Teach Us to Pray

Jayson, my small group leader, has been prodding us to start writing things we learn from the church services and from our small group meetings. He said that it's the best way for us to remember things. Okay, so I bought a small notebook (hala, low tech walang pambili ng pda) and i'll start on Sunday. Although, I have started writing two sundays ago pa, pero sa piece of paper lang.

I'm taking it a notch higher though, I'm posting here on my blog whatever i learn from the sunday services. Hope you learn from them as well!

Last Sunday, we've started with the series, TEACH US TO PRAY. For seven weeks, the preaching will be about praying.

WEEK 1: Teach us to Pray

Luke 11:1-12
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished,one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray,just as John taught his disciples."

He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sinned against us. And lead us not into temptation.'

Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothihng to set before him.'

Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. the door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't give you anything.' "I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs."

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Three Attitudes we need when praying:

1. Pray Boldly
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

I think the key here is really know your relationship with God. We have to see him as our Father. A Father we could always run to. Sometimes kase, minsan when we pray we do this, "Lord, alam mo na naman prayer ko eh, ikaw na bahala sa aken, in Jesus name, Amen" What we don't realize is, when it comes to God, we can be as bold as we can get.

So get those prayers coming!

2. Pray Persistently

Remember when we were kids, when we want something so badly, we don't stop pestering our parents about it? We'd be throwing tantrums here and there till we get what we want?

With God, we have to be persistent in our prayers also. Not that God needs reminding, but that when we never stop praying until we get what we want, in the process, God prepares our hearts, our attitudes and our perspectives, so that when he gives it to us, it couldn't be more perfect.

3. Pray Expectantly
Joshua 21:45 "Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."

One of my favorite promises in the Bible is this: Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you!

When we pray, we should believe in our hearts that God will have an answer!

First pa lang lang to, six to go. If you want to hear the message yourself, I'd like to invite you to our church, Victory Christian Fellowship, 4th level Robinsons Galeria. Sked of services 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm.

I attend the 5pm service, let me know kung gusto nyo samahan ko kayo.

eto yung rest of the series:

Week 2: Our Father
Week 3: Thy will be done
Week 4: Give us this day
Week 5: Forgive us our debts (sana pwedeng sabihin to sa credit card co's)
Week 6: As we Forgive others
Week 7: Deliver us from evil