Prayer In Action Series

Philippians Pt7- Prayer in Action!

Pre-introduction

On the average Americans spend $94.32 for Father’s Day and $126.90 for Mother’s Day.

I like this quote- (in light of our study of Philippians)-

None of us decide our own future; instead we decide our habits and then our habits decide our future.

Continue- Philippian Experience- convey/impart life.

COTRM Mission Statement-

Encounter God, Love People, Share Life

It all begins w/encounter w/God- a transfer of His life to us which we then pour out on others- love/share.

By way of review-

Chap 1 Joy in suffering

Chap 2 Joy in serving

Chap 3 Joy in believing

Chap 4 Joy in the Lord

The world does a great deal to find joy- there is much money spent by people to make themselves happy.

At many local bars/restaurants you have- happy hour-

we need such a hour here at the church,

we could call it- attitude adjustment hour.

Phrase- in the Lord- occurs 9x/Philippians, 4x/chap 4

We have looked at-

Trusting in the Lord

Putting our hope in the Lord

Last week-

Standing firm in the Lord

Living in harmony in the Lord

Finding our joy in the Lord

Two important thoughts-

In the Lord we find relational peace.

In the Lord we find inward peace.

v4.6-7 (Isa26.3, Jn14.27, Col3.15, 1Pet1.5, 2Cor 10.5)

For- Philippians- not only the worries of everyday life, but they put their lives as risk to become Christians.

You may feel like you have the spiritual gift of worry.

Somebody said- I am worried about the economy, my hair in a recession, my waist is in an inflation, and I am in a depression.

(Sad fact- next election- determined by- state of- economy)

How do we define worry-

Worry is the sin of distrusting the promises and power of God. (Craig Groeschel)

Either I do not believe in God’s promises or I do not trust in His ability to act on those promises.

God never panics/never surprised- why should we panic

Be anxious for nothing- to have a distracting care.

1 Pet 5:7 (NASB) casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

How do we do that?

Mat 6:25-27, 33-34

In everything by prayer/supplication/thanksgiving-

this is an important key to dealing with anxiety.

Paul often connects thanksgiving with prayer-

1 Thess 5:17–18 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (Col 4.2)

Thanksgiving- is expressing gratitude to God for-

who He is,

what He has done, and

what He is about to do.

Paul’s attitude implies- thanksgiving/submission to God.

Rom 8:28 (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

This verse apples to those who submit to God’s will.

Be anxious for nothing- are we to believe or pretend that sin, sickness, problems are not real?

Do we just ignore the reality around us? No!

We worry about NOTHING, because we PRAY about EVERYTHING, with THANKSGIVING.

This means we talk to God about everything in our lives.

Some believe we should only take big problems to God.

Let me ask you a question- what is big to God?

None of our problems are big to God.

Whatever matters to you matters to God, there is nothing too small or too big to pray about.

When you make your requests to God, right then and there, thank Him for hearing and answering.

Instead of believing God does not answer our prayers, why not believe He does answer prayer, but the answer is NO or NOT NOW?

Three things helpful to remember when we pray-

1. God’s Love-

God desires only what is best for us.

2. God’s Wisdom-

God knows what is best for us.

3. God’s Power-

God can bring to pass what is best for us.

Let your requests be made known to God-

God has in some way constrained Himself to our prayer.

James- you have not because you ask not (Jam 4.2).

Moses- Ex 33:18- “I pray You, show me Your glory!”-

because he asked God showed Him His glory.

Another element in our prayer life is persistence-

Mat 7.7-11 (ask, seek, knock), Lk 18.2-8 (judge)

v4.7

Peace of God-

Much talk about peace- peace comes in many forms-

world peace

peace in the sense of- tranquility or quietness

The Bible not only tells us how to find peace in our lives, but we meet peace itself in the Word of God-

Isa 9:6 (NASB) For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

An encounter w/God is-encounter w/peace itself (Jn 14.27)-