The Power of Prayer - Radical Prayer Life Sermon Series

Radical Prayer Life  Series

The Foundation of Prayer

Matthew 6:5-13 NIV

 

Introduction  

 

Prayer was given to Man as a result of the fall of Adam! 

With Adam, God’s presence was literal and tangible. 

Adam had no need to pray. 

Adam dwelt in God’s presence. Nothing has greater value to man than the true presence of Almighty God.  

Adam didn’t realize he needed a woman because Adam was fulfilled in the presence of Almighty God. 

Adam’s need for Eve was to fulfil a purpose not being fulfilled. (Adam was fulfilled with God, but mankind could not multiply and subdue the earth without women.)

Genesis 4: 9-15 NIV 

Cain and Abel had no need to pray because the presence of the Almighty God was tangible in the earth.  

Genesis 4:26 NIV

Mankind begins to call on the Lord (Prayer) 

 

Point 1

The Motive of the human heart is step one to building a prayer life! (Matthew 6:5 NIV)

Prayer is very private, it’s not for an audience. (Jesus would usually go further alone to pray, not even the disciples had access to His true prayer life.) 

Fellowship (Koinonia) is what Adam did before the fall. This is spending time with God without any motivation other than wanting to spend time with God.  

Fellowship with God has become abnormal in the church.

Fellowship is what men like David discovered that allows you to posture your heart so God can become your friend. Elevation comes as a result of spending quality time with “The One” who holds everything!  

Fellowship - lots of singing songs of praise and worship while thinking about / meditating on all His benefits. 

Psalms 103:1-5 NKJV

Your only sincere desire is to know Him.

Fellowship with the Lord corrects our motives!  

Note: The Kingdom has every promise categorized and locked. 

Matthew 16:19 NIV

Without the right posture of your heart, your life will become like Cain’s, doing the requirements but getting no reward. 

Remember in the Kingdom every lock needs a Key.  

The heart, the core of who we are, must stay lit up. 

1 John 1:5 NIV

The greatest hindrance to personal prayer is unchecked motives! 

Some contaminants of our motive:

Un-Forgiveness 

Pride

Dishonesties 

Unrepentant 

All Sins fall under one of these categories. 

The heart is where your motives are developed and live. From your Motives, life flows! 

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Proverbs 21:2 NIV

 

 

Point  2

 

God is not impressed by someone who is trying to impress Him or others with prayer. (Matthew 6:7-8 NIV)

Prayer is not designed to be Ritualistic but Relational. 

Prayer is the system The Father has given to individuals who wish to have their needs considered by the Kingdom of God, and not themselves or any other kingdom. 

The impressiveness of prayer is not how it’s done, but the results it manifest. 

You can get an answer to your prayer but never get to know the God who answered you!

My needs are already known. The heart has to come to a place of trust. 

Note to Self: God will supply All of my needs in His time because He is Lord, not I.  

 

 

Conclusion 

Hebrews 11:13 NIV - All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

Hebrews 11:39 NIV - These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,

 

Action Plan

Spend fellowship time with God; ask for nothing but give yourself to Him.  

Join Pastor Bruce Next week for part 2 “The Purpose of Prayer” from his brand new sermon series Radical Prayer Life!  

Matthew 6:9-13 NIV - “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’