You Can Be a Prayer Warrior | Shawn Johnson | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

You Can Be a Prayer Warrior

Red Rocks Church • Aug 19, 2025 • 46 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

A prayer warrior is not a spiritual super-hero who prays long, eloquent prayers, but an ordinary believer who decides to battle in prayer for their life, family, and community. Jesus provided a simple structure in the Lord's Prayer (Praise, Repent, Ask, Your will, Show me) that gives believers confidence when communicating with God. Even when circumstances do not turn out as requested, prayer always works because it brings us into closer relationship with a loving Father who gives grace, mercy, and peace.

Themes

Prayer WarriorSurrender to God's WillFaithfulness in TrialsForgiveness and CleansingSeeking Guidance

Pastor's Points

1.

Praise - Start prayer by worshiping and thanking God for who He is.

2.

Repent - Confess sins and receive God's faithful forgiveness.

3.

Ask - Bring daily needs and requests to God with childlike confidence.

4.

Your Will - Surrender personal desires to God's higher plan and kingdom.

5.

Show Me - Seek divine wisdom and direction for life's decisions.

Key Points

1.
Praise: Start prayer by focusing on who God is, praising His holiness and expressing genuine thanksgiving.
2.
Repent: Confess sin to clear the air in your relationship with God and remember that His forgiveness is guaranteed by His Word, not based on your feelings.
3.
Ask: Bring daily needs to God as His child, recognizing that prayer builds an ongoing relationship rather than serving as a last-resort emergency call.
4.
Your Will: Mature prayer involves surrendering personal desires to God's higher plan, following Jesus' example in Gethsemane.
5.
Show Me: Ask God for divine wisdom and guidance, knowing He promises in James 1:5 to give direction generously without finding fault.
6.
Anyone can be a prayer warrior; it does not require eloquent or long prayers, but normal believers choosing to battle for their lives, families, and neighbors.
7.
Prayer always works because every conversation with God grants grace, mercy, peace, and greater intimacy with Him, regardless of the immediate outcome.

Sermon Moments

“A prayer warrior is just a normal person who decides to battle in prayer for their life, family, church, and neighbors.”

“Just like having a fitness plan builds confidence in the gym, Jesus gave us a structured prayer plan so we can approach God with confidence.”

“The P-R-A-Y-S model stands for Praise, Repent, Ask, Your will, and Show me direction.”

“You are not forgiven because you feel it; you are forgiven because God's Word says it, and God's Word trumps our feelings every single day.”

“Prayer always works because every time we talk to God, we receive grace, mercy, peace, and closeness with Him, even if the outcome isn't what we requested.”

“Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, true prayer warriors say: even if God doesn't do what I asked, He still gets my worship and my trust.”

“Deep spiritual growth occurs when we pray as Jesus did in Gethsemane: 'Not my will, but yours be done.'”

This Week

Begin your daily prayer time by praising God for His character and listing specific things you are grateful for.

Confess any known sin in your life with confidence, trusting God's word of forgiveness over your temporary feelings.

Bring your daily personal and family needs to God in prayer, treating prayer as a daily conversation rather than a 911 emergency measure.

Surrender your personal plans by praying Jesus' prayer from Gethsemane: "Not my will, but Yours be done."

Ask God for wisdom and direction when facing major decisions, trusting His promise in James 1:5 to guide you generously.

Keep praying and worshiping God through difficult circumstances, even when requests are not answered in the timing or way you expect.

Share the simple P-R-A-Y-S framework with someone this week to help encourage and disciple them in their prayer life.

Remember This

Anyone can become a prayer warrior by approaching God with confidence, following Jesus' framework, and trusting Him through every outcome.

A Challenge for You

What if this week we all decided I'm called to be a prayer warrior and I'm going to go talk to my father with some confidence and ask that God's will in heaven happen on earth? Imagine the kind of world-changing work we could experience and be a part of.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.