Lord, Teach Us to Pray

Our Rally Cry - Pray First

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)

16 Rejoice always, 

17 pray without ceasing, 

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14  (NKJV)

13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Lord, Teach us to Pray.

Luke 11:1 (NKJV)

11 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Matthew 6:9-13  (NKJV)

In this manner (outline), therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
 Give us this day our daily bread.
 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

1. We must connect with God relationaliy as our Father in heaven. 

Romans 8:15  (NLT)

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.

Some other names of God. 

A. I Am your righteousness.

B. I Am your healer.

C. I Am your shepherd.

D. I Am your provider.   

E. I  Am your sanctifier.

F. I Am your banner of victory.

G. I Am your peace.

H. I Am there. 

3. Pray God's agenda first in prayer.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:33  (NKJV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

4. Express dependence on God for everything while you pray.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Psalm 121:1-2 (NKJV)

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

Everything that we have comes from God, so we must look to God for everything.  We must talk to God about everything.

5.  Get your heart right with God while you pray. 

Ask,Father, is there anything in me that is offensive to you.

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

1 John 1:9  (NKJV)

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

6. Engage in spiritual warfare in prayer for yourself and others. 

And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

Ephesians 6:12(NKJV)

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

If you're not fighting the devil, he is working harder than you. Say no to the devil and yes to God everyday throughout the day. 

7.  Express faith in God's ability in prayer.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Jeremiah 32:17 (NKJV)

17 ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

Revelation 5:13 (NKJV)

13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/teach-us-to-pray1