Treasure hunt Part 6 Prayer

“And 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.” Matthew 6:5

My faith in Jesus will determine my eternal destination but my behavior will determine my eternal rewards. The fourth behavior that Jesus mentions that will receive a reward is for those who pray.

Most Christians “agree” with the “idea” of prayer much more than “actually” pray. God invites us to ASK

“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:14 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” John 15:7

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24

This past week, what did you ask God? 10 Principles of ASKING

1. Ask in the Spirit “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit…” Zech 4:6 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” Eph 6:18

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 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 5:13-15

Asking in the spirit involves bringing a spirit controlled life, which has been immersed in the Word, to ask, according to God’s revealed will.

2. Ask with your mouth “For it is with you heart that you believe and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Rom 10:10

3. Ask in Jesus’ name “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14

4. Ask while abiding in Christ. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” John 15:7

5. Ask in Faith “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

“According to your faith, it will be done unto you.” Mark 9:29

6. Ask in Humility “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker…” Ps 95:6

7. Ask with a clean heart “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Psalm 66:18

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

8. Ask with intensity “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.” James 5:17

“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you…” Col 4:12

9. Ask in Perseverance “I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.” Luke 11:8

10. Ask Specifically. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

Don’t forget to ask (because something like this could be your reward for all of eternity.)