Prayer#4
From reading the different translation of this V. it's very clear that there are different types of prayer. The Moffat's translation says, “Praying with all manner of prayer.” The NIV says, “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 saints”.
I. Last time we began on the subject of the different kinds or types of prayer.
A. The 1st one that we mentioned was the prayer of PETITION.
1. The prayer of petition is basically asking God for something mainly for yourself.
2. One prayer that always goes with the prayer of petition is the prayer of faith.
a. When you go to the Father for something, you always pray in faith.
b. (ROM 10:17) Says, “So then faith cometh by hearing...”
c. The only way that you're going to get the faith to have your prayers answered is by knowing the Word of God in your heart.
d. (Mark 11:23‑24) “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive {them}, and ye shall have {them}.”
B. The 2nd type of prayer that we covered was the prayer of CONSECRATION.
1. In (LUKE 22:42) Jesus says, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
2. In this prayer Jesus was praying a prayer of submission, consecration and dedication.
a. Jesus wasn't praying to change things.
b. He was praying for the Fathers will to be done in His life.
c. And that's something that we should be doing.
II. The 3rd type of prayer that I want to look at is the prayer of PRAISE and WORSHIP.
A. We need to take time to wait on the Lord and minister to Him.
1. Not only do we need to do this as individuals, but we also need this kind of prayer service as a group.
a. When we get to a place where we can have mid-week services, this is something that I would like to do maybe once a month.
b. A night of praise and worship, ministering to the Lord.
2. They did this in the book of ACTS.
a. Look at ACTS 13:2‑4
b. Today in most Christian churches when people gather together most of the time it's to minister to one another.
c. In our song service we purpose to minister to Lord. But no matter how much the leader (this church or others) tries to get us to worship to much of the time we're just singing words. It's our own fault.
i. That's just as bad as vain repetition.
ii. Are you purposing to minister to the Lord?
d. Than the rest of the service the Word of God is preached.
i. That's not ministering to the Lord, that's ministering the us.
e. Even at the end of the preaching we're petitioning the Lord for our needs.
i. We're not ministering to the Lord we're ministering to one another.
ii. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that; it's all good and scriptural, but what I'm trying to say is that we need to spend more time ministering to the Lord.
iii. More time praising and worshiping the Lord when we're together and when we're alone.
B. In (V 2 of ACTS 13) it says that “THEY ministered unto the Lord.”
1. There was a group of them there ministering to the Lord.
a. It says “They” ministered to the Lord.
2. Look what happened when they ministered to the Lord.
a. “The Holy Ghost said...” (V 2)
b. When you began to minister to the Lord, your operating in another scriptural principal.
c. (JAM 4:8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
d. I'm a firm believer in that when we begin the praise and worship Him, when we begin to wait on the Lord, when we begin to get quite before Him, when we begin to minister to the Lord; He is going to speak to us.
e. He always speaking to us, but we'll be in a place to hear Him.
III. God made man to fellowship with. He made man for His own pleasure.
A. He created man to praise His glory. ISA 43:7
1. Also look at EPH 1:11‑12
2. The NIV says this, (11) In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, (12) in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
a. Even our very creation was for the purpose to bring glory to Him.
B. In (ACTS 16) we have the story of Paul and Silas in Philippi. they were arrested, beaten with many stripes and cast into prison.
1. Lets look at that passage ACTS 16:22‑25
2. I want you to pay very close attention to (V. 25); Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God.
a. They could have been complaining and mopping around, bitter about the whole situation.
b. But all that would have done is made things worse.
c. {Someone once said, “Paul and Silas got in jail, but they didn't let the jail in them.”}
C. This is the reason many people are defeated.
1. Trouble comes to everyone, but our attitude toward it, is what makes the difference between victory and defeat.
a. In the worst possible situation Paul and Silas weren't complaining, they were praying and singing praises to God.
b. And what happened? ACTS 16:26‑33
c. Paul and Silas were set free, supernaturally, and the guard and all his family were saved.
d. We'll pick up from here next week.
Prayer#4
TFC January 20, 1990 & WOLCC SUN AM 6/7/92 From Kenneth E. Hagin's book “Prevailing Prayer to Peace” Chapter 12 pg. 49-51