GETHSEMANE TO THE UPPER ROOM... SLEEP THROUGH PRAYER...
PASSION FOR PRAYER...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
I. WHAT IS PASSION? DOES THE PASSION OF GOD STILL BURN DEEP
IN YOUR HEART?
A. PASSION:
Desire, earnest, fevor.
Strong emotion, enthusiasm, eager, intensity, zeal.
Strong interest...
B. LIFE HAS A WAY OF STEALING OUR PASSION, INTENSITY AND
JOY?
C. Remember that first special friend?
Remember the sweaty palms? Remember the thumping heart?
Wow, how exciting life was?
THEN LIFE HAPPENS...
Your special little BO is in the arms of another teen?
D. Remember when you wanted to---?
Has life reduced itself to: HAVE TO...
DO I HAVE TO DO THIS?
E. Remember when you first went to the altar?
The heavy weight of sin was gone?
I went out the church and the grass was greener?
I loved every one --- I could have floated in V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.
F. Then the reality of spiritual life hurts.
Some people were not what they claimed?
G. HAS OUR CHURCH LOST THE PASSION FOR PRAYER?
II. EVEN GREAT MEN HAVE TO TRY AGAIN... AND AGAIN...
A. I was the pastor of a little mountain missions work.
One dear brother demanded the call to prayer.
We would establish special nights for prayer.
Never did this man ever attend one prayer night.
On a regular basis he put down others for not praying ---
WHEN HE NEVER ATTENDED A NIGHT OF PRAYER...
B. Elijah loved God.
The King Ahab and the Queen Jezebel hated THE MESSAGE.
When the message is not received --- the MESSENGER IS HATED.
C. Elijah knew how to pray but he HAD TO LEARN TO PRAY AGAIN...
D. Elijah is remembered in the New Testament:
He had like passions --- but HE HAD TO LEARN TO PRAY AND TO PRAY AGAIN...
James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
III. NEVER FORGET THAT REMARKABLE PRAYER WILL BRING REMARKABLE
RESULTS!
A. Are we walking in PERILOUS TIMES? Do we know hard-difficult situations that try to destroy us? What are we going to do?
Will we COME TO GOD WITH A GREAT PASSION?
1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
B. WHEN WE FIND IT HARD TO PRAY WE MUST PRAY HARD.
Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
C. WHAT YOU GAIN BY INTERCESSION YOU KEEP BY INTERCESSION.
IV.YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU SLEEP
THROUGH PRAYER TIME?
LET US BUILD THE CHURCH? LET US BUILD THREE CHURCHES?
WHILE WE SLEEP THROUGH PRAYER --- THERE WILL BE LITTLE CHURCH GROWTH?
A. During a great season of prayer JESUS WAS TRANSFIGURED ---
JESUS WAS CHANGED... THE SLEEPERS SEEMED TO STAY THE SAME...
Luke 9:32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep:
and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
B.THERE GROWS MANY DANGEROUS PITFALLS WHEN CHRISTIANS
DESIRE TO BUILD GREAT WORKS AND SLEEP THROUGH PRAYER MEETINGS.
C. YOU CAN NEVER BUILD STRONG HEALTHY CHURCHES WITH SLEEPING,
SIPPING SAINTS?
D. PETER HAD GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT YOU CANNOT BUILD LASTING WORKS
TALKING AND BLOWING HOT AIR!
This is a real lesson: The way to Hell is paved with good intentions.
E. Be careful what you say?
Don’t talk too much if you don’t know what you are saying?
LEARN THE POWER OF REAL INTENSE PRAYER.
V. THE LESS PRAYERS PRAYED THE MORE A JUDGING SPIRIT GROWS.
WHEN WE LOOSE OUR PASSION FOR PRAYER WE GAIN A PASSION FOR
TRIVIAL PURSUIT.
A. Many today feel like they are GOD CALLED TO BE COWBOYS AND
CRACK THE WHIP. OTHERS CLAIM THE BLACK ROBE OF A JUDGE AND
CAN DEFINE WHAT IS WRONG WITH EVERY BODY?
WE CAN BECOME SPIRITUAL POLICEMEN, I WILL GIVE A TICKET
TO THAT SUCKER.
Think about what a police officer is?
B. Some times I would love to be a policeman instead of a preacher!
C. Sometimes at church or in my family I would love to be a policeman and write a ticket.
VI. THE LACK OF PASSION IN PRAYER CAN GET VERY COSTLY.
DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU WOULD MAKE A GOOD POLICEMAN AND A
GOOD JUDGE?
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what
measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
A. Many today feel like they are GOD CALLED SPIRITUAL POLICEMEN.
Think about what a police officer is?
B. POLICE:
To control and regulate, or to keep in order by authority.
To carry out operations to execute orders and prevent and prosecute
violations of rules and regulations.
C. We have many controlling manipulative personalities in the world, in
the work place, and in the church. PRAYER WOULD HANDLE THIS.
D. BESIDES THAT THERE ARE TIMES I WOULD LOVE TO BE A POLICEMAN!
VII. BY BEING PASSIONATE IN YOUR PRAYER ON A DAILY BASIS, YOU CAN AVOID
MANY PITFALLS OF A MEAN SPIIRITED PERSON.
BE AN AGENT OF GRACE AND MERCY!
A. PRAYER OPERATES VERY POORLY AS A DUTY, RESPONSIBILITY, ---
DO I HAVE TO?
B. FROM WHERE DOES THIS HAVE TO SPIRIT GROW?
VIII. WE SHOULD PRAY AND PERFORM OUR CHRISTIAN DUTIES WITH GREAT
PASSION AND GREAT ZEAL! LET US WRESTLE THROUGH THE STORM AND
THROUGH THE NIGHT...
Genesis 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
A. IS THIS OUR PASSION? Or a labor, duty, responsibility of LOVE and JOY!
B. They say to be married is to double your duties and half your rights?
C. Often the path of duty lies in what is near, and a man often seeks for the remote control, and our passion dies?
IX. HAS OUR PASSION FOR PRAYER BECAME A HARD DIFFICULT CHORE?
WILL JESUS HAVE TO SAY SLEEP ON?
A. DUTY: The regular daily work of a household.
A routine task or job.
A difficult or disagreeable task
Work that is delegated or assigned.
B. DO WE FIND EXCITEMENT AND PASSION IN OUR PRAYERS AND MENIAL
DAILY CHORES?
C. ARE WE LOOSING OUR PASSION OF ZEAL, FOR DEATH AND DUTY?
D. HOW SAD ARE THE WORDS SLEEP ON ---?
Matthew 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
X. WE SEE GREAT REMARKABLE CHANGES BETWEEN GETHSEMANE AND
THE UPPER ROOM, FROM SLEEP TO PASSION!
Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room,
where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and
Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus,
and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with
the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
A. THEY WENT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE PRAYING AND SEEKING
GOD. LOVE AND NEED MOTIVED PRAYER!
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
B. PRAYER WORKED UNASHAMELEY IN PUBLIC AND IN JAIL!
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
1 Thessalonians. 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
C. PASSION! GOD GIVE US THE PASSION FOR PRAYER MEEETINGS AND
MISSIONS!
D. The more you give the more you have.
E. My oldest son often says:
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXISTING AND THRIVING IS EFFORT.
F. May we enlarge the corners and expand our boundaries by finding great
JOY and LOVE and PASSION in our PRAYER and in performing our
spiritual task!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me, pass this on to others?
