Sermon Central
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Call To Prayer
Contributed by Greg Bryan on Nov 20, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: “Do you know why I often ask Christians, “What’s the biggest thing you’ve asked God for this week?” I remind them that they are going to God, the Father, the Maker of the Universe, the One who holds the world in His hands. What did you ask for? Did you
CALL TO PRAY
the perpetually present practice of prayer produces praise power and perspective
contiueal crisis crying cannot create christcentered character or conduct
“Do you know why I often ask Christians, “What’s the biggest thing you’ve asked God for this week?” I remind them that they are going to God, the Father, the Maker of the Universe, the One who holds the world in His hands. What did you ask for? Did you ask for peanuts, toys, trinkets, or did you ask for continents? I want to tell you, young people, it’s tragic! The little itsy-bitsy things we ask of our Almighty God. Sure, nothing is too small- but also nothing is too big. Let’s learn to ask for our big God some of those big things He talks about in Jeremiah 33:3: ‘ ’Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. ’Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’”
Dawson Trotman
“The spiritual disciplines are the things I do as a citizen of the Kingdom to connect with the realities and resources of the Kingdom.” Bill Tell
“The spiritual disciplines allow me to have what is already mine.” Bill Tell
“Spiritual disciplines- the activities I purposely undertake with my body and mind to bring all that I am in cooperation with how things work in the Kingdom of God.” Bill Tell
What are the spiritual disciplines? Prayer, quiet time, fellowship, witnessing, bible study, bible reading, scripture memory, journaling, solitude...to name a few.
Tonight I want to talk about the spiritual discipline we call prayer!
Kenneth Boa “Spiritual growth is impossible apart from the practice of prayer.”
Ministry is impossible apart from the practice of prayer. Lorne Sanny meant that when he said “Prayer is the ministry”
There are two ways you can see the depth of someone’s spiritual life: look at their checkbook (how they spend their money); secondly, look at their prayer life (how much time do they spend in prayer).
We must take the time to sharpen our axe!
1. PRIORITY OF PRAYER (Lk. 11:1)
__JOHN THE BAPTIST__ was remembered for his prayer emphasis.
We usually think of him as a prophet or martyr, yet Jesus’ disciples remembered him as a man of prayer.
John was the “miracle baby” filled with the HS before he was born and yet he had to pray.
John was privileged to introduce the Messiah to Israel, yet he had to pray.
Jesus called John the greatest of the prophets (Lk. 7:28), and yet John had to depend on prayer.
If prayer was vital to a man who had all these advantages, how much more important should it be to us who don’t have those advantages!
_JESUS_ was a man of prayer.
He prayed at His baptism (Lk. 3:21)
He prayed before he chose the 12 (Lk. 6:12)
He prayed when the crowds increased (Lk. 5:16)
He prayed regularly in the mornings alone (Mk. 1:35)
He prayed before He went to the cross (garden)
He prayed while He was on the cross (Father forgive them..into thy hands..)
If Jesus, the perfect Son of God, had to depend on prayer during “the days of His flesh” Heb. 5:7, then how much more do you and I need to pray!
2. PATTERN FOR PRAYER (Lk. 11:2-4)
Emphasizing our __RELATIONSHIP__ with God.
When we pray, we are talking to our heavenly father.
The purpose of prayer is to glorify God name, and to ask for help to accomplish His will on earth.
It begins with God’s interests not ours; God’s name, God’s kingdom, and God’s will.
Robert Law said “Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done on earth.”
We have no right to ask God for anything that will dishonor His name, delay His kingdom, or disturb His will on earth.
There are no singular pronouns in Jesus’ prayer, all plural.
When we pray, we must remember that we are part of a worldwide family of believers..
Recognizing our daily __DEPENDANCE__ on Him.
There are 5 requests mentioned here
First, that God’s reputation would be revered by all
Second, that God’s kingdom would come.
Third, the we would look to God for our daily needs (more than physical food)
Forth, that we would display Christ’s forgiveness by forgiving others
Fifth, that God would deliver us from any situation that might cause us to sin.
3. PERSISTANCE IN PRAYER (Lk. 11:5-8)
Unlike this “friend” who didn’t want to be bothered, God WANTS us to pray to Him!
We must never _CEASE_ praying!
Not that we can change God’s mind but that we show our dependence on Him.
