Becoming a Praying Church
Reach Your World – Part 1
Life Church St. Louis – September 11, 2011
Pastor Dan Walker
Luke 21:36 (NIV) Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.
Luke 13:4-5 (NIV) Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Acts 4:31 (NIV) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Mark 11:17 (NIV) And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'?"
1. Prioritize ______________________
Mark 11:12-14 (NIV) The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again."
A. ____________ to be a disciple by fruit-bearing
John 15:8 (ESV) By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
B. Bear fruit by making _______________
John 15:16 (NKJV) I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
2. Remove ___________ to prayer
Mark 11:15-16 (NIV) On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
A. Throw out ____________________
Mark 11:17 (NIV) And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
B. Throw out ___________________
Mark 11:25 (NIV) And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
3. Pursue the ___________
Luke 14:23 (NASB95) "And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.
A. __________ with faith
Mark 11:22-23 (NIV) "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him."
B. __________ with faith
Mark 11:24 (NIV) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.