R492 Learning to Pray

We all could use some encouragement and will find it together today in the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton on the message. Learning to pray. Yes, this is The Encouraging Word featuring Dr. Don Wilton well-known author evangelist Emily Prof. Pastor and today he takes us to Luke chapter 18 is to study more about learning to pray as we do so Dr. Don Wilton remind you where here to pray with you and for you as well. Our phone number is 866899 were jotted down stored in your cell 866-899-9673 will always connect with one of us happy to talk to listen pray as we open God's Encouraging Word together were connecting. Also on our website@gwonline.org STW online.org now. Today's message with Dr. Don Wilton. I want to read one illustration of this is found in Luke chapter 18 in verse nine to some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody you Jesus told this parable. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and played about him. So now, I just wasn't one of the in the Greek text that he played about him so doesn't mean that there is something wrong. In fact, the very opposite is true about trying for you so the great escape actually is venerated.

He was playing to himself. He was having a conversation with him, so I'm fairly well done that, you know, we are also sometimes, and yet this man was giving the impression that he was playing the Bible says that he was doing as he was talking to him so in other words, the word they literally means that the focus of everything that he was saying was not presenting himself to Granma that he was presenting himself to him so for the benefit of everybody else. If I could put it in these terms. This man was doing was putting on a show alive. Let's read it together Pharisee stood up and prayed to him.

So God I thank you that I'm not like other men, robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector are fast twice a week and I give a team I get the tax collector stood at a distance he would not even look up to him, but rather he PTs braced and said God have mercy on me a sinner I tell you said Jesus, that this man rather than the other went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted by the right his word upon our hearts, living in just a moment we are going to pray together and I want you before God today I want us to be able to God from our hearts, according to what God tells us to do. Let me say some things to you.

How can we learn to pray you listen to pray.

Well, I think. By understanding three very simple trees first understanding why God invites us to pray we don't understand why folks listen to the Bible tells us that there are three fundamental reasons why God invites us to pray number one number one because we are so surprised rather strange. The God allows you and me to talk to him pray to him and share with him because he wants us to know that we do so now.

Why did you flip over the page to first Peter chapter 2nd Peter chapter 1 verse four. Let me show you some second Peter chapter 1 and verse listen to what he says.

The apostle second Peter one and verse three. These God has given us his very great and precious promises that will watch me from do you want to have God's great and precious promises. That's what God says.

He says these things God has given us. He's very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption by evil desires. Consider a baby in her mother's womb linked by the umbilical that that growing baby feeds upon his mother and grows to the point at birth. It is no different when we become children of God. God says that as his children as a group we connected a scooter I'm umbilical and what God is saying to us is simply this, he's saying to yourself, not because I'm yourself because of my you need the divine nature and character of God is saying to us. I have made available to you my divine nature. In fact, their friends, listen to me this morning. There is a sense in which human body do not play to God. It is as though God is giving to us spiritually speaking and we are desperately hungry and we say well I know I'm hungry and I'm starving and gone. You've given me a plate of food.

But I'm not going to eat.

God says look quickly.

This incredible opportunity to feed and nourishment from my divine nature from my character. I'm going to give to you everything I'm going to allow you to become a partaker in the baby is a broader two euros and if you don't play my friend you are robbing your self of what God has given to you. So why do we pray, how do we pray we need to understand why in the first onto the why is because we ourselves number two because we are up to others, we are to others. God has made it abundantly clear that there is one thing about else that we can do for one another is that we can pray for one another and says listen to pray you don't understand why so doesn't want to clean if you have a need to die and I don't pray for you. Guess what I'm doing. I'm robbing you what I'm doing. Listen to what Samuel said in the twilight of his life.

First Samuel chapter 12 in verse 23 he said that I should send you dance by failing to pray for you is that not amazing folks listen. That means if we don't pray for one another. What are we guilty said with sinning against God.

Number one, we are to ourselves.

Number two.

We want another number three we owe to the Lord to pray you, consider what Jesus Christ himself did right throughout his ministry upon the earth. He did three things. Folks, he practiced, pray, pray, and he demonstrated prayer he was right there in front about serve the time Jesus was led by precept and example so that I need to know I need to pray God is given me permission. Why because I owe it to myself. Number two because I wrote to other people I do that to my sons and moms and dads with my grandparents. If you did not pray for your sons investors this week. You see certain against God. The greatest thing we can do for one another is to pray for one, it is one of the most found the most wonderful thing is that God is ever given to us and so you going in for surgery this week. I want you to know that we going to pray for you that's not the intercessory prayer ministry of this church is so important that when we fill out cards and we send cards to each other saying we are praying for you. That's why it's so important when not going through some kind of ritual emotion just to make people think we are doing something that God is given. Trust wives are you praying for your husband's husband's you praying for your lives praying for our elderly parents only praying for one another in our grief only praying for widows and I would a result, we praying teenagers only praying for one another. Listen to John 13. In verse 13 says one of my favorite verses of Scripture Jesus save this John 13. In verse 13 he said I was so lost in my main so that the son may bring glory to the father. This listener that is incredibly awesome in my name in the name of Jesus Christ with one purpose. One goal in mind so that the sun may bring greatly to the father. In fact, in Philippians God gives to us is blank check my blog shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. This is God speaking. God says to us.

