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Minor Prophets,Major Message

Pastor Brett Peterson

Our Winter Series at Living Our Winter Series at Living WaterWater

The PowerThe Power of Prayer of Prayer

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We have been talking about the challenging times that we live

in.

Saints of God, we are told very clearly that in the last days difficult times would come.

• Our New Years message was how to survive the days ahead.Our New Years message was how to survive the days ahead.

• Today, we must complete that message with the most important thing.Today, we must complete that message with the most important thing.

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2Ti 3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult

times will come.

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Mar 13:13 "You will be hated by all because of My

name, but the one who endures to the end, he will

be saved.

• Endures – “Endures – “To remain faithful under persecution, i.e., to To remain faithful under persecution, i.e., to persevere, endure, sustain, bear up under, suffer victoriously, as persevere, endure, sustain, bear up under, suffer victoriously, as a load of miseries, adversities, persecutions or provocations.”a load of miseries, adversities, persecutions or provocations.”

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1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it

begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who

do not obey the gospel of God? 1Pe 4:18 AND IF IT IS WITH

DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF

THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? • The Minor prophets are all about God’s judgment coming against His The Minor prophets are all about God’s judgment coming against His

people.people.

• He gives us the tools to endure. He gives us the tools to endure.

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Joe 1:14 Consecrate a fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land To the house of the LORD your God,

And cry out to the LORD.

• It is time for God’s people to once again become people of prayer!It is time for God’s people to once again become people of prayer!

• It is time for Churches to once again become houses of prayer!It is time for Churches to once again become houses of prayer!

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1Pe 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for

the purpose of prayer.

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Act 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to

fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Act 2:43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe;

• This is our model!This is our model!1. Devote yourself to the Word of God1. Devote yourself to the Word of God2. Devote yourself to be at Church for solid teaching2. Devote yourself to be at Church for solid teaching3. Devote yourself to fellowship with those in the Church3. Devote yourself to fellowship with those in the Church4. Devote yourself to PRAYER!4. Devote yourself to PRAYER!

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1Ti 3:15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of

the truth.

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1Pe 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a

spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual

sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

• The House of God is mainly for one purpose – Jesus tells The House of God is mainly for one purpose – Jesus tells us…us…

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Mar 11:17 And He began to teach and say to them, "Is it not written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER

FOR ALL THE NATIONS'?

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At first, prayer was physically walking and talking with God!Gen 3:8 They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid

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After the fall, we no longer had access to God!

We then had no mediator between us and God!

• Prayer became ‘calling out’ to the Lord!Prayer became ‘calling out’ to the Lord!

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Prayer began when Adam’s third son, Seth, had a son:

Gen 4:26 To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the

name of the LORD.

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Today, prayer is once again talking with God, since Jesus

made the way and restored us into right relationship with God!

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However, there is also the aspect of repentance and

calling upon the name of the Lord for Grace!

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Jon 3:8 "But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence

which is in his hands. • God is calling us to Prayer!God is calling us to Prayer!• The Minor Prophets are all about turning back to the Lord in the last The Minor Prophets are all about turning back to the Lord in the last

days!days!• It’s time to wake up!It’s time to wake up!

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Eph 5:14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."

Eph 5:15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

Eph 5:16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Eph 5:17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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Rom 13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we

believed. Rom 13:12 The night is almost

gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of

darkness and put on the armor of light.

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No longer do we hide from God like Adam did!

Prayer is all about seeking the Lord!

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Pro 8:17 "I love those who love me; And those who diligently

seek me will find me.

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Psa 105:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. 2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all

His wonders. 3 Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the

LORD be glad. 4 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. Psa 105:5 Remember His wonders

which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth,

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Jer 29:13 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me

with all your heart.

• Much of prayer is seeking the face of God!Much of prayer is seeking the face of God!

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What do you seek?

Are you seeking God?

Prayer is the only way to connect with God!

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Isa 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake

his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will

have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly

pardon.

