Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Prayer

a) This was taught by the Lord Jesus

b) Wrong ideas were corrected

c) The Lord’s Prayer was taught as a model prayer

2. The Practice of Prayer

a) Public prayer

b) Private prayer

c) Personal practice

ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAY

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, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
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 good things to those who ask Him!
12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:7-12

1. Three aspects of Prayer were highlighted

a) Ask

“Ask, and it will be given to you”

Matthew 7:7a

i) Some prayers are simple ones and they are easily answered

ii) Any answer gladdens the heart

b) Seek

“Seek, and you will find”

Matthew 7:7c

i) Some prayers are more challenging

ii) Seeking may be required

iii) Seeking more earnestly

iv) Seeking wisdom

c) Knock

“Knock, and it will be opened to you”

Matthew 7:7c

i) Some prayers are even harder

ii) Patience and perseverance may have to be exercised

2. Encouragement given

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

Matthew 7:8

a) We will receive

b) We will find

c) Doors will be opened

3. The normal father-son relationship

a) No father will give a stone when his son asks for bread

b) No father will give a serpent when his son asks for a fish

c) Even if a man is evil he will do his best for his son

4. The Father-son relationship

a) God is Father to us

b) He will give good things to those who ask Him

5. A point of application

a) A principle from the Law and the Prophets

“Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them”

b) Biblical teachings must be applied

c) Failure to practise what the Scriptures teach

i) This will lead to sin

ii) Sin hinders our relationship with God

iii) Our prayers go unanswered

6. Why prayers are not answered

1Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save;
Nor His ear heavy,
That it cannot hear.

2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood,
And your fingers with iniquity;
Your lips have spoken lies,
Your tongue has muttered perversity.

Isaiah 59:1-3