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Prayer Questions Matthew 6.9-15 Introduction:
There are many prayers recorded in the Bible. Hannah prayed for a child in 1
Samuel 2; the prayers of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel are recorded in their
books. Obviously we think of the model prayer by Jesus in Matthew
6. Some prayers are not recorded but we are told they prayed. David prayed
for his child that was sin unto death (2
Samuel 12); and Daniel prayed while in the lions dens (Daniel 6). Yet we
sometimes struggle with prayer and have questions about it. Tonight I want to
answer some questions that relates to prayer. I)
Why do some Christians not pray? A)
Easy to neglect prayer although we know we are told to and encourage to pray. 1.
Prayer is one area that we can neglect and not be noticed. If we miss services,
quit singing, quit giving, quit studying, people will eventually notice. 2.
No one knows for sure how often you pray. B)
Some do not believe God will answer their prayer.
1.
They may be right. God will not answer the prayers of those:
a. That pray for something against His will, 1
John 5.14
b. God will not hear the prayer of the unrighteous, John
9.31
c. God will not answer our prayers if we are unforgiving,
Matthew 6.14
d. God will not answer the prayers of those that lack faith, James
1.6-
8
e. We may ask for the wrong things, James
4.3 2.
Prayer is not a substitute for obedience.
a. Evangelism requires us to pray and then go out and preach the
Gospel. Church at
b. We may ask for forgiveness but we have to repent and then go to
those we have sinned against.
c. We may pray for the sin but we have to go out and help them.
d. We may pray for those that are mourning but we have to comfort
the afflicted. C)
Some are too busy(?) 1.
Think we can do it all by ourselves. Sign of too much independence, self
reliance, and lack of humility. 2.
We develop a routine where we do not set aside time to pray. 3.
Song “Did You Think to Pray?”
a. Ere you left your room
this morning, Did you think to pray?
b. When you met with great temptation, Did you think to pray?
c. When your heart was filled with anger, Did you think to pray?
d. When sore trials came upon you, Did you think to pray? D)
Some do not believe God can answer prayer today. (Miracles have ceased therefore
we know God will not raise the dead, heal the crippled, etc.) 1.
Miracles have ceased but God can answer prayer in other ways. 2.
He used people (faithful servants and event unfaithful men), circumstances and
nations to do His will. For instance:
a. Nehemiah prayed, Neh. 1.4
b. Nehemiah asked permission for the king to go to
c. Nehemiah goes back to
d. Nehemiah appointed governor of Judah,
Neh. 5.14
e. Nehemiah 9 records his prayer. He attributes all that happened to
II)
How should we respond when our prayers are not answered in the way we want? A)
Some people will say God did not care, feel resentment toward God, get angry at
God, and even blame Him for bad things happening. 1.
Keep in mind that God is under no obligation to answer the prayers of those that
are not His children. 2.
Some will assume that because they did not get the answer they wanted, God did
not answer their prayer. May be He said NO! B)
We must recognize the will of God, 1 John 5.14 1.
God knows more than we do. 2.
Jesus prayed but recognized the will of His Father,
Luke 22.42
a. People will continue to get sick and die, we can not pray for no
more death or sickness.
b. Suffering will occur and often a result of our decisions.
c. God is more concerned with our spiritual welfare more than
physical. 3.
We need to be humble and submit to God’s will,
James 4.8 III)
Is it ok to lead a prayer instead of your
husband (Private prayer) A)
Husband is the head of his wife, 1 Corinthians 11.3 1
Can they pray together? Yes 2.
If she is a Christian and her husband is not, her prayers are the only ones
heard by God. 3.
Can she pray for her husband? Yes. 4.
Can she lead a pray instead
of her husband? 1 Timothy 2.8-10
seems to apply.
a. As long as she is in submission and subjection
b. Does leading the prayer but her in that position
c. Is there a way she can pray with her husband and still be in
subjection? I think so but he is to be leading the prayer.
d. One additional thought. We need to pray as individuals, as a
family, as a congregation. One is not a substitute for the other. Conclusion:
Song Sweet
Hour of Prayer |