PRAYING IN FAITH (PART 1)
by Pastor Richard Tow
January 3, 2016
Text: Mark 11:22-24
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Description: Faith is essential to effective prayer because “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Jesus often connected answers to prayer with the person’s faith. This message deals with the difference between “praying” verses just “saying prayers.” Faith is first and foremost a heart issue; but it is not complete until it is expressed in our actions.
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OUTLINE
Praying in Faith (Part 1)
Intro
What’s missing in today’s church?
Jesus often explained answered or unanswered prayer in terms of the person’s faith.
Five propositions about how faith works in our prayer life.
I. Faith is essential to effective prayer.
Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).
A difference between “saying prayers” and “praying” (Matt. 6:5-8).
II. Faith relies on our relationship with God through Christ.
“Our Father…” (Luke 11:2)
In Jesus Name (John 14:13-14)
III. Faith must be rooted in the heart.
Jesus’ teaching in Mark 11:22-24
(1) Have faith “in God.”
(2) “…and does not doubt in his heart.”
(3) “…but believes that those things he says will be done….”
Paul’s teaching in 1 Cor. 2:6-12
(1) “Eye has not seen…Nor have entered into the heart of man….”
(2) “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit….”
IV. Faith comes by hearing the word of God.
What we can do to receive the word in our hearts.
(1) Choose to open our hearts to God.
(2) Take the word into our minds.
(3) Take God at His word.
(4) Put more confidence in what God says than what our natural senses see.
Another lesson from the fig tree in Mark 11
V. Faith must be accompanied by appropriate action.
Works (James 2:26)
Words (Rom. 10:9)
QUESTIONS
- Do you think faith is essential for effective prayer? Why or why not? Do you see a difference between “saying prayers” and “praying”? If so, how would you describe that difference?
- In your approach to God do you consciously rely on your relationship with God as your “Father?” How does meditation on this truth nurture faith in the heart?
- Is a faith that is only in the head and mouth effective? Can we operate only with our natural senses and be effective in prayer?
- The sermon suggested four ways to receive the word in our hearts:
(1) Choose to open our hearts to God.
(2) Take the word into our minds.
(3) Take God at His word.
(4) Put more confidence in what God says than what our natural senses see.
Talk about how these actions facilitate revelation in the heart.
