Point of Grace Online Worship - February 23, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 2.23.25 Sermon Notes – “Show Up to Armor Up – And Pray “I love You” Prayers

Ephesians 6 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 3:16-19 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

“Prayer (I include worship as prayer) is such a wonderful tool to celebrate, contemplate and receive Jesus as lover of our souls. Prayer is also the vital means for returning and reciprocating loving affections back to Him. The quality of my prayer life deepened when I learned to say “I love you” back to Jesus …… to adore Him as lover of my soul and let His love for me, when contemplated, draw out and ignite from within me deep affection for Him. This living in an affectionate, reciprocating, communicative love relationship with Jesus is a powerful defense and offense in spiritual warfare with the enemy. Satan does not “get love” it flabbergasts him. That is why the scriptures say that Jesus triumphed over the enemy through the cross. The cross is the ultimate love expression.”

John 21:15-19 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Jesus is not only assuring Peter of His love for him. Jesus is discipling Peter in expressing love back to Jesus. Life with Jesus is not a one-way love. His incredible sacrificial love for us makes possible a love relationship which we are fully engaged in expressing love back to Him.

“The quality of my prayer life deepened when I learned to say “I love you” back to Jesus …… to adore Him as lover of my soul and let His love for me, when contemplated, draw out and ignite from within me deep affection for Him.”

More words that matter as we pray with authority against evil.

“Jesus, I love you … … …” (then let expressions of affectionate love just flow from your lips)

Luke 7:36-50 36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

www.wildatheart.org/prayer

“Moving Mountains – Praying with Passion, Confidence and Authority” by John Eldridge

Some Words that Matter as we Pray with Authority “in Jesus name”.

- proclaiming and declaring what is true over ourselves and others

- I confess (sin, weakness, reality)

- I receive (forgiveness, truth, grace)

- I renounce … (sin, evil’s lies, demonic claims and strongholds, agreements with untruth)

- I now bring the Kingdom of God, the authority rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ, the fulness of the work of Christ, His Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension against satan and against his kingdom, against every force presence of evil coming against me, my family, my kingdom and domain today I bind, banish and cut them off from me and mine in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen

- “Jesus, I love you … … …” (then let expressions of affectionate love flow from your lips)

A Daily Prayer for Putting on the Armor of God

My dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed In You. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to You – You alone are worthy to receive all glory, honor, thanks and praise. Today, I renew my allegiance to You as my Savior, Friend, Lord and King and take my place alongside You as a Beloved Son/Daughter of our Heavenly Father. I love you and thank You for saving me and for the forgiveness of sins through the victory of the cross and resurrection. Thank You, that You triumphed over all principalities and powers and I stand in that victory today believing that no weapon formed against me can prosper.

(Note: Here, you might also want to declare this over your family /friends /church – name them before the Lord)

In the Mighty Name of Jesus, I put on the full armor of God today.

I buckle on the belt of truth. I believe You are the Truth, Jesus. I renounce the devil as a liar and surrender to You as Truth and your word as the truth. I confess I am vulnerable to believing lies from the devil, myself and the world around me. I repent and ask You to purge my mind and heart of all untruths. You are truth and I am in You.

I put on the breastplate of righteousness. I am a new creation, and I have received the righteousness of Christ. I renounce all my attempts to prove my self-worth, validate the value of my existence and author my own version of rightness. Jesus, I receive afresh your righteous sacrifice for me as an unmerited gift – a covering of value, worth and righteousness found only in You which protects my vulnerable heart as a breastplate. Therefore, no claim can be made against me this day.

I put on the shoes of the gospel of peace. By faith I stand, firm-footed, in Your ‘Calvary-love’ that forgives my sins and grants me perfect peace with God. I walk forward today in confidence ready to join You, Jesus, in Your Mission to share this good news with others.

I put on the Helmet of Salvation. Renew my mind afresh. I confess my thinking can be deceived. I renounce the mental influences of my own sinfulness, the enemy’s deceptions and the world’s perspectives and declare my mind set apart for You, Holy Spirit to govern. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind. I entrust my mind to You.

I lift up the shield of faith to resist the fiery darts of the enemy. My faith is in You and You alone—I trust in Your Pardon, Your Promises, Your Power, Your Presence! Help me to stay close, locking shields with my fellow soldiers in Your family of faith. Anoint me with Your Holy Spirit. Soak my heart, my mind and my life in the living water of Your faith-building Word. I turn from every fear, anxiety and doubt as I lift up the Shield of Faith to declare, “I trust You Jesus… help me trust You more.”

I take up the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. Jesus, You said “the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” Holy Spirit, bring to my memory and to my mouth specific Scriptures, and help me to wield Your powerful Word skillfully against every scheme and attack of the enemy. When it comes to Your Word, I will soak it in, store it up, speak it forth, pray it over, and sing it out—trusting in Your promise that “the words I have spoken to you are Spirit and Life.”

In the victory of Jesus I advance today knowing that the weapons of my warfare are not human, but mighty in God to pull down strongholds, to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God bringing every thought captive making it obedient to Christ. In Jesus name, I break the strongholds of Satan formed against me today, and choose to make Godly decisions this day, by the grace of God. I rejoice in You today, Jesus; may Your joy be my strength as Your grace and mercy follow my life.

Amen

A Bedtime Prayer (Enforcing the Kingdom of God Against Evil)

My dear Lord Jesus, I come to you now to be restored in you, to be renewed in you, to take refuge in you. I honor you as my sovereign Lord, and I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to you. I give you my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I cover myself with your blood, and I ask your Holy Spirit to restore me in you, renew me in you, and lead this time of prayer.

I proclaim the kingdom of God and the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ over my home and all things in it. [If you live in an apartment, use “apartment.” If you have only a room under your authority in someone else’s home, use “my room.” If you share a room, use “my bunk” or “my side of the room.”] I consecrate and sanctify my home and everything in it to the Lord Jesus Christ and to the Kingdom of God. I bring the cross, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home tonight—through every object and furnishing, bed and bedding, all media and icons, all books and magazines, movies and music, toys and games, through the atmosphere in every room, throughout the ceilings, walls, floors, and all places in them, from the land beneath to the roof above and all around this home tonight.

I take my place in the cross, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. I now bring the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against Satan and his kingdom. I bring the cross, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ against every foul and unclean spirit—every ruler, power, authority, and spiritual force of wickedness [you might need to get specific: “Including all spirits of fear, death, torment, accusation,” etc. You know what’s been attacking you. It has more power if you name them specifically.] I command every foul and unclean spirit bound and banished from my home and from my household, with every backup and replacement, every weapon and device, in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.

I now bring the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ—his cross, resurrection, and ascension—against every foul power, witchcraft, and black art. I cut them off in the name of the Lord. No weapon forged against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). I bring the cross and blood of Jesus Christ against every form of hex, vex, and incantation; against every spell, ritual, vow, dedication, and sacrifice; against every word, judgment, and curse. I command them broken and bound from my home this night in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I now bring the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ between me and all people—their spirit, soul, and body, their sin, warfare, and corruption. [It may help to name those people now—extended family, folks you have been ministering to, anyone you know is judging you.] I send every human spirit bound back to their body; I command all of their sin, warfare, and corruption bound back to the work of Christ in their life, and I forbid it to transfer to me.

I summon the angels of the Lord Jesus Christ and instruct them to build a shield of protection around me and my home (Hebrews 1:14). I ask your Holy Spirit to fill my home with your presence, with the peace of God and the love of Christ. I ask you to send forth your Spirit to raise up prayer and intercession for me this night. I now call forth and command the Kingdom of God and the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home and throughout my household, all through the hours of this night and through the new day, in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.

Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 22, 2024

Point of Grace – 9.22.24 Sermon Notes

“Always Pray and Don’t Give Up”

Luke 18:1-8 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged, 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect any person. 3 Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my opponent.’ 4 For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God respect any person, 5 yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will God not bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night, and will He delay long for them? 8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

This parable has some layers of meaning and helps us with two questions:

Why should we persist in “prayer and not become discouraged”?

How should we persist in “prayer and not become discouraged”?

Luke 18 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged, (not give up) 2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect any person.

3 Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my opponent.’ (vindicate me… make things right … make sure truth prevails) 4 For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God or respect any person, 5 yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” (Literally ‘give me a black eye’) 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now, will God not bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night, and will He delay long for them? (or be longsuffering to them) 8 I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly.

Why Pray?

Jesus paints a picture of the persistent woman who was utterly powerless against the unjust forces of culture and indifference of people. She had “one” thing available to her that is her “persistent coming to the one who could ‘make things right’”. Jesus accentuates the importance of this “persistent coming” by describing the judge as indifferent to the woman’s needs except ….. he didn’t want her to “give him a black eye”.???? It turns out the judge did care about himself and his reputation when it was on the line. This is what her persistence tapped into and she (the powerless one) got justice in the end.

Jesus contrasts our heavenly Father with the judge by saying our Father in not indifferent.

He does hear our prayers.

He is at work answering our prayers.

He does value our tears shed under the weight of things “not being right” as we cry out to Him to “make things right” in a world gone wrong.

He wants us to cry out to Him.

He wants us to “hold Him to His promises – He cares about His reputation.”

He wants His children to bring all the angst messiness of being broken people in a broken unjust world to the prayer room.

Because He does care.

He is compassionate.

He is merciful and He does answer often “unexpectedly” … “surprisingly” now and will “make all things right” when He returns……. Come Lord Jesus … Come quickly.

How do we pray and not give up?

Jesus leads us to pray “all in”….. bring our whole selves…. wholehearted.

Come fully, passionately “all in” to Him in prayer.

Rehearse His promises back to Him. Ask Him to fulfill them in our day… in our lives …. Now!

He comes “quickly” as we pray…. unexpectedly “making things right”

as we pray in this “already now but not yet” chapter of the story we are in.

In the last line Jesus paints us who live 2000 years later into the picture,

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find (the) faith on the earth?”

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 15, 2024

Point of Grace – 9.15.24 Sermon Notes

“STOP and PRAY”

“If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and this will lead us to pray. Intercessory prayer is a way of loving others… Intercessory prayer is selfless prayer, even self-giving prayer. In the ongoing work of the Kingdom of God nothing is more important than Intercessory Prayer.” Richard Foster

STOP and PRAY

STOP – “to be interrupted and interruptible to ‘notice’ beyond ourselves”

PRAY – “to invoke the resources of heaven upon the needs on earth”

Pray First, Pray Now, Pray Bold, Pray Through

Luke 19:1-10 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Acts 3:1-8 C3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Matthew 6:9-13 C4

9 Jesus said, “This, then, is how you should pray: “

‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be Your name …

Your kingdom come…

Your will be done … … on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but Deliver us from the evil one.  

STOP and PRAY

“To pray the Lord’s prayer, especially the first three petitions, is like being Special Forces embedded deep in enemy territory calling in the coordinates for a cruise missile of the wholeness of Heaven to strategically strike a certain brokenness on earth, for the ‘rightness’ of heaven to overwhelm a particular ‘wrongness’ on earth, that the victory already secured by heaven would breakthrough and manifest itself now on earth.”

Can you imagine if the church of Jesus caught the vision of Jesus and exercised the authority of Jesus invoking the resources of Jesus into the realities of earth.

What if God could trust us to “STOP and PRAY” at a moment’s notice and for the long haul, joining Him in bringing about the redemption of the world, our families, ourselves?

Point of Grace Online Worship - May 12, 2024

Point of Grace – 5.12.24    Sermon Notes –  “Worship, Access and Authority” 

“10 Days for Prayer and Fasting (lite)”
Point of Grace Church
May 9-19, 2024   -    Ascension to Pentecost 

As a Church:
May 13-14   Church Open for Prayer 4-6pm with a led prayer liturgy on the half hour (4:30 & 5:30)
          15          Worship and Prayer Night
          16-18  Church Open for Prayer 4-6pm with a led prayer liturgy on the half hour (4:30 & 5:30)
          19         Pentecost Sunday Worship

As Individuals:          
Special edition of the Daily Pause – 10 Days straight
Additional Resources for the “10 Days” available at pog.church/Resources  

The Ascension?

Acts 1
 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

The Ascended Jesus

 inspires our worship,

is our access through prayer and

gives us authority as agents of the Kingdom!

Acts 2 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 

Ephesians 118 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Philippians 2 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness.8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hebrews 4 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,  Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 7 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.  

The Ascended Jesus

 inspires our worship,

is our access in prayer and

gives us authority as agents of the Kingdom! 

Ephesians 2 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus 

Luke 11   One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 

Point of Grace Online Worship - September 24, 2023

Point of Grace Worship 9.24.23 Sermon Notes – “Blessed to be a B.L.E.S.S.ing”

B.L.E.S.S.-

• is a freeing paradigm for sharing Jesus with people I know who need to know Him!

• is both an idea to own and an acronym to live.

• is a doable tool as Jesus trains us to live out our identity as His witnesses in our world!

B-egin with Prayer

Prayer helps us play our vital role in God’s work of bringing people into a trusting relationship with Jesus. We get to listen for “orders and intel” and to intercede on their behalf.

Ezekiel 37 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. 11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, …14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

Ezekiel is called to participate in God’s work of salvation by proclaiming His promises and praying for God’s Spirit to come and bring new life.

Luke 11 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

How is Jesus training us?

Jesus is training us to “persevere in prayer” as “friends in the middle” who ask and keep on asking Him to come and fulfil His promises in our day, in our lives and in the lives of those for which we pray.

3x5 Praying is a tool which trains us to B.L.E.S.S. by Beginning with prayer!