SURVIVOR SERIES
#3 – SURVIVING THROUGH PRAYER
Today, we are continuing with our sermon series entitled SURVIVOR
And what we’ve been doing over the last several weeks, is talking about the fact that in light of…
--the bad economy
--lay offs
--bail outs
--these tough times we’re living in
In spite of all that is going on, we can be A SURVIVOR
Now the thesis of this series is that God wants you to do more than SURVIVE – He wants you to THRIVE
But in order to THRIVE, you have to SURVIVE!
And so, that’s what we’ve been talking about
Already, we talked about…
--The Assurance of Salvation
--Is There A Reason To Be Excited
--Surviving Motherhood
Next week – How To Survive Through the Power of The Holy Spirit, as next Sunday is PENTECOST SUNDAY
But this morning, I want to talk to you about SURVIVING THROUGH PRAYER
I heard about a woman who recently got married. And someone asked her where she found her husband. She said I met him at a travel agency – he was my last resort!
Listen, if you’re going to SURVIVE, prayer…
--must not
--should not
--can not
Be your LAST RESORT – it must be your FIRST AID!
The late Adrian Rogers said…
When trials come, don’t wring your hands – bend your knees!
That’s the way to SURVIVE!
With that in mind, let’s read…
•Luke 18:1 (KJV) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
•1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without ceasing.
INTRODUCTION
Let me say to you at the outset of this message – if West Road Church fails, it will not be because of a failure of…
--personalities
--people
--property (buildings)
--prosperity (money)
If…
--we close our doors
--we don’t fulfill our potential
--we fail
It would be a failure of PRAYER
And when it comes to SURVIVING, there is just absolutely no way that you’re going to SURVIVE without this thing called prayer
To some, prayer is…
“…a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma…”
They don’t understand what prayer is
But the truth of the matter is that prayer…
--is not complicated (anyone can do it)
--is not isolated (not just for a certain few holy people)
--is not time-related only
In fact, one of the greatest statements on prayer that has helped me can be found in Rick Warren’s book
Of course, it is important to establish the habit of a daily devotional time with God, but he wants more than an appointment in your schedule. He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem and even every thought. You can carry on a continuous, open-ended conversation with him throughout your day talking with him about whatever you are doing or thinking at the moment. “Praying without ceasing” means conversing with God while shopping, driving, working, or performing any other everyday tasks.”
But the thing about prayer is like Nike: You’ve got to JUST DO IT!
And so that you will JUST DO IT, and so that you will have a better understanding, I want to give you several things about prayer
First of all, let’s talk about…
1. THE PRINCIPLE OF PRAYER
For you see, there’s one common thread that runs throughout all of human history
There was a time…
--of Noah
--of Abraham
--of the Law
--of the Kingdom
--of the Prophets
--of the Life of Jesus
--of the early Church
And all throughout the various times and dispensations, ONE THING, ONE THREAD is common – and that is this thing called PRAYER!
In fact, prayer pre-dates…
--the church
--the Jewish temple
--Moses
--Abraham
The first mention of prayer goes all the way back to the FIRST FAMILY…
Genesis 4:25-26 ( KJV ) 25And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
And, so, this thing called prayer is a principle that has been around for all time
Paul said…
Philippians 4:6 ( KJV ) 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
In other words, we are to pray about everything and worry about nothing
However, to many they worry about everything and pray about nothing
But if you’re going to SURVIVE, then you will do so on your knees
That’s the PRINCIPLE of prayer
And then, let me talk to you, secondly…
2. THE PATTERN OF PRAYER
Because, prayer is like a rainbow, it has many colors, shapes, and sizes
There are many different forms of prayer
There is…
A. PERSONAL PETITION
This is prayer that you’re just praying about yourself
And that’s very much needed
And God is pleased with that
He instructed us to pray…
Matthew 6:11 ( KJV ) 11Give us this day our daily bread.
And it pleases God when we ask Him…
--to help us with our finances
--to help us with our families (children)
--to help us with our fears
God is even concerned about little things
STORY OF DARNELL AND ME IN AUSTIN TEXAS!
And listen, be SPECIFIC when you pray!
Tragically, many of our prayers are so vague that if God were to answer them, we wouldn’t even know it.
But there’s more to prayer, there’s also
B. INTERCESSION
That’s when you pray for others
Abraham is the example here
Genesis 18:22 ( KJV ) 22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
He stood before the face of the Lord and literally pleaded for Lot’s life
And it worked!
What about Moses
Exodus 32:31-32 ( KJV ) 31And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
There is also…
C. CONFESSION
This is when we confess our sins
Psalms 66:18 ( KJV ) 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
D. PRAISE/WORSHIP
That’s part of prayer too!
In fact, if you want to follow the exact pattern of prayer, look at the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-11
Matthew 6:9-13 ( KJV ) 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.
There is…
--adoration
--declaration
--intercession
--petition
--confession
--direction
--protection
--adoration
And note the word “us” – so it includes praying for others!
And I’ve preached a whole series on this, and you can get the cds and if you do, it will revolutionize your life
But the main thing is that prayers can be little or long, short or lengthy
You can pray walking, running, driving, quietly, or out loud
But the main thing is if you’re going to SURVIVE, you’ve got to pray
I’ve told you about…
--the PRINCIPLE
--the PATTERN
Let me, thirdly tell you about…
3. THE PEOPLE OF PRAYER
Since this is Memorial Day, let’s talk about some people who SURVIVED through prayer
Psalms 99:5-6 ( KJV ) 5Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. 6Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
What about…
A. HEZEKIAH (Isaiah 38)
Brother Jerry Nelson talked about him last week
You know the story – 185,000 Assyrians came against the land, and Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and the entire enemy was destroyed by one angel!
B. DAVID
This was one of the great things I learned…
In 2 Samuel 7, you will see an actual conversation between God and David
I counted the words of each and here's how it breaks down...
God – 367 words
David – 364 words
Prayer is a two-way conversation!
C. JESUS
Think about the prayer life of Jesus
I want to ask you a question – how much could Jesus do apart from prayer? NOTHING!
John 5:19 (KJV) 19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Did you hear that? The…
--sinless
--spotless
--perfect
--pure
Son of God said HE COULDN’T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT SPENDING TIME WITH HIS HEAVENLY FATHER
How much more you and I?
You see, the secret to His outward success was the success He had in secret
D. The Church
•Acts 4:31 ( KJV ) 31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
•Acts 12:5 ( KJV ) 5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
E. John Wesley
F. My Great-grandmother
There’s…
--story after story
--testimony after testimony
--survivor after survivor
That tells us that we can SURVIVE through prayer
I’ve talked to you about…
--the PRINCIPLE
--the PATTERNS
--the PEOPLE
But, let me close with…
4. THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER
You – yes you are invited to speak to a King
Why don’t you do it?
What if President Obama were to ask you to come to the Oval Office and discuss how he could personally bail you out, what would you do?
You would go!
Hebrews 4:16 ( KJV ) 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
You have a privilege – it’s personal!
IN CLOSING
Let me tell you this…
The greatest problem with prayer is not UNANSWERED PRAYER but UNOFFERED PRAYER!
If you have…
--a need
--a fear
--a lost loved one
--a praise
--a petition
If you are facing…
--unemployment
--big decisions (who I marry, job change, etc.)
--small decisions
Whatever you need, and whoever you are, let’s come this morning and call out to the One who’s given us this thing called prayer!
