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Practical Prayer- The Audacity of Prayer

-Prayer isn’t about getting what we want, its about a relationship with God.

Matthew 14:22-33

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning.

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.

27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”

29 He said, “Come.”

And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

1. Audacity of God

Matthew 14:24-27

24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning.

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.

27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

-There is no reason that we should be able to commune with the God of the universe, but He chose to remove that limitation.

2. Audacity to Pray

Matthew 14:28-29

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”

29 He said, “Come.”

And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

Does your prayer life look more like Peter’s response or the disciples in the boat?

3. Audacity to Believe

Matthew 14:29-33

29 He said, “Come.”

And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

We have to stop trying to find the right word combination to get the result we want. Instead, we need to learn to trust Jesus’ heart and believe His answer is the right one.

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Discipline = “Training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.”

Luke 11:1-4 – 1 He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say, Father, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us. And do not bring us into

temptation.”

SERMON TITLE: “THE DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER”

1. PRAYER IS *LEARNED.

Luke 11:1b – …“Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”

Matthew 6:9-13 – 9 “Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ,'

PRAYER IS PRACTICED.

Definition of Practice = “The regular, repeated performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

3. PRAYER IS *PROVEN.

Psalms 34:4 – I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

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2025 Victory Hill Church:

Average Attendance: 818

Small Group Participation: 53%

Serve Team Members: 271

Conversions: 150

Baptisms: 67

Community Involvement:

Operation Bless a Child: 170+ Kids

Meals Served: 6,000 (160 Days)

DC Conversions: 66

DC Baptisms: 15

“What could God do if we only believed?”

“We see a church built on prayer — where prayer is our foundation, our first response, and our greatest weapon!”

21 days of Prayer and Fasting

January 7-27, 2026

Matthew 6:16a – 16 “Whenever you fast,...

What is Fasting?:

Biblical fasting is a voluntary, temporary denial of physical nourishment in order to seek God with greater focus, humility, and dependence through prayer.

1. FASTING *STARVES OUR FLESH AND *FEEDS OUR SPIRIT

Galatians 5:24 – 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

2. FASTING ISN’T A *PERFORMANCE, IT'S AN *OPPORTUNITY TO DRAW NEAR

Matthew 6:16-18 – 16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

3. FASTING ALIGNS OUR HEART WITH THE *HEART *OF *GOD

Psalms 37:4 – 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Main Goal:

Connect to God through prayer, and disconnect from the world through fasting.

1. For Wisdom and Favor for Our Church Leadership

2. That People Would Be Saved and Baptized

3. That God Would Resource and Equip Us

4. That We Would Boldly Step in Unity as a Church Body

5. That We Would Empower the Next Generation