Authority Col 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Authority Based on three principles: Direct Command Approved (Apostolic) Example Necessary Inference

Direct Command Matthew 5:44 Eph 6:18 Eph 6:19 Phill 4:6 Col 4:2 1 Thess 5:17 2 Thess 3:1 1 Timothy 2:1 1 Timothy 2:8 James 5:13 - 16 Matthew 5:44 - pray for those who persecute you, Eph 6:18 – Pray at all times Eph 6:19 – Pray on my behalf Phill 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by (B)prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Col 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving 1 Thess 5:17 – pray without ceasing 2 Thess 3:1 – Paul asks them to pray for us. 1 Timothy 2:1 – Pray for all men 1 Timothy 2:8 – all Men should pray James 5:13 – 16 – The prayer of the righteous accomplishes much

Approved Example Matthew 6:9 – Jesus teaching the disciples how to pray Matthew 14:23 – Jesus goes to the mountain to pray Matthew 26:36 – Garden of Gethsemane Acts 2:42 – 1st Century Church Acts 9:11 – Saul of Tarsis praying

Key Terms Prayer – Supplication – Earnest communication with God. To petition, to entreat, to beg

Why we pray Overcome Adversity Matt 26:36 – 44 Acts 16: 25 Matthew 26:36- 44 - The garden of Gethsemsane v. 38 - My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and (E)keep watch with Me."  39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let (F)this cup pass from Me; (G)yet not as I will, but as You will." Acts 16:25 – Paul and Silas in prison 25But about midnight (A)Paul and Silas were praying and (B)singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

Why we pray Overcome Adversity Give us Strength Luke 21 Luke 21:34 ff Jesus prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and foretells the establishment of his kingdom which in vs. 32 we see that many of those present would be a witness to the fulfillment oh his prophecy. Luke 21:34 ff 34:Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."  

Why we pray Overcome Adversity Give us Strength For those in Danger Acts 12:5 2 Cor 1:11 For those in Danger Acts 12:5 – 5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. 2 Cor 1:11 11you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.

Why we pray Overcome Adversity Give us Strength For those in Danger Heal the sick James 5: 13 – 15 James 5: - 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.  14Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;  and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

Why we pray Overcome Adversity Give us Strength For those in danger Heal the Sick Avoid temptation Mark 14:38 To avoid temptation Mark 14:38 - Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.“

Why we pray Overcome Adversity Give us Strength For those in danger Heal the Sick Avoid temptation A trait of the righteous Acts 10:2 Romans 12:12 1 Peter 3:12 Prayer is a character trait of one who is devout, one who is righteous Acts 10:2 – Now there was a man at (A)Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was (B)called the Italian [a]cohort,  2a devout man and (C)one who feared God with all his household, and (D)gave many [b]alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. Romans 12:12 - calls upon Brethren both brothers and sisters in Christ to be devoted to one another in prayer. 1 Peter 3:12 - FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,          AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,          BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL."

How should we pray? Mark 11:21 Matt 21:13 Mark 11:21 - Being reminded, Peter said to Him, "(Q)Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered."  22And Jesus answered saying to them, "(R)Have faith in God.  23"(S)Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.  24"Therefore I say to you, (T)all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Matt 21:13 13And He said to them, "It is written, '(N)MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a (O)ROBBERS' DEN." 1 Cor 6:19-20 19Or (AH)do you not know that (AI)your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that (AJ)you are not your own?  20For (AK)you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in (AL)your body.

In Conclusion We must recognize the power of prayer Take everything to the Lord in Prayer!! Recognizing the power of Prayer Matthew 21:22 –  22"And (W)all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." 1 John 5:13-15 Unanswered prayers I s there such a thing as an unanswered prayer Acts 20:35 – 38 the elders of Ephesus called to Paul and here a close confidant an anchor in the faith would soon be departing them and they would be without him. Did they pray to keep him? Did they pray that he wouldn’t go? And yet we encounter this same obstacle continually as time goes by. God answers prayer in his time, and in his way. And I believe what 1 John 5:15 is telling us is that God answers all the prayers we have made to him Romans 8:28 – All things work together for good to those who love God. Someday you may have to go, someday someone you love may have to go, remember that all things…and that does mean all… when Paul left he had work to do, work to do elsewhere. If for what ever reason you must go recognize that your prayer to stay may appeared to be unanswered but realize that maybe, just maybe, God has used you an answer to another congregation/ brother or sister’s prayer. INVITATION: