Prayer
PRAYER
My topic this morning is prayer! I need to know something so I've gotta ask questions. It's good to ask questions.
Today I want to ask the questions why some get the things that they ask God for and others seemingly don't.
What is the key to prayer? why is it that we haven't got a church as yet and we prayed for one?
Why is it we don't get the man or woman we want? the car or the house?
My Bible tells me that prayer healed the sick, prayer opened up the rea sea, prayer calmed a man in his right sense after being possessed by thousands of demons
Prayer shut up the heavens and so that it doesn't rain for three and a half years. Prayer made the sun to stand still, prayer caused angry winds to shut up and waves to be still.
And prayer woke up the dead
and if prayer can do all of this why can't I do it?
John 14:12-14 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (KJV)
I would venture to say as one author put it. All men pray at one time or another. Millions of men prayed when they realized that they would have to go into the battle fields of the middle east. Families and relatives and friends. People who never heard of the word of God prayed.
Men prayed on the battlefields, in the air on the sickbeds
alot of prayer and promises were made (Chicken)
But what is prayer?
Prayer is communion with God, if you remember nothing else remember that.
In the beginning there was direct communion open communication with God. The record states that God walked in the cool of the garden looking for the edenic pair.
The word speaks of Moses who "The Lord spake unto. . . face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend". God spoke with man, man spoke with God. There was perfect communion, perfect relationship.
But after sin came in it broke that fellowship and caused a chasm between God and man.
But thank God Jesus was that link, that bridge that pulled God and man back together. He died on the cross and with one arm reached into heaven and with the other took the hand of man.
That channel restored a way of approach could be made Jesus was that channel.
Christ said "I am the way the truth and the life No man cometh unto the father but by me"
"Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it to you." John 15:16
"new and living way which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is His flesh" Hebrews 10:20
As he slew the animal he demonstrated that he the wages of sin is death, it was a confession of guilt and acceptance of the provision made by God that the lamb was to take his place.
In their simplest forms sacrifices had the elements of prayer.
humbling of the heart, a broken spirit, a contrite heart and the intense desire to go and sin no more.
. . . Prayer is coming into communion with God into the very presences of God
And while it is commendable, while it is right to pray three times a day and have set times to pray, prayer is not just some task to be completed before the setting of the sun.
It is a privilege the creator of the universe is our friend!!!!
Some folk think that prayer some kind of burdensome chore that they must do.
Clean the yard, vacuum the carpet, scrub the floor, pray, clean out the attic.
The danger of that is that it becomes ritualistic and meaningless.
Just a task to perform, a little boy praying by his bedside said his prayers "God is good, God is great, now we thank Him for our food amen." When he climbed up to his bed he said to his mother "That's the wrong one for now, isn't it, Mama?"
Man with the list.
And it has it a sense become like that with so many of us.
But the prophets knew something of communion with God There prayers took the form of conversation rather than formal petitions. They talked to God and He answered them.
They were on speaking terms with God. Generally getting direction from Him by dreams and visions , but also by word of mouth.
And while we may know more about "world without end" and "straight from thy throne" and grant us a Sabbath's day's blessing" and "thank thee for health, strength and food" and "Give Him a special anointing of thy Spirit" and "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart . . ." While we know more about that
The men of old knew far more than we do today about how to approach God.
And it's high time brothers and sisters that we begin to learn afresh how to communicate with our God and practice being in His presence.
You know it's quite interesting when you hear some Christians say they don't know how to pray, not all Christians now but Some Christians.
And what's more interesting is when I hear that from young Christians.
You ever try calling a house and can't get into the line for an eternity. I mean you try calling the house (especially on a holiday) and it's not that nobody's home. It's just that you can't get in through the thing.
Some of these folk say on the line for hours upon hours from morning till evening there on the phone. And you wonder what in the world or universe could they find to talk about that long.
Worst if there in love, Oh no!! and when you get the bill from new York telephone you wonder whether the statement your reading is the actually payment your supposed to come up with or a new telephone number cause you done used up the one you have by talking on it so much.
I remember when my wife and use to talk, and we'd talk and some of you know she was in Montreal and I was in the Bronx. And when I'd get the phone bill it would almost want to make me cry. I said Lord I gotta hurry up and marry this woman else I'm gonna go broke.
Gotta be in love to do that. That takes time.
And we need to realize that God can handle a conversation, He's an intelligent being, We can talk to God!! He speaks our language He can understand.
You can talk to God about the job, you can talk to God about the ridiculous questions on your trig. test, You can tell Him about the girl you had you eye on, you can relate to Him your sorrows, God's always interested, there's always an ear open to hear what you have to say.
Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (KJV)
God warned us about prayers that have no meaning
Matthew 6:7-8 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (NIV)
LeRoy Patterson Writes in an October issue of Eternity 1982 "The Ten Most Unwanted Prayers"
1. The Solemn Assembly prayer
Our majestic and exalted, highly beneficent, monothetistic, holy Father.
2. The Cliche camouflage
Oh Creator of Heaven and Earth, We come because the truth which you have brought us into this message is spirit filled and the field is great but the labor.
3. The prayer of the just.
And Lord just bless us today, and just be with us as we just worship you.
4. The holy promotion, in which the petitioner uses prayer to gain support for his pet project.
5. The lecture prayer
Trying to teach some profound lesson by giving a sermon to the whole church
6. The Father Father prayer
7. The "You Know Syndrome"
8. The round-the-world prayer.
and Jesus bless those in Hong Kong remember the missionaries in Africa and yes, yes I must say something about those Christians in Singapore.
9. The payment on demand prayer
Father come down right now!! and Bless us right now!! Give us what we want now!!
10. The Summary prayer which ends by repeating in outline form all of the request made.
Some one says why pray when God knows what you need already Why pray when He sends rain on the just and the unjust? Why pray when He supplies your needs even when you don't pray?
Why associate with friends or relatives? Why talk with them for the simple reason that they love each other!! That is all the reason.
You don't have to get down on your knees you can talk to God anywhere! Anytime! Anyplace!
Prayer isn't a long list of gimme this and gimme that. Even though the relationship with God is like that of a Father It would a shame every time you called Him up is because you wanted something
Prayer goes with meditation . . . some folk love to do all the talking. Tell God I want this and that, do this and that and then hang-up on Him.
Prayer is when we talk, but meditation is allow Him to talk to us.
(shutup)
Some of us might do well to follow the advice of Eli
"Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'
We also need Jesus to help us learn how to pray and the Spirit help us learn how to pray.
Thy will be done,
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (KJV)
Prayer is power, we join in the strength of One who is all powerful.
In the battle for the mind between Christ and Satan satan can play dirty ball Christ doesn't and cannot.
We must ask in order for God to do what He normally would not.
He must have consent to do more than He normally would.
I believe in every way the devil tries to get the advantage in this warfare so he checks God! Why should you give Him the victory over my temptations God He hasn't asked you for it?
Prayer is power Elijah prayed and did not rain for three and a half years. He prayed and the oil did not fail or cake fain. He talked to God and the dead woke up.
The Christian writer says in the book pk
"What he was enabled to do under God, all may do in their sphere of activity in God's service;" PK p. 157
"Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?" SC p. 94,95
We have unwanted power at our resource and most of us don't know how to use it!!
Song writer says "Oh what peace we often forfeit Oh what pain we need not bear all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer"
Song writer said "Call Him UP"
How long has it been since you called up your Father?!! How long has it been since you called up your friend!!
Did you know you have a friend in Jesus all your sins and griefs to bear? What a privilege it is to carry EVERYTHING!!! TO GOD IN PRAYER!!!
Yes! you call God collect He can afford it His blood paid the price on Calvary.
You can call on Him in the midnight hours, My God neither slumbers or sleep.
You can call on Him when you're in trouble He is always on the line.
And just in case you didn't want to talk over the phone my God said He would walk with you side by side and talk with ya!!
In the Garden, He won't leave you or forsake He walk with you till the end.
Prayer
Prayer is not a means of getting something out of God, "which He may hestitate to give, but which persistent prayer will effect."
God's will, purposes and designs will succeed. It is set God has a plan and it will be carried out. Therefore It is not attempt to have God change His mind but to attempt to have the mind of God.
It is not an endeavor to have God follow some plan of action but basically know what God's plan is and our relationship to it.
"Learn to harmonize with God attempt to ascertain His will . As soon as you have done this, your promblem is solved. You may then ask whatever you want, and expect to get it; for you will want and ask only for that which is in harmony with God's will, something He wants you to have. You will in all sincerity and simplicity inquire as did Paul , "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Acts 9:6"
Matthew 21:21,22 21 If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
Such answer to prayer can only be true where the one who prays is so completely in harmony with God that his will and God's will are one.
We will be contented "Phillipians 4:11" Understanding that are natures are changed, from that which would want, want. But knowing that we can enjoy life.
Prayer cannot undo what Thus saith the Lord has already proclaimed.
Prayer is not a substitute for thus saith the Lord. In other if we desire something and we know that it is not permissible for us to have that something then prayer cannot effect the granting of that request no matter how much we petition God. It is useless.
Ex: marrying someone who doesn't not know Jesus, or even someone of a different faith? Can two walk together unless they agree?
What you need to do is pray for the strength to do His will.
Psalm 63:5,6
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the midnight watches."
