5 P's of Prayer | Pray First

PRAY FIRST

5 P’s of Prayer…

Matthew 6:2, 5 & 16 (NIV) 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do… 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites… 16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do.”

WEEK 1 SOUL TATTOO: Our lives are marked by our priorities, so what we do first communicates something to God.

SOUL TATTOO: Prayer is simply talking to God and listening to God.

The First 15:

5 minutes in the Word. 

5 minutes in Worship.

5 minutes in Prayer. 

5 P’s of Prayer: (Pray First, Pastor Chris Hodges, 2023)

SOUL TATTOO: Prayer is simply talking to God and listening to God.

1.) The priority of prayer.

• Give God priority in my day. 
• Give God a few minutes first.
• Give God priority on my calendar.

SOUL TATTOO: Prayer is simply talking to God and listening to God.

2.) The place of prayer.

• Give God a primary place where you pray.

Matthew 6:6a (NIV) 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.

• Jesus prayed in a special place.

Mark 1:35 (NIV) 15Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

• Find my special place.

Psalm 5:3 (NIV) 3In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

SOUL TATTOO: Prayer is simply talking to God and listening to God.

3.) The plan of prayer.

Matthew 6:5-13 (NKJV) 5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

• Go into prayer with a plan.
• Jesus gave the disciples a plan. 
• Have a plan, so you know what to pray.

SOUL TATTOO: Prayer is simply talking to God and listening to God.

4.) The power of prayer.

• Jesus, prayer and power.

Luke 4:1-2 (NIV) 1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

Luke 4:14 (NIV) 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

• Prayer is confronting the enemy and dealing in the heavenlies.

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

• Prayer helps me speak the Word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:29-31 (ESV) 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

• Pray powerful prayers. 

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

SOUL TATTOO: Prayer is simply talking to God and listening to God.

5.) The Person of Prayer. 

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV) 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:14 (MSG) 14The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.

• Jesus is the mediator.
• God is the Father who loves His children.
• The Holy Spirit is my friend.

SOUL TATTOO: Prayer is simply talking to God and listening to God.

What would you have to rearrange to make prayer a priority?