(September 9 Comprehensive Sermon Notes, Brian Austin)

Passages we will look at today: (Page numbers in your Pew Bibles)

738 Matthew 7:7-11 824
749 Matthew 18:19-20
823 John 14:12-13
824 John 15:4-8
825 John 16:23-24
825 John 16:26-27
862 Romans 8:26-27
476 Psalm 139:7-12

Why is it so easy to believe that God CAN do something we ask for, but so difficult to believe that He WILL do what we ask for?

Pg 749 Matthew 18:19-20 NIV — If this promise is true, a husband and wife team, two friends, two children – can tap into immense power. Why then are we so slow to come together to pray?

Pg 752 Matthew 21:21-22 NIV — If this promise is true, how do we get past doubt? And why do we dare so little and ask so small?

Pg 823 John 14:12-13 NIV — What does it mean to “Ask in His Name?” And how far should we take His promises?

Pg 862 Romans 8:26-27 & 34 NIV  — What is the significance of having both Jesus and the Holy Spirit interceding for us?

Pg 809 John 1: 1-5

Why does God DELIGHT IN US?

Prayer is time spent with THE MOST POWERFUL BEING IN EXISTENCE who DELIGHTS IN YOU! Who KNOWS YOU BY NAME! Who KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU, BUT STILL LOVES YOU!

Pg 824 John 15:4-8  —
Apart from me [Jesus] you can do NOTHING! Not a very flattering statement. How do we learn to live IN HIM?

Pg 476 Psalm 139: 7-12  —If you feel like God is distant, read that passage  over and over. Memorize it. If you wish God would keep His distance a bit more, read that passage and surrender to Him.

What changes when we pray for our Pastors?
What changes when we pray for our Ministry Council?
How far can you dare to trust God?

Jesus raised the dead. He healed lepers. He TOUCHED lepers, an absolute taboo of His day. He healed the deaf, the blind, the crippled. And He told us WE CAN DO GREATER THINGS! Are we supposed to believe that? Are we supposed to act on that?

Can we trust Him when we don’t understand?
Can we trust Him, when the hurt is deeper than we ever thought we could endure?

Are you praying for our kids?
Are you praying for their teachers?
What lifts you, fills you, but never leaves you feeling bloated?

Pg 932 – James 4:2-3 —
Why does He want us to ASK when He already knows what we need?
Why does He want us to ASK, when He already knows what we need?

Pastor Dave’s Challenge – 10 people coming to know God through the ministry of HMC this year. Too big or too small a goal?

If we truly believe what Jesus said, why do we ask so small, and dare so little?

Pg 951 Revelation 3:20 ESV — Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and eat with him, and he with me.

 

Additional Passages on Prayer (and Fasting) we won’t have time to look at today:
(Page numbers in your Pew Bibles)
338 2 Chronicles 7:14
345 2 Chronicles 20:2-4
368 Ezra 8:21-23
562 Isaiah 58:3-10
688 Joel 1:13-14
689 Joel 2:12-18
702 Jonah 3:5-10
735 Matthew 4:1-4
737 Matthew 6:9-12
737 Mathew 6:16-18
793 Luke 11:2-4
823 John 16:26-27