Room With A View: The Privileges of Prayer
We started a series on prayer four weeks ago. We called it a Room With A View. This room has served to assist me in illustrating the various topics during this series – eg. Our need to pray to God, various challenges and distractions that we often face when we pray, And, last week we used it to help us see the basics of how to pray.
We chose a “Room” theme based on a statement Jesus made in the middle of one of his teaching times with His Disciples (and others). In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructed them about prayer: Matthew 6:5-8 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
On the First week,
We talked about how past successes detract our attention from focusing on God – ie. TROPHIES.
The Following week,
We talked about how when our life gets shattered and bitterness sets in, prayer can lift us up and bring us peace in the midst of life’s circumstances – ie. BROKEN MIRROR.
Last Week,
We went back to the basics and talked about “how to pray.” ie. EMPTY NOTEBOOK.
And today,
I want to talk about the privileges of prayer. What is the payback from a life of prayer?
When Christ died on the cross, immediately we were given the right to go directly to Him. No longer did we need a surrogate, no longer did we need someone to represent us, now we can go boldly to the throne. That is an amazing privilege. These are privileges that cannot be taken lightly.
And I want to liken these ‘privileges’ to wrapped ‘presents’ or ‘gifts’ that God gives us. While you are in your ‘room with a view’ – the quiet place of prayer – God can make you the recipients of many gifts that he gives as a result of praying to Him.
You see, last week, we looked at the model prayer of Christ, the example of how it is that we pray. We talked about the upward look (our reverence of who God is), the downward look (our response through confession and through His word), the inward look (which is our requests) and the outward look (our readiness to face the world.)
Today, we look at the requests we make and God’s response to our prayers. We talk today about the tangible benefits of a life full of prayer. With these presents, while they sit here, ready for our use and our enjoyment, if we don’t actually open them, we will not receive the blessing in our lives.
So often in life, we talk about the importance of prayer from a theoretical, mystical viewpoint. We talk about prayer but we sometimes fail to notice the very real benefits that come from that life of prayer. And, to be sure, there are many benefits. Today, I want to share four of those benefits that come through the privilege of prayer.
Present #1 - His Provision
You can run to God in prayer and be assured that, every time you pray, your prayers fall – NOT on deaf ears – but on ears that both hear & understand your needs, but also feels your heart’s cry!
Luke 11:9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
How often in life do we need someone to cling onto when things just don’t make sense? When life throws you a curve ball with your job, your health, your kids–that you feel totally out of control.
My Friend, You can see God’s hand the best when you are unable to fix things yourself. When all hope seems lost, and there seems like no way around the problem, it is AT THIS TIME that our eyes get fixed on God – and Him alone to take care of us! That is the clear picture of NOT I, BUT CHRIST! And this is the picture of where God wants us to be. In all of our needs, we go directly to Him. Knowing that it is from Him that we receive everything we have.
When we pray – we say, “God, it’s all Yours!” And you know what? You couldn’t be in better hands. This isn’t desperation…it is DEPENDENCE on the God who has everything under control!
Present #2 - His Power
Compare this with other Gods of this world. Remember Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal? In I Kings 18, he called on the 450 prophets of Baal to call fire down from Heaven. They tried all day long and nothing happened. Then Elijah, stepped up, soaked the altar with water and prayed out to God. In an instant, God sent fire down upon that altar and consumed it and all of the water. That’s power. That’s what God is offering to each of us.
In facing the myriad of challenges we all face in life, why shouldn’t we want His power in our lives? He gives us the benefit of allowing His power to lead us through our daily walk. And that power is something that we could never access without the privilege of prayer.
2 Cor. 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Present #3 - His Protection
God’s protection is a very real benefit in having an intimate relationship with Him. We’ve read many times out of John 10:10 where it tells us that the thief (Satan) comes to steal and destroy but Christ came to give us life. That is His protection. But in a far more practical sense, His protection is a very tangible result of prayer.
Psalm 121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.
No matter the problem, no matter the adversary, God protects us when we are in perfect communion with Him. That privilege is one that we all need so desperately in our lives. Prayer is the key to getting God’s perfect protection in our lives.
Present #4 - His Presence
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Prov. 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
So many people today go through life alone. They feel as if they have no one with them , no one to lean on, no one to confide in, no one to trust in. Through prayer, we have the promise of His presence in our lives. As a trusted friend, He is there through thick and thin.
Loneliness is a very sad state, but one that is so very preventable. You might believe that you are all alone in life, that no one cares. But God cares about you more than you could possibly imagine. He longs to be with you. He desperately desires for you to call out to Him, to need Him, to seek Him in every aspect of our lives.
1 Pet. 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
Through prayer, entering into that Room With A View, we see an everlasting God who cares about you. His provision, His power, His protection, His presence…they are all there. Tangible benefits of a tangible God.
I have listed so many benefits of prayer, so why don’t we pray?! There is indeed a lot to lose out on if we do not take the time to pray. These presents remind us of the many gifts that are available to us, but we must be willing to receive them. Membership in God’s family has its privileges.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
