Necessity Of Prayer

The necessity of Prayer

Good Morning everyone, glad you have joined in person or online.

We serve such an amazing God! A gracious God who cares far more about us than we could possibly ever imagine. This week I struggled with my message. Most times I have to eliminate topics and thoughts and this was one of those weeks that the message was hard fought to get.

Prayer-

We have begun the Lenten season and we are working our way to the cross and then we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus on Easter morning. Jesus was going to the cross, He was preparing Himself for what He needed to do for us. He was to be found in the Garden of Gethsemane praying that God the Father’s will would be done and Jesus wanted his disciples to pray while he was off praying. You know that story!

Numerous times Jesus came back to the disciples and found them sleeping and exhausted when they should have been praying.

Does that sound anything like where we are today in the church?

What we as believers are doing to bring about the kingdom of God to a dying world and most of us are asleep at the wheel.

Matthew 26:40-

“Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Simon, he said to Peter, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak”

Is that the problem today with most believers, our spirit is willing but the body weak, or do we struggle with a much more serious problem?

The garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mt. of Olives shows us the determination of Jesus to do the will of the Father and it shows the weakness of man to spend the time needed in prayer sleeping.

We desire to see Him do some amazing things but we lack the strength and power to accomplish them in our own strength.

What is Prayer?

Prayer isn’t a ritual… that depends on closing our eyes and putting on lemon faces and pleading with God to do something for us.

We don’t have to kneel or sit.

We can pray while walking, driving, or working.

God can respond to a two word cry for help just like He does to a focused prayer time after reading Scripture.

Praying doesn’t have to be complicated.

God delights in simple words we offer Him.

Mark 9:23

"Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe? All things are possible for one who believes."

Matthew 17:20

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 21:22

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

2 Corinthians 5:7

"For we walk by faith, not by sight"

James 1:6

"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

John 20:29

"Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Matthew 6:5-8

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We think all prayer must be done by the model prayer of Jesus-

Matthew 6:9–13

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”