PRAYER
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD. 7 AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL COMPREHENSION, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.
HOW YOU CAN TELL WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE A ROTTEN DAY
· YOU WAKE UP FACE DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT.
· YOU CALL SUICIDE PREVENTION AND THEY PUT YOU ON HOLD.
· YOU SEE A "60 MINUTES" NEWS TEAM WAITING IN YOUR OFFICE.
· YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE COLLAPSES FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE CANDLES.
· YOU TURN ON THE NEWS AND THEY'RE SHOWING EMERGENCY ROUTES OUT OF THE CITY.
· YOUR TWIN SISTER FORGOT YOUR BIRTHDAY.
· YOUR CAR HORN GOES OFF ACCIDENTALLY AND REMAINS STUCK AS YOU FOLLOW A GROUP OF HELL'S ANGELS ON THE FREEWAY.
· YOUR BOSS TELLS YOU NOT TO BOTHER TO TAKE OFF YOUR COAT.
· THE BIRD SINGING OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW IS A BUZZARD.
· YOU WAKE UP AND YOUR BRACES ARE LOCKED TOGETHER.
· YOU CALL YOUR ANSWERING SERVICE AND THEY TELL YOU IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
· YOUR INCOME TAX CHECK BOUNCES.
· YOU PUT BOTH CONTACT LENSES IN THE SAME EYE.
· YOUR WIFE SAYS, "GOOD MORNING, BILL," AND YOUR NAME IS GEORGE.
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PROPOSITION: WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRAYER.
INTRODUCTION: IN HIS COMMENTARY, JAMES BOICE HAS SAID, “FOR MOST PEOPLE FEW DOCTRINES ASSOCIATED WITH CHRISTIANITY ARE MORE GENERALLY MISUNDERSTOOD THAN THAT OF TRUE PRAYER. IT IS TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD BY NONBELIEVERS, AND IT IS MISUNDERSTOOD BY MANY WHO PROFESS THE NAME OF JESUS. THE PROBLEM MAY BE TRACED TO THE FACT THAT SO FEW PERSONS KNOW GOD WELL ENOUGH TO BE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIM IN PRAYER, AND SINCE NONE OF US IS AS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIM AS WE OUGHT TO BE, PRAYER IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY CONFUSING TO US ALL.”
WITH THIS THOUGHT IN MIND, THE APOSTLE PAUL GIVES US, IN A DISTINCT FASHION, GIVES A CONCISE DOCTRINE OF PRAYER.
TRANSITION: SO, LETS TAKE A LOOK THE DOCTRINE OF PRAYER AS RECORDED FOR US BY THE APOSTLE PAUL
I. THE NATURE OF PRAYER
a. FIRST AND FOREMOST, PRAYER IS CONVERSATION WITH GOD
i. THE LEVEL OF OUR CONVERSATION IS DETERMINED BY THE LEVEL OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.
ii. THE DEPTH OF MY CONVERSATION WITH GOD IS NO DIFFERENT, THE BETTER MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, THE BETTER MY CONVERSATION WITH GOD.
iii. RELATIONSHIP ARE BOTH CREATED AND MODELED
1. WE CREATE RELATIONSHIP
2. WE MODEL RELATIONSHIPS TO OTHERS
iv. GOD WANTS TO CREATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH US.
REVELATION 3:20 'BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK; IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM AND WILL DINE WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME.
1. HE SEEKS OUR PERMISSION
2. HE SEEKS OUR ACCEPTANCE
3. HE SEEKS OUR INTIMACY
4. WE ARE THE DETERMINING FACTOR
5. WE DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF OUR PRAYER.
v. OTHERS MODEL PRAYER FOR US.
1. JESUS MODELED PRAYER IN THE GARDEN
2. JESUS MODELED PRAYER IN HIS TEACHING ON PRAYER
3. THE APOSTLES MODELED PRAYER IN PRISON
4. WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE RIGHT MODELS
a. TURN PRAYER FROM A NUISANCE AND INTO RELIANCE.
b. SECOND, PRAYER IS FOR BELIEVERS ONLY!
i. PRAYER IS TO PRODUCE THE “PEACE OF GOD”
1. THERE IS A PREREQUISITE TO THE “PEACE OF GOD”
2. IT IS OUR “PEACE WITH GOD”.
3. WE CANNOT HAVE THE PEACE OF GOD UNTIL WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD!
4. THE REALITY PRAYER IS RELATIONSHIP BASED
ii. PRAYER IS ALSO “IN CHRIST”
1. WHO IS IN CHRIST?
2. THE BELIEVER IS IN CHRIST
JOHN 14:6 JESUS *SAID TO HIM, "I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME.
3. BELIEF IS A RESULT OF REDEMPTION – A TRANSFER OF TRUST FROM SELF TO CHRIST
a. MORE THAN BELIEF IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
b. MORE THAN A BELIEF THAT HE CAN HELP
4. GOD IS SOVEREIGN, AND THUS HEARS EVERY PETITION, YET SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST FIFTEEN REASON GOD DOES NOT ANSWER, AND AT TIMES CHOOSES TO NOT EVEN HEAR.
a. WHO HAVE PERSONAL AND SELFISH MOTIVES.
b. WHO REGARD INIQUITY IN THEIR HEARTS.
c. WHO REMAIN IN SIN.
d. WHO OFFER UNWORTHY SERVICE TO GOD.
e. WHO FORSAKE GOD.
f. WHO REJECT GOD'S CALL.
g. WHO WILL NOT HEED GOD'S LAW.
h. WHO TURN A DEAF EAR TO THE CRY OF THE POOR.
i. WHO ARE VIOLENT.
j. WHO WORSHIP IDOLS.
k. WHO HAVE NO FAITH.
l. WHO ARE LIVING IN HYPOCRISY.
m. WHO ARE PROUD OF HEART.
n. WHO ARE SELF-RIGHTEOUS.
o. WHO MISTREAT GOD'S PEOPLE
c. WHETHER A BELIEVER IN CHRIST, OR NOT, THE QUALITY OF PRAYER IS ALWAYS RELATED TO SIN!
i. FOR THE UNBELIEVER IT IS THE SIN OF REJECTING CHRIST
ii. FOR THE BELIEVER IT IS NOT CONFESSING SIN TO CHRIST
d. HINDERED PRAYER IS INEFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH THE REASON FOR PRAYER – WORRY AND ANXIETY!
II. THE BARRIER OF PRAYER
a. ISAIAH 59:1-2 BEHOLD, THE LORD'S HAND IS NOT SO SHORT THAT IT CANNOT SAVE; NOR IS HIS EAR SO DULL THAT IT CANNOT HEAR. BUT YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE MADE A SEPARATION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD, AND YOUR SINS HAVE HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM YOU SO THAT HE DOES NOT HEAR.
i. NOTICE IT IS NOT THAT GOD CAN’T
ii. IT IS THAT GOD WILL NOT
b. PSALM 66:18 IF I REGARD WICKEDNESS IN MY HEART, THE LORD WILL NOT HEAR;
i. AGAIN IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTICE
ii. THE CHOICE IS MINE
iii. I NEED TO CHOOSE
c. 1 JOHN 1:9 IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND RIGHTEOUS TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
i. THE ISSUE IS ALWAYS SIN
ii. THE REMEDY IS ALWAYS RESTORING THE RELATIONSHIP
III. THE DOCTRINE OF PRAYER
a. TO RELIEVE ANXIETY AND WORRY – “BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING”
i. IN THE GREEK, “NOTHING” IS THE FIRST WORD IN THE CLAUSE
ii. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD OR CONCEPT PAUL WANTS TO COMMUNICATE
iii. RELIEVING ANXIETY
1. WORD MEANS TO BE PULLED IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
2. ANXIETY CAUSES ME TO LOSE FOCUS
3. ANXIETY CHOPS UP MY FOCUS
4. PRAYER RESETS MY FOCUS ON GOD!
b. PRAYER IS THE UNIVERSAL ANSWER TO OUR NEEDS
i. “IN EVERYTHING” – NOTHING IS EXCLUDED
ii. PRAYER RELEASES
1. THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH DESIRES THE BEST FOR US
2. THE WISDOM OF GOD, WHICH ALONE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR US
3. THE POWER OF GOD, WHICH CAN BRING ABOUT THE BEST GOD KNOWS IS FOR US AND DESIRE US TO HAVE!
c. PRAYER INVOLVES ISSUES THAT OTHERS ARE DEALING WITH
i. 1 TIMOTHY 2:1 FIRST OF ALL, THEN, I URGE THAT ENTREATIES AND PRAYERS, PETITIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS, BE MADE ON BEHALF OF ALL MEN,
ii. INTERCESSION IS SHARING THE BLESSING OF PRAYER ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER
iii. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT GOD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT OTHER BELIEVERS APART FROM MY PRAYERS, YET GOD URGES ME TO INCLUDE OTHERS AT PART OF MY PRAYER.
1. INCLUDE OTHERS
a. FOR SALVATION
b. FOR STRENGTH
2. INCLUDE YOUR CHURCH
a. FOR PROTECTION
b. FOR BLESSING
ILLUSTRATION: MORE THAN A GENERATION AGO A MAN NAMED HOTCHKISS WENT TO NIGERIA WHERE HE SPENT OVER FORTY YEARS AS A MISSIONARY. ONE DAY HE WAS LATE FOR A SERVICE HE WAS TO HAVE IN A VILLAGE LOCATED ACROSS A LARGE PLAIN. THERE WAS A RULE IN NIGERIA IN THOSE DAYS THAT NO ONE EVER CROSSED A LARGE OPEN SPACE FOR FEAR OF STAMPEDES BY THE HERDS OF WILD GAME THAT ROAMED AT LARGE IN THE COUNTRY. A SAFE PATH ALWAYS PASSED WITHIN A SHORT RUN OF THE TREES. HOTCHKISS WAS LATE, AND HE KNEW THE QUICKEST WAY TO THE VILLAGE WAS TO GO DIRECTLY ACROSS THE PLAIN. SO HE STARTED ACROSS IT. HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORST HAPPENED. HE HEARD THE THUNDER OF RHINOCEROS HOOFS, AND AS HE LOOKED UP HE SAW A HERD OF THE MONSTROUS ANIMALS HEADED TOWARD HIM. THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO, SO HOTCHKISS KNELT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLAIN, CLASPED HIS BIBLE TO HIS CHEST, AND PRAYED, "LORD, HERE I COME." AN ETERNITY PASSED AS THE ROAR GREW LOUDER AND THEN FADED AWAY INTO THE DISTANCE. AT LAST ALL WAS QUIET AND HOTCHKISS AROSE. HE WAS STANDING IN THE MIDST OF THE PLAIN MARKED WITH THE HOOFPRINTS OF A HUNDRED OR MORE RHINOCEROS. BUT HE WAS ALIVE, AND HE WENT ON TO HIS MEETING IN THE VILLAGE.
YEARS LATER, A COUPLE FROM OHIO VISITED THIS MAN IN NIGERIA. IN THE COURSE OF THEIR CONVERSATION THE HUSBAND SAID TO HOTCHKISS, "I HAD A MOST UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE ONCE THAT CONCERNED YOU. ONE NIGHT I WOKE UP SUDDENLY WITH AN IRRESISTIBLE URGE TO PRAY FOR YOU. AND I DID, COMMITTING YOU TO GOD'S SAFEKEEPING." HOTCHKISS ASKED IF HE REMEMBERED WHEN IT WAS. THE MAN HAD WRITTEN IT DOWN THAT NIGHT IN HIS BIBLE, AND WHEN THEY COMPARED THE TIMES, IT WAS ON THE SAME DAY AND AT THE SAME HOUR THAT HOTCHKISS HAD BEEN SPARED ON THE NIGERIAN PLAIN.
SOMEONE MAY ARGUE THAT GOD WOULD HAVE SAVED HOTCHKISS ANYWAY, EVEN IF THE MAN HAD NOT PRAYED. PROBABLY. BUT THE POINT IS THAT IN GOD'S MARVELOUS WORKING HE MOVED A MAN HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD TO PRAY FOR HOTCHKISS IN THAT HOUR. THUS, YEARS LATER THE MAN WAS ABLE TO SHARE IN THE BLESSING OF HIS FRIEND'S SUPERNATURAL DELIVERANCE. IN THE SAME WAY WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AS GOD'S CHILDREN OF COMMITTING OTHERS INTO HIS HANDS FOR HIS BLESSING—OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, ACQUAINTANCES, AND FAMILY. AS WE DO, WE ARE PERMITTED TO SHARE IN HIS BLESSING ON THEM. OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE HOLDS FEW JOYS GREATER THAN THIS ONE.
d. PRAYER INVOLVES ISSUES THAT I AM DEALING WITH
i. SUPPLICATION IS ALL ABOUT ME!
ii. AND THERE IS A PROMISE TO ME FOR PRAYING
1. THE PEACE OF GOD OVER MY SITUATION
2. IT IS A PEACE THAT SURPASSES
a. STANDS OUT
b. RISES ABOVE
c. SUPERIOR TO ANY PEACE I MAY EVER FEEL
3. SURPASSES ALL COMPREHENSION
a. ELUDES EVERY HUMAN REASON OR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND WHY I SHOULD NOT BE AT PEACE
4. AND GUARDS MY HEART AND MIND
a. THE PEACE OF GOD PUTS A GARRISON AROUND MY HEART TO PROTECT IT AGAINST A HOSTILE INVASION.
b. AND WHO DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE, HMMMM?
i. PROTECTS ME FROM SATAN
ii. PROTECT ME FROM MY SELF, BECAUSE SOMETIMES I AM MY OWN WORST PRAYER ENEMY
1 PETER 5:7-9 CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM, BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU. 8 BE OF SOBER SPIRIT, BE ON THE ALERT. YOUR ADVERSARY, THE DEVIL, PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR. 9 BUT RESIST HIM, FIRM IN YOUR FAITH, KNOWING THAT THE SAME EXPERIENCES OF SUFFERING ARE BEING ACCOMPLISHED BY YOUR BRETHREN WHO ARE IN THE WORLD.
iii. GOD WILL GUARD MY EMOTIONS – WHERE I GET MYSELF INTO TROUBLE
iv. GOD WILL GUARD MY MIND – WHERE SATAN GETS ME INTO TROUBLE.
WHILE TOURING ITALY, A MAN VISITED A CATHEDRAL THAT HAD BEEN COMPLETED ON THE OUTSIDE ONLY. ONCE INSIDE, THE TRAVELER FOUND AN ARTIST KNEELING BEFORE AN ENORMOUS WALL UPON WHICH HE HAD JUST BEGUN TO CREATE A MOSAIC. ON SOME TABLES NEARBY WERE THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF COLORED CERAMIC. CURIOUS, THE VISITOR ASKED THE ARTIST HOW HE WOULD EVER FINISH SUCH A LARGE PROJECT. THE ARTIST ANSWERED THAT HE KNEW HOW MUCH HE COULD ACCOMPLISH IN ONE DAY. EACH MORNING, HE MARKED OFF AN AREA TO BE COMPLETED THAT DAY AND DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT REMAINED OUTSIDE THAT SPACE. THAT WAS THE BEST HE COULD DO; AND IF HE FAITHFULLY DID HIS BEST, ONE DAY THE MOSAIC WOULD BE FINISHED. WE ARE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT TODAY AND WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO TODAY, TOMORROW WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. TODAY IS THE DAY TO TRUST CHRIST AS SAVIOR IF YOUR ARE LOST.
SO TODAY, AND EVERY DAY, TRUST CHRIST WITH YOUR PRAYERS. HE HAS PROMISED TO BRING YOU PEACE WHEN YOU PRAYER. AND DON’T MINIMIZE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, BECAUSE THE BETTER YOU KNOW HIM, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO INVOLVE HIM IN ALL OF THE AREAS NEEDING PRAYER IN YOUR LIFE.
