PRAYER AND TEENAGERS

By the end of the lesson a teen should be able to :-

State,

1. What is prayer
2. Mode of prayer/ How should we pray?
3. Why do we pray/ Benefits of prayer
4. Hindrance of prayer

1. What is prayer?
 Prayer is communication with God through trusting Him in Jesus
name.
 Prayer is an act of obedience since we are commanded to pray, 1st
Thes 5:17, states; “pray without ceasing, Ephesians 6:18 states “ pray
always with prayer and supplication in the spirit”
 Prayer is a powerful tool to any man and has effective James 5:16
 Prayer is alignment with god’s will. ( 1st John 5:14)
 Prayer helps someone to develop a relationship with.
 Prayer helps someone to gain an understanding of God’s loving nature
(1st John 4:8)
 Prayer provides answers.

2. How then should we pray?

Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray, He used the mode in Lord’s Prayer
The Acronyms ACTS
A - Adoration
C - Confession
T - Thanksgiving
S - Supplication

I. Adoration - is to address God Almighty with love.

God loves to be adored; we need to speak of His worthiness
II. Speak of His wondrous, Holy one, our creator, strong tower , my
shield and buckle
III. Speak of God’s majesty ( look Psalms 8)
IV. Speak of God’s rescue and protection (Psalms 18)

Adoration is for everyone.

 Why should we adore God?

1) Adoration will fix your faith on His wisdom goodness and power.
2) Adoration God enables one to accept His will in all types of
requests and circumstances.
 True adoration comes when we actually understand why God is
worthy of our adoration.

CONFESSION

 Confession - Is an act of telling God what wrong you did.

 Confessing brings forgiveness John 1:9

When then should we confess?

i. Seek forgiveness
ii. Allows one to repair your relationship with our Lord.
iii. Cleanses your soul
iv. Relinquish your guilt
v. Acknowledge your sinful ways

3. THANKSGIVING: Why do we give thanks?

 The lord is the great God the great king above all gods (Psalms
95:2-3)
 We give thanks to God for He is good (1st Chro 16:34)
 For His unfailing love (ps 107:15)
 For his provision
 For His wisdom and power that He has given us ( Daniel 2:32)
 For His forgiveness
 For His word (Colossian 3:16)

4. SUPPLICATION (Phil 4:6-7)

 This is giving your petitions to God
 This giving your desires to God
 Involves even praying for others, family, friends , churches, nations
etc.

Benefits of prayer
i. Prayer keeps us broken and humble before God ( 1st Peter 5:5)
ii. Prayer helps you to develop a relationship with God.
 iii. Prayer helps you to gain an understanding the God’s loving nature
( 1sst John 4:8)
iv. Prayer provides answers
v. Prayer gives a sense and security that comes from spending time with
God ( Phil 4:6)

Hindrance of prayer
 Sin hinders our prayers - ( Ps 66:18)
 Bible says that prayer of a sinner is noise before God.
 Disobedience Prov. 28:9
 Disbelief James 1:5-7
 Not helping the poor Prov. 21:13

MY IDENTITY IN CHRIST

HOW GOD SEES

All people (human being) are created in the image of God. Genesis 1:26

We reflect some attributes of God.

1) Understanding you identity in how to starts with understanding who he is,

what he says, himself and what he says about you.
2) Your identity can be defined by who making you to be in his image
 You are loved.
 You are chosen.
 You are forgiven.
 You are redeemed.
 You are adopted
3) Biblical statement about our identity
-Eph 2:19 -John 3:1
-Cor 9:8 -Zeph 3:17

Where do you find your identity? Is it:

 Career
 Financial success
 Status
 Relationships
 Appearances
 Grades
  Reputation

From the above, none is permanent.

Job loss leaves one questioning their choices

A gossip aimed your way could destroy your reputation even if it is untrue

Appearance will change as you get older.

BUT

God is unchangeable

He is reliable

He is the same yesterday, today and forever

If you find your identity in him, you will never ultimately be let down.

He has proved time to be trustworthy.

Your identity is not all about identifying with God, “I am a Christian “or” I am
religious” or “I am spiritual”

Understanding your identity in God starts with understanding who he is, what he
say about himself and what he says about you.

You identity can be defined by who making you to be in his image.

How God sees his children

1. Loved ones
Nothing can be separate you from this above (Roman 8:38-39)
He offer more than the world could offer
You are complete in his love (1 John 3:1
2. Chosen ones
God send Christ to die for you to be included in his family
We now become a member of his household (Ephesians 2:19)
You are created with a purpose “to know him and glorify him in all our
works “Ephesians 2:10
3. Forgiven ones
He forgive us (Colossians 3:13)
4. Redeemed ones
You are new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
 He made righteous to be sin for us to be righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21)
5. Adopted ones
God delight in you.
He makes you more like himself day by day (zephania 3:17)
He provides for all things (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Obstacles to believe in your identity

A. Past sin
Everyone has sinned (Rom 8:23)
God removes sin from you (Psalms 103 :12)
B. outside messages or Experiences
Things you went through or experienced can make you not believe that
you are worthy.
C. False believes
Some false believes seem correct but really take away from who God is
and what he says.

How can you overcome such obstacles?

