Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life Chapter 4 - Cameron Jungels - Wed, September 24, 2014

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

by Donald Whitney 

Prayer…for the purpose of godliness: Chapter 4 - Albert Edward Day

“We Protestants are an undisciplined people. Therein lies the reason for much of the dearth of spiritual insights and serious lack of moral power.” 

Prayer Is Expected

Ø  Jesus Expects Us to Pray

ü  Matt 6:5 – “And when you pray…”

ü  Matt 6:6 – “But when you pray…”

ü  Matt 6:7 – “And when you pray…”

ü  Matt 6:9 – “Pray then like this…”

ü  Luke 11:9 – “Ask…Seek…Knock…”

ü  Luke 18:1 – “they should always pray and not give up.”

 

Ø  God’s Word Makes it Clear

ü  Col 4:2 – “Devote yourselves to prayer…”

ü  1 Thess 5:17 – “Pray continually...”

ü  Heb 4:16 – “Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

 

Prayer Is Learned

Ø  By Praying

Ø  By Meditating on Scripture

Ø  By Praying with Others

Ø  By Reading about Prayer

 

Prayer Is Answered 

 7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  (Matt. 7:7-8, NIV)

 

Questions:

Ø  What makes prayer challenging?

Ø  What makes consistent, regular prayer challenging?

Ø  What are some ways to stay focused and disciplined in prayer?

Ø  What are some biblical components of prayer?

Ø  How should we prioritize the content of our prayers?

Ø  How does prayer relate to the sovereignty of God?

 

Final Applications:

Ø  Because prayer is expected, will you pray?

Ø  Since prayer is learned, will you learn to pray?

Ø  Since prayer is answered, will you persistently pray?

 

Luke 11:5–13

5 Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;  6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.'  7 And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'  8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.  9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"