Chico Alliance Church
“Devoted to Prayer”
“prayer”
The subject of this passage is not too hard to discover. Paul addresses the subject of prayer.
This morning I want to try to describe the basic idea of prayer.
After we understand the basic concept of prayer, we want look further as to what Paul has to say about Prayer in regard to the Christian’s everyday walk. Volumes of information have been written concerning this subject.
Thousands of sermons have been preached on the subject prayer. It is my feeling today, that we know much more about prayer than we practice. Our problem is not lack of knowledge, our problem is lack of practice and motivation and fervency regarding communication with the Almighty. Prayer is really not all that complicated. Prayer is talking with God. Within the context of our conversation with God, we express our feelings, we share our dreams, we express our feelings toward God, we ask for help and insight for ourselves and for those we care about and we tell God how wonderfully is. So when Paul talks about prayer in this passage as well as in other passages, he simply refers to the activity of conversation with God. Paul's passion for prayer is not theoretical. Paul demonstrated a passion to talk with God all throughout his life. Paul understood just how critical this continual connection with the Almighty God was. It is my guess that it was this conviction motivated the frequency and intensity of Paul’s prayer life. Jesus, who was Himself God, modeled for us the same kind of attitude and practice regarding conversation with the Father. Jesus talked to the Father because He wanted to and needed to.
To ask why we should talk to the Father is like asking why a child should talk to their parents. If we understood the wonder of our restored relationship with the Father, we would delight in the privilege of one on one conversation.
1. PRAYER FACILITATES INTIMACY WITH GOD
• I share of myself
Conversation with my Father should flow out of the deeper levels of my soul.
I share my general observations about life and events.
I share my opinions and thoughts and ideas.
I share my innermost feelings, dreams and frustrations.
• I learn of Him
WHEN I NEGLECT PRAYER
The more I neglect honest sharing of myself and humble listening to God, the less intimacy I will actually experience with God. I will eventually go through the motions of prayer without meaningful communication. I will employ the jargon of prayer without enjoying the closeness of the relationship. I will engage in the exercise of talking without the enthusiasm of sharing. The reality of intimate relationship with God cannot be experienced without the continual practice of meaningful communication.
2. PRAYER FOSTERS HUMBLE DEPENDENCE
1--The very act of asking demonstrates the necessary attitude of humble dependence
2--Exposing helplessness and vulnerability deepens our sense of intimacy.
3--The act of asking builds relationship
WHEN I NEGLECT PRAYER
The neglect of continual prayer in my life, is a sure demonstration of pride in my life. Neglect of prayer exposes the same spirit of independence that bumped Adam and Eve off track in the beginning. Prayerlessness indicates that I place more confidence in my own abilities and talents than in the work of God's power promised through prayer. Failure to continually keep touch with the Master reveals a self-sufficient attitude of pride that God must resist.
The Spirit of God works in response to the prayers of the saints.
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD."
We think that somehow, in our day of potent programs and phenomenal organizational skills and leadership seminars, we can prosper and grow while ignoring the very element that caused the early church to flourish -- prayer. It is time that we realized that fact that without continual communication with the Lord ... WE - CAN - DO - NOTHING.
3. PRAYER FURTHERS GOD'S WORK
WHEN WE NEGLECT PRAYER
When we neglect our prayer life, we experience far less than what we could have enjoyed and realized, had practiced communication with God. We lose His peace, His provision, His plan, the joy of seeing others set free, our reward. Part of the initial shock of entering heaven might be to realize what could have been accomplished had we prayed.
Christ could not do many miracles in Nazareth because of their unbelief. How are we hindering the work of Christ at Chico by our unbelief illuminated by our lack of humble prayer. God’s work in this world rests on our prayers and he has promised to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. If we fail to ask or think, we will never experience what He had in His mind for us. You have not because you ask not or because you ask with self-centered rather than kingdom-centered motives. This is not to say that God's overall plan is in jeopardy because His saints neglect to pray. Prayer is His way and He will bring about His glorious product through our prayers. "Thy kingdom come."
4. PRAYER FORTIFIES THE SOUL AGAINST TEMPTATION
WHEN WE NEGLECT PRAYER
When we fail to talk to God, the ideas and prompting of the enemy seem more persuasive. When we neglect our interaction with God, our focus gets off line. Hebrews 12:1-3 Prayer keeps our focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.
God wants close relationship with us fostered by talking with Him.
God responds to humble dependence demonstrated by consistent prayer.
God uses people to carry out His master plan.
We avoid temptation through persistent prayer.
A lifestyle of fervent conversation with God is the first and the last work. In some ways it is the only work. You cannot honestly read the new Testament or even just the book of Acts without being deeply impressed by the prominence of prayer in the early church. Without this practice of continual conversation with God by individuals as well as the body of Christ together, we should not expect any significant movement of God among us.
Paul has specific instructions regarding prayer for every member of the church. He isn't so concerned about the content of our prayers but our attitude toward prayer and our practice of it. The instruction given here is to “be devoted.”
