1. Facts for Faithful Followers
Basic truths (‘doctrines’) that every Christian should know!

2. Last Week’s Memory Verse
““The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth …. He is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.
Acts chapter 17 verses 24-25

3. Facts for Faithful Followers
Prayer

4. This week’s Memory Verse
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”
Hebrews chapter 4 verse 16

5. Prayer = A.C.T.S. Prayer is personal communication from us to God.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Prayer is personal communication from us to God.
We can use the acronym “A.C.T.S”:
Adoration of God e.g. Deuteronomy 6:5; Psalm 9:2
Confession of our sins to God e.g. Psalm 32:5; James 4:8-10
Giving our Thanks to God e.g. Psalm 28:7
Making our requests to God (Supplication) e.g. Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High
Come near to God and he will come near to you … purify your hearts … grieve, mourn and wail … Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

6. Why Pray? To survive – Matthew 14:23, John 16:24, Jonah 2:7
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
To survive – Matthew 14:23, John 16:24, Jonah 2:7
It’s commanded – 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, Philippians 4:6
To get what we need (but maybe not what we want) – Philippians 1:19, Matthew 6:11, 1 Chronicles 28:9; Matthew 6:8; Matthew 21:22
To get what God wants – Matthew 9:37-38, Ephesians 6:12 &18
To develop – Matthew 6:10
trust in God – understanding of God,
identification with his ways
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
Through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.
Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

7. Prayer is effective We are to ask, and we will receive – Luke 11:9-10.
There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5
We are to ask, and we will receive – Luke 11:9-10.
It’s because we don’t ask, or because we ask with wrong motives, that we don’t get – James 4:2-3.
When we ask in the right way, God responds because we’ve asked – Exodus 32:12-14.
The greatest example of this is when we ask for forgiveness – 1 John 1:9.
It’s right and good to make requests, even if not God’s will, if we ask in the right way.
See the example of Christ himself – Luke 22:42.
God doesn’t answer because we’ve asked, but because Christ has asked – 1 Timothy 2:5; John 14:6; Matthew 10:33.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-10
You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:2-3
‘Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance for ever.”’ Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. Exodus 32:12-14
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. Luke 22:42

8. 4 Aspects of a Prayerful Attitude
In a spirit of worship – Colossians 3:15-17.
In a spirit of repentance – Psalm 66:18 – and confession – Psalm 32:5 – but not sinless
In humility – 2 Chronicles 7:14.
In accordance with his will – John 15:7.

9. 4 Aspects of a Prayerful Attitude
more
4 Aspects of a Prayerful Attitude
In belief & confidence that God hears & has answered – Hebrews 11:6, James 1:6 & 5:14-15, Mark 11:24.
Patiently – Psalm 46:10.
Thankfully – 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Living righteously – 1 John 3:22.

10. All heaven waits with bated breath, for saints on earth to pray.
Majestic angels ready stand
with swords of fiery blade.
Astounding power awaits a word
from God’s resplendent throne.
But God awaits our prayer of faith
that cries ‘Your will be done.’

11. Awake, O church, arise and pray; complaining words discard.
The Spirit comes to fill your mouth
with truth, His mighty sword.
Go place your feet on Satan’s ground
and there proclaim Christ’s name,
in step with heaven’s armies march
to conquer and to reign!

12. Now in our hearts and on our lips the word of faith is near,
let heaven’s will on earth be done,
let heaven flow from here.
Come blend your prayers with Jesus’ own
before the Father’s throne,
and as the incense clouds ascend
God’s holy fire rains down.

13. Soon comes the day when with a shout King Jesus shall appear,
and with Him all the church,
from every age, shall fill the air.
The brightness of His coming shall
consume the lawless one,
as with a word the breath of God
tears down his rebel throne.

14. One body here, by heaven inspired, we seek prophetic power;
in Christ agreed, one heart and voice,
to speak this day, this hour,
in every place where chaos rules
and evil forces brood;
let Jesus’ voice speak like the roar
of a great multitude.
Graham Kendrick & Chris Rolinson.
Copyright © 1986 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music.
CCL Licence number:

15. over to Dave …..

16. Question Time ! Why does God want you to pray?
What benefits of prayer can you identify from your own experiences?
“I struggle with praying”... How can you re-ignite your prayer life?
Is there a particular prayer in the Bible that has helped you in praying?
How do you go about preparing to spend a specific time praying?

17. Prayer Time ! Thank God for the privilege of communicating with him.
For God's Spirit to be evident in our Church Prayer Meeting.
For the planned Week of Prayer at Church (29th March – 4th April).
For help in our personal prayer lives.
Pray for each other in the group.
Pray the Lord's Prayer together.

18. This week’s Memory Verse
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”
Hebrews chapter 4 verse 16

19. Take Home!
Read Psalm 51 and pray some of those verses in your own way. Perhaps like this:
Monday – v1-5 – confession & prayer for mercy
Tuesday – v6-10 – for cleaning & restoration
Wednesday – v11-12 – for a renewed sense of God
Thursday – v13-15 – for desire to praise & proclaim him
Friday – v16-17 & 19 – for a humble worshipping spirit
Saturday – v18 – for the church

20. Facts for Faithful Followers
Next time …… …… The Trinity