Rock Solid: Pray First

Rock Solid

Jan 21

Written By Pastor Charlie Weir

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NOTES:

Rock Solid: Pray First

January 21st, 2024

Luke 6:46-49 (Amplified) 46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not practice what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and obeys them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a [far-sighted, practical, and sensible] man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and yet could not shake it, because it had been securely built and founded on the rock. 49 But the one who has [merely] heard and has not practiced [what I say], is like a [foolish] man who built a house on the ground without any foundation, and the torrent burst against it; and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

5 Foundational Truths

Jesus defines relationship by actions. Lord, Lord = Hearing & Doing
Rock Solid foundations take deep digging. Top soil, Rocky soil, Spoiled soil
Floods happen to everyone and cause real damage.
Lives rise and fall based on foundations.
Foundations are built with first actions.

Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness [His ways], and all these things will be given to you as well.

The First 3 “Dig Down” Processes

Give
Pray
Fast

3 Fasting Rewards

Clarity of Identity & Vision
Clear-ity of Obstacles & Opposition
Courage for Movement & Advancing

“Prayer connects us to God. Fasting disconnects us from the world.”

Pastor Chris Hodges “Pray First” pg. 191

Matthew 6:5-15 (NIV) 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should 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 today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one’.14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

3 Foundational Prayer Points.

Foundational Prayer is fueled by a primary desire.

Prayer is a matter desire and desire makes time for prayer. The more time spent leads to more time desired. If you don’t make time for prayer, you will have no time for prayer.

2. Foundational Prayer is opposed.

To overcome prayer opposition, we have to develop a prayer practice: setting aside a specific time, place and posture to pray.

Best Prayer Practices

Schedule
Journal
Isolate
Voice

3. Foundational Prayer needs a pattern to follow.

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

4 Lord’s Prayer Observations:

Prayer is a normative spiritual practice.
People get it wrong.
God rewards right prayer.
God is aware of our needs.