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How Can My Prayers Reach Beyond the Ceiling?

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How Can My Prayers Reach Beyond the Ceiling?

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How Can My Prayers Reach Beyond the Ceiling?

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There are times when we might feel our prayers bounce right back from the ceiling. How can we pray so that we are heard?

Sermon Notes

Summary. Sermon: Mr. Jim Tuck "How can my Prayers Reach beyond he ceiling?" 

Sometimes our prayers seem to simply bounce off the ceiling. Christ had His own struggles with the disciples. He knew the disciples would not find it easy to pray. He knew at times they would lose heart. They were like we are with struggles, learning, the spiritual battle. In prayer as everything else... we have to learn, experiment. Luk 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Luk 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: Luk 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. Luk 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Luk 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. Luk 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? A lot of people do not give much thought about what and how to pray. 

Do our prayers please GOD? 1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. God won't bless us if we go against what He has directly commanded us to do. Pro 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination! If we do not recognize and abide by what God instructs .. what are our prayers worth? HOW DO WE OFFER UP PRAYERS THAT ARE PLEASING TO GOD? HOW would you answer? This has been asked of me many times before. When we give an answer sometimes we are told: "I have been doing that".. yet sometimes they are not done right. 

1. Prayer must be done IN FAITH. It must come from the innermost conviction of the heart. Not just mouthing the words from some memorized prayer. God looks to a person who has that kind of heart when presenting prayers to HIM. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Faith HAS TO BE there or we can't please Him !!! God rewards us because we seek HIM and do so in the RIGHT way. Mat 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. Mat 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. Mat 21:20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Mat 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 

Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Sometimes we ... simply do NOT really believe. This Faith is different and comes from God's HOLY Spirit Heb definition of Faith. We NEED to grow in that and come to believe absolutely. God answers in HIS OWN TIME... and always at the RIGHT TIME. Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. God wants us to REALLY BELIEVE SOMETHING. FAITH comes by thorough belief in God's Word. You must study for yourselves. See Romans 10:17 Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. I feel personally that my Faith is VERY Lacking... though I have a lot more faith now than when I first started. 

2. Prayer should always be made in a HUMBLE, contrite attitude. Not in anger, self-seeking. King David said: unto them of a contrite? Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. PUBLICAN justified .. .all "squared away" from God's perspective. When we ask God for forgiveness, a clean spirit and attitude to address HIM. Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? Isa 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. WE need people in the Church who have experience. Willing to help out. 

3. Pray according to the WILL of GOD! He will not violate His Law to "help" us. Sometime we pray selfishly. 1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: 1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. GOD is always there for you if you ask according to HIS WILL !! One of the most important things a parent can teach a child is that LIFE has things that are not pleasant... yet you will learn important things from that. What about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego? They were ON TRIAL... a Fiery Trial indeed. Yet, not even the smell of smoke was on them !!! King Nebuchadnezzar realized WHO he was dealing with. Often we are more focused on our personal desires than what GOD WANTS. IF we do our part for God and in God's way .. those things will be taken care of. They are NOT a challenge for God. Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Jas 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Jas 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

4. We should have a grateful attitude in our prayers. GOD does NOT like whining! OUR AFFLUENT WORLD HAS SPOILED US and we can, and often become, more and more sour and self-centered. Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Assignment: take a piece of paper when u get home and write down all the things God has given you and you are grateful for. CHRIST'S SACRIFICE... the Truth of God..... 

5. We must offer an importunity prayer. Important enough to address God? Then persist in powerful and focused prayer till He answers... if someone needs a job, mate, calling, then we must keep them in prayer till they receive what they need. PERSISTENCE is important to Please God. Realize HE will answer the Prayer. Luk 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; Luk 11:6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? Luk 11:7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. Luk 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. Luk 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luk 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. An Important thing to KNOW is HOW our prayers get to Please God, ALL YOU GOT TO DO is kneel down and talk to GOD in prayer. He expects us to learn and progress in our understanding of Prayer so that they won't bounce off the ceiling but reach HIM at His throne. LET us continue to pray consistently and persistently till the end of this age.