"If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us sweet, joyful sense of the presence of Jesus. Often our hearts will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch."
COL p.129 p. p.66
Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (NIV)
Jer 11:11 Therefore this is what the LORD says: . . . Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. (NIV)
Test our sincerity,
It is not best for Him to decide all the answers
For every difficulty we solve we will be stronger.
Some prayers God does not answer not because of He doesn't regard them highly
Jesus and Moses
Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. (KJV)
Matt 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (KJV)
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (KJV)
"As we watch we will discover dangers from within and without. Watching reveals these dangers to us, and prayer reveals the remedy. There are no circumstances under which we may not breathe a prayer; for prayer is an atmosphere rather than an appointed time and place."
Self examination "Examine yourselves, test yourselves to see whether or not you are holding on to your faith"
Inventory, it's good to do such things but a true Christian doesn't become overburdened and discouraged about them after he finds out what they are.
Remember you are saved by grace your goodness, your salvation, your being fixed for glory. Never had nothing to do with you in the first place. Some Christians are disappointed because they find out that they are not all they think they should be. And if we did think that some of us would be proud and big headed.
Sanctification is like dirty laundry, aint no sense in bawling over dirty clothes, Oh look at my soiled landry I just wore it today and it's dirty. Oh look at my dirty dress, my dirty pants . . . man take that stuff to washing machine to get it clean.
Prayer
Our main focus of point is that In God's image was man to live and grow and have there being. Therefore in their relationship with God and especially with one another they would learn how to be happy with their existence.
In the garden of Eden the paradise of God, He provided all the necessities of life. And Adam was presented Eve as a help meet someone with whom he could share life's joys together. And Eve was given Adam someone who could love and cherish her.
Necessities all wrought for them by God and all around them were only symbols of beauty of God's love and care for them and that He had given them all of this to enjoy throughout their existence infinite growing happiness. But among all of this there the greatest pleasure was communing with God. Getting to know love.
Then sin entered the world and communication between God and man was cut off. Disobedience has its natural consequences. Communication was cut off. . . But Jesus was the link that enabled the communication lines to be opened.
We mentioned before that sacrifices was in themselves embodied prayers stating that the petitioner was worthy of death. That the penalty for that sin was death. Through the slaughter of the lamb he excepted the sacrifice that meant the lamb of God was soon to take the sinners stead and through that God and man would be brought back together.
But there would be problems . . . Problems in that there was a catalyst for sin. he would accentuate to men that God is not what He claims to be. He would speak against the character of God.
he would try to convince men that God was aloof, uncaring and unfeeling. he would try to boost up self confidence in mans own ability to live without God. Even to the point were he tells man that he is God.
he would cause strife and murder among men, he would bring up tragedies in the atmosphere and sickness within the souls of men and blame it on God. he would convince men go on and live your own life do as you please you will see no danger, and no harm will befall you.
This catalysts, this liar, this accuser is Satan. All this he did in the beginning he does this because he hates the relationship God has with man. (destroy God's object of salvation and love)
There is a problem other than the catalysis, or in other words the cheerleader of Hell, trying to motivate us to live lives that will warranty eternal damnation.
That other problem is that there is a time bomb inside of each of us ready to eat us up alive like a cancerous germ. That time bomb is sin. It is a mind set a mental attitude that develops into character and lifestyle that says I can live without God in my Life!!! It is a great deception that I will come out alright even though I don't follow the guidelines He's given me.
And God is trying to get to everybody before that time bomb blows up and it is too late. He's trying to diffuse that bomb and set inside of us a course that will take us to Heaven.
But God is in the convincing business, convincing men and women boys and girls of who He is. That He is who He is. He is a God of Love and A God of might and A God of wisdom.
And is trying to convince us that all He wants to do is make us happy. He can do it. That He can provide, (that He can't be completely happy without you) (You know with the power of choice God's got more to lose than anyone else.
And I believe that when we begin to come in contact with Him that we will fall in love with Him and see that He is worth more than anything not because He provides us with material things or because He protects us or because He shows us our worth, but because of who He is, we will find out who He is.
That is why prayer is so important because we link ourselves with Him and find out who God is. And when we find out who God is we have no inhibitions about life. Because we know just who were dealing with. . .
That's why the bible says whatsoever is not of faith is sin. And Christian you oughta be horsewhipped sitting there feeling sorry for yourself
oh I don't understand I'm so worry. . . It means you don't understand who He is!!
Prayer is communion with God and when you commune with Him you and find out who God is. And if you've communicated with Him long enough you would understand that God misses you!! He wants you up in heaven were He is and that He's gonna do everything He can to see that it comes through.
