Banner of Praise Ministries
Rev. Dr. Levi Howard Wright, Pastor & Founder
“It’s Praying Time”
Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Introduction
Since the beginning of time, prayer has been the building block and the concrete which has held our families and society together.
In today’s society, many times we see that society in itself, has become alienated from itself. This is true in regards to helping our neighbors, helping our friends, helping mankind, and more importantly, praying for one another.
To pray means many things to many people, but basically prayer is simply talking with God.
Prayer means directing our requests to God, expecting Him to answer.
Prayer is the most Powerful force that we have as Christians.
“Prayer really do changes things.”
Jesus warned us against putting on an outward show of Spirituality. And He said to His people, “Don’t Fake It”.
True Christians are open and transparent. They are aware of the fact that it is God in them who produces True Spirituality and Righteousness.
True Christians don’t fall into the trap of trying to “Fake and Act like a Christian”.
True Christians they allow the “Fruit of the Spirit” to move in their lives because they are Walking with the Lord.
Jesus Christ gave His people a “Model Prayer”, one which we all have come to know as either “the Our Father Prayer or the Lord’s Prayer.
The Model Prayer that the Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples first of all involved addressing “Our Father in Heaven” and asking God for His kingdom to come.
When we pray we must ask the Lord for the establishment of His rules in our lives and situation right now, here on earth. It is up to us to call down God’s intervention and power in dark situation we see in life.
The Model Prayer... reminds us to ask the Lord for our Physical and Material needs, because He is will to supply them if we ask for them.
The Model Prayer... stresses the need for us to forgive others who have wronged us so that God can forgive us.
The Model Prayer... urges us to remember that we all are in a spiritual battle the Evil One, and he is trying and seeking to lead us astray through temptation and sin.
The Model Prayer... reassures us that we can count on the Lord’s delivering power to see us through.
And finally the Model Prayer... closes by reminding us to focus on the fact that the Lord Kingdom, not the kingdoms of Darkness of the world, God’s Kingdom will ultimately win out over the kingdoms of Darkness.
But nowadays prayer in our society has taken a back seat to secular living and other things in this world.
Let’s look at this for a minute or two, it takes a majority of people to elect the president, but it took only a few to eliminate prayer in schools.
And since the elimination of prayer in the schools, there has been nothing ...but hell in the schools!
Children fighting on a regular basis
Children killing each other
Children talking back to instructor
Children disrupting instruction time
Children having babies why they are still babies themselves
Brothers & Sisters... “It’s Praying Time.
You know I have come to realize that the reason we do not do certain things is because we do not know what it is that we are trying to do. Many people do not know that God is there to help us through the rough times in our lives.
Some people do not know what prayer is or how it works. You would be surprised at the number of individuals who will tell you that they do not know how to pray or what to pray for.
Prayer has always been a way out for those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
God has always sustain his people , and he will continue to sustain us now, if we just keep holding on.
Banner of Praise.... It’s Praying Time
Prayer was a way out for Daniel when he was in the lion’s den
Prayer was a way out for the Hebrew boys when they were in the fiery furnace
Prayer was a way for Paul and Silas when they was in prison
Prayer was a way out for Jonah when he was in the belly of the whale
Prayer was a way out for Peter when he was walking on the water
But how soon do we forgot the bridges over trouble waters that the Lord has brought us over.
Brothers & Sisters.... I stopped by to tell you this morning that ...”It Is Praying Time”.
I believe in order for us to really see the goodness of the Lord ... we have to be willing to pray.
The Bible tells us..... “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and heal their sins, and forgive their land.
We got to clean up our hearts, our minds and our souls before we can really talk with the Lord, because we know he does not dwell in unclean places.
Moses told us.... we must love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul, and with all our might.
I stopped by here today to tell you that when the winds of change start to blow in your life, and the times seems to get really hard, I want you to know .....”It Is Praying Time.
When life deals you a unexpected blow, and it hit you with a set back, I want you to know that .... it is praying time.
When you are face with trying to find answer to the problems you are having with your children, and it seems as if they get caught in pitfall after pitfall, I want you to know that.... it is praying time.
When you go to the doctor, and he tells you that you have to be concerned about your health now, because your body is falling apart, I tell you....it is praying time.
When you go to work and your supervisor tells you, your job will terminate at the end of the day..... “it is praying time.
