Yesterday Today and Forever Ministries

Teacher: Mike Calvo Mike@MikeCalvo.com

Phone: (407) 459-4424

Website and Podcast: http://www.YTAF.ORG

 

All We Can Do Is Pray?

 

1.   Three kinds of prayer

A.  Prayer of petition.

Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

B.   Intersession.

Intercession is where we pray to God for the sake of another person or for a corporate cause. Many of the best prayers and intercessory prayers are when we remind God of His promises. God delights in us reminding Him of His promises. It shows that we have faith in Him and His promises. When we pray in this manner for another or for a corporate cause, our intercessory prayer is spiritual warfare. In intercessory prayer we are conquerors by bringing God closer to ourselves, and to others.

C.  Thanksgiving and praise.

Psalms 95:2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

 

2.   “If He knows what I need before I ask, then why do I need to ask?”

John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.

A.  Notice not will, or shall give to you, but may give to you.

B.   It is as though He knows your need, and desires to give to you to meet that need, but is waiting for you to ask, that He may give it to you.

C.  The asking opens the door to allow God to do that which He is longing to do in your life.

D.  God will not violate your free will.

 

3.   MATTHEW 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

A. Many prayers are intended to impress people more than to impress God.

4.   MATTHEW 6:5 “And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

 

A.  “WHEN YOU PRAY.”

The assumption is that we will pray.

B.   Sometimes we forget to pray. James 4:2 says, “You have not because you ask not.”

C.  Most times it is just as simple as that. We have not prayed about it.

 

5.   John 15:14 “You are My friends, if you do what I command you.

A.  Prayer should be as an intelligent conversation with your closest friend.

B.   You should just talk to God, then listen as God speaks to you.

C.  You do not have to sustain your notes.

D.  It is strange how that when some people pray, their voice changes, they lapse into King James English, and they often use repetitive phrases

E.   I think we see this exemplified in the repetitive hail Mary’s and the our Fathers by some.