I'm going to give to you.

We too soon. We owe to one another. That's the least I can do for you.

That's the least you can do for me and we go to the Lord Jesus because he loves us so much. Learn to play my friend number one by understanding line number two. By knowing when to pray you sign up faster when you are pray to give you five times to pray according to Scripture you see folks listen listen to me. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 18 that on occasions with all kinds of praise by pray. So there is a sense in which one I'm about to say to you is redundant because God says prioritize you not, that means means when I'm driving down the interstate in my motorcar good time to have a prayer by the why just counsel you not to close your eyes and by the way, that's a lot, but when the Bible says that you must close your eyes. You know, sometimes not often it's an exceptional but sometimes I play with my you know I do that because sometimes my mind wonders when I play, especially when I'm by myself, or even if I'm in a prayer meeting and its silence and everybody's quiet and I'm down then I'm playing quietly in my heart you know what happens to me sometimes folks my mind begins to wonder certain in the middle of my pray you know I'm watching the one writing about us one preaching in the prison somewhere warm in the cooking to set my mind just in the next minute you enjoy my live in one that's why I open my eyes open my eyes and it brings me back to reality and I look around. Sometimes it helps me to focus even though that's that's a strange thing to understand but that's not what I do in order to help me now listen to me. God says you can pray at times, but let's get specific in this number one number one pray at regular times. Psalm 55 in verse 17, the evening demanding the moon cry out to God and he is regular times because Daniel is one of my favorite characters Daniel chapter 6 and verse 10 what does the Bible say the Daniel went into his room's apartment is hollow and he prayed three times a day and we know that Daniel was placing all kinds of circumstances and drops three times a day. Daniel prayed so I regular times number two, number two is the Holy Spirit urges you to pray not turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Romans. I'm in a show you just a remarkable passenger script come on I want to hear the pages turning in your Romans chapter 8 chapter 8 look at this together. Romans chapter 8 and verse 26 we need to know when to probably number one at regular times. Sometimes at bedtime. Sometimes at the table whenever it might be number two. Pray as the Holy Spirit urges us to pray. Romans chapter 8 and verse 26 in the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express and searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints with God's will that amazing you see folks on his spirit in our hearts and come us to pray at times that we might please that I think it's good to pray many years ago, sitting in my office in New Orleans.

I suddenly felt the compassion to pray for the client who was manager of the youth section at the likely resources.

The Sunday school but out of the Southern Baptist convention.

I didn't know where he was displayed for him. I wrote him a note. Two months later, he sent me and he said to me, Don. Let me tell you what happened on that Friday 12 o'clock noon. This time I was in the Philippines. We went into a bad place. We got captured by some terrorists who were all with guns and everything else and we were taken to this place and they were restricting to get violent with us and even to execute us and exactly United States time. The leader of this group with a blindfold and bus to get out of there, folks listen to me. I'm not going to claim anything, but I am going to say to you that we are to ourselves and we went to one another and we forgive the eruption will be back with more of today's message on how we are growing and learning to pray with Dr. Don Wilton in just a moment. If you haven't been to our website lately.

Missed out on a wonderful new book from Charles Stanley called courageous faith that you know Dr. Stanley and Dr. will to the been friends for a good long time here.

Decades now, and this book is this one of those that we just felt like we had to make available to you if you'd like to get details.

Courageous faith, along with Dr. Wilton's message pressing word our wonderful combination of resources that are available right now on our website@twonline.org's Meditech if you don't want to wait until the end of the program to visit the website you can give us a call. Our phone number 8668 will also connect with one was happy to give you the details on how you can get a copy of this fresh quote from Charles Stanley called courageous faith in the message from Dr. Don Wilton pressing forward, both available on our website at tewonline.org. He calling 86689673. Now back to today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton when regular time. Second, at the urging at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I know moms and dads, grandparents and I went over suddenly or just have this saints in your heart to pray for you Sonia.

Your friend just just pray God speaking to you. Number three when Karen saw impress us care in trouble, promise which which can be manifested in so many different ways Psalm 50 in verse 15, the psalmist said upon me in the day of trouble and I deliver you in acts chapter 16 verse 25: Silas found themselves in prison. They were in trouble. They do, I pray God came upon them, God spoke to the God blessing God delivered them for. Pray the time of special needs folks everyone about Saturday has special needs. I don't know what it might be. Maybe I do. Maybe I don't. Maybe nobody else knows that God let me show you turn with me to the book of James just before first Peter the book of James in chapter 5 I want to show you a remarkable verse of Scripture. James chapter 5. Listen to this this passage of Scripture will revolutionize your life changed the course of your life did you meaning in life. James chapter 5 and verse 13 is anyone of you in trouble. All right, hold on.

