Sermon Tone Analysis

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A CONCENTRATED PRAYER
*ACTS 12:5*
 
*Introduction: Concentrated means to direct something toward a common objective or center.
To gather all your resources in to one body.
To focus.
Here the early church demonstrated the power of concentrated prayer.
*We have this same power with in us as believer when we concentrated our prayer unto God.
Prayer is a powerful gift from God.
It is that special and gracious gift that brings a believer into the very presence of God.
It is a delight to pray.
It is a joy to pray.
It is commanded that God’s people pray, for prayer is the answer to a multitude of problems that plague the body of Christ whether as individuals or as a collective group.
Some situations in the church call for special emphases on prayer.
This is the case here in Acts 12.
The church was being vexed (persecuted) by Herod.
James the brother of John had been put to death by the sword.
*Because it* pleased the Jewish leaders so much to kill James, Herod proceeded to take Simon Peter and put him in prison, chain between two guards with two standing watch outside the door.
But the church prayed, all on one accord, all for the same purpose.
They prayed a concentrated prayer.
The key to understanding the concept of a concentrated prayer is found in the language of this text.
The very words provide key insights into the true meaning of a concentrated prayer.
When we grasp the meaning of prayer in this context, we can rejoice in our prayer life, we can pray expecting to get a break through, we can pray knowing that God will hear and answer us.
*“But prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him.”*
*[1]*                *“BUT…” *A word of *Contrast!*
Something needed changing from the old to the new, and prayer was the only way to bring that change about.
When danger comes upon the sheep the first reaction of the flock is to scatter, this would have been a normal reaction considering what had happen to the leader of the church.
James had been put to death and now Peter was in jail.
The shepherd is missing, the sheep are confused, *but* instead of scattering, they united in prayer.
Around our churches today, we find people in bondage to drugs, alcohol, depression, fear; we find people truly hurting right here in the church.
We could come together and pray for them, *BUT.*
We see our youth today being caught up and locked up, contemplating suicide we could become mentors to some of them, *BUT.*
Young folk being killed on a daily basic and something have to be changed from the old ways of the world and made new in Christ Jesus.
The church was being persecuted and peter was in jail *BUT* prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
It’s time to pray for our churches because the devil desires to keep each of us prisoner in one form or another.
*Somebody may be depressed today BUT.*
*                Somebody may be confused today BUT.
*
*Somebody may be on the verge of losing their job BUT.
I know things may look bad now, BUT.*
The Lord is waiting to hear from us about every situation in our lives and he will answer.
*[2]*           “But *PRAYER*…” A word of *Connection!*
Prayer is our only method of making our request known to God.  *We may worship God to honor him; we may sing praises to God to glorify him.*
When we want a break through we got to pray.
When we want to hear from heaven we got to pray.
*(Luke 18:1)*  The bible says that man ought to always pray, for not only will the Lord hear, he will answer.
Isaiah said while we are yet speaking, he will answer.
The church did not realize that as they were praying the Lord was moving on their request.
And he is waiting to move on our behalf if we would only humble ourselves, turn from our wick ways, seek his face and pray.
*If you need deliverance today PRAY.*
*                If you need healing today PRAY.*
*                Jesus said and all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing you shall receive it.*
*                Anybody here need something from the Lord?*
*                God’s people are under attack, not from Afghanistan, but from principalities, from the ruler of the darkness of this world, from spiritual wick ness in high places*
                If Satan has you bound and you can’t seem to break free, PRAY.
*                For PRAYER is the key and FAITH unlocks the door.*
The song writer said “I know what prayer can do, prayer has brought me through, I’m concerned about you, you ought to pray sometimes.
*Anybody here know what prayer can do?
*
 
*[3]*           “But prayer *WAS MADE…*” A word of *Covenant!
* God’s people are called upon to join with brothers and sisters in Christ in a covenant of prayer.
If we are to bear one another’s burdens as the scripture tells us to, what better way then to pray for one another?
*We have to stop being selfish in our prayer life….
Lord bless me!
Lord help me!
Me, me, me.
* When we gave our lives to the Lord we made a covenant with God and his people.
On our end, prayer is the order of the day.
And it shall come to pass, that before we call, God will answer; and while we are yet speaking he will hear us   God has promised he will hear and answer.
When Jesus was on way to the cross, facing an agonizing death, knowing all that would be done to him.
How he would be whipped and beaten and spit upon and then nailed to the cross for our sins.
Before he prayed to God for himself he prayed for his disciples *(john 17).*
What matchless love and compassion our savior had on that dark and lonely night.
If Jesus is our portion then we are to pray for one another.
*Lord I know I’m sick but look on my brother.*
Lord I know my kids are out of control, but look on my sister who is about to lose her job.
*                Lord you know I need a blessing but bless my brother who has lost his wife.
*
*                Lord Herod has killed James with the sword and he want to kill us to, but look on Peter in that prison.*
* *
*[4]           *“But prayer was made *WITHOUT CEASING*…” A word of *Continuation!*   “ I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth, this poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his trouble.”
Earnest, sincerely continually prayer.
Young Christians might find it hard to pray, and for those saints who have been praying for a long time, it may be a challenge to pray without ceasing.
To pray without ceasing takes work, sweat and maybe even some tears, but we are to pray and not faint.
You may not get your break through today, but keep on praying.
We are to be like Jacob in our prayer life, the scripture tells us that Jacob wrestled with an angel of the Lord all night long; we have to have this same determination in our prayer life.
How long are you willing to pray?
How long are you willing to wrestle in your prayer life?
When we set it in our hearts and have a made up mind, Lord I’m not going to stop praying until you bless me!!!!!!!!!. *For when the righteous cry the Lord hears them and delivers them out of all their trouble!*
When we read the gospel, we find Jesus praying.
When Jesus was in the garden, he did not pray to the father once, but three times the scripture tells us he prayed until sweat ran down like drops of blood.
Jesus knew what was at stake when he prayed; Jesus knew what was at stake if he had not prayed.
So he prayed without ceasing.
There was a time when we would go to the club on Friday or Saturday night and dance all night long, sweat running off of us like water.
Sweat stains all in that new suit, dress so wet from sweating you had to put your coat on to keep from freezing.
Now we can’t stay on our knees in prayer for two minutes.
Our very eternal soul is at stake   Satan is like a hellhound on our track.
How long are you willing to pray?
We come to church and when the deacons get up for devotion first thing somebody say.
*I hope he don’t pray long*.
When Jesus came back from praying he found his disciple sleep.
“Could you not watch and pray with me one hour?”
Have we gone to sleep on God?
There are great benefits in continuining in pray.
We can take a lesson from the poor widow in Luke 18:  the scripture says she was a widow who sought to be avenged of her adversary and she went to the judge with her request day and night.
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