PowerPoint for Wednesday Night's lesson to the auditorium class at the Henderson congregation in Henderson, TN. Scripture: Luke 18:1-14

1. Prayer
Luke 18: 1 – 14
Wednesday ~ March 30, 2016

2. “Touch of the Master’s Hand” by
Myra ‘Brooks’ Welch
Twas battered and scared,
and the auctioneer thought is
scarcely worth his while to
waste much time on the old
violin, but held it up with a
smile;

3. “What am I bidden, good folks,”
he cried, “Who'll start the bidding
for me?”

4. “A dollar, a dollar; then two!”
“Only two? Two dollars, and who'll
make it three? Three dollars, once;
three dollars twice; going for three
…”

5. But no, from the room, far back,
a gray-haired man came forward
and picked up the bow; Then,
wiping the dust from the old violin,
and tightening the loose strings, he
played a melody pure and sweet as
caroling angel sings.

6. The music ceased, and the
auctioneer, with a voice that was
quiet and low, said; “What am I
bid for the old violin?” And he
held it up with the bow.

7. “A thousand dollars, who'll make it
two? Two thousand! And who'll
make it three? Three thousand,
once, three thousand, twice, and
going and gone,” said he.

8. The people cheered, but some of
them cried, “We do not quite
understand what changed its
worth.” Swift came the reply;
“The touch of a Master's hand.”

9. And many a man with his life out
of tune, and battered and scared
with sin. Is auctioned cheap to
the thoughtless crowd, much like
the old violin.

10. A “mess of pottage,” a glass of
wine; a game - and he travels on.
“He is going once,” and “going
twice, He's going and almost
gone.”

11. But the Master comes, and the
foolish crowd never can quite
understand the worth of a soul
and the change that's wrought by
the touch of The Master's hand.

12. Questions for Me
Am I truly appreciative of the “touch” of God’s
hand on my life since the time I gave my life to
Him through baptism?
Do I truly spend time in communicating with my
Lord?
– Meditating & studying His Word
– Spending time in Prayer

13. Jesus’s Prayer Life
The words "prayer" & "pray" are used
at least 25 times in connection with
Jesus, & there are many instances in
which the fact of His praying is
mentioned where the words do not
occur.

14. Jesus’s Prayer Life
His praying is mentioned by each of
the four evangelists. The life of Christ
had many marked characteristics, but
nothing is more marked than His
prayerfulness.

15. 10 Characteristics of Jesus’s Prayer Life
1. Jesus believed that prayer works ~ Mark 7:7-
11
2. Jesus’s prayer life did not make Him passive ~
Matthew 25:31-46
3. Jesus got alone to pray ~ Matthew 14:23
4. Jesus balanced private & shared praying ~
Luke 9:28
5. Jesus prayed before meals ~ Mark 6:41

16. 10 Characteristics of Jesus’s Prayer Life
6. Jesus gave thanks ~ Luke 10:21
7. Jesus’s sang some prayers ~ Mark 14:26
8. Jesus prayed before making important
decisions ~ Luke 6:12-13
9. Jesus’s prayed for His Disciples ~ John
17:11,15,17,24
10.Jesus’s prayed for US ~ John 17:20-23

17. Thoughts about Jesus Praying
Jesus …
• prayed daily
• prayed early
• prayed at mealtime
• prayed long prayers
• prayed painful prayers
• saw there was purpose in
pain
• prayed publicly
• prayed with others
• prayed alone
• prayed “God’s Word”
• prayed with His dying
breath
• prayed thankful prayers

18. The Parable of the Persistent Widow

19. Luke 18:1
And he told them a parable to the effect that
they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

20. The Pharisee & the Tax Collector

21. Luke 18:9
He also told this parable to some who trusted in
themselves that they were righteous, and
treated others with contempt:

22. Stephen Morris will now lead us in
“Sweet Hour of Prayer”

23. 1.
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known;
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter's snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
1 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
Words: William W. Walford
Music: William B. Bradbury
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

24. 1 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

25. 1 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

26. 1 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

27. 2.
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer,
The joy I feel, the bliss I share
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God, my Savior, shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.
2 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
Words: William W. Walford
Music: William B. Bradbury
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