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“I’d rather be able to pray

than be a great preacher; Jesus Christ never taught

His disciples how to preach,

but only how to pray.” –D.L. Moody

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Psa 116:1 I love the LORD, because He hears My voice

and my supplications. Psa 116:2 Because He has

inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him

as long as I live.

• Prayer only has to reach from your head to your heart!Prayer only has to reach from your head to your heart!

• The Holy Spirit lives in YOU!!!The Holy Spirit lives in YOU!!!

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1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and

that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1Co 3:17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the

temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

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1Jn 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in

God. 1Jn 4:16 We have come to know

and have believed the love which God has for us. God is

love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God

abides in him.

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1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you

have from God, and that you are not your own?

1Co 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore

glorify God in your body.

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Rom 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray

as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the

saints according to the will of God.

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However, there are prayers that God does not hear!

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Psa 66:18 If I regard wickedness in my heart, The

Lord will not hear (my prayer);

• Regard – “Regard – “1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider, 1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider, approveapprove

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Joh 9:31 "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and

does His will, He hears him.

• Sinners – “One who is devoted to sin, who makes sin part of Sinners – “One who is devoted to sin, who makes sin part of his or her lifestyle.his or her lifestyle.

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Pro 28:9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the

law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

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This is a common theme in the Minor Prophets…

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Mic 3:4 Then they will cry out to the LORD, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because

they have practiced evil deeds.

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Zec 7:13 "And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen," says the

LORD of hosts;

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1Pe 3:7 You husbands in the same way, live with your

wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a

woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers

will not be hindered.• Hindered – ‘cut down’ ‘Stopped’ ‘prevented from accomplishing Hindered – ‘cut down’ ‘Stopped’ ‘prevented from accomplishing

anything’;anything’;

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Mat 5:23 "Therefore if you are presenting your offering

at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there

before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and

then come and present your offering.

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Pro 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the

righteous.

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Pro 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

• ‘‘But Lord, I do all these good things – I have sacrificed to serve You’But Lord, I do all these good things – I have sacrificed to serve You’

• God delights in our talking WITH Him!God delights in our talking WITH Him!

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1Sa 15:22 Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in

burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the

LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than

the fat of rams.

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2Sa 22:20 "He also brought me forth into a broad place; He

rescued me, because He delighted in me.

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Psa 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the

desires of your heart.

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We must only pray to God!

We must put away mysticism!

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Col 2:18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize

by delighting in self-abasement and the worship (praying to) of the angels, taking his stand on visions

he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly

mind,• Self abasement does not earn God’s attentionSelf abasement does not earn God’s attention

• Praying to angels is idolatry!Praying to angels is idolatry!

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We must not pray to angels, to beings, to people, or anyone

else but God alone!

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1Co 8:5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in

heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many

lords, 1Co 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and

one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through

Him.

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1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the

man Christ Jesus, 1Ti 2:6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony

given at the proper time.

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1Ti 2:7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in

faith and truth. 1Ti 2:8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray,

lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

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How should we pray?

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Prayer should be directed to God the Father. Eph. 5:20; Matt. 6:9; 1

Peter 1:17Prayer should be made in the

name of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 14:13: 15:16

The power for prayer is through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Eph.

6:18

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Eph 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be

on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all

the saints,

• NOTE: When you pray for someone, in the Spirit, you are NOTE: When you pray for someone, in the Spirit, you are right there with them! Prayer connects us through the Spirit, right there with them! Prayer connects us through the Spirit, no matter where we are in the world!no matter where we are in the world!

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1Co 5:3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but

present in spirit, have already judged him who has so

committed this, as though I were present.

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1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are

assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our

Lord Jesus,

• Prayer is not a soliloquy, but a dynamic exchange with a Holy God!Prayer is not a soliloquy, but a dynamic exchange with a Holy God!

• It is a great privilege! We have access to God! And He hears us!It is a great privilege! We have access to God! And He hears us!

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Mat 6:5 "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the

street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in

full

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Mat 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room,

close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in

secret will reward you.

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Mat 6:7 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.

