Seek Ye First..Pray

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 14:13-21
13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.




Matthew 6:
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

God Expects His People to Pray

God expects His people to pray. (Isa 56:7, Isa 62:6,7, 1Ti 2:1)
God is grieved by our lack of prayer. (Isa 59:16, Eze 22:30)

Jesus Set an Example for Prayer
The Lord's prayer (Mt 6:9-13)
Jesus prayed alone in natural settings. (Mt 14:23, Mk 1:35, Lk 5:16)
Jesus prayed all night. (Lk 6:12)
Jesus prayed for those who persecuted Him. (Lk 23:34)
Jesus prayed for His Father's will to be done. (Lk 22:42)
Jesus prayed with strong crying and tears. (Heb 5:7)
Jesus intercedes for us. (Lk 22:31,32, Jn 17:9,11,17,20,21, Heb 7:25, 1Jn 2:1)

The Holy Spirit Set an Example for Prayer
The Holy Spirit intercedes for us. (Ro 8:26,27)

The New Testament Church Set an Example for Prayer
The new testament church set an example for prayer. (Ac 1:14, Ac 2:42)

The Bible Contains Great Promises for Prayer
The Bible contains great promises for prayer. (2Ch 7:14, Mt 21:22, Mk 11:22-24, Lk 11:9-13, Jn 15:16, Jn 16:23, Jas 1:5, Jas 5:13-18, 1Jn 3:21,22)

Certain Prayers Displease God
Prayer accompanied by a life of willful sin (2Ch 7:14, Ps 66:17,18, Pr 28:9 compare 1Jn 3:4, Isa 1:15-17, Isa 59:1,2, Zec 7:9-13)
Prayer for self-righteous display (Mt 6:5,6, Lk 20:46,47)
Prayer consisting of long lists of personal needs (Mt 6:7,8)
Prayer that is not understood by the person praying (1Co 14:14,15)
Prayer motivated by selfish pleasure (Jas 4:3)
Prayer made without faith (Jas 1:6-8)
Prayer that is never made (Jas 4:2)

Prayer is to be an Integral Part of our Lifestyle
We are to pray constantly. (Ps 55:17, Da 6:10, Lk 18:1, Lk 21:36, Ac 6:3,4, 1Th 5:17, 1Pe 4:7)
We are to pray with thanksgiving. (Col 4:2, 1Th 5:18)
We are to pray with others. (Mt 18:19,20, Mt 21:13, Heb 10:25)
We are to patiently wait for the Lord's response. (Ps 27:14, Ps 37:7, Pr 20:22, Isa 30:18, Da 10:12,13, Hos 12:6, Lk 18:1-8)
We are to hear the Lord's response. (1Ki 19:11-13, Ps 86:7, Ps 91:15, Isa 30:19,21, Jer 33:3)
Not continuing in intercessory prayer is a sin. (1Sa 12:20-23, Jas 4:17)

Prayer is a Weapon for Spiritual Warfare
Prayer is a weapon for spiritual warfare. (Eph 6:11-13,18-20, Ex 17:8-13, Mk 9:29, Jas 5:16)
We are to pray for those who mistreat and persecute us. (Mt 5:44, Lk 6:28, Ac 7:59,60)
We are to pray for the harvest of souls. (Mt 9:37,38, Col 4:3,4, 2Th 3:1)
The power of prayer is not the prayer itself, but rather the power of God. (Mt 28:18, Rev 19:6)
Our prayers ascend to the throne of God, Who answers them. (Rev 5:7,8, Rev 8:3,4)