Lecture on 34 Days of Seeking God for a Breakthrough

Introduction

• 22,000 families at Saddleback Church participating in “34 Days of Seeking God for a Breakthrough.”
• Prayer schedule: Three times a day (morning, afternoon, evening) for five minutes, similar to Daniel in the Bible.
• Breakthrough defined as a miraculous solution to an unsolvable problem.

Purpose

• Encouraging participants to seek personal breakthroughs through prayer.
• Emphasis on God bringing everyone to this moment to witness and experience their breakthroughs.

Invitation to Join

• It's not too late to join the prayer initiative.
• Instructions: Write “breakthrough” on a bulletin card with email/text to receive daily devotional materials.

Jesus and Prayer

• Jesus chose 12 disciples who witnessed his miracles.
• They did not ask to learn preaching or miracles but asked, "Lord, teach us to pray."
• Emphasizes the power of prayer as the foundation for miracles and teachings.

Misconceptions About Prayer

• Prayer can be confusing and intimidating for many.
• Common doubts and insecurities about how to pray.

Teaching About Prayer – Luke Chapter 11

• Jesus introduces praying with "Our Father," a revolutionary concept.
  • Emphasizes prayer as a relationship, not about eloquence or words.
  • God as a caring, close, consistent, and capable Father.
  • Encourages intimacy and informality, akin to a child speaking to their father.

Confidence in Prayer

• Understanding God as a Father changes how we pray.
• God invites us to call Him “Abba” or “Daddy.”
  • A term denoting intimacy and trust.

Overcoming Negative Associations with "Father"

• Acknowledges that some may have negative perceptions of "father" due to personal experiences.
• God is portrayed as the perfect Father, unlike any earthly father.

The Characteristics of God as a Father

• Unconditionally loving.
• Always with you, attentive, and consistent.
• Fully capable and competent.

The Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 7:7-12

• Five reasons to pray with confidence:
  • Ask, Seek, Knock: keep on asking, seeking, and knocking.
  • God promises to answer if we keep asking.
  • God will never give anything unhelpful: just as a parent wouldn’t give a stone instead of bread.
  • God won’t give anything harmful: won’t give a snake instead of fish.
  • God will only give what is best for us.

Treating Others

• The Golden Rule in prayer: "Do to others what you would have them do to you."
• Encouragement to pray for others' needs as we would want them to pray for ours.

Practical Application

• Confidence in asking God without fear of asking for the wrong thing.
• Focus on the relationship with God, not just the requests.
• Prayer for breakthroughs in various life areas.

Conclusion

• Prayer as an act of trust, communicating with God as Abba.
• Encouragement to see personal breakthroughs and pray for others.
• Invitation to commit to the prayer journey and experience God’s work.