Bless: B-Begin With Prayer Series

Title: Begin with Prayer

Theme: To show that when witnessing or anything in life we must begin with prayer.

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Resources Used: Pray First by Chris Hodge & sermon series on Bless by Community Christian Church

Introduction - intentional

In 1 Thessalonians 5 Paul deals with the expectation of the Lord coming. There were people who were questioning the second coming. Paul warns them not to listen but to be ready.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. (2) For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:3-5 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. (4) But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. (5) You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. (7) For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. (8) But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

In the next section of 1 Thessalonians he gives us some helps in preparing for the Lord’s coming.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (13) and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. (14) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (15) See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. (16) Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (19) Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not despise prophecies. (21) Test all things; hold fast what is good. (22) Abstain from every form of evil.

Purpose of prayer

Prayer is the lifeline that connects us to our heavenly father.

Prayer made simple: What does it take to pray?

“A heart willing to talk to God, to listen to Him and willing to hear His voice. Prayer is about His Spirit and our spirit connecting with each other. It is about real fellowship, open and honest heart-to-heart talks with one another. It’s about intimate conversation.” – from What’s Next? By Christ Hodge.

Why people don’t pray?

Pray can be like that for most of us. It’s something we know we should do, something we even want to do, but it can be hard to be consistent at it. Why is that? (“Reasons We Don’t Pray” heading) There are a lot of reasons. Here are a few:

• Sometimes we don’t pray because: “I don’t know how.” Many of us learned to pray as children—mostly at meals and at bedtime. But how many people reach adulthood without any additional instruction? We know we should pray, but many of us aren’t sure how.

• Sometimes we don’t pray because: “I’m too busy.” Let’s face it… prayer takes time, it takes focus, it takes energy; and many of us feel like we’re running short on all of those things. Our busy lives crowd out a lot of things we know are important, and oftentimes that includes prayer.

• And sometimes we don’t pray because: “I doubt it works.” We think, “I prayed, I really did, and it didn't seem to make any difference.” I’ve felt that way before. Maybe it’s led you to question whether you even believe in prayer. When we pray and nothing seems to happen, it makes prayer really difficult.

View Prayer Differently- Pray without Ceasing

“Prayer as ongoing conversation with God”

Pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians

Jesus challenged the Jews in John 15:4 with an new way of looking at their relationship with God. It is abiding.

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Priority of Prayer - Jesus Prayed – Jesus practiced what He preached.

Jesus Begins With Prayer

Jesus is the one we follow. His whole life was a blessing to the world. Every place that he went, every person he encountered experienced a “God moment” in his presence. Jesus lived out the BLESS practices in his daily life on earth, and he did that by beginning with prayer.