WE SEEK GOD FIRST

Series: First Things First | Pastor Daniel Norris

 “If it’s in the house, it’s yours.”

How do we pray in a way that connects?

When Jesus prayed, He prayed with authenticity. With authority. And with answers.

Jesus does three things for us…

– He shows us the purpose of prayer.

– He gives us a pattern for prayer.

– He invites us into the power of prayer.

“…O you of little faith. Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or

‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” Matthew 6:30–33 (ESV)

If you want “all these things”, then you must “seek first” the first things.

Pray

“Lord, teach us to pray.”

“…O you of little faith.”

“The Gentiles seek after all these things.”

1. THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER:

Prayer does not move God, it moves me

“…seek first the kingdom of God,”

Why?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)

“No one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” 1 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV)

That is why we pray.

“But we have the mind of Christ” 1 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV)

When I pray…

– I initiate WORSHIP and WONDER.

– I interact with His WORD and His WISDOM.

– Seeking God first is not about information. It is about transformation.

– I am invited into His WORKS.

– Prayer does not move God. Prayer moves me.

2. THE PATTERN OF PRAYER:

Jesus didn’t give a ritual he have a route

“And His righteousness”

Jesus does not just invite us to pray. He shows us how.

Moses brings the people to a mountain and gives them the Law.

Jesus brings the people to a mountain and elevates the Law.

Moses was given the pattern of the tabernacle.

– The outer court

– The altar | Sacrifice

– The laver | Sanctification

The Holy Place

– The table of bread | Scripture

– The lamp stand | The Spirit

– The altar of incense | Supplication

The Lord’s Prayer

Honor – “Our Father in heaven”Humility – “Your kingdom come, Your will be done”

Hunger – “Give us this day our daily bread”

Holiness – “Forgive us our sins”

Health – “For Yours is the kingdom”

A.W.E. Prayer

– Adoration

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise” Psalm 100:4 (ESV)

– Washing

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

– Engagement

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” James 4:8 (ESV)

Prayer becomes partnership, where we walk that road together with the Spirit.

3. THE POWER OF PRAYER:

When I know his ways, I will do his works.

“And all these things will be added to you”

When I understand His Word and His ways, I can walk in His works.

Reasons prayers go unanswered…

We pray from desire instead of devotion.

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” James 4:3 (ESV)

We pray to control outcomes instead of surrendering to God’s will.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words” Matthew 6:7 (ESV)

We pray with doubt instant of faith.

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea…” James 1:6–7 (ESV)

We pray without alignment.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” 1 John 5:14 (ESV)

Spending time in His presence is the secret to praying powerful prayers.

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” James 5:16 (ESV)

When I know who He is, I know who I am.

When I know what He has done, I know how to pray.