Growing in God

3. Communion with God

Lesson Outline

1. Paradigm

2. Principles

3. Pattern

4. Pointers

Paradigm

Paradigm

Father

SpiritSon

Prayer is intimate

communion with God:

1) Talking to him

2) Listening to him

Prayer is not a ritual,

but a relationship.Christian

Principles

Principles

1. Prayer should be steady

2. Prayer should be solitary

3. Prayer should be simple

4. Prayer should be steadfast

5. Prayer should be surrendered

STEADY PRAYER

Principle 1

Steady Prayer

Examples from Scripture

1. Daniel prayed three times a day.

2. Jesus often withdrew to pray.

3. Paul mentions his unceasing prayer.

4. We should be faithful in prayer.

5. We should pray without ceasing.

Steady Prayer

Implications for us

1. We must devote quantity time to

prayer.

2. We must devote quality time to

prayer.

SOLITARY PRAYER

Principle 2

Matthew 6:5-6

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. But when you pray, go into your room, close

the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret,

will reward you.

Solitary Prayer

Is it a sin to pray in

public?

No, not at all! The great

saints prayed publicly,

including Jesus himself.

Solitary Prayer

Is it a sin to pray in

public?

No, not at all! The great

saints prayed publicly,

including Jesus himself.

What sin was Jesus

condemning?

Hypocrisy! Public pretence

without private devotion!

Praying to look spiritual.

Solitary Prayer

Is it a sin to pray in

public?

No, not at all! The great

saints prayed publicly,

including Jesus himself.

What sin was Jesus

condemning?

Hypocrisy! Public pretence

without private devotion!

Praying to look spiritual.

Any public display without private devotion is

pure deception.

SIMPLE PRAYER

Principle 3

Matthew 6:7-8

And when you pray, do

not keep on babbling like

pagans, for they think

they will be heard because

of their many words. Do

not be like them, for your

Father knows what you

need before you ask him.

Simple Prayer

Prayer is a matter of the heart. God responds to a sincere

heart, not to smooth words.

K Keep

I It

S Simple and

S Sincere

STEADFAST PRAYER

Principle 4

Steadfast Prayer

True or False?

“If you ask in faith, you only

need to ask once. Then you

just believe God for your

answer. To ask repeatedly for

the same thing shows a lack

of faith.”

Steadfast Prayer

True or False?

‘If you ask in faith, you only

need to ask once. Then you

just believe God for your

answer. To ask repeatedly for

the same thing shows a lack

of faith.’

False!!!

Jesus taught that true faith

holds on to God

aggressively in prayer until

it receives an answer.

Steadfast Prayer

1) Persevering in prayer shows great faith.

Steadfast Prayer

Luke 11:5-13

• Jesus’s parable of a friend

asking for bread illustrates

that persistence is

rewarded.

• Jesus teaches that we

should keep on asking,

seeking and knocking.

Luke 18:1-8

• The parable of the unjust

judge illustrates Jesus’

teaching that God rewards

persistent prayer.

• The point is made by way

of contrast, not

comparison.

Steadfast Prayer

Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask

for in prayer, believe that you have

received it, and it will be yours.

Steadfast Prayer

1) Persevering in prayer shows great faith.

2) Persevering prayer often goes through three

phases:

Petition

Peace

Praise

STRENGTHENING PRAYER

Principle 5

Strengthening Prayer

1) Prayer is our source of

spiritual power.

Strengthening Prayer

1) Prayer is our source of

spiritual power.

2) Prayer changes things, but

more importantly prayer

changes people.

Strengthening Prayer

1) Prayer is our source of

spiritual power.

2) Prayer changes things, but

more importantly prayer

changes people.

3) Prevailing in private prayer

produces power in public

prayer.

Mark 9:29

[Jesus] replied, ‘This kind [of

demon] can come out only by

prayer.’

SURRENDERED PRAYER

Principle 6

Surrendered Prayer

2) Accept His answer

‘Thank you.’

‘You know best.’

‘Prepare me.’

2) He has three answers

Yes

No

Wait

1) Pray every prayer in your

heart

1) God answers each and

every prayer

ResponseTruth

Bill Hybels

If the request is wrong God says, No

If the timing is wrong God says, Slow

If you are wrong God says, Grow

But if the request is right

the timing is right

and you are right God says, Go

Pattern

The Method

We like the four step method of prayer represented bythe acronym ACTS.

Pointers

Pointers

1. Worship in song

2. Write in a journal

3. Walk and talk

4. Wander through scripture

Conclusion

Summary

1. Paradigm: communion with God

2. Principles: steady, solitary, simple,

steadfast, surrendered

3. Pattern: A-C-T-S

4. Pointers: worship, write, walk, wander