Crime rate in the Charleston and the Low Country is the second highest in our national only second to Washington, D.C. ...... It’s Praying Time
The economy is in such a mess now and the war in Iraq will not end soon ..... “It Is Praying Time
Conclusion
Banner of Praise.... it is praying time. You see I know what prayer can do, I am a living witness, that God will answer prayer.
When I was blogged down in the miry clay of sin ...... It Was Praying Time
When I was blinded by confusion and doubt ...... It Was Praying Time
When I was lost in darkness and could not find my way ...... It Was Praying Time
When I had been bewitched by the hounds of Hell...... It Was Praying Time
When my body was racked with sickness and pain..... It Was Praying Time
I am reminded of King Hezekiah who was sick unto death, the bible tells me that he turned his face to the wall and prayed, and because of his prayer, the Lord added 15 years unto his life.
Banner of Praise..... I didn’t come to bother you... But I did come to tell you that it is praying time.
It praying time, why don’t you steal away to your secret closet and talk to the Lord.
WHEN WE PRAY WE MUST PRAY TO GOD.... “OUR FATHER” For Our Paternal Needs. Only Our Heavenly Father can meet all of our needs... so we must call on Him in prayer.
WHEN WE PRAY WE MUST PRAY FOR GOD PRESENCE.. “HALLOW BE YOUR NAME”. We were all created for God glory. We are to enter His presence with praise.
In Psalm 100:4 David said... Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
WHEN WE PRAY WE MUST PRAY WITH PROPER PRIORITY.. “YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE”. Holiness, Righteousness, and the Will of God are wrapped up in doing things the way God wants them to be done. Sin violates God’s will for man. Obedience establishes a pathway for His Power.
WHEN WE PRAY WE MUST PRAY FOR GOD’S PROVISIONS.. “GIVE US OUR DAILY BREAD” We can depend on God to provide for everything we need for living. Jesus tells us to pray for our needs.
WHEN WE PRAY WE MUST PRAY FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS...
“AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS” We Need God’s forgiveness. We must confess our sins and forgive those who have sinned against us. Forgiveness restores communication and broken relationship.
In 1 John 1:9 it says... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
WHEN WE PRAY WE MUST PRAY FOR POWER OVER SATAN.... “DO NOT LEAD US INTO TEMPTATION.. .. BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE” We can pray for a HEDGE of PROTECTION to be buildup around us and our loved ones as we learn to put on the whole Armor of God.
In Psalm 91 David said...... the Lord will.....
the Lord will..... save you from hidden traps and from deadly diseases.
the Lord will..... cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you can hide.
the Lord will..... be your shield and protection.
the Lord will..... protect you and you don’t have to fear any danger by night or any arrows during the day.
the Lord will..... Protect you and you don’t have to be afraid of diseases that come in the dark or sickness that strikes at noon.
the Lord will..... Be by your side... one thousand people may die, or even ten thousand may fall right beside you, but you will not be hurt.
the Lord will..... be your protection... He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go.
WHEN WE PRAY WE MUST PRAY FOR GOD’S DIVINE AUTHORITY.... “YOURS IS THE KINGDOM” God invites us to share in His Kingdom Power and Authority with Him throughout eternity.
In 2 Timothy 4:18 Paul said..... The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Luke 10:19 says..... I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
God gave us the Lord’s Prayer, not to say that this prayer is the only acceptable way to pray, but to gave us a Model and Principles for how to become effective and overcomers when we pray.
In 1 John 5:14-15 it says... And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
It is praying time Banner of Praise and we have work to do. And we need to consult God about our work... It’s praying time. Be not dismay, what ever be the tides, God will take care of you. ...... It’s Praying Time...Amen...Amen...Amen
CONCLUSION
A tale was told about a small town that had historically been "dry," (no Liquor) but then a local businessman decided to build a tavern. A group of Christians from a local church were concerned and planned an all-night prayer meeting to ask God to intervene.
It just so happened that shortly thereafter lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. The owner of the bar sued the church, claiming that the prayers of the congregation were responsible, but the church hired a lawyer to argue in court that they were not responsible. The presiding judge, after his initial review of the case, stated that "no matter how this case comes out, one thing is clear. The tavern owner believes in prayer and the Christians do not."
Amen.... Amen.... Amen
