PRAYER...POWERFUL PRAYER

I dare to say our first night was a success.  For those who were there, I could feel we really got into it guys!  Yeay!  So we looked at a few questions on some scripture passages concerning prayer and this is what we came up with...

1. How does Jesus describe our position with God? (Based on Matthew 7:7-11)

• We are His children
• Example: a man who gets his window broken by the neighbor boy would likely call the cops, but if his own son broke the window he would likely handle the situation with much more grace.  This is how it is with God because we have been adopted into His family upon salvation.
• We are to God like the neighbor kid who knocks on your door and asks "where's the cookies?"  Like children we can ask God bluntly for things.  :D
• we NEED to be dependent on God, but we don't always like to be!
• especially biceps- um...that was a tangent, lol

2. Are we in the position of the "righteous" in James 5:16? Why or why not?

• what is righteousness, how do you obtain it?
• Righteousness is given to us by God
• Righteousness is to be right with God
• you will know righteousness by fruit
• the definition: morality (righteousness is not simply moral living, because we cannot become right with God on works alone)

3. What impact does agreement in asking have in Matthew 18:19?

• Where 2 of you on earth agree, God says yes
• motives are important to recognize behind the request
• powerful things will happen
• our prayers are effective
• David and Laura prayed for Isaac's delivery and he was born the next day!  God granted their request after coming into agreement together.
• coming in agreement is also effective in decision making.  Two people coming to an agreement can cause for confirmation.
• Decision making is easier with the help of mentors, friends

Punch Line: Who was asking in Matthew 15:21-28?

• The Canaanite/Gentile woman

How did she overcome the problem?

• She was PERSISTENT
• had FAITH
• BELIEF
• HUMILITY
• God hears everyone's prayers yet...
• we are to ask with these things in mind

WITH THAT, LET OUR PRAYERS BE POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE...LETS SEE GOD DO SOME AWESOME THINGS AMONG US!!!