Know Prayer, Then Pray With Urgency! Series

Series: What is the Spirit saying to the church today?

The expression, "what the Spirit says to the churches" occurs in each of the seven letters to the particular churches in the book of Revelation. In these letters, Christ reminds these churches that he sees what is going on in their churches. He highlights spiritual success and addresses their spiritual failings to each community, and then He offers appropriate encouragement or rebuke. These are the last recorded words of Jesus in the Bible and remind us the church of today that we need to be doing what God has called us to do. Because Jesus knows what is going on!

Sermon 1: Know the times

The Spirit today is saying to know the signs of the times and this will only happen in your life when you really know God’s Word and study it to recognize and discern His voice over the many false voices ringing out in this day. Jesus said, “My sheep will know my voice” John 10:14-18: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Sermon 2: Know and use your spiritual gifts

Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 tells us all to know our spiritual gifts and know how to use them for the common good of the church. We also need to know that we all have different gifts but this is God’s plan and it’s a good thing to have diversity. We also need to know that each one of us with our gifts is valuable to the spread of the Gospel in our society.

Sermon 3: Know if you are drifting – if so - “Return to your first love!”

The church is being called on by the Holy Spirit to return to its first love! That first love is the Lord Jesus and it requires a change of direction on our part as Christians to return to Him.

Sermon 4: Know prayer – then pray with urgency!

Scripture Texts: Mt 21:13; Isa 56:7; Acts 6:4; Phip 4:6; and James 5:13-20

Matthew 21:13:

Jesus at the Temple

12Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.

13“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’”

14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.

15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

16“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”

17And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Isaiah 56:6-7

6And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—

7these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

Acts 6:1-4

1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Philippians 4:6

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

James 5:13-20:

The Prayer of Faith

13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.