Our Prayer As Worship

Intro.

Jesus gave a parable about the importance of prayer Luke 18:1-8 (read)

A. The faith He refers to alludes directly to the need for prayer.

1) Do we believe that God will not only hear, but also answer our prayers?

2) Are we persistent in prayer?

B. We know the importance of prayer individually:

1) "Pray without ceasing.." 1 Thess. 5:17

2) "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with {an attitude of thanksgiving..." Col 4:2

C. But what about our "corporate prayer?

1) No doubt we are to pray as a group of believers.

a. Acts 1:14, 2:42, 4:31 (read)

b. Togetherness (one mind) is important for a church!

2) Knowing we should pray when we assemble, what are some elements our prayer should contain?

I. Our prayer should be understandable

A. Paul exhorted the spiritually gifted church to do things orderly

1) "All things must be done properly and in an orderly manner." 1 Cor 14:40

B. He chided them for using tongues for "show"

1) Their use of these gifts actually hindered their worship.

2) 1 Cor. 14:12-16, 33 (read)

C. The one who leads us in prayer must remember that he's speaking for all of us.

1) "Prepared" prayers are good idea.

2) The "stained glass" prayers do us no good if we cannot agree with them and say "Amen!"

3) Our prayer is as much a joint participation (communion) as anything we do here.

II. HOW should we pray?

A. Realizing our dependence on & reverence for God.

1) When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He emphasized our need of God.

2) Matt. 6:9-13 (read)

a. God is our Father, King, provider, and leader.

b. He has ALL power.

3) We must be willing to submit to His power

a. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

b. There is great blessing in this!

B. According to His will

1) God is not a cosmic vending machine, yet He still desires to give us that which we need.

a. Matt. 7:7-11 (read)

2) Yet too often we want things OUR way!

a. James 4:1-8 (read)

b. "This is the confidence we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." 1 John 5:14

3) Too often we fail to see the hindrances to our prayer.

a. 1 Ptr. 3:7 (read)

1. Who would have thunk?

b. Psalm 66:18, 34:15 (read)

1. We should not think we are so righteous that we are completely unaffected by the world.

4) God seeks worshipers with spirits attuned to Him.

a. 1 Tim. 2:8 (read)

b. What James meant when he said, "Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double- minded." James 4:8

III. For what or whom should we pray?

A. For wisdom and understanding

1) Col. 1:9-10 (read)

a. If Paul knew they needed it, how much more do we?

b. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.." James 1:5

B. For the lost

1) Rom. 10:1-3 (read)

a. Paul loved his countrymen, though they were lost.

1. Rom. 9:1-3 (read)

b. W/O truth, the knowledge of God, so many "religious" people will be lost!

C. For the saved

1) Eph. 6:18 (read)

2) When they are in trouble a. Acts 12:5, 12 (read)

3) When they stray

a. James 5:13-16, 19-20 (read)

b. That prayer must be turned into action

1. "If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one on a spirit of gentleness.." Gal. 6:1

D. For preachers

1) Eph. 6:19 (read)

2) That they'll be bold & righteous

a. "Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things." Heb 13:18

b. One day a little girl, about five years old, heard a ranting preacher praying most lustily, till the roof rang with the strength of his supplication. Turning to her mother, and beckoning the maternal ear down to a speaking-place, she whispered: "Mother, don't you think that if he lived nearer to God he wouldn't have to talk so loud?"

E. For our leadership

1) 1 Tim. 2:1-3 (read)

2) Complain when they make bad decisions, protest when they are corrupt, but ALWAYS pray!

Conc.

We must realize the need for and importance of prayer if we are to develop into a strong church.

A. God's true people have always been a PRAYING people.

B. Let us begin with a prayer for those who need help in restoring a stronger relationship with Him.

by Zeke Flores

Return to the Sermon Outlines page

Home / Bible studies / Bible Survey / Special Studies / General Articles / Non-Bible Articles / Sermons / Sermon Outlines / Links / Questions and Answers / What Saith The Scriptures /Daily Devotional / Correspondence Courses / What is the Church of Christ / Book: Christian Growth / Website Policy / E-mail / About Me /