III.

Faithfulness in our continuous faithfulness

God's delay is not denial

Sometimes, the reasons why He delay His answers to our prayers are our lack of faith and readiness
1Thes

Ptr. Alex O. Garcia

The standards of God does not change. Sin is still sin.
For the church to be strong, the leaders must be strong

1Tim5:6
Ang paglilingkod sa Diyos ay pinaglalaban at pinagsisikapan.

Acts 20:28-29
1Peter 5:2-4
1Thesalonians 2:7

Ptr. AOG

Optimism is psychological
Hope is theological
Pursue Hope

Paglilingkod sa Diyos requires

1. Price to pay
2. Process to follow
3. Progress to track

Commitment to:
1. Personal devotion
2.Church worship
3. Life group
4. LDT
5. Stewardship

2Cor 5:10

It will show you solution to problems, barriers

1. Anticipate your battle

Expect that anytime the enemy will strike
1Peter 5:8

OUR ATTITUDE WHEN WE PRAY

1. What is Jesus trying to tell us in vv5-6

Prayer is a private conversation between us and our heavenly father. We should not mind what
other people see or hear regarding our prayer
2. Jesus warns us in v. 7 against repetitious prayers(babbling). What is the difference between
repetitious prayer and persistent prayer?
Repetitious prayer is the dry recital of the same words many times over merely to drill out the
prayer to such a length and to make a show of affection when there is really none. Persistent
prayer, encouraged by Jesus (Luke 18:1-8), is to come sincerely before God many times with the
same request.
3. Jesus assures us that our Father knows what we need before we ask HIM. Why do we still need
to pray?
a. As a father, God loves us and wants to hear our voice. Prayer draws us closer to God
b. When we pray, communication is two ways. God may want to tell us something during
our prayer time. For example: our attitude towards someone may need to be changed.
Or, we may need to look at problems from a different perspective etc.
Roneil, Jam, gilbert, jonald, kurt, jomo, mark, zandro, jopaw, kim, jairo, ullegue, ian

INTIMACY WITH GOD

What would you feel if you open your heart to someone close to you, but he/she did not show any
interest to listen? Why?

Jeremiah 33:3

`Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'(NIV)

Intimacy in marriage requires communication.

Intimacy with God takes prayer.

Success in both is dependent upon the quality of your relationship with the object of your affection.
When you cannot communicate with your family, for whatever reason, your relationship rapidly
integrates. Love grows cold. Warm memories are just that—recollections of the past, not realities at
present.

Prayer is communication, and the secret of intimacy in your spiritual life is being able to share
your thoughts, your heart, and your feelings without fear of rejection.

Busyness

Make a conscious effort to pray frequently and consistently.

Don’t do it out of obligation.

Set aside a definite time and place for it. If we think “I’ll pray when I have time,” we’ll end up having no
time for it

Anong meron na wala nung una? More time with God, more aggressive prayer. Prayer at the rooftop.
Energized morning, inspired ku, refreshed, fresh ideas, masipag, may joy. Balamu waste of time pero ali
eh….

Attitude

Your attitude. Minsan al aka gana. Anger, bitterness, harsh feelings, …. Tell them to God. Pour out your
heart, tell Him how you feel, tang tutu, be honest. this will be an environment where in God lets you
know what your response should be to what bothers you. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized
you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what
you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under
it.(NIV)

Minsan maktamad kc natutulog ang Diyos, my prayers are not answered.

 Doubt. Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.(NIV)

Baka nadelay lang. Wait. God's delay is not denial

Sometimes, the reasons why He delay His answers to our prayers are our lack of faith and readiness
1Thes or di ready.

Wrong Motives James 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.(NIV)

Distractions

Antok. If your mind wanders pray out loud. Your quiet time may be so quiet.

Pattern of Prayer

ACTS

Adoration

Psalm 95:6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;(NIV)
When we pray this way often enough, God becomes bigger and bigger in our life, Our concerns
will be on WHO HE is, what HE is like, what HE wants. We magnify God. Understand the
attributes of God. Recall the miracles,

Contrition

Come to God with a contrite Heart. This is a prerequisite of prayer. Prayer becomes effective
when it comes from a forgiving and forgiven heart.

Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will
confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah(NIV)

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us
from all unrighteousness.(NIV)

Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so
that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."(NIV)

Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:6
 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.(NIV)

Ang dali magpasalamat sa tagumpay, pero kahit sa kalagitnaan palang ng pagsubok, pwede na
tayo magpasalamat.

Supplication

1 Timothy 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be
made for everyone--(NIV)

John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.(NIV)

Intimacy with God does not come after attending church for hours on Sunday or by flinging a prayer
toward heaven, just as a basketball player hurls a ball toward the hoop, hoping to win the game in the
last three seconds of play. Intimacy is a relationship sustained through communication. We call it prayer.
Find out about prayer. It will change your life, your attitude, and your relationship with God. Remember,
Jesus Himself wh is imbued with all the power of God, modeled the necessity of a life of prayer.