1. Repent
 Agree with God that you are believing things that are no longer
true of you.
 Bring things you are struggling with to him.
 Admit that they are difficult for you to bear.
2. Grieve for your sin ( 1 Thessalonians 4:13)
3. Invite the Lord to change your mind
4. Invite others to help you.

Seeing yourself as God sees you matters

Put your faith in Jesus

You have new identity in Him

It is Christ who shapes our identity

God sees us through CHRIST

PRAY THIS PRAYER:

(Alter call where necessary)

 2. We are living Stones

 1st Peter 2:4-5

 Living stone is used as a metaphor to illustrate to the secure and
intimate relationship believers have with Jesus.
 Who is describe as living stone

-1 Peter 2:4

-PS 118:22

- Lk 6:46-49

 Jesus is described as a cornerstone in Eph 2:19-22, Act 4:11-12

The function of the living stones

1. Declare the praises of him who called us out of the darkness of sin into
the light of life and glory (1st Peter 2:9),
a. Speaker of praise
b. Declares of truth and love
2. To glorify God the Lord in all what we do. 1st Cor 10:31
3. Set an example to all believers 1 Tim 4:12
4. A holy priesthood offers spiritual sacrifices, acceptable by to god by
Jesus Christ.

Characteristics of a living stone

1. Jesus Christ being living stone; He is life and us being termed as living
stones we have life John 7:38-39
2. Living stones speak the truth (Matt 12:34-36)
3. Living stones are obedience (John 6:38)
4. Living stones should be hot and not cold. Rev 3:15 should be hot in the
works of God.
5. Should stir their gift ( 2nd Tim 1:6)

WHAT IS A GIFT

1. Is a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present

2. Gifts are received, while talents are inherited
3. Spiritual gifts are given to those who are saved (1st Cor 12:7-11)
4. Spiritual gifts are acquired by only the saved while talents are acquired
by both (Eph 4:10-12)
 5. Spiritual gifts are matured while talents are developed and expected .
Talents are developed through practicing.
6. Both spiritual gifts and talents come from God (Neh 9:6)

HOW CAN ONE STIR HIS/HER GIFT?

Brief us discuss 4 D’s

i. Discover your gift

ii. Demonstrate your gift
iii. Develop your gift
iv. Distribute your gift

1. Discovering ones gift

 One has to pray to discover his/her gift
 One has to seek God frequently
2. Develop ones gift
 Make it mature through prayer.
3. Demonstrate one’s gift
 Practice your gift through the power of God 1st Tim 4:14
4. Distribute
 Gifts are given to us to serve God and others
 Gifts are not for us to keep for ourselves.

MORALS AND VALUES

 Good morals build a good character
 Morality can be thought as of those guiding principles that steer
us towards what’s right or wrong.
 Is that guide us to do the right even when no one is looking /
watching
 Values are everywhere and can be unique to each family.
 Honesty, fairness, integrity, kindness, tolerance, compassion,
respect, hard work, sharing, cooperation, generosity.
1. Honest as a moral responsibility
 Honesty/truthfulness, straight forwardness along with
absence of lying, cheating /theft.
 Honesty involves being trustworthy, loyal, fair and sincere.
 Honesty is the best policy, children are taught in books
  Being true to one’s parents, teachers and others will help a
teen develop, honesty as personality trait.
 Honest pleases God
nd
2 Kings 12:15, prov. 12:19
 God forgives Jer 5:1
 Honesty makes you complete.
2. RESPECT
 To feel/show admiration for someone, thing that you believe
has good ideas or qualities.

WAYS OF SHARING RESPECT

 Be kind and courteous
 Be polite, avoid interrupting or causing disturbance
 Listen to other and respect their opinion
 Think before you speak your language and time.
 Lend helping hand, ear and practice compassion
 Avoid gossip
“Roman 12:10 , respect means to give value.
 When we do not show proper respect to another person, we are
showing disrespect to our God who made us in His image.

CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER
1st Peter 2:2, Phil 2:5-8, 1st Cor 2:12-14
1. Jesus is holy, pure and sinless.
When you receive Jesus Christ as savior, you are forgiven,
made pure in God’s sight and ginven eternal life, but you aren’t
yet perfect 2nd Cor 5:21.
2nd Cor 7:1
2. Jesus was prayerful
 Mark 1:35
 Matt 14:23
 Mark 6:46
 Luke 6:12,9:18

3. Jesus was humble

 Phi 2:5-8
4. Jesus was obedient
 Isa 53:7
  Matt 26:51-53

5. Servant hood character

 John 13:10-14
Having known the Christ character, we also need to have the
same character and become ambassador.
 An ambassador of Christ is defined as a representative of
Christ teachings and value sent to proclaim His message of
salvation ,grace and reconciliation to the world.

2nd Cor 5:18-21

i. The mission of an ambassador

 We are all on a mission, as believer of Christ to bring the message of the
gospel to those who doesn’t belong to God’s kingdom.
 The message of hope and reconciliation between sinner men to a Holy God.
ii. The manner of an ambassador
 We are all representative of Christ where we stay , take study;
 Remember Matthew 5:13-16
a. You are the salt of the earth
b. You are the light of the world
c. You are example to others
d. You are a letter ( 2nd Cor 3:2)

Be Christ ambassador in school.