God @ Work - The Gift of Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13 NIV

““This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’”

Purpose of Prayer: 

A) Build relationship with God

 Matthew 6:9 NIV

““This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,”

This is actually from the Jewish old synagogue.

Jesus also uses "Abba" as Father

Mark 14:36

It is intimate term in calling our Heavenly Father.

The purpose of prayer is not only to ask for favor but relationship with God.

At times we take it for granted. 

Jesus also "hallow be your name" that states you need to come to God in fear also. He is not your buddy even though He is your Father.

He is both near and holy.

B) Jesus priority is souls be save.

“your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 6:10 NIV

As you pray, let God's agenda be your agenda

Jesus wants us to join God in kingdom purpose adventure in redeeming lives.

C) Entertailment vs Previlage 

“Give us today our daily bread.”

Matthew 6:11 NIV

Ephesians 2:3 NIV

 “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”

God's provisions is a Previlage. 

We need to pray that every Previlage is God's blessing. 

James 4:2 NIV

“You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.”

God doesn't owe you.

It's truly His provision.

We come to Him to acknowledge and thank Him for His provisions. 

Matthew 4:4 NIV

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ””

D) Potential of Prayer : Relationships Restored

Matthew 6:12 NIV

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

1 John 1:9 NIV

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

there is no sin too great for God to cover.

God wants us to restore the horizontal relationship 

Jesus uses "Us" that the Lord's Prayer which meant to be corporate prayer, community prayer

Matthew 18:18-20 NIV

““Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.””

E) Power of Prayer : Faith in Temptations and Testings

Matthew 6:13 NLT

“And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”

James 1:12 NLT

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

As you pray , and experience Him in your prayer,  God is our:

Romans 8:32 NLT

“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”

God @ Work ~ Gospel at Work

Gospel at Work is a Lifestyle.

 

Daniel 6:1-4 NIV

“It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”

A) Be Devoted ~ Daniel 6:1-8

Person |  Purpose 

B) Be Dedicated

Daniel 2:48 NIV

“Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.”

Daniel 6:3 NIV

“Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”

C) Be Different 

Daniel 6:4-5 NIV

“At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.””

Daniel chooses: 

We are made Holy by Jesus Christ

To be effective - change

By the redeeming grace from God.

D) Be Determined 

Daniel 6:10 NIV

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

Prayer | Posture

Colossians 4:2-4 NIV

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”

Pray for open doors 

Pray for open hearts

Pray for God to touch your boss in a special way

Be Wise 

Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders

Be Discerning

Make the most of every opportunity

Be Gracious in Your Speech

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt