Church camp 2016 - Session 1

[fardell24]

Why Bother to Pray?
'The Issue of Intimacy'

Testimony
- Christy, Matt, Bec & Tim White
Learning to do it with Jesus, to rely on Him.

Matthew 6:5 - 13

'First'
Putting God, first, before our needs.
Less effort. More result.

Why did the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray?
They were Jews, they heard prayer every day. The Pharisees used to say 'If you didn't say 100 prayers a day, you weren't praying'.

'Something happens when you pray' - Something always happened when Jesus prayed. This is what lead the disciples to ask Him how to pray.

What is unique about Christian prayer?

We shouldn't pray (and fast) to twist God's arm.
Your image of God is important
- It can motivate or demotivate you in prayer
Prayer - is communication with God.
- How much time do you spend listening to Him?

If God loves us
If God knows what we need
And wants what's best for us
Why does He wait until we pray?

Steve Frost - 'God has a strange implausible wish for human participation in the divine life and work'

What drives you to prayer?
- Prayer as routine
- Prayer heightened by need.
- Prayer as a pathway to intimacy and delight

Prayer as routine
Prayer heightened by need.
Philippians 4:6, 7
Bring your needs to Him.
Prayer as a pathway to intimacy and delight.

Prayer is not the most important thing!
Loving God is the most important thing!
But Prayer is an essential pathway to intimacy with God.
He longs your you!

When He looks at you, He sees you with the righteousness of His Son.

God loves you. There are no 'Buts'.

He is not disappointed in you. He is delighted in You.

Jude 24, 25