Luke, Week 4: The Prayer

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 We would experience the POWER that comes from the stories for ourselves. (Luke 18:35-37) (NIV) As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.  When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.  They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”   (Luke 18:38-39) (NIV) He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”   (Luke 18:40-42) (NIV) Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”  “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”   (Luke 18:43) (NIV) Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.   How to pray: 1.    Pray with urgency (Psalm 142:1) (NLT) I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord’s mercy. 2.    Pray with perseverance (Matthew 7:7)(NIV) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 18:39) (NIV) Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Colossians 4:2) (GNT) Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) (NLT) Never stop praying. 3.    Pray specifics (Luke 18:41) (NIV) Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”  “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 4.    Pray with faith "Heaven is full of answers to prayer for which no one bothered to ask." –Billy Graham (Jeremiah 33:3) (NIV) Call to me and I will answer you… (Job 30:20) (NIV) “I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me. (Hebrews 11:39) (NIV) These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, (Hebrews 11:40) (NIV) God had planned something better… 5.    Pray with a heart of thankfulness (Luke 18:43) (NIV) Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. (Isaiah 59:10) (NLT) We grope like the blind along a wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark. Among the living, we are like the dead.