peace, which fills the void left by anxiety with a sense of divine wholeness. It's a deliberate choice to trust in God's care over every aspect of life. [50:58]

1 Peter 5:7 - "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Reflection: What is one worry you can surrender to God today, and how can you remind yourself to turn to prayer whenever anxiety arises?

Day 5: Seeking God Before Self
The "Pray First" initiative encourages believers to seek God's voice and align with His desires before presenting personal needs. Prayer is a journey of drawing closer to God, seeking His presence and guidance above all else. It's a transformative process that changes the believer's heart, not God's mind. [35:58]

Jeremiah 29:12-13 - "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: How can you prioritize seeking God's presence and guidance in your daily prayers, rather than focusing on your own desires?

Quotes

"Turning our worries into prayer requests and before you know it, all the worry and stress and anxiety has become replaced by a sense of God's wholeness." [51:56]

"When you come into the presence of God everything else fades away and everything else just becomes smaller... like the Sears Tower next to an ant." [52:42]

"As big and as bad and as ugly as that problem you're facing right now is, if you put that thing next to God it should make you laugh because he's bigger." [53:19]

"When we pray, what we have to understand is that the relationship is more important than the answer. The relationship is what it's about." [57:21]

"Prayer isn't about getting stuff; it's about getting closer to God." [57:46]

"God is good all the time, and even when we don't understand it, even when we don't agree with it, we can trust in the goodness of God. So everything coming together for good, it will come and settle you down." [53:49]

"What happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life is what prayer is all about: replacing our worry with Jesus and getting our focus off of ourselves and onto Him." [55:33]

"Prayer is not about eloquence; it's about building a relationship with the Living God, just as we connect with our loved ones to know and understand them better." [58:55]

"Father that we would have a passion for prayer like never before that prayer would be our first response to every situation father before we talk about it before we think about it before we worry about it we're going to pray about it." [01:02:54]

"The purpose of prayer is actually not to get God to move towards you... it's not about getting God to leave heaven to come down to us, the purpose of prayer is actually to get us to move towards God." [44:21]