Praying Disciples Prevent Prevelant & Predominant Problems

Tony Evans tells a story of a young man sitting in D.C. on a park bench. A little boy noticed him bawling with tears just streaming down his cheeks. Concerned the little boy says, “What’s wrong sir, what’s wrong?”

The man tells the boy about his brother being on death row facing execution in the next few days. The boy desperately wanted to get in to see President Lincoln to ask him for a pardon of his brother. He said, “of course, regular people cannot get in to the president's office, so I feel hopeless.”

After hearing the man’s story the little boy said, “Sir, would you come with me?” The boy took the man by the hand, walked through the guards, into the office, past the secretary and nobody mumbled a word. The man couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t have gotten half this far,even if he tried, and this little boy walked him straight past everyone into the president’s office.

President Lincoln stood as the boy was walking in, and looking at the boy he said, “What can I do for you, son?” You see the reason the man was in the oval office and in the presence of the president is because he met and had an encounter with the son of Abraham Lincoln, and Lincoln’s son could walk past all the opposition.

Evan’s says that you and I cannot walk into the presence of a holy God unless we are escorted by the Son. That’s why we pray in Jesus’ name.

Jesus’ teaching here in has helped us to learn how easy it is to enter the throne room of God spiritually through prayer. and assures us of the power of Jesus name not only in granting us entry but in having our request heard and answered.

We have the promise of Jesus

In there is no mention of prayer. It is an account of the religious leaders and people questioning and criticizing the Kingdom work he was doing in bringing salvation to satan’s captives. Coincidence is not responsible for the ordering of God’s Word, God is; therefore I believe Luke’s placing of this account directly after the account of Jesus’ teaching on prayer is on purpose.

STAND AND HONOR THE AUTHOR OF THE WORD AS WE READ HIS WORD

Luke 11:14–23 CSB

14 Now he was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16 And others, as a test, were demanding of him a sign from heaven. 17 Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. 23 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.

PRAYER

The promise of Christ is that where 2 or more of his people are gather in His name there He is also. Gathered in His name for His purpose.

The promise of Christ is that where 2 or more of his people are gathered in His name, for his purpose, there He is also. The purpose of Jesus for the church was up to the church to live out. But they understood one thing better than many churches.

The prayer life of the first church provides a pattern from which the modern church can learn, both in terms of the importance of prayer, and also matters for prayer. If you read through the first several chapters of Acts you will see the first church gathered often and praying (intensely and faithfully) every time they did. Before they attempted to follow Christ commands they prayed. in:

Acts 1:14 CSB

They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

The prayer life of the first church provides a pattern from which the modern church can learn, both in terms of the importance of prayer, and also matters for prayer.

After the greatest single movement of the Holy Spirit happened, producing the greatest single need of discipleship, they became committed to making disciples grounded in prayer.

Acts 2:42 CSB

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

When 2 of the church elders had been arrested and released because of preaching the gospel in the name of Jesus, the church gathered to pray, not for comfort or protection but for boldness. The Bible gives the result of those prayers.

Acts 4:31 CSB

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

When complaints and criticisms arose in the church, instead of stopping the most important kingdom work, the church leaders, apostles, prayed and told the people to choose faithful and spirit-filled men to protect church unity.

Acts 6:3–4 CSB

Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Acts 6:

When a member was deathly ill, the people called for prayer of healing.

Acts 9:40 CSB

Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.

After the first pastor of the 1st Christian Church, James, had been killed, and while another elder, Peter was in jail the church was praying.

Acts 12:5 CSB

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him.

When they were praying during worship God called the church to send out some members to plant another church. They did not go until after receiving a prayerful commission.

Acts 13:2–3 CSB

2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.

If missions was at its core, then prayer was its nucleolus of every cell of the Body of Christ. If they all lived on mission as Christ had commanded them to do, then prayer was the blood that flowed through the arteries and veins of the Body of Christ.

What does all that have to do with ?

Understand these 3 truths about what happens when we pray by ourselves and together in the Body of Christ.

We are not fighting against God.

We have already learned from the first 13 verses of that God is for His children. His intention is to give His children what is most beneficial for them.

Our first enemy is self

Jacob wrestled him self not God

A few obstacles we find in our praying for unbelievers, church members, pastor and staff are: unconcern (about their needs or spiritual health), unbelief (doubting God’s power and promises to meet your needs), and un-confessed sins (offenses against God and others we committed or commands of God we omitted).

Our second enemy is satan

Who is behind all the obstacles of self we have to overcome. We know this from where we find Paul’s description of our spiritual battlefield.

Some people think that there is no Satan. Perhaps the following story will be instructive to them.

Once there was a boxer who was being badly beaten. Battered and bruised, he leaned over the ropes and said to his trainer, “Throw in the towel! This guy is killing me!”

The trainer said, “Oh, no, he’s not. He’s not even hitting you. He hasn’t laid a glove on you!”

At that point the boxer wiped the blood away from his eye and said, “Well, then, I wish you’d watch that referee. Somebody is sure hitting me!”1192[1]

[1] Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (pp. 322–323). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

A prayerless Christian denies the problem.

A prayerless Church dies from the problem.

That is the reason I believe we find this account after Jesus’ teaching on prayer in . That’s why I titled this sermon:

Praying Disciples Prevent Prevalent & Predominant Problems

Luke goes directly from Jesus’ teaching on God giving the Holy Spirit to His children; to giving a perfect real life example of how satan seeks to work against what the Holy Spirit does in the kingdom through God’s children. Notice how Luke shows it is satan causing these people to criticize or question what Jesus is doing in establishing God’s kingdom. The first lesson for us as Christ followers is that

Disciples Intensely praying together prevent the problem of satan’s captives not becoming Christ followers.

v. 14 - Jesus is seen here clearly doing the work of the kingdom that he had declared to be sent for over in . God the Son became Jesus the man so that by His power the captives of satan could be released. This was Jesus’ point in vs. 21-22 - Satan doesn’t work against himself, he works against God because he is trying to keep what he already has.

I wonder if Paul, a close companion of Luke, had this passage in mind when He wrote telling us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of Jesus’ might and to put on the full armor of God; finishing it by telling us to pray always in the Spirit.

Here in v.22 - We know that Jesus is referring to himself as the stronger one who takes away satan’s armor and captures his spoils. How does he do that since He is now in heaven? He uses our prayers for lost unbelievers to strip away what satan thought he could trust. Jesus uses our evangelism, each of us telling lost unbelievers the gospel, to take away satan’s spoils - the souls he held captive.

Disciples Intensely praying together prevent the problem of Kingdom Workers being opposed by Kingdom Critics.

v.15 - Matthew in his account in identifies these people as the prideful and pretentious Pharisees who tried to stop Jesus at every turn and eventually crucified Him.

v.16 - Another group is mentioned here that may have thought it a little to weird or judgmental to call Jesus a satan worker. They did still, however, show their own level of pride when they tested Jesus by asking Him for a sign. It was just another way of criticizing and questioning Jesus without being so obvious to everyone else. In asking for a sign from heaven - they questioned if Jesus had really been called of God to come there as the local pastor and demon out-caster.

Matthew in his account in identifies these people as the prideful and pretentious Pharisees who tried to stop Jesus at every turn and eventually crucified Him.

They wanted divine proof, but Jesus told them they had all the proof they needed. They were saying lost people being saved and discipleship taking place was not a God enough proof that God was actually a part of what Jesus was doing.

Jesus points out in v.19 - the inconsistencies of these critics, saying that they cast judgement on his work, yet they claim to do the same kind of work.

Our intense and persistent prayers enable us to answer the critics the same way. As kingdom workers we can say to those we hear complain and criticize, “If we are seeing lost people saved and saved people grow spiritually then how can we not be doing God’s work if you say your do God’s work.”

In v.20 - the “finger of God” is a reference to the power of God. The presence of God and the proof His kingdom work is seen in changed lives, people being set free from the bondage of sin. The presence of God and proof of His work is not seen in “Biblical Talk” (religious words) nor is it seen in Piously practicing outdated traditions and rules of men.

These Pharisees who always opposed Jesus as he did kingdom work had rules upon rules upon rules, just so they could control people. They had no concern about pleasing God, because if they did they would have joined in on Jesus’ kingdom work. These Pharisees cared more about keeping things just the way they wanted it.

