Virtual Sunday Worship Service - 4-19-20 - Sweet Hour Of Prayer

Prayer and the Christian life Ephesians 6:18 ...praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (We don't have to come up with it. We can, but we don't have to.) -- James 5:13-18 13Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.(We don't have to pray alone. We can, but we don't have to.) -- What to pray: Numbers 6:22-27 22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” -- Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. -- Ephesians 1:15-23 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. -- Ephesians 3:14-21 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. -- Ephesians 6:19-20 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. -- Psalms The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. -- Why don't we pray? Relationship problems ... with God and with others. 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. -- Ephesians 6:10-13 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth Satan: Liar: Accuser, Tempter ... Fight with truth. -- How to Pray: Pray at all times in the Spirit ... Just pray! Prayer is the key to prayer. Coram Deo. -- Why it's true: He was raised by God, the Holy Spirit: 1 Timothy 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. -- Why it matters? The same Spirit dwells in you. -- Why it's true: He raised Himself: ie He rose. John 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 5:21–22 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, John 2:19–21 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up … he was speaking about the temple of his body. John 11:25–26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” -- Why it matters? Jesus is God, worthy of all blessing, honor, glory, power, trust, love, obedience. Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent? -- Why it all matters: 1. To understand your own salvation better. Your salvation – Spiritual resurrection now and Physical resurrection to come is also a Trinitarian Work. The Father sends and gives, The Son accomplishes, The Spirit applies and secures – and this is all a Work of the perfect Triune God, planned from eternity past, carried out in the present world, consummated in eternity future - The Covenant of Redemption (John 17:1-5). -- 2. The surpassing worth and glory of Jesus: This is the unknowable, unapproachable, incomprehensible God! He has truly come down from the mountain to His people, willing to suffer His own justice to satisfy His own holiness to the praise of His glorious grace toward us. 2 Cor 4:6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. -- 3. To believe, trust, and know Him and to find all of your comfort in life and in death in belonging to Him. Q1: What is our only comfort in life and in death? A: That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ... Rom 14:7-8 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. -- 4. To worship Him as God objectively in your mind and subjectively in your affections. John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” -- 5. To obey Him because you believe, trust, know, worship him – You love Him! If you love Him, obedience follows. If you love me, obey my commandments. Seeing his surpassing worth, his goodness, his trustworthiness, his love, his mercy, his power, his wisdom … we love nothing in this world compared to Him, not even our own lives - Rev 12:11. 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Prayer is a (perhaps the?) primary part of our Spiritual Battle, not named as separate weapon because it is to pervade all that we do. In fact, prayer is HOW we put on the armor and use it. Notice that this is Spiritual Warfare that is waged in the Spirit (ie in the heavenly, invisible realms of the Spirit) and so it is God’s Spirit that fights for us, as we read earlier in Exodus – “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today … The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” … “The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.” It is God’s Spirit that fights FOR us and it is God’s Spirit that fights IN and THROUGH us moving us forward in faith and obedience. And, what two things are given us by the Spirit – the Word and Prayer … the Sword of the Spirit and Prayer in the Spirit. What is prayer in the Spirit? It is prayer guided by the Spirit, made more effective by the Spirit. How, what does this look like? Prayer according to Scripture, based in the Word of God, based in the Message of God (prayer in the Spirit uses the Sword of the Spirit) – in short, it is prayer based in the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Prayer starts with the Message of God – that is the Gospel – Prayer is based in the Gospel, approaching the throne with confidence/boldness – Eph 3:11-12 – “This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” 1 Cor 12:3 – Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Eph 5:18-21 - And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Col 3:15-17 - And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Rom 8:26-27 – “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” The Spirit turns us outward from ourselves, toward God, toward each other, toward the World! This is prayer in the Spirit. (one body, one spirit, one hope, one lord, one faith, one baptism, one god and father of all) … with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,  All times, all prayer/supplication, all perseverance, all the saints. “All prayer” – all kinds of prayer – planned/disciplined prayer, spontaneous prayer. Formal prayers in worship, quick prayer in the car. Morning and Evening (first fruits). Prayers according to Scripture, prayers that are totally your own with no expectation, just pouring out your heart or conversating. Keep alert with all perseverance – sometimes we want to just relax, just take a break from all this spiritual, church, bible stuff, don’t we?! We are challenged here … Paul/God disagrees with us – imagine that! You don’t get a break, not really. And, it’s good that you don’t. Remember Jesus and the disciples in the garden – He specifically asked them to stay alert/awake/watchful. Mark 13:33-37 - 33 Be on guard, keep awake.1 For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man ogoing on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants2 in charge, peach with his work, and commands qthe doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, sin the evening, or sat midnight, or when the rooster crows,3 or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” Matt 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps[a] and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. For all the saints – the Spirit turns us from ourselves to each other!! This is true next-level prayer.