Sermon Notes 4/1/2012

Sermon Title: How Should I Pray? Part 1

Sermon Text: Romans 8:1-15

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:1-15

HOW SHOULD I PRAY?

• Our persistence in prayer (persistent dependence
• Our pattern of prayer
• Our place of prayer

OUR PERSISTENCE: VIOLENTLY

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of Heaven has been violently advancing, and violent men lay hold of it” (Matthew 11:12). Forceful means strong, energetic, to crowd into, press (biastes).

Romans 15:30-31 “Strive” together with me in prayer. Colossians 4:2-4 “Devote yourselves to prayer, keep alert in it” – work against distractions and hindrances.

Examples of Violent People:

• The woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:40-56)
• The Canaanite woman who Jesus called a dog (Matthew 15:21-28)
• Hannah (I Samuel 1-2)
•  Jesus praying all night (Luke 6:12-13)
• Gethsemane (Luke 22:43-46)
•  Jesus met the whole city, one by one at the door, and then rose up a long while before daylight and departed to a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:32-38)
•  Jesus fasted for 40 days (Luke 4:1-13)
• Paul’s language in Philippians 3:7-14 (lay hold; press)
• Jacob (Genesis 32)

OUR DEPENDENCE: IN THE SPIRIT

Pray in the Spirit

So to pray that the Holy Spirit is the empowering and guiding agent in prayer.

This is not robotic necessity, but romantic and relational participation.

• Ephesians 6:18 – Pray at all times in the Spirit
•  Jude 22 – building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit
• Romans 8:26-27
• Romans 8:15 – For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom  we cry, “Abba! Father!”
• I Corinthians 12:3 – Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit

Persistent dependence:

• Give the illustration of Maggie wanting to get on the bed.
• Give the illustration of Chuck Sowers and tubing. 

We are set free from the law by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:2)

Walk according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4)

Live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:5)

Put sin to death by the Spirit (Romans 8:13)

Led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14)

Cry “Abba Father” by the Spirit (Romans 8:15)

Examples of when I preach, parent, love my wife, etc.

Can’t hear without a preacher, can’t understand without the Spirit, cannot be regenerated without sovereign grace, cannot have heart change and conviction without the Spirit – so much I have to remember, little ones, appropriate illustrations, right references, etc.