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Prayerfulness

Text: Philippians 1
18 January 2014

THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD: PRAYERFULNESS

1. Prayer

a) A natural response to God as His children          Romans 8:15

i) Natural for a child to relate to his parents

ii) Natural for a child to say “Abba”

b) A learned response with reference to our faith in God

i) Taught by the Lord Jesus Christ          Matthew 6:9-13

ii) Exemplified by the Lord Jesus          Mark 1:35; John 17

2. A Meaningful Practice of Prayer

a) Example of the prophets

b) Example of the psalmists

c) Example of the apostles

3. The Example of one who is Prayerful – the apostle Paul

a) He prays with a heart of thanksgiving          Philippians 1:3

b) He makes requests with joy          Philippians 1:4

c) He prays with great depth of understanding and insight

i) Prayer that Christian love may abound more and more          Philippians 1:9

ii) Prayer for deeper knowledge          Philippians 1:9

iii) Prayer for greater discernment          Philippians 1:9

iv) Prayer for ability to approve that which is excellent          Philippians 1:10a

v) Prayer for sincerity          Philippians 1:10b

vi) Prayer to be inoffensive          Philippians 1:10c

vi) Prayer to be filled with the fruits of righteousness          Philippians 1:11a

vii) Prayer that all of the above would be fulfilled through Christ          Philippians 1:11b

viii) Prayer that all glory may be given to the Lord          Philippians 1:11c

4. A challenge to examine our prayer life

a) How real is it?

b) How meaningful is it?

c) How consistent is it?

d) How significant is it?

5. A further challenge to cultivate prayerfulness

a) Through a deeper faith

b) Through practice

c) Through responding to the Holy Spirit teaching us

d) Through a heart of love of communion with God the Father

e) Through a love for the Church

f) Through a love for the brethren

BIBLE MEMORY VERSE

Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17