And the evidences of that is the things He's wrought out in your life. The more you develop a relationship with Him is the more He reveals Himself to you. And that will be showned by how He will relate to you in your life. Hey I want you up here, I want to end your suffering, strife, I know you will be completely satisfied but I want you to do me a favor, there's somebody out there that I love, I want you to tell it to.
You got to tell someone else. HEY I KNOW SOMEBODY!!
When we fully trust Him then we are ready, Just by the fact that we sin means that we still need strength and faith.
I suggest to you this morning that communing with God means that you are convinced. You see when we learn how to communicate with God, He will communicate with us. And HE will communicate to us that He is able to handle our lives He is able to take care of us.
We will not only have a Saviour and a Lord but we will have a friend that sticks closer than a brother. I gave Him my heart cause I'm conviced!!
I'm convinced that His word is true, I'm convinced that He's coming again and I need to be ready, I'm convinced that He can see me through come what may.
But there's alot of other things I'm not sure about that's why I want to develop a close relationship so He can speak to me personally and I can be convinced about them too!
George Muller
Samuel Morris
Elijah told King Ahab that because of the apostasy of Israel that their shall not be dew nor rain except at my word!!
After they sent an APB on his life men looking for him to kill him
Elijah walked up to one of the officials of the apostate King in an open field and said to him "go tell King Ahab Elijah is here!!
"If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us sweet, joyful sense of the presence of Jesus. Often our hearts will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch."
COL p.129 p. p.66
He speaks to us through His word. We always need to pray for understanding.
I remember coming up that I was looking. . . I had always prayed for someone and I knew that somewhere over the rainbow but my case it was someone over the border.
If got wants to give you a horse . . .
Prayer of thanksgiving
With thanksgiving let your request be made known to God
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer is not a substitute for a "Thus saith the Lord"
Prayer of petition
Some times prayer avails nothing . . .
God is not some Santa Clause or some genie if you rub Him the right way you will get everything you want. obviously some get disgruntled because they don't get what they want. Suppose God doesn't want you to have it. . . Or have it now!!
God is an intelligent being WITH FEELINGS He can be grieved and hurt by us.
Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (KJV)
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (NIV)
When we come into communion with God it's just a pleasure to just to know Him. Just to be associated with Him because the Christian knows He's been good to me.
Songwriter says "If there were never any streets of gold, neither a land where we would never grow old, It's been worth just having the Lord in my life living in a world of darkness He came along and brought me the light!!!
One of things we must remember is that we can never tell God what to do.
1 John 5:14-15 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us-- whatever we ask-- we know that we have what we asked of him. (NIV)
We don't get petitions by demanding . . .
How many times I have heard the story of individuals pleading or more so demanding God. threatening Him, God if you don't do this why I'll leave the church.
and we if we don't know what God's will is we could pray and pray and pray it still wouldn't do us any good you fast until you starve to death and nothing would change.
It could make us frustrated and angry upset and discourage that's why you ought to seek the will of the Lord first.
Fasting and Prayer (Matthew 17: 18-20)
. "We conclude that in certain cases God will honor the prayers of His people only if they appear so much in earnest that they will deprive themselves of necessary food if need be that others may be helped.
. The story of the young man seems to teach that God will do something for a man who is deadly in earnest and who is willing to pay the cost, that He will not do for a man who is mildly interested in the case, but is not willing to deprive himself of anything or sacrifice to obtain the necessary results." Prayer pp. 77, 78
Can't fast just to be fasting . . . Pharisees did that.
Some would keel over to their grave if they had to fast on the Sabbath. Can't go a week without . . .
Suffering and the Christian
Paul and Suffering
1 Peter 2:20 take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. (KJV)
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (KJV)
Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: (KJV)
2 Corinthians 1:4-6 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. (KJV)
2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (KJV)
(the 9 things sickness and sufferings accomplish) p.127
Prayer of Intercession
Moses, Abraham, Jesus
Fasting and Prayer (Matthew 17: 18-20)
If we don't do our part how can God do His! (the saving of our
relatives)
Long and Loud
Some of us would rather utter from our mouths a word of criticism
instead of a word of prayer first.
"Father forgive them for they know not what they do"
Jesus and Prayer
Prayer is knowing God, communicating to the point where you will have all power whereas you are convinced that He is able to do all things in your life no matter what the circumstance may be.
Prayer is knowing that God has a purpose for you no matter what you may be going through you know and understand that He will never leave you and that He's working on your case.
Prayer is power being able to convinced others about His love by the things that happened in your life and the things that God tells you to work out for others.
Prayer is knowing He is able. prayer is power.
Paul said that we should come behind in no gift
I remember that when writing this . . . (life)
And you can have that power
I read in GC Satan will wrought many mircales in the end time.
p. 612 "Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousand of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers."