TUNED IN # 3 AM. Preaching 21 July 2013 am.
Prayer grows out of relationship. If there is relationship there is communication.
STORY – During the time I was away in the Solomon Islands last week I communicated with my wife, Chris via Facebook messaging. It was great to be able to chat all day long between tasks, and I felt like I was connected to her. About 20 years ago I was away in Russia in 91-93 for 3 weeks and had virtually no communication with Chris. That was difficult, you just don’t know what’s going on and you don’t feel the reassurance that this person is doing fine. Prayer is just like that.
Deep inside you there is a deep passion to commune with God, to hear His voice, to share in His presence. My goal this morning is to unlock that desire. To help you overcome some obstacles to fellowship with God.
MY STORY
After getting saved, I was in the habit of praying at night, spending time in conversation with God. Later when I got married I changed to being a morning pray-er and used to get up early and spend time with God in prayer and bible reading.
How much would you pray if every prayer you prayed was answered?
Here’s what God says about your expectations of prayer.
Mat 7:7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.
Mat 7:8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.
Yet prayer is more than just seeking an answer, it’s conversation. Chris and I talked over Facebook while I was away. It wasn’t all about either of us asking for things. It was doing life together.
Could it be that you stopped praying just before the answer came?
Luk 18:1 ALSO [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).
Daniel Prayed.
Dan 10:11 And [the angel] said to me, O Daniel, you greatly beloved man, understand the words that I speak to you and stand upright, for to you I am now sent. And while he was saying this word to me, I stood up trembling.
Dan 10:12 Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come as a consequence of [and in response to] your words.
Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Dan 10:14 Now I have come to make you understand what is to befall your people in the latter days, for the vision is for [many] days yet to come.
Every time you pray God hears you.
Psa 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.
We measure our results by the leading of the Holy Spirit not by what we see.
2Co 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight;
Example: My back healing 18 months.
We are linked into God to change the world. God is totally confident that He can change the world through you.
Mat 28:18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Mat 28:19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
1Co 3:9 For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, labourers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building. [Isa. 61:3.]
Daniel prayed and God showed him and all of us the future of the world till the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Joseph prayed and a prisoner went from gaol; to Prime minister and feed the entire known world for 7 years during the worst famine on record.
PRACTICAL RESPONSE
- Learn to pray. – join us week day mornings 6-7am
- Pre-service prayer rallies 9.30-9.55am
- HUB once a month, second Wednesday
- Pray in your Urban Connect group.
- Join prayer email link & Facebook.
craigmanderson 
Leave a Reply