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When You Call Down Heaven
WHEN YOU Series pt. 2
INTRO: The When You Series is about motives and a deeper walk with Christ.
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The Priority is not worship or preaching – Those who lack prayer lack power.
I have an extension cord and a light – but without power they are useless.
TO CALL DOWN HEAVEN YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE HEAVEN.
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Capture, Grip, Attract – are you engaging?
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Motivation is the key – “Lord, give me a passion to pray” – remove distractions.
It’s all about POSITIONING: 3 stages
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Matthew 6:5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
I. Position Yourself Toward God, Not Man
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Those who pray to be noticed.
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Long prayers [that are not Spirit-led] may fall in this camp.
Most prayers in the Bible are short. You don’t always need to expand –
Just hit the nail on the head.
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When you say, “Brother, let us pray” – make sure that you are promoted by passion, not pride.
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6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
II. Position Yourself to Receive
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Motivation is the key.
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The Secret Place: Not known or seen by others – that’s where God is.
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David McIntyre’s book, The Hidden Life of Prayer: “You need 1. a quiet place, 2. a quiet hour, and 3. a quiet heart.”
QUIET PLACE: “We wrestle not against flesh and blood” – This is wrestling with no rules.
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The devil is not sympathetic – he doesn’t back down, he speeds up. The quiet place slows down his pace as well as yours.
QUIET HOUR: Prayer is the priority. “Seek ye first…” – We should prioritize our day around prayer.
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If someone says, “Are you free?” Response – “No, I can’t meet you at Starbucks – I have a 7am appt.”
Until we stop making excuses that we’re too busy to pray we won’t see a Breakthrough – Break Through.
QUIET HEART:
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“Blessed are the poor in Spirit [beggars]” – deeply destitute, completely lacking resources;helpless as a beggar.
Vain Repetition occurs when we are bored or ritualistic in our prayers.
III. Positioning Has a Price – “The PRICE of prayerlessness far exceeds the price of prayer.”
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It’s a WEAPON – not a box on a checklist.
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BREAK every chain is not just a song people sing!
Have you ever heard a chain break? POP! Extra pressure is applied with a cheater bar.
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8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
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Cf. Luke 11:1 – “Teach us to pray.” They saw the power & the passion.
The Model (offer examples):
1. Our Father – worship and thankfulness – “hallowed be Your name.”
2. His will – “thy kingdom come.” May speak to your heart.
3. Our daily need – And He answers according to what we can handle.
4. Forgive our debts as we forgive others – get the heart right.
5. Lead us not – guide us away from sin. Don’t let us be tempted – show me the way of escape.
I avoid certain streets so they don’t tempt my kids.
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Can also mean TRIALS – Help me in the midst of the storm, or lead me away from this trial.
6. Deliver us from Evil – aren’t we already delivered? Are you?
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Rhuomai: to rescue – to reach out and grab!
“Jesus continued all night in prayer” (Luke 6). If you met your favorite actor or athlete, would you be in a hurry?
Doxology that may have been adopted by the Reformers
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“For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”
Everything is His kingdom – all powerful – magnificent forever.
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