Not everybody look at me.

I don't want anybody to raise her hand on anybody standing up, but I'm going to ask this question is that anyone who is in trouble. Is there anyone here denies that (probably means are you facing surgery. Have you been diagnosed with a sickness or you going through something is that anyone here today. That's what the Bible says is there anyone here that your marriage is in the rocks and by the way, that would trouble is not just negative. It's positive maybe, maybe you been blessed with so much and you don't know what to do with might.

Maybe God is just done something for you and you want to just you want to turn to him. This is anyone of you in trouble. He should try. Is anyone happy, let him sing songs of life. Is anyone of you sick he should put it on the elders of the church to play over him and anoint him with in the name and offered in faith will make the sick person well raise him up if he is soon he will be forgiven. Face your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be a righteous man is powerful and says that Lee says that God's that he has survived this into the character of God to be, as we pray for ourselves and for one another is unbelievable. Unbelievable. Number five pray together with others is another time Scripture Matthew chapter 18. Acts chapter 1, they joined together. If you going to the book of acts and you go back to acts chapter 1 and you go right through the Scriptures you going to find time without number that the church came together and when they came together they played together and when they played together. God moved in amongst them in a big way. God began to reveal himself to them. If you just had a baby morning your home.

The greatest thing you can do is pray for that you got a child going to college grown up on you inviting me the first year. The greatest thing you can do is pray for them. I had a young person come to me this week and say to me pasta you should find out again to Myrtle Beach. I said well Rudy 222.

I said what did you hear me say that I tell you not to go to motivate he said no. So I said let me tell you. I wish I could go with you. Myrtle Beach is a great place to be God, have the best of your life.

But I am going to play that you go to Myrtle Beach come back in pieces that you don't come back as I just don't come back for the sake of peace is welcome and scattered that you are made to spend years trying to Myrtle Beach but I'll tell you what I can walk and pray not only can I pray for him. He can pray for himself. He can launch God to do for him what nobody else can do and God moving we are playing for the families we are playing for the joy of crying because God said we can so the final question is this. If we can learn how to play. By understanding why and by knowing when I think we can learn to play by practicing how to pray for the keywords. We must pray humbly, humbly, in the presence of the Lord.

Number two, we must place simply see God said that when we talk to him. We just talked to him, Lord, could I share with you about the pain in my leg today Lord could not to block my son and I have a burden in my heart that I feel so lonely and I had my husband for 55 years and he's gone to be with you.

I know time passes by, but I'm hurting so much.

I'm so lonely Lord cannot talk to you about their I'm struggling to make ends meet or not I want to trip to you because I need to drift from your divine nature from your character. I need something minimum. Charles Schwab right now, Lord, I need you then cannot tell you about my desire to play Baylor College.

I know that I did well at school and then I'm going down to Myrtle Beach with a group of my friends and have a good time but spoken about to not let me let it wash on that graduation Sunday on domicile from you been fighting against you, but last Sunday I made a recommitment of Moloch will help me to make it through the day and help me to stay close to you and help me not to be pulled aside about these things to the Lord. We can talk together and I want you to know today just how very much I love you and how much I pray for you my friend. Pray for you. I pray that the Lord would just get all over you that he publish, would you bow your heads with me from a as Dr. Don leads in this time of prayer dedication. Perhaps you would open your heart to what you been hearing throughout this day. Not only do we owe it to ourselves to spend time in prayer. We also pray that as we open our hearts to communicating with God that we would realize he's using this broadcast communicate with you as well to let you know that he loves you. He has a plan for your life. A place for you in heaven, an opportunity in this life to make a difference like never before. Pray that you been listening to Dr. Wilson is been teaching and preaching from the pulpit but now as he steps in the studio to open your heart to what Dr. Don wants to share. Are you ready to give you half in life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that Iversen and I know that Jesus died for me today. I repainted my sin and by faith I receive you into my in Jesus night, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God.

This is exciting. You if you just prayed along with Dr. Don Wilton to give your life to Jesus Christ or perhaps to rededicate your life to Christ need to know that we stand ready along with the angels in heaven. To celebrate, to rejoice with you and to walk with you in the next steps of growing faith number again is eight 668-996-7317 says on icon will answer me turn your ear to ear, prayer, The Encouraging Word has a 24 hour my airline 866899899967 and talk to a real person. The Encouraging Word you were there supporting ministry today are times almost gone but will remind you about the daily devotional from Dr. Don Wilton. It's available you can sign up right now on our website@twonline.org will receive an email every morning or if you'd rather receive a hard copy that's available as well.

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