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Our model for prayer…

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Mat 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name. Mat 6:10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it

is in heaven.

• 1. Praise and worship God1. Praise and worship God

• 2. Pray for the end times to start and Christ to return2. Pray for the end times to start and Christ to return

• 3. Pray for God’s will to be done in all things3. Pray for God’s will to be done in all things

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Mat 6:11 'Give us this day our daily bread.

Mat 6:12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven

our debtors.

• 4. Pray for your needs and the needs of others4. Pray for your needs and the needs of others

• 5. Ask God to help you forgive others and ask Him to forgive 5. Ask God to help you forgive others and ask Him to forgive youyou

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Mat 6:13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us

from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the

glory forever. Amen.]'

• 6. Ask God to give you a way to escape temptation6. Ask God to give you a way to escape temptation

• 7. Ask God to deliver you from evil7. Ask God to deliver you from evil

• 8. Praise Him and thank Him!8. Praise Him and thank Him!

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The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.

He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless

religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom,

but trembles when we pray.but trembles when we pray.Samuel Chadwick

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1Pe 3:11 "HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE

MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

1Pe 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."

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Jas 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another,

and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The

effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

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Prayer is the most powerful force in the Universe!

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James 4:2b You do not have because you do not ask.

Jas 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so

that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Jas 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is

hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes

himself an enemy of God.

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Mat 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will

be opened to you. Mat 7:8 "For everyone who asks

receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it

will be opened.• How do we ask?How do we ask?

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Joh 16:23 "In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in

My name, He will give it to you. Joh 16:24 "Until now you

have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will

receive, so that your joy may be made full.

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Jesus says we can ask ‘anything’ in His name, and we

will get it!

Remember – interpret scripture with scripture…..

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1Jn 5:14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His

will, He hears us. 1Jn 5:15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

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We need complete faith in God in order for our prayers to be

answered as well…

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Jas 1:6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the

one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by

the wind. Jas 1:7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive

anything from the Lord,

• Why? Because when the miracle comes, we will explain it away rather Why? Because when the miracle comes, we will explain it away rather than giving God glory!than giving God glory!

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• 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 (NIV)

• But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt . . .

James 1:6 (NIV)

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• Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17 (NIV)

• 16. . . take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions . . . be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:16-18 (NIV)

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• 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col. 3:16-17 (NIV)

• 18 . . .be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 5:18-20 (NIV)

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• They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NIV)

• We will . . . give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." Acts 6:3-4 (NIV)

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We have access to the very throne of God through prayer!

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Heb 10:19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the

blood of Jesus, Heb 10:20 by a new and

living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,

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Heb 10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of

God, Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance

of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

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1Pe 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be

of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose

of prayer.

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We need to be people of prayer!

Even pray about the little things!

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Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your

requests be made known to God.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all

comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ

Jesus.

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Mar 11:17 And He began to teach and say to them, "Is it

not written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE

OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS'? But you have

made it a ROBBERS' DEN."

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Joh 16:26 "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do

not say to you that I will request of the Father on

your behalf; Joh 16:27 for the Father Himself

loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that

I came forth from the Father.

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Col 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it

with an attitude of thanksgiving;

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Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm

against the schemes of the devil. Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not

against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual

forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

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(18) With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be

on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all

the saints,

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The number one reason prayer isn’t a priority is because we

have taken a wartime ‘walkie-talkie’ and turned it into a

‘peacetime’ intercom.

John Piper

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I Peter 5:6-10 

6Therefore humble yourselves [realizing you can’t make it without God’s help]under the mighty hand of God, that He

may exalt you at the proper time, 7casting all your anxiety on Him [PRAY], because He cares for you. 8Be of sober spirit

[not influenced by anything but God’s Word], be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion,

seeking someone to devour. 9But resist him, [Jam 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ]

firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will

Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

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William Cowper’s hymn expresses it well:

And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.

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John Wesley put it this way:

“Give me 100 people who fear nothing but

sin and desire nothing but God . . . such

alone will shake the gates of hell . . .”