Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: Beefing Up

Theme: Five Conditioning Techniques for a Satisfied Prayer Life

Series: Prayer

Introduction: Arnold Schwarzenegger was a very disciplined bodybuilder; he knows about beefing up.

He said, "Experiencing this pain in my muscles with the aching going on and on is my challenge.

The last three or four reps is what makes the muscles grow.

This area of pain divides a champion from someone who is not.

That's what most people lack, having the stamina to go on and work through the pain..." In regard to beefing up the body, Daniel Kenney writes, "By definition bodybuilding is: a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hyper therapy.

When a person first makes the choice to get in-shape, the first thing they do is become educated.

Muscular fitness and body building is a result of various exercises such as resistance training, cardiovascular stressing or weight lifting.

These activities produce microscopic tears and stresses on muscles that are repaired naturally and involuntarily by the bodies’ natural means."

Becoming a bodybuilder or getting in real good shape takes discipline; it hurts, however, it does the body good.

Proposition: I would propose to you God's Word has techniques that lead to a satisfied prayer life.

Techniques that get us through the spiritual aches that demand us to give up.

Heartaches from watching children and grandchildren live a life for self, disappointments, wrong expectations and prolonged answers to thousands of prayers have weakened the faith of many to a prayer life that is not fully satisfied.

Misconception of how to pray has caused many to enter into prayer with an attitude of, "Prayer is something we pretend to do," (Rick Warren, Five conditions of Answered Prayer) because it is what religious people are supposed to do.

Interrogative Sentence: Just what Biblical techniques can beef up our prayer life?

A life that indicates prayer is the steering force in our lives.

Better yet, a life that keeps Christ at the steering wheel of everything we do and every decision we make. 1 Thessalonians instructs us to, "pray continually."

Like a bodybuilder or someone who is disciplined in getting into good shape, it takes education and a willingness to stress our spiritual heart muscles through Biblical modifications that rips and causes discomfort.

Let us pray!

Transitional Sentence: There are deeper truths to a satisfied prayer life than, "does God promise to answer everyone's prayer?"

In building a muscular body, muscles must be pushed to their limits.

A modification needs to be made if we are going to truly have a spiritually-satisfied prayer life.

A spiritual technique to apply is an honest heart before God.

John 15:7 says, "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you."

One awesome Biblical truth to cling to, if you have a Holy Spirit revelation of the following conditions set by Jesus: remain in Him, by the Word of God being in you, ask whatever you wish, it will be given to you.

It has been well said, but in Scripture every promise has a condition or a premise.

Your prayer life will never be more effective than how much you understand Scripture.

“The more you understand the Bible the more you'll know how to pray affectively."

(Rick Warren, Five conditions of Answered Prayer) Time for some real truth: how many prayers do you and I have of which we are still waiting answers for?

Is it possible that we need some Biblical modifications through study of God's Word?

Six months ago, I saw my local physician and heart doctor.

They told me again to walk, drop weight down to healthy level, eat better and take your meds daily.

A week ago I had an incident, which has caused concern for those who love me and my doctors.

I was thinking a modification is in order as well as some honest evaluations.

When I saw my doctor, there were questions asked of which she expected truthful answers.

I might as well be truthful; she can tell by looking at me that she already knew.

I wondered if the questions asked were not for only for her, but also for me to be honest with myself.

Transitional Sentence: Honesty before God enables us to apply the technique of examining ourselves with Biblical questions that tears at the spiritual heart.

Psalm 66:18 says, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."

Proverbs 28:13 says, "He who tries to conceal his sins cannot prosper but he who admits them, confesses them, and forsakes them will have mercy."

Anyone who covers up his determined sins by hiding, justifying, or blaming someone or something else will not prosper.

He who is willing to confess his sins to God will be shown mercy.

(Matthew Henry Commentary; The Pulpit Commentary; Commentary of the Old Testament) 1 John 1:8-9, "If we claim to be without sin, we're just deceiving ourselves.

The truth is not in us.

However, if we confess our sins, He's faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

This passage was written by the apostle John, instructing Christians on what to do when sin overcomes them as well as sharing the benefits of confession to the Lord.

It begins with true confession: "confess" (homologeō - ὁμολογεω) means to agree with another or rather to agree with God in regards to the implication of the sin committed by a child of God.

