Intro: Remember that the church is not built strong and healthy by accident. It is also no accident that there are so many churches that are not strong or healthy in the 21 century. I believe there is one major reason that the church in the west is so weak and unstable. It is a lack of prayer.
Jesus Himself said, “My house shall be a house of prayer for all the nations.” Why my family of faith if Jesus Himself said My house shall be a house of prayer is there so little prayer in His house? I will put forth an answer that I believe. We have so little prayer because we think so little of God!! Your view of God will directly impact the importance of prayer in your life.
If we are ever going to become the healthy stable church that Jesus desires and designed us to be it will not come about unless we are His house of prayer.
Andrew Murray, pastor and missionaries son, said, “In relation to his people, God works only in answer to their prayer.”
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 “and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 15 My eyes will now be open and My ears attentive to prayer from this place.”
God said if My people will pray. Are we willing? Willing to enjoy his presence and power in our life?
There is a story told about a church that bought a new organ, and they invited a talented musician to play that organ during the dedication recital for that organ. The organist came and sat down at the organ to begin playing. And as soon as he touched one of the keys there was silence - nothing. A custodian there at the church knew what the problem was; the organ was not turned on. So a minister stood and called on someone to pray, and as the person prayed the custodian went to work and then jotted down a note and slipped it into the hands of the organist. The note simply read: “After the prayer, the power will be on.
3) A Healthy church is devoted to praying (Acts 2:42) (Working on our relationship to God)
a) You will pray if you have received Jesus as Lord and Savior
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray
Prayer is purposely designed to deepen our relationship with God and like a magnet draw us nearer to Him. Prayer hinges on your willingness to trust God. It hinges on your willingness to humble yourself and let Him have control. Prayer is a way of us saying I have trusted you with eternity Jesus so now I trust you with each new moment. Prayer is practicing the presence of God.
Prayer is recognition of our powerlessness without God. John 15:5 ““I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.”
Little Suzie finished her prayer and said:
Dear God, Before I finish, I want you to take care of mommy, take care of daddy, take care of my sister and my brother and please, God, take care of yourself, because if you don’t we’re all sunk. Amen! God is waiting on us as living stones and a united body to trust Him.
b) You will pray if you believe God has something to say to you
Your view of God will affect your practice of prayer. If you don’t think much of God you will not do much with prayer. If you see God the way He is painted in the Bible and 3d rendered by Jesus you will understand the absolute necessity of prayer. Jesus who was sinless and perfect spent much of His time in communication with His heavenly Father.
Prayer at its simplest is talking to our heavenly father. It’s however is not that simple. For any good communication requires good listening. We are often taught to speak to God, to let our requests be made known. However we have two ears and one mouth for a reason.
Mark 9:7 “This is my beloved Son listen to Him.” This is why we must throw away our pride and listen to God!
Jeremiah 6:10 (NIV) "To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it."
Zech 7:11-13 (NIV) "But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen... So the Lord Almighty was very angry. "When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the Lord Almighty."
If we never learn to push back our wishes, hopes, and plans for each day it will be almost impossible to hear the still small voice. God’s plan doesn’t call for ease or comfort. He calls us to an intense, intimate personal devotion to Him that grows through His word and His voice in our life.
When you begin to hear His voice he shows you wonderful things you know not. This does not happen accidentally. This happens as you learn to pray. Luke 11.1 “Lord teach us to pray.” They were seeing the direct result of His very powerful, personal prayer life with the Father.
It is in prayer that God’s vision for our lives begins to take shape and become clear. My wife and I discovered that part of our mission was to adopt children through prayer and listening to God. (Time he spoke to me on the way to Little Rock)
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.” Why did God make us? To fellowship with Him and speak to Him.
c) You will pray if you believe God can handle what you bring to Him
How do you learn God is big enough to handle what you ask? How does faith grow? Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
D L Moody once said...
“I prayed for faith and thought that someday faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." I had up to this time closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since.”
Faith is the moral power to trust Jesus. Our faith will grow as we read what God says and apply it. Our prayer life will grow as we find out that He faithfully answers our prayers.
As we listen to what God says in prayer through His Spirit and Word we discover He can handle any situation we have. Gideon and the army of the Arameans. David and Goliath. Struggling marriages, wayward children, depression, sorrow, spiritual battle,
d) You will pray if you understand it is the most the church can do
Daniel understood what it meant to spend time with Jesus. Morning, noon, and evening he bowed before God. Psalm 55:17 “I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,
and He hears my voice.” 1 Chronicles 5:19-20 “They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 They received help against these enemies because they cried out to God in battle, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them. He granted their request because they trusted in Him.”
We are told again and again to pray. Luke 18.1 “He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged”
Luke 21:36 “But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent (lifestyle or habitual practice) in prayer.”
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.”
1) Individual
If prayer is not part of your life then you will not see God’s vision for your life!
What I am praying for this year. I am asking God for revival in our youth this year. I am asking God to move me to touch at least 1family per month. I am asking God to lead us to baptize at least 10 people this year. I am praying that God will help First Baptist Carlisle to be a better witness to our community this year. I am praying that God will help First Baptist Cabot baptize 100 people this year. I am praying that God will continue to remake us into a hospital for hurting people that shares the truth of Jesus Christ that will set them free.
b) Corporate
Why were so many people added to the church on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2? Before they ever received the gift of the Holy Spirit they were prayer together. Where there is a church without united prayer there is a church without unlimited power. When the early church prayed things were shaken up. Acts 2 they prayed together Holy Spirit came thousands were saved. Acts 4:31 read – They prayed the place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit for a bold witness. Acts 12 Peter is released from prison while the church was praying.
If we really want to see God use us as a body we have to pray.
What should we pray for? We should pray for closer walk with Jesus, a clearer vision of God’s plan for this church. Pray for those that have hurt you in any way. Pray for God to provide the resources we need to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray for revival in every area of our church.
Conclusion: Prayer is essential. We must be a people of prayer. We are to be devoted to God’s word and each other in fellowship. How will that result in an impact for the Kingdom of God? If everything is supported with powerful soul changing prayer!!
