The Acceptable Prayer Life

I Timothy 2:1-3

Intro: If there is one deficiency in the life of the modern day Christian, it is in the area of praying.  We hear a lot about it, but we don't do a lot about it.  People are too busy to change their routine of prayerlessness, and so they continue on, powerless, pointless and prayerless.  In these verses, Paul stressed to young Timothy that FIRST OF ALL, prayer...  In verse 3, he reminds Timothy that that a prayer life is good and acceptable (the same phrase used in Romans 12:1, 2.) 

Why should we pray?  What are the reasons to pray?   What would an acceptable prayer life involve?

I. Prayer with Brokenness over Sin

• Psalm 51:1-12 (David's prayer for forgiveness)
• Luke 11:4 (the model prayer)
• Proverbs 28:13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

II. Prayer with a Burden for Souls - see text: vs. 4

• Romans 10:1  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
• Matthew 9:36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

III. Prayer for Boldness in Soul-winning - if Paul needed prayer for this, how much more do we?

• Ephesians 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

IV. Prayer to Build up the Spiritual Man

• Jude 1:20  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

V. Prayer for the Blessings of the Saviour

• Matthew 7: 7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
• James 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.