Principles Of Prayer

Outline: Principles Of Prayer

Luke 18:1 Text: “Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.”

When speaking in regards to prayer, do you know of anything more valuable to a Christian than that of prayer? Prayer is more valuable than the greatest riches of the world and do you know why I say that? Has money, jewels, gold or silver ever answered one prayer? Yes, they may have been an answer to prayer but have they ever answered any prayer?

Jesus Christ knows what is valuable, what is important for people. Our sense of value is like that of Jesus because ours has been faulted by sin.

Ilustration: This statement reminds me of some pranksters who entered into an unlocked hardware store over a weekend. They didn’t take or physically damage anything; just-changed price tags of a few items. Imagine the shock of the owners’ face that next Monday when customers were buying lawn mowers for $6.00 and others outraged by hammers that cost over $500.00.

Man’s view of value and that of Jesus are scarcely the same. Man places a great value on things of the earth that are temporal. Matthew 6:19-21 tells us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It doesn’t tell us what the value of the treasures of heaven are but that they are much more valuable than any treasure of earth. Jesus knows value.

Are text also tells us that we need to live a balanced life of prayer and reading God’s word. An overemphasis on one over the other leads to neglect. For example, overemphasis on prayer and neglect of the bible leads to fanaticism or an overemphasis of the bible to the neglect of prayer leads to formalism. We need to keep a balance of both to have a balanced Christian walk.

How is this done, to have a balanced Christian walk? We have Jesus as our example. 1 Peter 2:21 says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” As you look at the life of Jesus you find that he began His life with prayer at the wedding banquet, He continued it with prayer for many times it states he went out to pray, and He terminated His life with prayer while on the cross as he suffered he prayed for those about him. And now in heaven, Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” He is forever more hearing our prayers and taking those requests before the Father in heaven. And Jesus gives prayer top priority because in Matthew 21:13 it states, “. . .My house will be called a house of prayer. . .” We should live our lives as prayer warriors because that is how important prayer is for Jesus and it should be even more so for us.

I would like to give you some principles of prayer in which the Bible our guide to life gives to us. Look at your outline in the bulletin and take notes on the principles listed so that you have them for your daily use. Commit them to memory it can only help to improve your prayer life.

Christ Valued Prayer More Than Healing

One of the thrilling points of the Bible is when you read of the accounts of miraculous healings that Jesus performed. Many times He interceded in the lives of people and healed them of their frailties of life. It inspires us to see the compassion that Jesus had for the suffering of mankind. Sometimes, even today, Jesus sees fit to heal some of us in our infirmities. The day of miracles has never passed our sovereign Lord.

Though miracles are a tremendous sign of his power, Christ valued prayer more than all the healings he performed. Luke 5:15-16 reminds us, “Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely place,” and what did he do? “And prayed.” He prayed! Why would he withdraw from public few when his popularity was taking off? Why would he leave the crowds and all the fame? Why would he go to remote places just to be by himself? Was he anti-social? Was he shy? No! Never! Jesus knew the value of prayer and that he could do nothing without the power he obtained from a healthy prayer life. Prayer was his life-blood.