1 Kings 18:16-21
1. Some gods never answer

And here's the tragic irony: The more your god doesn't answer, the MORE you sacrifice to it. The prophets of Baal started dancing. Then shouting. Then cutting themselves. Why? Because when your god doesn't work, you think: "I'm not doing enough. I need to try harder."

I heard someone once call it “ the treadmill of false worship.”

2. One God always answers

1 Kings 18:36-39

Because it is not about how much you pray, it's about WHO you pray to.

prayer isn't about convincing a reluctant God to do what we want. Prayer is accessing the power of a God who WANTS to answer, who LOVES to reveal Himself, who DELIGHTS to turn hearts back to Him.

3. When God answers, hearts change

4. The FIRE we really need

Acts 2:1-4

At Carmel

• Fire Fell on the Altar

• Fire Consumed the Sacrifice

• Fire proved God’s power

• The people's hearts changed temporarily

  At Pentecost

  • Fire fell on the PEOPLE

  • Fire filled them with GOD’S SPIRIT

  • Fire proved God’s PRESENCE

  • Fire changed them PERMANENTLY

"The prophets of Baal cut themselves trying to get their god's attention. How much are you bleeding for things that can't save you?"

1. UNITED PRAYER RELEASES EXPONENTIAL POWER

Matthew 18:19-20

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

2. CORPORATE PRAYER BUILDS SPIRITUAL UNITY

3. COLLECTIVE PRAYER CARRIES SHARED AUTHORITY

Acts 4:29-30

4. COMMUNAL PRAYER ENCOURAGES WEAK FAITH

James 5:16

Matthew 6:9-13

1. START WITH WHO GOD IS, NOT WHAT YOU NEED

"Prayer doesn't start with your problems—it starts with God's perfection."

Starts with Our Father (intimate)

Not "Dear Sir" or "Almighty Judge" or "Distant Creator." Father. 

But notice: He doesn't just say "my Father"—He says "OUR Father." Prayer is never just about you. You're part of a family. When you pray, you're praying with millions of other sons and daughters.

• In Heaven (Close but transcendent)

• "Hallowed be your name."

• To "hallow" something means to treat it as holy, set apart, sacred. Jesus is saying, "Before you ask God for anything, WORSHIP HIM FOR WHO HE IS"

Application:

Most of us pray like this: "God, I need this. God, fix that. God, help me. Amen."

"Worship recalibrates your heart before you ever open your mouth."

When you start with "hallowed be your name," you're reminding yourself:

• God is bigger than your problem

• God is wiser than your plan

• God is more loving than you can imagine

God does not need buttered up… He doesnt need our affirmation. This part is for you

"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

"Prayer isn't about getting God on board with your plans—it's about getting you on board with His."

After worship comes surrender.

"Your kingdom come."

A kingdom is wherever a king rules. Jesus is saying, "God, let Your rule and reign expand. Let Your authority be recognized. Let Your kingdom advance."

"Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

In heaven, God's will is done perfectly, immediately, joyfully. No resistance. No delay. No compromise.

This is where prayer gets dangerous. Because when you pray "Your will be done," you're giving God permission to:

• Close doors you wanted open

• Open doors you wanted closed

• Take you places you didn't plan to go

• Use you in ways you didn't expect

"'Your will be done' is the most powerful—and most terrifying—prayer you can pray."

We want to pray, "God, bless my plans." But Jesus teaches us to pray, "God, I surrender to Your plans."

We want to say, "God, make my life comfortable." Jesus says, "Pray that God's kingdom would come—even if it costs you something."

Question for Reflection:

What would happen if you actually meant it when you prayed, "Your will be done"? What would you have to release? What would you have to trust God with?

"Give us today our daily bread."

"Anxiety lives in tomorrow. Faith lives in today."

But Jesus says, 'Nope. Daily bread. Every. Single. Day.'

Why? Because God wants you to wake up every morning and say, 'I need You today.' Not 'I needed You last Tuesday and I'm still running on that.'"

"Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."

"You can't receive what you refuse to release."

After dependence comes forgiveness—and this is where it gets uncomfortable.

"Forgive us our debts..."

We've all sinned. We've all blown it. We've all hurt God, hurt others, hurt ourselves. We all have a debt we can't pay.

"...as we also have forgiven our debtors."

Wait. What?

Jesus just made your forgiveness conditional. He's saying, "God will forgive you the way you forgive others."

This is non-negotiable.

Matthew 6:14-15,

The prayer ends with a battle cry.

"Lead us not into temptation..."

"...but deliver us from the evil one."

