Putting Prayer First

Key Passage: Mark 11:20-24

Introduction

Jesus spoke of many subjects during His ministry, but prayer and faith were the top two. He not only taught about prayer, He practiced it. Mark 1:35-37 describes a time when He woke up early while it was still dark and went to a secluded place to pray. Because prayer was a priority, He regularly spent time talking to His Father in an intimate, personal way—being encouraged, sharing His concerns, and seeking His will for each day.

Sermon Points

The Priority of Prayer

Prayer requires uninterrupted time.
Prayerlessness is a sin against God.
Prayer affects our day.
Jesus teaches us about prayer.
Prayer is communion with the Lord.
Prayer is empowered by faith.
God answers requests that are according to His will.
Scriptures are our anchors for prayer.

Putting Prayer First

Schedule a time.
Pick a place.
Believe the Lord hears our prayers.
Pray for others.
Trust in God’s power.
• The greatest difficulties can be removed when we have faith.
• No task in alliance with God’s will is impossible to perform when we believe Him.
Pray for direction.
Pray with the Word.

Summary

An intimate and effective prayer life never happens accidentally. We must be intentional and make prayer a priority by setting aside a time and a place to meet with God each day. The goal is not to simply present Him with our list of requests but to give the Lord our full attention and unhurried time for fellowship with Him.

Copy Sermon Outline

Mark 11:20-24

20 As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up.

21 Being reminded, Peter said to Him, Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered."

22 And Jesus answered saying to them, Have faith in God.

23 Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.

24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

Psalms 37:4

4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalms 119:165

165 Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Isaiah 55:3

3 Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.

Matthew 7:7-11

7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

9 Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Mark 1:35-37

35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

36 Simon and his companions searched for Him;

37 they found Him, and said to Him, Everyone is looking for You."

Luke 11:1

1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples."

James 4:2

2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

Aired On 12 Jun 2015

Putting Prayer First

Why do we experience so much weakness in our lives? Could it be we aren’t listening to Him? As we draw near to our Father, He gives us the strength we need. Dr. Stanley invites listeners to set aside a daily quiet time to talk with Him. He wants to hear our prayers and answer them as only He can.

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