PRAYER
I Thessalonians 5:12-18
Intro: I am confident in saying the most neglected part of our spiritual life is prayer. More than church attendance, testifying, bible studying etc…prayer is often not a part of our daily lives. Even more so a lot of Christians only pray at church or when they are in trouble not seeing that Paul said pray without ceasing in our text verse. What Paul was saying in I Thessalonians 5:17 is that prayer should be the constant attitude of the Christian. Not that a person would abandon their regular duties but that a person prays regularly and indulges in prayer even more as the need arises. This allows people to be in continual communion with the Lord. I want to preach this evening on the subject of “PRAYER”.
I. NEED FOR PRAYER
A. Many people often pray out of habit or during special occasions
B. And while praying out of habit is not a bad thing, I believe a genuine need should exist
C. We can definitely say when we were lost there was a genuine need for prayer
D. After we were saved there was a genuine need for prayer but that need was different that before
E. To just mouth a few words without a need is praying in vain.
F. When a that need exist a person should pray without fear of wrath and doubt
G. (1Ti 2:8) I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
H. To pray with doubt is to waste your time. Pray believing and you will be receiving
I. (Mat 21:22) And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
II. NECESSITY OF PRAYER
A. Above all other reasons to pray, prayer is necessary if we are going to stay in touch with the Lord
B. That is our only means of communication with him is through prayer.
C. The means of intercession from the Lord comes through prayer
D. (Rom 8:26) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered
E. And while the scripture says (Mat 6:8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him
III. NARRATION OF PRAYER
A. There is a right way and a wrong way to pray
B. The wrong way to pray would be as stated in (Mat 6:7) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
C. (Luke 11:2) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
1. Exhortation to His name and for the Father’s will to be done in our life
D. (Luke 11:3) Give us day by day our daily bread.
1. Prayer for our the needs in our life
E. (Luke 11:4) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil
1. Prayer for forgiveness of our sins, for others who have wronged us and for guidance
IV. NATURE OF PRAYER
A. (Jam 5:16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
B. When you pray two things can happen
C. The first thing that can happen is your prayer can be a flop
D. Those prayers are fleshly and not spiritual
E. The other thing that can happen is that prayer can become a powerful instrument for God and wonders can be done through it
F. People have been healed through prayer, lives have been saved through prayer, burdens have been lifted through prayer
G. What kind of prayer would you rather have? A pitiful prayer that no one can count on or a powerful prayer that will get the job done
V. NOTICE OF PRAYER
A. Have you ever wondered what happened to your prayer after you have prayed it
B. Well I am going to share this with you. Those prayers do not go unnoticed and they are not thrown away
C. Do you realize your prayers have already been part of the eschatology of the Bible
D. When you pray and pray right and get in touch with God those prayers are bottled up. Those prayers will then be offered to the Lion of the Tribe of Judea, The Root of David
E. (Rev 5:8) And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
F. (Rev 8:1) And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour
G. (Rev 8:2 ) And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets
H. (Rev 8:4) And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
Close: My question to you tonight is this; Above everything else in your life how does your prayer life measure up? Do we pray without ceasing, earnestly and fervently when we pray? Or has our prayers become stale, stagnated words that we say in vain with no results.
