*THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT PRAYER*
MATTHEW 7:7 – 11
INTRODUCTION
1.) For several weeks we have been looking at the good news of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
2.) Some of the best news that ever came from the lips of our Saviour concerns our privilege that we have of entering into communion and dialogue with the heavenly Father.
3.) Jesus taught repeatedly that it is possible for people to communicate with the Eternal God in prayer.
A.) Today, I want us to look at the good news of being able to talk to God in prayer because of what was accomplished for man by Jesus Christ.
I. THE GOOD NEWS IN JESUS CHRIST IS THAT PRAYER REPRESENTS A COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US AND GOD.
1.) Before we came to Christ there was a barrier between us and God.
A.) That barrier was sin.
aa.) When we were in the unforgiveness of our sins, we were unholy; we and unworthy of any of the blessings from God Almighty.
ab.) A few weeks ago, I had said that other than a man seeking God and a relationship with Him, there is no indication from Scripture that God will answer any other prayer of a sinner.
ac.) Even Jesus when he hung from the cross was unworthy of fellowship with God.
aca.) At that moment, Jesus was carrying every sin of every person who had ever been on this world, or ever would be.
aca-1.) For those hours on the cross, Jesus hung between heaven and earth as the vilest most wicked man that had ever walked on the face of this planet.
aca-2.) I say that because on the cross Jesus bore in his body the penalty for every sin that the entire human race would ever commit.
acb.) For that reason, the abiding presence of God could not rest in and upon Jesus while He on the cross.
acc.) For the first, the last, and the only time ever Jesus could not be in fellowship with God.
acc-1.) Carrying the shame, guilt and unholiness of all the world Jesus experienced pain beyond what we could ever imagine when he cried out to heaven: “ My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me.”
acc-2.) That hopeless and lonely prayer of Jesus on the cross is the expression of every sinful person on this planet
apart from knowing forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
acc-3.) In that state there is no access to the throne of God.
B.) But the good news for all of mankind, is that on that day dying on the cross, Jesus completely removed the barrier between us and God, and through Himself, has brought us peace.
ba.) Rom. 5:1-2
2.) Today, instead of a barrier we now can have a relationship.
A.) You may wonder if I am ever getting to the actual topic of Good news in Prayer, but this is that good news.
aa.) We have the good news that we can go to God in prayer, and that God will hear our prayers because of Jesus the Christ.
B.) When we pray to God, the Bible tells us that we are to pray in Jesus’s name.
ba.) He is the one who made it possible for us to go to God in prayer.
baa.) Apart from what Christ had accomplished on the cross, we could never approach God and expect anything but judgment from his hand, because of our wickedness.
bb.) The Good news is that because of Jesus Christ we can go and approach the throne of God in prayer.
bba.) Heb. 4:15-16
bbb.) Because of the actions of our Lord:
II JESUS ENCOURAGED HIS FOLLOWERS TO PRAY.
1.) Our Lord assumed that his disciples would want to pray.
A.) Matt. 6:6
B.) When we realize what it cost Jesus so that we could have access to God, we should long for the opportunity to pray.
C.) When we see the love of God for us, and his desire to be generous with us, it is truly good news!
ca.) How could we not go to Him in prayer?
D.) Jesus went to the cross to defeat the forces of Satan.
da.) On our own, we are weak; In Christ and His power we cannot be defeated.
daa.) I John 4:4
2.) Our Lord instructed his disciples in the proper manner for effective praying
A.) Matt. 6:9 – 13
B.) Because of Jesus Christ, we can go to God as our Father in heaven.
ba.) Bible writers had spoken of God as Father, but Jesus made it personal.
baa.) Jesus gave a term like a child would use in affection for his earthly father.
bab.) What a blessedness to approach God as our Father in Heaven.
III. OUR GOOD NEWS IN PRAYER IS THAT RICH REWARDS COME THROUGH PRAYER.
1.) God not only hears the prayers of a Christian, but He wants to reward our prayerfulness to Him.
--Matt. 6:6
A.) The heart of the child of God hungers for the awareness of the presence of God and for an assurance of the love of God.
B.) Scripture and experience testify that the more we seek to draw near to God in prayer, the nearer he draws to us.
ba.) James 4:8
bb.) We become aware of his precious abiding presence when we seek him in the closet of prayer.
bc.) In our communing with God, He draws near to us.
2.) Prayer helps us to so connect with God as to experience the blessing of forgiveness as a rich reward of prayer. A.) 1 John 1:9
B.) Our Lord demonstrated a life of perfection.
ba.) He also challenges us to be perfect, knowing that we will never in this life reach that goal.
bb.) Because of this, he encouraged them and us to confess our sins and to forgive those who had sinned against us.
bb.) When there is unconfessed sin, Christians lose the joy of their salvation.
C.) It is in the closet of prayer, that forgiveness and a full restoration comes as we humbly confess our sin to God and sincerely forsake the way of evil.
4.) The gift of the fullness of the Holy Spirit is another of the great gifts of God to those who have the habit of prayer
A.)When we come to Jesus Christ, Scripture tells us that not only do we receive forgiveness of our sins, but we also receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit of God.
B.) Once God’s Holy Spirit has come to dwell in us, it is up to us how much we will allow Him to work, abide, and to empower our lives with His very presence.
C.) Prayer is an avenue by which God can work to do great things when we welcome Him to the throne of our hearts.
ca.) Even though we receive the Holy Spirit of God at the time of our baptism into Christ, God wants us to ask that His spirit will have full reign within our lives.
cb.) And the good news, is that if we ask in Prayer, God will continue to fill every part of our lives with His presence that is within us.
cba.) Luke 11:13
D.) As we pray and release ourselves to God, we become aware of His abiding presence within us.
E.) The Holy Spirit provides guidance for the road of life and energy for doing God’s work.
ea.) Much of this happens when we fall on our knees before Him.
eb.) He gives us wisdom as we face the complexities of life.
ec.) He comes in his fullness to those who through faith ask him to take over and lead and guide and empower.
F.) Those who neglect the privilege and regular habit of prayer miss out on some of the good news that God has for them.
fa.) They in fact rob themselves of the rich blessings of God and deprive others of the blessing they could be to others.
CONCLUSION
1.) Much of what we will be doing in heaven when this life is over can be described in terms of prayer — communicating with God and enjoying communion with him.
2.) Part of the good news of our relationship with Jesus Christ is that we do not have to wait until heaven when fellowship will be perfect and without the limitations and hindrances we know now.
A.) Even now we have that fellowship with God through prayer.
3.) If the blessings of the Good news we have been speaking of this past few weeks is not your good news, it can be.
A.) As we sing our hymn of invitation you can choose to make Jesus Christ your Lord and Saviour.
