Prayer Changes Everything 3/12/23

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matt 7:7-8, NLT

Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the Law and the Prophets. Matt 7:12, NLT

It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the kings’ privilege to discover them. Proverbs 25:2

JESUS PRAYED

  1. Jesus prayed alone with God.Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15
  2. Jesus prayed before big decisions.The night before Jesus chose twelve of his disciples to be his apostles, Jesus went out to a mountainside and spent the night praying to God. Luke 6:12
  3. Jesus prayed for miracles.When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he first prayed to the Father. “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” John 11:41-42, NLT
  4. Jesus prayed in times of difficulty.Just before Jesus was arrested, “ . . . he withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’” Luke 22:41–42, NIV
  5. Jesus prayed from the cross.Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit. Luke 23:46, NIV

KEEP ASKING
This is persistent prayer.

 

KEEP SEEKING
Ask with urgency and purpose.

KEEP KNOCKING
Ask with shameless persistence.

You parents – if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him? Matt 7:9-11, NLT

Bread/Stones

Matt 4:3-4

Fish/Snakes

We are called to PRAY.

The Golden Rule

Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of the Law and Prophets. Matt 7:12, NLT

Jesus answers a question about the most important Commandments by saying,“You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire Law and all the demands of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matt 22:37 – 40, NLT

What sums up the LAW?

  • You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.
  • Love your neighbor as yourself.
  • Do to others what you would have them do to you. What’s not here: Selfishness and Pride.What is here: Love.Timothy J. Geddert, Mark, Believers Church Bible Commentary (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 2001 Mark Water, The Life of Jesus Made Easy, The Made Easy Series (Alresford, Hampshire: John HuntPublishers Ltd, 2001),

    Leon Morris, The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992)

 

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