I would like to start by looking at the song by Mahalia Jackson – I found the answer, I learn to pray. Also, Tasha Cobbs sings this great and powerful song – there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain, to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.
Focus Scripture: Chapter Matthew 6: 1-15
Prayer is the key that unlock heaven’s door.
Focus points:
- How to pray
- Length of prayer
- The power of prayer
- Approaches to the throne of God.
- Upper room experience
- Why my prayer isn’t answered.
Have you ever found yourself saying these words:
I am very tired.
Things are not working out for me.
I am constantly praying or let me say seeking God, but nothing is happening
God told me I will see a breakthrough but where is it
These are just some of the things we say or ask ourselves daily.
Are we talking the right approach?
So how do we pray?
St. John 14: 13-14
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
St. John 14, 15 & 16 Jesus says to ask in in His name at least 6 or 7 times. This means to ask God for things in the name of Jesus Christ.
Luke 11:9 said “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives, and He who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it shall be open.
Three important words in this petition:
What are these? Can someone tell me?
- Asking
- Seeking
- Knocking
Some people say these are three forms of Prayer.
What does it mean to Ask?
What does it mean to seek?
What does it mean to knock?
What is the real essence of prayer?
What does it mean to pray?
In Romans 8, Paul talks about living in the Spirit,
- we need to walk in the Spirit.
- we need to set our mind on the Spirit.
Romans 8:26
Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Meaning-
Paul is saying a lot of times we feel weak, therefore we need the spirit to strengthen us.
A lot of times we don’t know how to pray.
At times situations overpowered us, we pray until we are weak, and we don’t see any results. We wonder if God has forgotten us.
This is where the spirit helps us.
Because we may get angry in our approaches, the natural man will step in.
Why should we faint under our afflictions?
We know what happen when ignorance steps in.
The spirit is a helper of our weakness, it does not only strengthen us, but helps us in prayer. The spirit within us intercedes by groaning. The spirit intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words.
Pray and Seek My Favor
God will hear from Heaven.
One point I want to look at- it’s to be Humble
2 Chronicles 7: 14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
The promise here:
God “I will hear from heaven.” God will answer prayer. He says, “then I will forgive their sins and heal their land.”
Our land is our situation. What situation are you facing right now? Is it poor health, family, financial, unemployment, depression, spiritual… the list goes on. What is it? God will hear from heaven and deliver us.
Let’s read 2 Chronicles 7:14 one more time.
…“when my people, who bear my name, humble themselves…..”it is something to humble ourselves. This means:
- to admit our own failures
- admitting where we really are
- admitting our own problems before God
- to admit our sins and not to hide them
Then, “Pray and seek my face, turn from their evil ways, and I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.”
So many things mentioned here.
“When my people.”
- It is not just the people out there, or the people over there, or some kind of an impersonal group of people but is “My people”, God’s people, or people who Are God’s own possession.
Then is says, “who bear My Name.” We as Christians, bear the name of Christ; we bear the name of God.
Humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Our God will restore our situation.
The Prayer in Matthew 6
We will need to conclude this some other time
But prayer is not about saying precious words, or think you will be heard if you shout, or pray for a long period of time.
Look at what Matthew 6:5-7
And when thou pray, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:8-15
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mahalia Jackson
Lyrics to I Found The Answer :
Verse 1
I was weak and weary, I had gone astray,
walking in the darkness, I could not find my way.
Then a light came shining to lead me from despair,
made all my sins forgiven, and I was free from care.
Chorus
I found the answer, I learned to pray,
oh with faith to guide me, I’ve found the way.
The sun is shining for me each day,
I found the answer, and I learned to pray.
Verse 2
I was sad and lonely, all my hopes were gone,
days were long and dreary, I couldn’t carry on.
Then I found the courage to keep my head up high,
once again I’m happy, and here’s the reason why.
Chorus
Verse 3
Keep your Bible with you, read it every day,
always count your blessings and always stop to pray.
Learn to keep believing and faith will see you thro’,
seek to know contentment, and it will come to you.
Task
I would like to use this time to encourage some out there reading this right now to just use this time to talk to God. Approach Him as you would a family member or friend and begin to tell him your situation. You know your circumstances more than me.
Trust me there is nothing too hard for God to do. He will come through. Just talk with him you are not alone. Even as I am writing this, I am telling you I am filled with a spirit of prayer right now. I know a man who can, and his name is Jesus.
Just speak to your situation, put you hand on the pain and command it to go. Are you feeling back pain, where is the pain command it to go.
Whatever it is tell it to Jesus.