Prayer Answers Guaranteed Level Two - Pt 1 6 Prerequisites to Prayer

Sermon Text:  Eph 4:14 - We are not meant to remain as children at the mercy of every chance wind of teaching . . .  Instead we are meant to hold firmly to the truth in love, and to grow up in every way into Christ .

Sermon Title:  Prayer Answers Guaranteed Level Two: Pt 1: Six Prerequisites for Prayer

Ephesians Chapter 4, there on your outline at the top, verse 14 says this, "We're not meant to remain as children at the mercy of every wind of teaching…"

Matthew 4:4, Jesus says this, "People need more than bread for their life…" That's what God wants you to do to feed on it a little bit every day. We want to help you develop that habit, whether it's five, 10, 15 minutes a day. In Acts, chapter 20:32 the Bible says this, Paul says, "The Word of grace" that's the Bible, "The Word of grace is able to build you up and give you all…" notice this, "all the blessings that God has for his people."

Point 2:     We grow when we learn in different ways. Luke 3:18 "In many different ways, John preached the good news to the people."

Notice in Luke chapter 3:18, it says about John the Baptist, "In many different ways, John preached the good news to the people."

. In Job 33:14 he says, "God speaks in different ways, and we don't always recognize his voice."

Point 3: We grow when we develop spiritual habits.  John 13:17, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you…" what? Circle that. "Practice them!"

John chapter 13:17, Jesus says this, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you…" what? Circle that. "Practice them!" If you do them. You practice them.

The Bible says this is 1 Corinthians 9:25. "All good athletes train hard and practice to get better. They do it to win a prize that won't last. But we practice to win a prize that will last forever!" in eternity. The habits you build in your spiritual life are going to pay off forever and ever and ever and ever in eternity.

Here's how they organized themselves:

“They praised God and the whole community…” this isn't talking about the church, it's talking about the community around the church, the whole community “liked what they saw in these people. As a result, the Lord added to their groups daily as their neighbors were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)  

Point 4:     We grow when we help each other grow.  Romans chapter 1:12, Paul says, "I want us to help each other with the faith that we have. Your faith will help me and my faith will help you."

Point 5:     We grow when we expect to grow. Matthew 9:29, "According to your faith it will be done to you."

Point 6:  We grow when we commit to grow.