Prayer Week 3 - Individual Prayer
Read
Matthew 6:5-18
5 “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you 7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
9 “Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses. 16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you
Summary
This week we wrapped up our Prayer series. After covering Corporate Prayer and Pace of Prayer we finished off with focusing on individual prayer. Prayer is an expectation not just an option, it’s not about what others perceive of you, it’s about authenticity between you and God. You may be able to fool people, but God knows the content of your prayer life. The Father is who we pray to. Prayer Is an expectation and a reward. Fasting is also an expectation.
The first point this week was Prayer Is An Expectation. Prayer is a private devotion, not public perception. Unlike public prayer that is in front of others, individual prayer is between you and God. Public prayer is about motive, why are you praying in front of others, are you comparing your prayer with others? Individual prayer has no outside motive, no comparison, it is just you expressing your heart to the Lord.
Our second point was Prayer Is The Reward. Spending time with God is the reward. Are you seeking God for Him, or for His gifts? We pray Abba, Our Father, we know He is not distant, we know he is our provider, we know he is a personal God. We pray His Kingdom Come, He pardons us, He protects us, and His will is what we are longing for.
Finally, Fasting Is An Expectation. We see fasting in the Bible: Jesus, Esther, Daniel, Nehemiah and Moses all fasted to see what God had for them. As we go through our 21 day fast are people more aware of your fast or more aware of your God. Fasting is personal, it’s not something we share with others, unless they are fasting along with you. Fasting is a spiritual discipline. We fast to give more of your attention to God, to draw closer to God for a specific purpose. A personal discipline and not a diet. Many of us know how to fast, but do we know why we fast. Our attitude and motive about fasting is what matters.
Discussion
How did you PREPARE for this 21 day fast? Share
What are you EXPECTING God to do at the end of these 21 days? Share
How has this fast drawn you CLOSER to the Lord? Share
How has this fast affected your PRAYER life? Share
How have you EXPLAINED your fast to others? Share
Announcements
As a part of the MOVEMENT here at BT, please be sure that you and your group are a part of the PRAYER GATHERING that takes place the first Wednesday of every month.
We have started new adult classes that are meeting on Sundays and Wednesdays.
What is Authentic Community Sunday Mornings at 11am (McAllen Campus)
Parenting Class Wednesday nights at 6:30pm (McAllen Campus)
The Book of Ruth Wednesday nights at 6:30 (Alice Campus)
Let’s continue to pray for each other and send prayer requests through our WhatsApp thread. If you are a CG Leader and are not on our WhatsApp thread please contact Meichelle at meichelle.vasquez@bt.church
Pastor Isuaro Medina
Isauro.medina@bt.church
Cell: (956) 984-9380
