II CHR 6:21-42 THE NINE ELEMENTS OF PRAYER FOR YOUR LIFE
INTRODUCTION:
LAST WEEK I PREACHED ON THE POSITION OF PRAYER IN YOUR LIFE FROM II CHR 6:12-21. TODAY WE WILL LOOK AT THE ELEMENTS OR (CONDITIONS, FACTORS, ENVIRONMENT) OF PRAYER FOR YOUR LIFE.
BEFORE SOLOMON BEGAN TO ASK GOD FOR ANYTHING, HE FIRST HUMBLED HIMSELF IN THE PRESCENCE OF GOD. HE LAID ASIDE HIS KINGLY ROBES AND HONORED GOD AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF ALL. ONCE THE POSITION OF CREATOR AND CREATED IS ESTABLISHED WE CAN BETTER ADD THE SPECIFICS TO OUR PRAYER.
SOLOMON WAS DEDICATING A TEMPLE UNTO THE LORD. ONCE HE SHOWS US HOW TO PROPERLY POSITION OURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD AS IF LAYING A FOUNDATION TO OUR PRAYER, THEN IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE WOULD ADD THE ELEMENTS OR REQUESTS AS IF PUTTING UP THE WALLS OF THE TEMPLE.
V21 - FIRST ELEMENT IS OUR NEED FOR FORGIVENESS
V22-23 - SECOND ELEMENT IS OUR NEED FOR BALANCED GODLINESS
V24-25 - THIRD ELEMENT IS OUR NEED FOR A NATIONAL CONSCIENCE
V26-27 - FOURTH ELEMENT IS OUR NEED FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
V28-31 - FIFTH ELEMENT IS OUR NEED FOR PROVIDENTIAL BLESSINGS
V32-33 - SIXTH ELEMENT IS OUR NEED TO SEEK REDEMPTION
V34-35 - SEVENTH ELEMENT IS OUR NEED FOR PROTECTION
V36-39 - EIGHTH ELEMENT IS OUR NEED FOR MERCY
V40-42 - NINTH ELEMENT IS OUR NEED FOR COVENANT
CONCLUSION:
IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL AS A CHURCH INSTEAD OF BUILDING WALLS OF PRAYER WE BUILD WALLS OF DIVISION AND CONFUSION. LET US TAKE A LESSON FROM SOLOMON AND LAY A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR OUR PRAYER, THEN BUILD WALLS TO KEEP THE ENEMY OUT AND THE PRESCENCE OF THE LORD READY TO TOUCH ALL THAT ARE IN NEED.