You wouldn't walk through a minefield alone. You wouldn't go into a warzone unarmed. So why do you think you can fight spiritual battles without God's help?

Prayer is how you call in reinforcements. Prayer is how you access divine protection. Prayer is how you say, "God, I'm in over my head. I need you to fight for me."

"The battle is real, but so is your Protector."

1 Corinthians 10:13

God will make a way. He will provide escape routes. He will deliver you.

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name."
2. SURRENDER YOUR AGENDA TO GOD'S PURPOSE.3. DEPEND ON GOD FOR TODAY, NOT TOMORROW
4. RECEIVE FORGIVENESS AND RELEASE OTHERS
5: ADMIT YOU CAN'T WIN THIS BATTLE ALONE.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

1. PRAYER CONNECTS YOU TO GOD'S POWER

John 15:5

2. PRAYER CHANGES YOUR PERSPECTIVE

Philippians 4:6-7

When you pray, problems don't necessarily get smaller—you get bigger

You start seeing with God's eyes, not just your circumstances

You begin to see God clearer… JESUS GETS BIGGER

”Every Year you grow you will find me bigger”

3. PRAYER CLARIFIES YOUR PURPOSE

Psalm 37:4

Prayer aligns your wants with God's will

The more time you spend with God, the more you think like Him

Application: What you focus on in prayer reveals what you value

fasting clears space for God…. Where you were hungry… you pray….

Use this fast to help eliminate the noise in your life.

4. PRAYER CULTIVATES YOUR CHARACTER

Romans 8:28-29

Romans 8:28-29 - God is conforming you to Christ's image

Unanswered prayers often protect us from our immature requests

Prayer isn't about getting what you want; it's about becoming who God wants

"God is more interested in changing you than your circumstances."

Start a "prayer rhythm" - same time, same place daily

Keep a prayer journal this week - write down what God is doing IN you

The P.R.A.Y. method: Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield

Pray about what you should fast as we approach 21 days

Intervention: The Act of stepping into a situation to change its course, especially to prevent harm or improve an outcome.

Galatians 4:4-7

There are two important things when it comes to an intervention: Timing and Purpose

Galatians 4:4-7 reminds us that’s what Christmas is all about.

1.    God Intervenes at the right time (v. 4) (Timing)

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a women, born under the law”

The phrase “set time” used here is the Greek word Pleroma.  There is only one other place in the New Testament that the word “Pleroma” is used. Ephesians 1:10. Ephesians is referring to the second coming.   

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…”

2.    God Intervenes to Set Us Free (v. 5-7) (Purpose)

“To redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.  Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father’.  So, you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭45‬-‭56‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I. MAGNIFY: Worship Begins with Right Perspective

Luke 1:46-47 ESV

Luke 19:1-10 NIV

• Jesus’ actions reveal his authority- He does what He wants to, where He wants to, how He wants to, for whomever He wants to do it.

• Jesus’ actions reveal his kindness- why he does it, when he does it, even though he doesn’t have to do it. 

Jesus personally invites the most unlikely and undeserving people into His presence and He uses the church to extend that same life-changing invitation today. 

Invitations tell us we are special

• Notice that Jesus adds Zacchaeus to his agenda by naturally seeing him along his way. Yes he supernaturally may have known his name but it was a natural sight of a man in an odd position-that grabbed our Lord's attention. 

• Who might possibly be in the odd positions in our spaces?  Zacchaeus did not deserve Jesus but Jesus responded not to what Zacchaeus deserved but what he desired. 

• What are some signs people display that show curiosity or openness? 

• Jesus’ ability to make this man feel special is the power of an invitation and invitations have weight depending on who is giving it and to where they are inviting you. (If Shawn invites me a charger game—hard pass)

• Your invitation matters because you have the impact power to make people feel special, you are the salt and light of the earth. You have the flavor, you got that juice, you carry the Spirit of God!

• This is why we do invites to an event, to a bible study, to a growth group or to a Sunday Service. We know in these spaces God moves and on Sundays we know the powerful life changing message of Jesus Christ will be preached!

• Remember your transformation, how did God transform your life and how does he continue to transform your life, is it not through invitations where divine opportunity awaits. Let’s Go!

Invitations lead to knowing God’s truth

We invite others to hear and know the truth of God and the truth about themselves. 

• Colossians 4:2-6 NIV

• We pray for others, we are watchful for an open door, and we say the truth with grace and flavor. 

1.  God’s Design
: “God created us to know Him, to love Him, and to rule over creation under His authority. We were supposed to be under God but over everything else. We were supposed to rule over creation under the guidance and authority of God’s Word. And God gave Adam a command and promised him life if he kept it and death if he didn’t.

