Prayer

Ephesians 1:15- 23

1. What do we want when it comes to prayer?

     a. we want to be one who has power with God

     b. that when we pray results are seen

2. James 5:13-18 describes effective prayer

    a. prayer that sees troubles handled and the sick healed

    b. all you have to do is be a righteous person it seems

    c. most feel inadequate because they don’t know scripture Romans 3: 21-22

    d. accept the righteousness that comes by faith rather than seeking the righteousness that is of the law-which is of works

3.  There is another major misconception: that we are changing or motivating God by prayer

    a. consider Elijah in the example - this references I Kings 17:1, 18:1-2, 41-45

    b. Elijah prayed what God told him to pray

    c. prayer is about us getting in line with God not the other way around

4.  Prayer is about Praise, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication

    a. do you want to learn to praise God- study the Psalms

    b. confession- I John 1:9

        1. that is telling God what He already knows about us

        2. remember that total cleansing comes after confession

   c. Thanksgiving-I Thessalonians 5:18 comes from the heart for what God has done

   d. supplication Ephesians 6:18 - request time

5. Paul was motivated to pray for the Ephesians

   a. because of their faith in Jesus

   b. because of their love for other believers

   c. as he prayed for them he gave thanks for them as I do for you

6. Paul kept praying for these things for them to receive from God- Ephesians 1:17-18

   a. that they would have the Spirit of wisdom

   b. that they would have revelational knowledge about Jesus Christ

   c. that the eyes of their understanding be opened

7. this is a purposeful prayer

   a. so we can understand the hope we are called to

   b. riches of glory of His inheritance in those who believe

   c. the greatness of His power to believers- resurrection type power in us

Prayer is an awesome privilege granted to us, so that we might commune with God, that is to have a close relationship with Him. When you talk with people they like to hear their own words spoken back to them, so does God.  Here in Ephesians is a passage that shows what to pray for others and why.  The Lord’s Prayer is a model that helps us in knowing how to pray for ourselves. You don’t need to pray the exact words just keep to the meaning.  When you pray, pray in faith, knowing God hears and will answer according as His word says. God can be trusted! Let’s spend some time now quietly in prayer with God.