How do I fan the flame? PRAYER
Mark Estepp - 7/12/2026
2 Timothy 1:5-7
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
How do I fan the flame?
How do I burn, and not burn out?
Acts 2:42
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Fan the flame by being devoted to prayer.
What is it?
Prayer is communicating and communing with God.
Luke 24:32
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Why do it?
Prayer is an invitation from God to be with God.
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Why is it so hard?
The brethren also asked him, “Amongst all good works, which is the virtue which requires the greatest effort?” Agathon answered, ‘Forgive me, but I think there is no labour greater than that of prayer to God. For every time a man wants to pray, his enemies, the demons, want to prevent him, for they know that it is only by turning him from prayer that they can hinder his journey. Whatever good work a man undertakes, if he perseveres in it, he will attain rest. But prayer is warfare to the last breath.’
When should I?
Pray before
Pray during
Pray after
1 Thessalonians 5:17
pray continually
How?
Matthew 6:9-13
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
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 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
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.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
Jude 1:20-21
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
When you pray, you commune with the fullness of the Godhead, the Trinity.
Coming to God the Father as your heavenly Father
through God the Son, Jesus Christ, our redeemer and mediator,
by God the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who indwells and intercedes on your behalf.
What difference does it make?
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Thomas Merton "Prayer is not asking for what you think you want, but asking to be changed in ways you can't imagine."