2.  Our Rebellion
: But Adam rebelled, and every one of us has followed for everyone born from that man inherited that man's sin nature. This is why our world is broken for we all have sin in our genes, we all fall short of God’s holy standard. We’re guilty, spiritually dead, separated from God, and under His just judgment. No amount of good works can fix it—the penalty is death, and we owe it.

3.  God’s Rescue: 
Here’s the good news: God loved us so much that He sent His perfect Son, Jesus—fully God, fully man, born of a virgin, so he’s sinless not connected to sin like the rest of us. He lived the life we should have lived-righteously fulfilling God’s commands and died the death we deserved. On the cross, He took God’s wrath and paid for our sins with His blood. Then He rose from the dead, proving everything He said is true and that the debt is fully paid.

4.  The Only Way
: Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ There is no other Savior, no other path. It’s Jesus or nothing. More than a belief that he existed it is a firm conviction to trust and follow him. 

5.  Your Response: So what must you do? Repent and believe. Repent means to turn away from ruling your own life.  Believe meaning put your full trust in Jesus alone as your Savior (who died for you) and your King (who deserves to lead you).
When you do that, God forgives every sin, makes you His child, and gives you eternal life—starting right now.”

As John 1:12 states to all who received him and believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God. 

John 4:1-15

FIVE PRINCIPLES FOR SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS

TRANSITION:

“From Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman, I want to give you five practical principles that you can use THIS WEEK

PRINCIPLE #1: START WHERE THEY ARE

“Notice how Jesus begins. He doesn’t launch into a sermon. He doesn’t hand her a tract. He asks for a drink of water!

John 4:7 

Jesus started with something natural, something she could relate to. He met her at her point of need—she had water, He was thirsty.

Start conversations where people already are. Talk about their job, their family, their struggles, their interests. Find common ground.

1 Corinthians 9:22

Don’t be weird. Don’t be pushy. Just be HUMAN. Build a bridge through genuine interest and conversation.”

“Ask questions! People love talking about themselves. ‘

• How’s your family?’ 
• ‘What do you do for work?’ 
• How were you raised spiritually 
• ‘How are you handling all the stress in the world right now?’

PRINCIPLE #2: CREATE CURIOSITY

“Once Jesus has her attention, watch what He does:

John 4:10

He didn’t force the conversation. He INTRIGUED her. He made her curious. She had to ask, ‘What are you talking about? What is this living water?’

• You don’t have to explain the entire gospel in 30 seconds. You don’t have to argue or debate. Just create curiosity.
• Share your story in a way that makes people want to know more.
• Tell story about Charlene 

1 Peter 3:15

Did you catch that? WHEN they ask. Create curiosity, and they’ll ASK!”

PRINCIPLE #3: GO FROM PHYSICAL TO SPIRITUAL

Jesus is a master at this. He takes something physical—water—and turns it into something spiritual.

John 4:13-14 

He’s saying, ‘You’re focused on physical water, but I’m offering you something that satisfies your SOUL.’

• Listen for spiritual hunger underneath physical conversations.
• Someone says, ‘I’m so stressed at work.’ → You can say, ‘I used to feel that way until I found peace in my relationship with God.’
• Someone says, ‘I’m so lonely.’ → You can say, ‘I’ve learned that only God can fill that hole in our hearts.’
• Someone says, ‘I feel like my life has no purpose.’ → You can say, ‘That’s exactly how I felt before I discovered God’s plan for my life.’
• Every physical need points to a deeper spiritual need. Jesus knew that. And He gently moved the conversation from surface level to soul level.”

PRINCIPLE #4: BE HONEST ABOUT SIN—BUT WITH COMPASSION

• “This is where a lot of Christians mess up. We either avoid talking about sin altogether, or we come across as judgmental and harsh.
• Talk about your struggle with sin… Some of the peace and victory you have seen.

"Your mess can become your message, and your test can become your testimony."

Watch how Jesus handles it:

John 4:16-18

Jesus is DIRECT. He doesn’t sugarcoat her sin. But notice His tone—He’s not condemning her. He’s revealing her need for a Savior.

• Don’t avoid talking about sin, but speak the truth in LOVE.
• Ephesians 4:15
• “Here’s the secret: Jesus didn’t bring up her sin to SHAME her—He brought it up to SHOW her she needed the living water only HE could provide.
• When you talk about sin, always point to the SOLUTION: Jesus.”

