Devoted In Prayer
Topic: Gods church is a house of Prayer for all nations. Mk 11:17 & Isa 56:7
Goal: Explore the importance of a devoted in our prayer life.
Rom 12:12-13 NIV
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Your version might say, "constant in prayer" or "faithful in prayer." "Devoted" is also a good translation. It come from the Greek word, proskartereo (pros-kar-ter-eh'-o); to be earnest towards, i.e. (to a thing) to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously* all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor):
* (Assiduous describes something that is ongoing. (adjective)
An example of an assiduous sound is that of cars going by on a highway.
Assiduous describes someone that is diligent and constant. (adjective)
An example of an animal that is assiduous is a bee.)
The KJV also uses - attend (giveself) continually (upon), continue (in, instant in, with), wait on (continually).
1. to persevere ("continue steadfastly") in anything
2. to give constant attention to a thing,
Acts 2:42-43 NIV
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
3. to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing,
Rom 13:6 NASU
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
4. to persevere, not to faint (in a thing),
5. to be in constant readiness for one, wait on continually:
Mark 3:9-10 NASU
9 And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him;
A boat was to set apart - devoted - for the purpose of taking Jesus away in case the crowd became threatening. "Devoted" - dedicated for a task, appointed for it.
What's remarkable about this word is that besides Romans 12:12 there are other New Testament uses that apply to prayer.
Acts 1:14 (after the ascension of Jesus while the disciples were waiting in Jerusalem for the outpouring of the Spirit), "These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."
Acts 2:42 (Of the early converts in Jerusalem), "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Acts 6:4 (The apostles say), "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
Colossians 4:2 (Paul says to all of us), "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving."
So we may say from the New Testament scriptures that the normal Christian life is a life devoted to prayer.
It does not mean that prayer is all you do - any more than being devoted to a wife means all the husband does is hang out with his wife. But his devotion to her affects everything in his life and causes him to give himself to her in many different ways.
So being devoted to prayer doesn't mean that all you do is pray (though Paul does say in another place, "pray without ceasing," 1 Thessalonians 5:17). It means that there will be a pattern of praying that looks like devotion to prayer.
I think most of us would agree on some kinds of praying that would not be called "being devoted to prayer."
Praying only as crises enter your life would not be a pattern of devotion to prayer.
Praying only at meal times is a pattern, but does it correspond to Paul exhorting the church to "be devoted to prayer"?
A short "Now I lay me down to sleep" prayer at the end of the day is probably not "being devoted to prayer."
"Help me, Lord" in the car as you need a parking place is not "being devoted to prayer."
WHY we should be devoted to prayer.
God always meets with his people when they pray.
When we draw near to God through prayer, he draws nigh unto us through his Holy Spirit. John R. Mott once said, “You can trace every spiritual awakening to a prayer life that is beyond the ordinary.”
Prayer is the stepping-stone to victory.
There is a story in mythology about a giant named Antaeus, who in order to keep alive had to touch the earth as often as once every five minutes. With each and every touch he became twice as strong as the preceding touch made him. This may well explain the nature and power of prayer. Every real touch of the divine through prayer adds real strength and increased faith to that one who approaches near enough to God to realize the blessing.
Prayer is like the crying of an infant in the night.
Although dark he puts up his little hands with real expectation that Mother’s touch will shortly be felt. In prayer God’s trusting child puts up his little, feeble hands to God’s big, powerful ones. He opens his mouth like the little birds for a regular feed and the satisfying portion which takes away that keen, gnawing hunger.
Prayer is indispensable either to private or public worship.
As prayer ceases, to that extent does spirituality wane either in the individual, the local church, or the church in general. All real saints ever have been, are now, and ever shall be, fervent and mighty in prayer. It somehow has a subjective value necessary to individual piety and to be acceptable includes offering up the desires of the heart.
Prevailing prayer is the constant knocking at the door with the expectation it will be opened.
One may have faith but unless he prays (asks, implores) he need expect to receive nothing from God. One may pray, but without faith he expects and receives nothing from God. “Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18).
Prayer is the breath that fans the flame of faith.
Fanned to a white heat it burns out all dross and melts away all barriers between heaven and earth.
Prayer is to faith what lungs are to oxygen.
Prayer is your power.
Prayer connects you to God.
Prayer gives God a voice into your life.
Prayer is paying attention to God.
Prayer opens your eyes and your heart to the hurts of the world around you.
Prayer lets you tell God how much you love him, and lets God tell you how much he loves you too.
Prayer pushes forward the purpose of God in our community.
Prayer gives us the victory in the supernatural before the battle even happens in the natural.
Prayer prepares us for what lies in store.
Prayer builds you up, it strengthens and encourages you.
Prayer adds to your life, and it never takes away.
God acts when we pray. And God can do more in five seconds than we can do in five years.
Ordinary People / Extraordinary Praying
1. Peter was in prison awaiting his execution. The Church had neither human power nor influence to save him. There was no earthly help, but there was help to be obtained by the way of Heaven. They gave themselves to fervent, importunate prayer. God sent His angel, who aroused Peter from sleep and led him out through the first and second wards of the prison; and when they came to the iron gate, it opened to them of its own accord, and Peter was free.
2. Prayer has divided seas, rolled up flowing rivers, made rocks gush into fountains, quenched flames of fire, muzzled lions, disarmed vipers and poisons, marshaled the stars against the wicked, stopped the course of the moon, arrested the sun in its rapid race, burst open iron gates, released souls from eternity, conquered the strongest devils, commanded legions of angels down from heaven. Prayer has bridled and chained the raging passions of man and routed and destroyed vast armies of proud, daring, blustering atheists. Prayer has brought one man from the bottom of the sea and carried another in a chariot of fire to heaven. What has prayer not done?
Conclusion:
The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. Prayer makes the man when he is broken down and surrendered to God.
