Continuing Stedfastly in

Prayers

TEXTActs 2:36-42

INTRODUCTION:

A.  THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE TEACHING OF PETER WERE BAPTIZED.

B.  NOT AN EVENT, THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE.

C.  THEY CONTINUED STEDFASTLY.  IN WHAT?

          1.  The apostles' doctrine.                 3.  Breaking of bread.

          2.  Fellowship.                                  4.  Prayers.

D.  LET'S LOOK AT THE SUBJECT OF BREAKING OF BREAD.

I.  THE PLACE OF PRAYER.

A.  PRAYER IS BASED ON ONE'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD THROUGH JESUS

          1.  Addressed to God as Father (Matt. 6:9; 7:7-11).

          2.  There is a desire to please God (Acts 10:1-3, 31John 9:31Prov. 15:29).

          3.  It is because of Jesus we can pray (John 14:6; Eph. 5:10Heb. 10:19-20).

B.  SO PRAYER IS THE PRIVILEGE OF CHRISTIANS.

          1.  All spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3).

          2.  We have an understanding advocate (Heb. 4:15-16).

          3.  There is great comfort in prayer (Phil. 4:4-7).

          4.  What about Cornelius? (Acts 10:2, 31, 34-3533John 17:7).

C.  WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE BLESSING OF PRAYER

          (Matt. 7:7-111 John 5:14-15).

II.  PRAYER IS POWERFUL WHEN

A.  THERE IS FAITH (Jas. 1:5-8).

B.  A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS PRAYING (Jas. 5:161 John 3:22).

C.  IT COMFORMS TO GOD'S WILL (1 John 5:14Matt. 26:39).

D.  IT IS FREE FROM SELFISHNESS (Jas. 4:3).

III.  THE POSSIBILITIES OF PRAYER.

A.  WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD … INCLUDING HOW PRAYER IS

          ANSWERED (Deut. 29:29Eccl. 3:11).

B.  WE CAN BE CERTAIN THAT GOD ANSWERS (Matt. 7:7-10).

          1.  He answers what is best, not always what we want. 

          2.  He answers in love (vs. 11),  according to our need (Matt. 6:8).

                   JP Miller's prayer:  Give us what we need, we only know what we want.

C.  THE POSSIBILITY GOD ANSWERS "YES" (Acts 4:29, 31, 33).

D.  THE POSSIBILITY GOD ANSWERS "NO" (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

E.  WE MUST HAVE FAITH TO

          1.  See that God knows best (Rom. 8:28).

          2.  Be humble (1 Pet. 5:5-7).

          3.  Rejoice and not be anxious (Phil. 4:4-7).

          4.  And keep praying (Acts 2:421 Thess. 5:17).

F.  POSSIBILITY GOD ANSWERS "WAIT" (Eph. 6:18Luke 18:1).

G.  Jas. 5:16-18Matt. 6:113 John 2 2 Cor. 12:7-10.

          1.  It's okay to pray for physical things.

          2.  Prayer effects outcome (James 1:6-8).

CONCLUSION:

A.  ARE YOU CONTINUING STEDFASTLY IN PRAYER?

B.  ARE YOU IN A POSITION TO PRAY?