Prayer: Who, What, When, Where, HOW?
By Pastor JC Browning
June 3, 2007
We are told to pray over 1000 times in the Bible. Every time we turn around the world is telling us where we can and can not pray. But I’m here to tell you in the words of William Wallace in the movie ‘Braveheart’ “Yes, they may take our lives, or our rights but they’ll never take our freedom. If you’re praying in your heart then no one can tell you to stop.
That being said, I know it is easier fro some than for others. Some are terrified of public prayer. The thought of saying the wrong thing or even if it is just fear of public speaking, the fear is very real. However, we are not judged by God for our prayer method but by our prayer life. Not the flamboyant public prayers, but by the prayers we have one on one. The heart felt prayers of our quite time.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
• “If you do not feel like praying, it is probably a good indication that you should start praying immediately.” (Billy Graham)
• “Prayer is not an easy way of getting what we want, but the only way of becoming what God wants us to be.” (Studdert Kennedy)
• “Prayer is a serious thing. We may be taken at our words.”(Dwight L. Moody)
• “Don’t put people down¾unless it’s on your prayer list.” (Stan Michalski)
• “The Bible doesn’t say we should preach all the time, but it does say we should pray all the time.”(John R. Rice)
But How?
Some refer to this as the Lord’s Prayer but in reality it is labeled the Model Prayer:
Matthew 6: 9-15
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" ’Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today 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. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
OK that cover how but HOW?
Illustration: READ Father’s Empty Chair
We are to come before our Heavenly Father as if we where talking to a friend or climbing into our Daddy’s lap. Abba Father means Daddy and term of intimacy and endearment. Remember you don’t have to die to lay you head in your Heavenly Fathers Lap, meditate on it, feel blessed because of it.
WHO:
• Anyone
• Torn curtain
• No intermediary
• Priest? 1 Peter 2: 4 - 5
Matthew 27: 50 – 51
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
1 Peter 2: 4 – 5
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a Holy Priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We are all part of the royal priesthood. So in a since Christ removed the requirement by establishing that all of us who come to him become part of the Royal Priesthood. As such we may come before the Throne of God on behalf of ourselves and in petition of each others needs.
WHEN:
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Continually? All Circumstances?
WHY:
All Circumstances
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
James 4:2-3 (Needs / Right Motives)
You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Illustration: "...one could almost say desire is an absolute essential of prayer. Desire precedes prayer and accompanies prayer. Desire goes before prayer and is created and intensified by it. Prayer is the oral expression of desire; without desire, prayer is a meaningless mumble of words...Yet, even if it is discovered that desire is honestly absent, we should pray anyway. In such circumstances, we ought to pray for the desire to pray." - E.M. Bounds
Maybe Not what we hope / prayed for, but an answer)
Illustration:
ALWAYS PRAY AND DON’T GIVE UP
Jesus taught that we should “always pray and not give up”
• Not because God is hard of hearing
• Not because God needs to be pestered into answering
our requests
• Not because God doesn’t want to answer us
NO… Jesus taught us always pray and not give up because, when we pray, our prayers carry weight. EVERY TIME you and I pray we unleash more and more power from the throne of God
• Are you praying for someone in your family to become a Christian?
Every prayer you pray puts more and more pressure on that person to listen to God…
• Do you pray for your friends in their daily struggles
Every prayer you pray imparts to them more and more power from God
• Do you have difficulties with someone at work
Every prayer you lift up to God’s throne brings God’s power to bear on difficult people and situations.
Prayer is not a passive act on our part
Prayer is AN AGGRESSIVE, ACTIVE MINISTRY. You are putting your shoulder to the wheel and moving the forces of heaven.
SOURCE: Jeff Strite in "The Power of Persistent Prayer" on www.sermoncentral.com.
Yes, it is hard to pray for our enemies, Let tell you from first hand experience; if you can not remember to pray for them write down or print it out. Stick it to your bathroom mirror. Every time you walk by pray, even if it’s through gritted teeth, you will soften both yourself and the heart of those you pray for.
Matthew 5:44
But I tell you: Love your enemies[a] and pray for those who persecute you,
James 5:13-16
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is 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. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Ephesians 6: 18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Where:
Continually, therefore everywhere.
Closing:
Illustration:
What Prayer Is…
Prayer is coming into the presence of God…
Prayer is entering the throne room of the KING of kings and LORD of lords…
Prayer is taking our concerns to the one who cares for me
Prayer is to stand on holy ground…
Prayer is communicating with the creator of the world…(the one spoke this world into existence with a word…mountains, oceans, stars…)
Prayer is a child talking to His Father…
Prayer is bringing our hurts to the father of compassion and the God of all comfort…
Prayer is reaching out to our redeemer…
Prayer is crying out to the rock that is higher than we are…
Prayer is calling out to the only one who can save us…
Prayer is touching the one who loves us with an unfailing & unquenchable love…
Prayer is bringing our questions to the one who has the answers
Prayer is reaching out to the NEVER; tired, confused, afraid or taken by surprise God…
Prayer is connecting our lives with the ALL knowing, ALL present – and ALL powerful KING of kings…
Prayer is coming near to God…
Moses told the people in Dt 4:7; “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way our Lord is near us whenever we pray to him…”
We’ve covered the:
• Who
• What
• Where
• Why
• And I hope we’ve covered the how
The how for you is up to you. Take the time to talk to your friend, he’s there for you; anytime, anywhere, he’s only a prayer away. It always a local call.