“be devoted”
1) to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one
2) to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing
3) to continue all the time in a place
4) to persevere and not to faint
5) to show one’s self courageous for
6) to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly
This word is used in a common sense.
• It has the idea of standing ready or continuing in.
Jesus use the word when he asked his disciples to keep the boat ready for him.
It communicates the idea of keeping something ready for use at any moment whenever the need may arise.
And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the multitude, in order that they might not crowd Him; Mark 3:9
• It communicates the idea of giving close attention
And when the angel who was speaking to him had departed, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were in constant attendance upon him, and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. Acts 10:7-8
In this passage we are told that Cornelius enjoyed the service of two servants and a devoted soldier who constantly were at his side ready to do whatever he asked them to do. The source of power and growth in the early church was united prayer. Not just token prayer. Not just an occasional prayer meeting. The early church devoted themselves to prayer and were commanded to do so.
“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 1:14
“And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42
"But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:4
“rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer” Romans 12:12
“And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart” Acts 2:46
None of us would dispute the importance and prominence of prayer in the Scriptures. When it comes to the practice of prayer in our time, it is a whole different story. I cannot speak to the practice of prayer in your private life. I can only speak to the current place of prayer at Chico as a corporate body. We are not by any stretch of the imagination living according to our belief system or according to what our heart knows and longs for. The revival we seek, the renewal we long to see, the life-change we crave comes through devotion to united prayer both individually and as a body. Until we are willing to come together with one mind and one passion regarding prayer we're stuck. Until prayer becomes prominent in everything we do together we will not experience what God intended us to experience.
We will not cultivate and experience closeness with God.
We will not practically cultivate humble dependence.
We will not experience the joy of kingdom growth.
We will not avoid persistent temptation.
This is not an option here. Kingdom kids continually check in with their king. Kingdom kids talk to the one who transferred them out of darkness into the kingdom. Kingdom kids demonstrate their humility and dependence upon God for kingdom work.
How do we change our church practice? When will our practice catch up to our belief? Or do we really believe?
If we really believed that unified talking with the Lord of the Church was the designated method for kingdom work, we would make it a priority among us. We would avoid disunity, strife and destructive talk. We would give ourselves to unified conversation with the Head of the church. Another command given here has to do with our sense of urgency regarding prayer.
“Keeping alert”
This speaks of alertness to the task at hand. We are here instructed to be alert. What seems really strange is that the way we practice prayer seems to bring on drowsiness and sleepiness more than any other spiritual practice. Conversation with God requires alertness. It makes sense that if we are talking with the God who sees everything, we would be in the most advantageous position to be aware of anything that may be coming our way. Many passages use this word in relationship to the Lord returning and the need for being alert when he returns. That too would make sense. If we are talking to him when he returns we would also be ready for His return.
Matthew 24:42-43 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:13
Jesus soberly addressed alert prayer.
Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." Matthew 26:38
And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? "Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:40-41
We must be continually on the alert. Jesus continues to pray. Will we pray with Him? We live in a fallen world with a devil who is out for our destruction and will use anything at his disposal to trip us up.
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Cor. 16:13
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 1 Thes. 5:6
The apostles John writes the words of Jesus to a church body.
'Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 'Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. Rev. 3:2-3
Perhaps is time for us as a church family to wake up and pray. It is time to strengthen what remains. I could not honestly say that God has found our deeds competed in His sight. It is time to remember what we have received and heard and do it. It is time to repent of our prayerlessness. It is time to repent of our failure to join in unified
conversation with the Father.
Paul adds one more element to a devoted life of prayer.
“with thanksgiving’
It is time to devote ourselves to prayer with Thanksgiving. Paul adds this admonition to pray with Thanksgiving to direct a proper attitude to in relation to prayer. Our prayer time must not be a gripe session with God telling him how terrible we think things are in our life or in our church. We are to approach God with a perspective of thanksgiving, or grace not complaint or condemnation. Thanksgiving accompanies many passages regarding prayer. Paul was able to find good in most every circumstance.
Specific request
In our passage here, Paul asks for some specific prayer.
praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
Paul is asking these believers to pray for him that he would have an opportunity to share Gospel of Christ. He prays for an open door in and that he would be granted the ability to make the word of God clear. How often do we pray for open doors?
Conclusion
The instruction in this passage is not complicated. Paul calls the church to prayer. This is a call to prayer as a lifestyle. This is a call to an intensity concerning prayer that causes us to be alert to the needs around us as well as the dangers. We have been called prayer before. We continually wrestle with conviction about our prayer life. I am not here today to talk about your personal prayer life with God although I would be delighted if you were challenged concerning your personal prayer life. My concern today is the prayer life of the Chico body together. What are a we going to do? If we would see God move mightily among us it will be as a result of us coming together with one mind, pure hearts, and devotion to our communication with God.
What is God telling you?
This page is for you to jot down whatever application God is urging you to do.
What areas of sin in my life is God pointing out that I need to confess?
What changes is He asking me to make?
What specific thing should I thank God for? When and how?
