Help Wanted (I Need Indeed) - Prayer: The Key To Securing Kingdom Workers) Series

Sermon: Prayer: The Key to Securing Kingdom Workers

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38 “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Introduction: Help Wanted (I Need Indeed!) Indeed is an independent subsidiary of Japan's Recruit Co. Ltd. With headquarters in Austin, Texas, and Stamford, Connecticut, with additional offices around the world founded in November 2004. It boast itself to be the #1 job site in the world, with over 300M unique visitors every month. Indeed strives to put job seekers first, giving them free access to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies. Every day, they connect millions of people to new opportunities. God does not use indeed. In God’s economic, Prayer is the key to securing additional workers for kingdom building.

Prayer is important because it helps us to stay close to God. When we pray, we are opening up our hearts to Him and He is able to work in us and through us. Prayer also helps us to grow in our relationship with God. The more we talk and spend time with someone the more we get to know them. The disciples were convinced of the importance of prayer in their lives, now Jesus teaches the disciples that the harvest is so great, additional workers are needed. Jesus saw crowds that were confused, helpless and without guidance, and the disciples are invited to pray for additional help.

Jesus spent many early hours in prayer. Rising a great while before day, Jesus spent time seek the Father for every need. Jesus understood the importance of prayer. Our God is almighty and unlimited in power and might. Yet He chooses to manifest his mighty in response to the prayers of His children. Our God is unlimited in knowledge and understanding. He knows what we need even before we ask for it. He knows every thought before we think it and every word before we speak it. Yet we are invited to boldly to the throne of grace that we may find help in the time of need. We are encouraged to cast our cares on the Lord and make our petitions known unto Him. Prayer allows us to participate in bringing God’s will to pass in this present world.

After experiencing the ministry of Jesus, the disciples were so moved they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is so important that Jesus not only teaches them to pray, He gives them a model prayer:

Matthew 6:5-13 5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need,12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.13 And don’t let us yield to temptation but rescue us from the evil one.”

There is a temptation to feel helpless when we see so much confusion, hopelessness and pain around us. Many think, what can prayer do? There is temptation to pray to impress men or be heard by them. There is a temptation to use vain repetition to force the action, but Jesus warns against that type of praying. When you really want to be heard and receive a reward from God, spent time praying in secret and your heavenly Father will reward you openly. Just as Jesus was moved by the conditions around him, God is moved by the endless sin, corruption and trouble in the world today. Believers are invited to pray because God is our heavenly Father, who is seated in a perfect position, seeing all, knowing all and will respond to our sincere prayers. Spend time praying for the kingdom of God to come on earth as it is in Heaven. Pray that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. God knows we have daily needs for food, clothes and shelter. He knows we need guidance and deliverance. We need help with our repentance and forgiveness. God will hear and answer our prayer as we commit all these to Him. Don’t worry about anything; pray about everything.