Churches all across America have members and leaders who are like Clint Eastwood in a Spaghetti western, quick on the draw. They can whip out a Church constitution and By-laws faster than you can say “fried chicken.” These church members and leaders will demand that it be followed right down to the last dot on the page, but these same members and leaders will do nothing in fulfilling the great Commandment or the Great Commission.

Look a few verses down in:

Luke 11:28 CSB

28 He said, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

Luke 11:28

Praying Disciples are committed to doing the will of God they hear him revealing during their prayers to God, because they know

Disciples intensely praying together prevent the house of God from falling in on itself.

v.17-19 - Jesus is speaking here about the foolishness of thinking that Satan would work against himself in the way the people were accusing Jesus. The point He is making that kings do not fight against their own army, and armies do not fight amongst themselves.

Now reverse engineering can be used here to teach us the same principle in God’s House or God’s family.

In Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, there are named two ladies who could not get along with each other, Euodia and Syntyche (or, as it has been rendered, Odious and Soontouchy). They obviously had trouble working together. Then and now, the church is too often described in this little jingle:

To dwell above with saints we love,

O that will sure be glory.

But to dwell below with saints we know,

Well, that’s another story!191[1]

[1] Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 65). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

You could say it this way: “Family feuds have rotten fruit as their only produce.”

v.23 - This statement here sets forth the impossibility in the church for neutrality in spiritual warfare. There is no audience to the battlefield. According to Jesus Being passive for Jesus means you are active for satan. According to Jesus, if you are not involved in some way of storming the gates of hell, you are seeking to keep them up.

The gathering and scattering are in reference to the Jesus’ flock or the church. According to Jesus, if you are working against the unity of the church you are causing its destruction and death.

Conclusion: It says in the Holman commentary that Luke created a contrast here between Dedicated Discipleship and Dedicated Opposition to God, or Followers of Christ and Critics of Christ.

To dwell above with saints we love,

O that will sure be glory.

But to dwell below with saints we know,

Well, that’s another story!191[1]

[1] Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 65). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Christ Followers:

[1] Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 65). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

LLu

It says in the Holman commentary that Luke created a contrast here between Dedicated Discipleship and Dedicated Opposition to God, or you could say in the church Committed Christ-Followers and Committed Critics.

Committed Christ Followers:

seek to know how to pray to better know God

choose to do God’s will not theirs

Trustingly ask God to meet daily needs

Seek Holy Spirit Guidance

Let their light shine by hearing and obeying God’s Word

repent of their sins daily

Show love and compassion to each other, God’s messengers, and the lost

Christ Critics

give satan credit for God’s work

are divisive scattering God’s flock

scatter God’s flock

knowingly or unknowingly let evil spirits control their lives

always question and criticize kingdom work

refuse to repent

live self-righteously while placing religious and ritualistic demands on others

shows no love or compassion to others, God’s messengers, nor the lost

A man asked his young son to break a bundle of sticks. He returned a little later to find the lad frustrated in the task. He had raised the bundle high and smashed it on his knee, but he only bruised his knee. He had set the bundle against a wall and stomped hard with his foot, but the bundle barely bent.

The father took the bundle from the child and untied it. Then he began to break the sticks easily—one at a time.

So it is with the church: united we are strong, divided we can fail or be broken.195[1]

[1] Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 66). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Some truths to apply from this passage:

As many of you as possible should develop a plan to pray together at church as often as possible. When you do then you will have no need to fear any critic opposed to kingdom work.

I would love to see the church council meeting at least once a month specifically for prayer. Prayer will be the tie that binds our bundle together making our church unbreakable.

Pray v.23 never happens in the church, someone scattering instead of protecting the unity. If you feel someone is then pray for them first then hold them accountable. Prayer and prevent will keep the House of God from caving in on itself.

Give whole hearted commitment to doing what’s in the Bible, then the By-laws will take care of themselves. Trust that whatever God leads you to do, in it you already have victory over demonic forces.

Do as Let what you say about one another be only good. Let what you have to say negatively about a child of God be to God in prayer not another child of God. It will grow your affection for God and His child.

Get involved in being a kingdom worker starting first by praying more often together with other members for lost people, then pray God will teach you to share your faith and move you with His power to do it.