Have you ever wanted to live a more effective and impactful life as a disciple and follower of Christ? Do you long for the “fruitful soil” that Jesus describes in the gospel? Changing Soils message series will speak directly into discipleship formation and encourage you to make invite other to follow Jesus.

1. The Obstacles to Prayer

●     Inertia: “You are to rid yourselves of the old self.” Ephesians 4:22

●     Pain: “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” Proverbs 20:30 GNT

●     Ignorance: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6

2. The Habit of Prayer

“Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.’”  Matthew 9:36-38

●     The harvest

“I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest.” John 4:35

●     The workers

“Faith without works is dead.” James 2:26

●     The therefore

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.” John 4:34

3.  The Commands About Prayer

●     John 16:6 (And many others)-Pray in Jesus’ name

●     Matthew 9:38-God to send workers into the harvest field

●     Acts 26:18 - God to open unbelievers’ eyes and turn to Him

●     Ephesians 6:19 - Wisdom and boldness to proclaim the Gospel

●     2 Corinthians 10:4 - Supernatural spiritual power and wisdom

●     Luke 18:1-Never stop praying

●     John 6:44 - The Father would draw unbelievers to Jesus

●     2 Timothy 4:2 - Be prepared to share Jesus, regardless of your situation

●     Matthew 5:44 - Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

●     James 1:5 - Pray for wisdom

●     Luke 14:23 - Go to the highways and byways and compel them to come in

●     James 4:3 - You don’t have because you don’t ask

●     James 4:3 - You ask and don’t receive because your prayers are selfish

●     Mark 11:24 - Believe you have received prayer answers before seeing them

●     1 Samuel 12:23 - Prayerlessness is sin

* All scriptures are from the NAS Bible unless otherwise noted