28. 2 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

29. 2 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

30. 2 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

31. 3.
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer,
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless;
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His word, and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.
3 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
Words: William W. Walford
Music: William B. Bradbury
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

32. 3 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

33. 3 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

34. 3 – Sweet Hour Of Prayer
© 2003 The Paperless Hymnal™

35. Prayer ~ Jason Shelton

36. Thoughts on Prayer ~ Praying …
• to our Father
• by the Spirit
• through the Son
• in Faith
• Succinctly
• in God’s Will
• Humbly
• Fervently
• for Enemies
• for our Needs
• against Temptation
• for Non-Christians
• for Friends
• for Children
• for our Family
• for the Church
• for the Nation &
Government

37. Luke 18:1
And he told them a parable to the effect that
they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

38. Luke 18:2-8
He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who
neither feared God nor respected man. And
there was a widow in that city who kept coming
to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my
adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward
he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God
nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps
bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she
will not beat me down by her continual
coming.’”

39. Luke 18:2-8
And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous
judge says. And will not God give justice to his
elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he
delay long over them? I tell you, he will give
justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the
Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

40. Is there FAITH in MY prayers?
James 5: 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let
him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing
praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him
call for the elders of the church, and let them
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the
name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will
save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise
him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be
forgiven.

41. Is there FAITH in MY prayers?
James 5: 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one
another and pray for one another, that you may
be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has
great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a
man with a nature like ours, and he prayed
fervently that it might not rain, and for three
years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain,
and the earth bore its fruit.

42. Do I Pray Constantly?
I Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to
God always for all of you, constantly
mentioning you in our prayers,
3 remembering before our God and
Father your work of faith and labor of
love and steadfastness of hope in our
Lord Jesus Christ.

43. Do I Pray without Ceasing?
I Thessalonians 5:17 pray without
ceasing, 18 give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you.

44. Luke 18:9
He also told this parable to some who trusted in
themselves that they were righteous, and
treated others with contempt:

45. Luke 18:10-14
“Two men went up into the temple to
pray, one a Pharisee and the other a
tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by
himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you
that I am not like other men,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or
even like this tax collector. I fast twice
a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

46. Luke 18:10-14
But the tax collector, standing far off,
would not even lift up his eyes to
heaven, but beat his breast, saying,
‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

47. Luke 18:10-14
I tell you, this man went down to his
house justified, rather than the other.
For everyone who exalts himself will
be humbled, but the one who
humbles himself will be exalted.”

48. The Promise of Forgiveness
Streets of gold ~ how beautiful they will
be;
And that mansion You have gone to
prepare for me.
Your Word You have given me to light my
way;
Your Spirit to dwell with me each & every
day.

49. It is a beautiful message. I thank You
for Your love and care,
But there is something else that is
beautiful and rare.
I know that when I sin, and sin I do,
With a humble heart, I can turn to
You.

50. “I am sorry Father,” I cry as I bow my
head to pray.
“You are forgiven. I’ll remember it no
more,” I hear you say.
That beautiful promise to let me start
anew,
Holding nothing against me, as I walk
with You;

51. To be willing to forgive others, as I
would have You do for me,
To receive the promise of Your
Forgiveness, my forgiveness is the
key.
Veletia Tatom ~ January 3, 1989

52. Are we truly appreciative of the “touch” of God’s
hand on our life since the time we gave our life to
Him through baptism?
Do we truly spend enough time in communicating
with our Lord?
– Meditating & studying His Word
– Spending time in Prayer
If we might help you in any way, please come as we
stand and sing “Seek Ye First”.

53. 1. Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Singing allelu, alleluia!
Words and Music by: Karen Lafferty
Copyright © 1976 Maranatha Praise, Inc. (Administered by The Copyright Company Nashville, TN)
All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Used By Permission.
1 - Seek Ye First
© 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

54. 1 - Seek Ye First
© 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

55. 2.
Ask and it shall be given unto you,
Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.
Singing allelu, alleluia!
2 - Seek Ye First
Words and Music by: Karen Lafferty
Copyright © 1976 Maranatha Praise, Inc. (Administered by The Copyright Company Nashville, TN)
All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Used By Permission.
© 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™

56. 2 - Seek Ye First
© 2001 The Paperless Hymnal™