2. SEEKING THE THINGS OF GOD 7 Talking to HIM

3. What Prayer is NOT… A rabbit’s foot Good luck charm Amulet Magical incantation Spiritual narcotic Coin for a God dispensing machine A magic lamp, and God is not a genie or a fairy godfather A last ditch, desperate measure to escape personal ruin or harm

4. Prayer is a privilege, a gift Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2 ESV) …let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:11-12 ESV)

5. Prayer is a privilege, a gift Prayer is communication, i.e., information sent, received and responded to Spiritual communication can be US-ward or GOD-ward Communication is a real, productive, sharing part of any relationship

6. Prayer, communication seeking a response Prayerful entreaties; pleas, petition, humble & sincere requests, supplications …praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:18)

7. Prayer, communication seeking a response Prayerful entreaties; pleas, petition, humble & sincere requests, supplications do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6 ESV)

8. Prayer, communication seeking a response Prayerful entreaties; pleas, petition, humble & sincere requests, supplications NOT DEMANDS And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:14 ESV)

9. Prayer, communication seeking a response Prayerful entreaties Prayerful appeals, asking God for help with problems or circumstances GK. parakaleol – to pray, implore, seek comfort, urge someone to act

10. Prayer, communication seeking a response Prayerful entreaties Prayerful appeals Prayerful praise Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. (Hebrews 13:15 ESV)

11. Prayer, communication seeking a response Prayerful entreaties Prayerful appeals Prayerful praise Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2, ESV)

12. Prayer, communication seeking a response Prayerful entreaties Prayerful appeals Prayerful praise CONCLUSION? Whether it is entreaty, appeal, or praise with thanksgiving, the child of God can go before God at anytime and with anything that is in God’s will and on their heart.

13. How are we taught to pray? Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)

14. How are we taught to pray? Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)

15. How are we taught to pray? Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)

16. How are we taught to pray? Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)

17. How are we taught to pray? Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)

18. How are we taught to pray? Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)

19. How are we taught to pray? Believing in prayer –Tenacious, Luke 18:1-8 –“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV)

20. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11 ESV)

21. How are we taught to pray? Believing in prayer –Tenacious, Luke 18:1-8 –“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

22. How are we taught to pray? Believing in prayer –Tenacious, Luke 18:1-8 –“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV)

23. How are we taught to pray? Expect the answer of a Great God Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16 ESV)

24. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)

25. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)