Essentials of Effective Prayer - Zac Poonen - August 8, 2018
http://rlcfchurch.org/essentials-effective-prayer River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
Effective prayer involves not only speaking to God but also developing the habit of deep listening, as God's line is always open unless sin is present. The speaker emphasizes praying without ceasing, which includes listening for God's guidance throughout the day, not just on one's knees. Furthermore, one must pray authentically, avoiding the trap of praying to impress others, and instead focus on being conscious of Jesus' presence.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Prayer involves listening as well as speakingWhen we pray, we should be conscious of Jesus in our midst and remember that prayer also includes listening to what He has to say.
Sin blocks our communication with GodGod's line is always open to us, but unconfessed sin in our heart hinders Him from hearing us.
Learning to pray without ceasing through listeningWhile we cannot talk to God out loud all day long, we can maintain a hard attitude of listening to Him without ceasing.Luke 18:1
Do not pray to impress peopleJesus warned against praying like hypocrites who stand in public places simply to be seen and heard by men.Matthew 6:5
Pray to your Father in secretShutting out distractions and praying to our Father in secret results in Him rewarding us openly.Matthew 6:6
Avoid meaningless repetition in prayerGod is our Father and does not require a long lecture or empty phrases repeated over and over to hear us.Matthew 6:7
The importance of returning to give thanksOut of ten cleansed lepers, only one returned to thank Jesus, receiving salvation in addition to physical healing.Luke 17:11
Replacing anxiety with prayer and thanksgivingInstead of being anxious, we are commanded to make our specific requests known to God with thanksgiving, which guards our hearts with His peace.Philippians 4:6
Faith is essential to please God and receive answersWithout faith it is impossible to please God, and lack of faith can hinder miracles from happening in our lives.
Seeking God with all your heartThe Lord promises that we will find Him when we search for Him with all our heart, treating Him as the most valuable person in our lives.Jeremiah 29:13
Forgive others so your Father will forgive youJesus explicitly taught that if we do not forgive others from our hearts, our heavenly Father will not forgive our transgressions.Matthew 6:14
Faith requires a heart free of unforgivenessWhen teaching about having faith to move mountains in prayer, Jesus immediately linked it to releasing any resentment or unforgiveness toward others.
Forgiving genuinely from the heartTrue forgiveness means not taking secret satisfaction when something bad happens to the person who wronged us, but instead wishing God's best for them.
