~Open in prayer~

Icebreaker
● Who is our favorite author?
● Do you ever meal prep for the week?
● Do you have a pet, if yes what kind?

MESSAGE REVIEW
Church was supposed to be the place where the “equipping of the saints” takes place. If we continued to talk about the gospel of Jesus every week it only takes the church “ankle deep”. Nowadays we use google and the bible app to bring up scriptures but do not read the bible for ourselves. We also can get caught up on what is happening on the platform instead of what is happening in us. God does not live in the church building but in you and me. This series will be teaching on prayer and the first few messages will be foundational. The heavens are all about legalities. When you pray you are entering heavenly spaces and you must understand that heaven is a courtroom. We are citizens of the kingdom and we do not have to fight but we do have to learn the protocol in which to approach the courts. God is the mighty God and judge, Jesus is the mediator, the bible speaks of the “testimony of the blood” and the bible speaks of the persecutor of the brethren which is Satan. We usually go to God when it’s an emergency instead of forgetting protocol. Let’s dig deeper into how we should approach God in prayer.

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

• Read Revelation 5:10 and 1:6-8 These two scriptures speak of God making us kings and priests. The word priest means “intercessor”. People who are able to peer, speak and touch the unseen realm are the bridge of change. God has made us to become priests and that means “prayerful people”. God made us to be people who can stand in the middle of two worlds: the seen and unseen realm. We are called to be an intercessor and when we learn how to do that, we will be able to “reign” on earth. Do you understand what it means to be a priest? How should you approach God as a priest “intercessor”?

• Read Matthew 21:12-13 The bible said that when Jesus entered the temple, He drove out the people who sold and bought and “flipped tables”. Jesus stated that “It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer…” Now churches are teaching the gospel of Jesus and leading people to Christ but not as successful as discipling them. We tell people that they’ve been saved but not what they have been saved to. Once the Israelites were free from Egypt the first thing God asked of them was to take an offering so that the tabernacle could be built. He wanted a dwelling place where he can spend time with them. Later David sowed and his son Solomon built the temple for God. All of this was so that God can be with his beloved. What do you think Jesus meant when he said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”? When you pray do you approach God as a son or as an outsider?

Reference Scriptures
• Colossians 2:9 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [ a] bodily; When Jesus came there was a ripping of the curtain in the temple.” The temple could not hold Him any longer because everything in heaven emptied itself and poured into Jesus (Father, Son & Holy Spirit).

• 1Corinthians 6:19 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?’ God made us take up our cross and follow Him. We may suffer and show the character of Jesus while you suffer. Going to the cross saying “not my will but Thy will be done”. It’s no longer about our desires or will but about God’s.

• Read Luke 17:20-21 Jesus is the centerpiece of all humanity. Jesus never came to bring you Jesus and He was never meant to stay and that’s why He left. He was here to bring the kingdom and the kingdom is the “pearl of great price”. We are not to give you our pearls to swine, which means we are not to share the kingdom to people who will not value it. The treasure is the Holy Spirit, and He is the governor of the kingdom. In your head is the keys and in your heart is the governor. If I am now not my own, I am now given to God’s purposes on earth. Would you say you live a “spirt lead” life, which mean Holy Spirit guides you in all aspects of your life? Is the Holy Spirit an “active” person in your life?

Read Hebrews 5:7 The scripture tells us that some prayers are heard and so we can assume some are not heard. Just because we pray something it does not mean it is heard by God. The bible also speaks of “acceptable worship”, which means some worship is not acceptable. It says, “He was heard because he gave reverent submission” When we go to God, we are to be postured in reverence submission unto God. We need to pray for ourselves because we cannot lean on the prayers of others. The word “supplication” means time of extended prayer. Wills are broken and desires are exchanged in the extended prayer. Jesus went into the garden and his humanity came forth. He prayed till blood came out of his pores and asked His Father if there was another way? Ultimately, He came to the place if there is not another way, I will renounce Mine to take on your desire Father. We are to enter the gates with thanksgiving not with our problems. When we go to the Father to make your petitions made known with thanksgiving. How can we renounce our own desire for God’s will in our lives? How was the prayer of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane an example of how we should pray?

PRAYER FOCUS & REQUESTS
Support one another in your prayer requests and share and celebrate praise reports.