Matthew 7:7-12 “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!
The world at its worst needs the church at its best, and a praying church is a church at its best.
2 Chronicles
7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
A praying church is a praying church because the people that make up that church are praying people.
“There is not a church, chapel or mission on earth where you cannot have a revival, provided there is a nucleus of faithful people who will hold on to God until it comes.” - Dr R. A. Torrey
We Underestimate Prayers Power
We Underestimate Satans Strategy to keep us from prayer
Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray”
Private prayer leads to public power.
James
5:16 The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful and effective.
Ephesians
6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
If the devil can’t make you bad, he will make you busy.
If you aren’t consciously committed to important things, then you are unconsciously committing yourself to unimportant things
Matthew 7:7 (AMP) “Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.”
1. ASK
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you;
Prayer is a declaration of dependency.
Prayer Establishes Withness
It’s impossible to do life for Jesus without doing life with Jesus.
Genesis
4:25-26 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.
Revelations
3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
2. Seek
Matthew 7:7 seek, and you will find;
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
You Can’t Handle It Yet
He’s Hiding It From The Enemy
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see what we see in the physical did not come from anything that can be seen.
3. Knock
Matthew 7:7 knock, and it will be opened to you.
“It's child's play"
Dominion = The ability to rule, to have control, to dominate, to subjugate
Psalm 1
15:16 The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the children of men.
Psalm 138:2 You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above Your name!
Prayer gives God earthly license for heavenly interference.
2 Chronicles
7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
God will not intervene, until He hears his bride intercedes.
The world at its worst needs the church at its best, and a praying church is a church at its best.