"I will run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free" - Psalm 119:32 (NIV)

Mark 1: A Disciple loves God passionately…

Mark 2: A Disciple loves the Word of God… Mark 2: A Disciple loves the Word of God… Which leads to freedom from religion and the rules of men Homework Last Week- Psalm 19 and 119

"I will run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free" - Psalm 119:32 (NIV)

When has God Answered Prayer?

God wants more for us Than we want for us God wants to do more in this Valley Than is currently being done

What would God do That he has not done If his people prayed?

Mark 3: A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life

Mark 3: A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life One that: Informs

Mark 3: A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life One that: Informs Transforms

Mark 3: A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life One that: Informs Transforms Empowers

Mark 3: A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life One that: Informs Transforms Empowers Works Miracles

Mark 3: A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life One that: Informs Transforms Empowers Works Miracles Changes Lives

I don't I fall far short

Jesus|Prayed … Jesus|Prayed …great crowds gathered to hear him… Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed- Luke 5:15-16

Jesus|Prayed … Jesus|Prayed …great crowds gathered to hear him… Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed- Luke 5:16 Greater spiritual output= More time alone in prayer

Jesus|Prayed The busier he got The more he prayed

Jesus|Prayed " Jesus|Prayed "Dear Me, I pray to Me that I might have a good day as I heal people in My Name…"

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant… Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant… - Philippians 2 Kenosis- Ultimate Servant Changes our understanding of the cross

Without him we can do nothing…

Kenosis= Like Us! "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing" - John 5:19

Kenosis= Like Us! "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing" - John 5:19 So Jesus prays! - Hard, Regularly, as a Way of Life

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them - Luke 6:12-13

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them - Luke 6:12-13 Bigger the Decision= More Time Spent in Prayer

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed Big Decisions=??

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed Jesus…took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray Communally, to Teach through Example

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor - Luke 9:28-31 Teach through Example= Transfiguration

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed Prayer= Miracles

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out” - John 11:41-43

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed Banner Prayers to Kindle Faith

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” - Matthew 26:39 When struggling with obedience

He became obedient to death, even death on the cross Jesus struggled with the Father in Prayer He became obedient to death, even death on the cross - Phil. 2 When struggling with obedience Jesus struggled with the Father in Prayer

Jesus|Prayed Jesus|Prayed When I struggle with following God= Prayer?

Jesus|Prayed One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray” - Luke 11 Prayer that does nothing Doesn't spawn a desire for imitation

Jesus|Prayed Alone o Jesus|Prayed Alone often With others Around others

Mark 3: A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life That: Informs Transforms Empowers Works Miracles Changes Lives

Prayer for you is either cold comfort Or world-changing Dialogue with God

Prayer is either cold comfort Or world-changing Dialogue with God Is it ritual? Is it repetition? Is it because I have to? Is it only when I have a need?

World-changing Dialogue with God - Does it cause me to take action and exercise faith? - Does it change me and others? - Does it give me wisdom? World-changing Dialogue with God - Does it cause me to take action and exercise faith? - Does it change me and others? - Does it give me wisdom? - Does it glorify God? - Does it work miracles?

Why bother to pray? Why bother to pray? …for your Father knows what you need before you ask him - Matthew 6:8

Water-gun Prayers Water-gun Prayers “…when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. Motive Matters

BFG Firepower Prayers BFG Firepower Prayers “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Why bother to pray? Why bother to pray? Your Father…will reward you Answered Prayer

Water-gun Prayers Water-gun Prayers And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him - Matthew 6:5-8 My view of God and my works vs. His grace

Why bother to pray? Why bother to pray? Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full - John 16:24 Receiving brings Joy God wants his people to have FULL joy

Ask, and you will receive… It's OK to pray for yourself and your needs! (It's not OK not to- Jesus is the sacrifice, not us)

Why bother to pray? Why bother to pray? You do not have, because you do not ask God - James 4:2 Because if I don't ask, I won't have

You do not have, because you do not ask God - James 4:2 God invites and directs us to ask Him

God invites and directs us to ask Him Why? Recognizes God is the source Changes what we ask for Checks our motives at the door Gives us joy

If I can't ask God for it That's a great indicator That it's something I don't need

Mark 3: A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life It directs my desires And helps form me as a disciple

Why bother to pray? Why bother to pray? This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask— we know that we have what we asked of him - 1 John 5:14-15

Why bother? Why bother? Prayer lines us up with his will Prayer can do anything God can do

MOUNTAIN DO (and other hyperboles) Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Eyes, Hands and Horses

MOUNTAIN DO (and other hyperboles) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours

Prayer moves the hand of God

Water-gun Prayers Become BFG Firepower Prayers Water-gun Prayers Become BFG Firepower Prayers And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins - Mark 11:22-26

ater-gun? What Makes Prayer as Powerless as a Water-gun? Unforgiveness (Matt. 6:15) Willful, unconfessed sin (Psalm 66:18) Lack of faith (James 1:6-7) Wrong motives (James 4:3) How you treat your spouse (1 Peter 3:7)

What Makes Prayer BFG World-Changing? Based on Scripture (1 John 5:14) Continual and Persistent (Luke 18:1) In Faith (Mark 11:24) To Glorify God (Matthew 5:16, John 8:29) In agreement with others (Matt. 18:19-20)

Mark 3: A Disciple has a deep, dominant prayer life That: Informs Transforms Empowers Works Miracles Changes Lives

Mark 3: Sharpen Your Axe

What a man is on his knees before God, that he is, and nothing more - Robert Murray McCheyne

Homework! Pray through the Book of Ephesians this week Pray for Greater Things! Expect God to direct you and to work in and through you as you pray