This includes the hatred of that sin, the Christian's sense of guilt because of it and his heart's desire to purge that sin out of his life.

(Wuest's Word Study in the Greek New Testament; Word Studies in the New Testament)

There is a big difference between being sorry and being repentant because of the circumstances one finds himself in because of sin and being broken by the fact your sin had hurt someone else and the Lord.

Pastor Don Baker wrote the book Beyond Forgiveness, the Healing Touch of Church Discipline, sharing the true story of Pastor Greg, who—along with other churches—had for many years tried to conceal the sin of adultery in his life.

Eventually, Greg was found out, just as the Scriptures promised.

(2 Samuel 11-12) Pastor Don and the church he oversaw took time to Biblically restore Pastor Greg back into the ministry.

It began with true confession before God, then to those whom he was accountable to.

After twenty-six months of Biblical restoration, their prayers were answered.

Greg was back serving the Lord full-time.

He writes, "What Pastor and the staff and the board did took guts.

I do not know of any church that has done that.

Thank you pastor for the courage...

I will tell you, it is really rich when you are obedient.

I want to say, to any of you who are messing around with sin, let it go, give it up, ask God for forgiveness...

And above all, I would thank God for His restorative power to make a new man of me and for allowing me the privilege of being a minister [again].

What a great God we have."

(Beyond Forgiveness, Pastor Don Baker - Page 98 - Restored)

Pastor Don and the church he oversaw with the Lord remained in Christ and in His Word; they saw prayers answered in an area most churches will never get to see.

Most churches have and will continue to fail the area of Biblical restoration.

It begins with an honest prayerful evaluation to God's Word.

Transitional Sentence: Another technique to a healthy satisfied prayer life is purposely listening to God's teaching.

The Bible says, "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him." (1 John 3:21-22)

Confidence before the Lord (παρρησιαν προς τον θεον) comes from an obedient heart to the whole council of God's Word.

Through the hard work of study and surrender walk with the Lords gives motivation to pray our callings to completion.

(The New American Commentary; Commentary Critical and Explanatory; Word Pictures in the New Testament) Hearts do not condemn us (παρρησιαν προς τον θεον) is a present active subjective, coming not from a claim to be sinless, but of a consciousness of fellowship in God's presence.

(Word Pictures in the New Testament; Wuest's Word Studies in the Greek New Testament)

If you are a new employee, learning a job can takes years, or even as a new business owner.

If you doing your best to obey your overseer or learning the trade of your business, then you can approach God in prayer asking for His protection, guidance, and wisdom.

However, if you spend your time on the cellphone, calling, texting friends and family, or on the internet expending energy on useless entertainment when should be learning the trade and making business connections, then you will not have the confidence to approach God in prayer.

It has been well said, "God does not demand perfection.

He simply demands [a heart] of obedience to His Word." (Rick Warren, Five conditions of Answered Prayer)

Transitional Sentence: Listening for God births forth the technique of seeking God's will in prayer.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15) Modern-day Christianity has caused many to miss the mark in prayer.

They like the writings of those who say, "Love God and do what you please."

(St.

Augustine, Rick Warren, Five conditions of Answered Prayer) Christians who have confidence to approach God ask the important questions: Am I in God's will in regard to being the person He wants me to be? Am I in God's will in the circumstances I am in?

Am I in God's will in the directions I am heading in this life and the life to come?

Christians who have a satisfied prayer life have the heart of the Psalmist who wrote, "The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commands.

Turn to me and have mercy on me, as You always do to those who love Your name.

Direct my footsteps according to Your word; let no sin rule over me.

Redeem me from the oppression of men, that I may obey Your precepts.

Make Your face shine upon Your servant and teach me Your decrees."

(Psalm 119:130-135)

Christians who find God's will for them in prayer ask these heart-felt questions: “Who's will am I really seeking?” “Lord, just what are Your instructions for me?” “What is my responsibilities in this task?”

“How do you want me to respond in this circumstance or situation?”

Prayer undergirded with these heart searching questions enables the child of God to enjoy a satisfied prayer life.

One man who was able to trust God's will in prayer was Adoniram Judson.

"When he was about to go to be with the Lord, news came to him that some Jews in Turkey had came to Christ after reading the account of his sufferings in Burma.

Judson told his wife who was at his bedside, 'This is good news.