Sermon Notes:

PRAY AND DO NOT LOSE HEART
Luke 18:1-8
October 1, 2006

INTRODUCTION
I Thess. 5:17.  Ephesians 6:18.
Prayer: The least exercised privilege.  The least respected responsibility.  What is prayerlessness?

I.  THE PRAYERLESS LIFE IS A  DECLARATION OF SELF SUFFICIENCY
Only after worry and failure do we realize that our sufficiency is in Christ alone plus nothing.  II Chronicles 33:1-17.  How much like Manasseh are you? 

II.  THE PRAYERLESS LIFE IS A REFUSAL TO EXERCISE A BLOOD-BOUGHT PRIVILEGE
Genesis 3:  Ephesians 2:1-20.  Romans 5:1-2.    Man’s sin cuts off our fellowship with God.  But God, in His love for His children, provides the basis for restoration of our fellowship with Him – The Cross.   Because the Blood of Christ gives us access to Him, brings us His Peace, how painful it must be for the Heavenly Father to see our complete disregard of this costly privilege. 

III.  THE PRAYERLESS LIFE IS SIN AGAINST A HOLY GOD.
I Samuel 9.  John 19:5.  I Samuel 12.  Prayer is a demanding responsibility for those whose access to the Father has been restored through the Blood of Christ, shed on Calvary’s Tree. 

IV.  THE PRAYERLESS LIFE IS AN OPEN INVITATION TO THE DEVIL
There is a relationship between a life of prayer and life of righteousness.  James 5:16.  I Peter 3:12.  John  9:31.  Psalm 66:18.  Proverbs 15:29.  If the evil one can keep us prayerless, he knows he can keep us powerless.  Mark 14:38.  Acts 2:42.  Acts 3:1.

Are you exercising your Blood-bought privilege and taking up your responsibility in prayer?