PRINCIPLE #5: MAKE IT PERSONAL—REVEAL JESUS

• “The woman keeps trying to make the conversation theoretical. She wants to debate theology and argue about where to worship.
• But Jesus brings it back to HIM:

John 4:25-26

Boom. There it is. ‘I’m the one you’re looking for. I’m the answer to your search.’

• At some point in the conversation, you have to make it about JESUS.
• Not religion. Not church. Not rules. JESUS.

Acts 4:12 

“Your testimony is powerful. Tell them what Jesus has done in YOUR life. Not in a preachy way, but in a personal, authentic way.

‘Let me tell you how Jesus gave me purpose when I felt worthless.’

‘Let me tell you how Jesus forgave me when I thought I was too far gone.’

Revelation 12:11 says we overcome ‘by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of [our] testimony.’”

1 Timothy 2:1-7 NIV

1. PRAY WITH BOLDNESS

1 Timothy 2:3-4 - "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

• God wants ALL people to be saved

• Your prayers matter more than you think

• Don't apologize for praying big prayers

• God's will is for everyone to know Him

• Free will/predestination debates 

• Who’s your one and prayer event

• "If it's worth praying about, it's worth praying boldly about."

• "Never pray small prayers to a big God."

Luke 11:9 - "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

• Jesus taught us to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking

Luke 18:1-8 - The Parable of the Persistent Widow

• Don't give up on people God hasn't given up on

Colossians 4:2 - "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."

• Breakthrough often comes right before we want to quit

• "The devil's favorite time to attack is right before your breakthrough."

• "Quitting on prayer is quitting on people."

1 Thessalonians 5:17 - "Pray continually"

• "Persistent prayer proves you really believe."

"Monica's 30-Year Prayer"

In the 4th century, there was a mother named Monica who had a son living a wild, rebellious life. He was brilliant but arrogant, involved in a cult-like religious group, living with a woman he wasn't married to, and wanted nothing to do with Christianity.

For 30 years, Monica prayed for her son. Every single day. Through tears. Through disappointment. When he moved to another city to get away from her nagging, she prayed. When he seemed to get worse instead of better, she prayed. Friends told her to give up. But she wouldn't quit.

One day, a bishop saw her weeping and praying again. He said, "Woman, go your way. It is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish."

That son's name was Augustine. He became one of the greatest Christian leaders in history—St. Augustine of Hippo. His writings have influenced Christianity for 1,600 years.

Application: "Don't you dare give up on your 'one.' Monica prayed for 30 years. How long have you been praying? 30 days? 30 weeks? Keep going. Your breakthrough may be closer than you think."

2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise... not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

• Pray for softened hearts, not just changed circumstances

• Pray for divine appointments and conversations

• Pray for Christians to cross their path

Acts 16:14 - "The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message"

• Pray that spiritual blindness would be lifted (lead to next bullet point)

2 Corinthians 4:4 - Pray that "the god of this age" won't blind their minds

Colossians 4:3-4 - "Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message"

• "Pray for the harvest, not just the weather."

Ezekiel 36:26 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

• "Random prayers get random results."

• "Aim your prayers like arrows, not shotguns."

Mark 11:24 - "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

• Believe God is working even when you can't see it

2. PRAY WITH PERSISTENCE
3. PRAY WITH PURPOSE
4. PRAY WITH EXPECTATION

Romans 1:16

Colossians 2:13–15

1.  The Gospel has the power to bring life to the dead.

“When you were dead in your sins… God made you alive with Christ”.

-         Paul begins with our condition.  We are separated from God and spiritually dead.  Sin is not just a bad thing we do, not just an obstacle between God and us, no it is spiritual death. Because of that we don’t just need resuscitation we need resurrection!

2.  The Gospel has the power to forgive all our sins

“He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness”

Our Debt

• Every sin is a spiritual debt — a legal record that stood against us.

• The “charge” (Greek: cheirographon) refers to a written IOU, a debt we could never repay.

b. God’s Grace

• Jesus “canceled” our debt — the term means “to wipe out completely.”

• How? “He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”

• Every accusation, every shameful act, every failure was placed on Him.

3.  The Gospel has the power to triumph over evil

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”.

a. The Defeat of Darkness

• “Powers and authorities” refers to demonic forces, spiritual rulers, and systems opposed to God.

• At the cross, it looked like Jesus was defeated — but in truth, the enemy was disarmed.

b. The Victory of the Cross

• In Roman times, a victorious general paraded his conquered enemies in public.

• Paul says Jesus did that spiritually — He turned the cross, an instrument of shame, into a throne of victory.