PRAYER AS AN INVESTMENT?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
AS A YOUNG MAN I OFTEN MISQUOTED SOME BIBLE VERSES. IN IGNORANCE I SAID: THE GOOD OL’ BOYS CAME TO JESUS AND ASKED JESUS: LORD WILL YOU TEACH US HOW TO PRAY?
This is not at all what the boys ask the teacher to do? THEY SAID: LORD WILL YOU TEACH US TO PRAY?
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Will we come to the feet of Jesus and honestly cry out: LORD TEACH ME TO PRAY?
We learn BY DOING! The more we practice the better we get.
IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS PART OF THE DISCIPLES JOURNEY THAT THEY NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE INVESTMENT OF FAITH PRAYING.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
We may walk in err not understanding the word and the power entrusted to our hands and hearts…
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
DO WE SEE AND KNOW THE BENEFITS OF PRAYER?
Do you think PRAYER IS IMPORTANT? If so then HOW IMPORTANT IS PRAYER?
Is prayer a mandatory OBLIGATION and CHORE to you?
DO WE EVER FEEL HEAVEN IS AS BRASS and EARTH AS IRON?
Deuteronomy 28:23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
DO WE UNDERSTAND LIFE CAN BE HARD AND COLD AND SEEMINGLY IMPENETRABLE? Life seems impossible to pass through, hard to understand, cannot see to go through… only by prayer…
SOMETHINGS CAN ONLY BE OVERCAME BY PRAYER (AND FASTING)
Mark 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Most of the newer versions or translations do away with fasting? Fasting is a Christian tool and is not to brag about or be publicly known.
IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR US TO RESTORE AND REBUILD THE ALTAR… GOD HELP US REPAIR THE INVESTMENT IN THE HOLY ALTAR OF A MIGHTY GOD.
1 Kings 18:30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
THE PROPHETS OF BAAL PRAYED MILLIONS OF WORDS, THEY CUT THEIR SELVES (BLOOD LETTING)
ELIJAH PRAYES 63 WORDS… AND THE FORE CAME DOWN OF THE WET WOOD….
1 Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
ELIJAH WAS KNOWN AS A MAN THAT INVESTED IN PRAYER… THE KING WAS EVIL, HIS WIFE JEZEBEL WAS VERY EVIL… THEY PPROMISED TO KILL THE PREACHER AND STOP THE MESSAGE… WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE A DEAD OR ALIVE POSTER OUT TO STOP GOD? PRAY…
We have a false teaching today: YOOU ONLY PRAY ONE TIME… TO PRAY AGAIN IS A LACK OF FAITH? Many were dying because of the drought and the King blamed the Preacher… The Preacher knew how to pray.
1 Kings 18:41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
THE MAN OF GOD THAT REPAIRED THE ALTAR KNEW YOU PRAY AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL THE OLD TIME PHRASE BECOMES TRUE… PRAY UNTIL YOU PRAY THROUGH. The time invested in prayer will bring dividends out of this world…
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Do we understand the great men of God invested in prayer?
Abraham built altars. Moses invested in prayer. DANIEL prayed 3 times a day even when prayer was outlawed. Elijah, Elisha, Peter, John, Paul… JESUS KNEW THE POWER OF PRAYER. DO WE BREATH EVERYDAY? Do we eat and drink every day? Do we find the joy of prayer and personal communion with Jesus?
INVEST? OUGHT TO? WHAT OUGHT TO MEAN?
OUGHT: obligation, take care of, expected, should be done, payment of a debt…
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
THIS IS WAR! PRAYER IS A WEAPON… CONSISTENT PRAYER…PRAYER IS A SWEET FRAGANCE ON THE ALTAR OF GOD…
LIFE IS A WAR THAT IS EITHER WON OR LOST IN OUR INVESTMENT OR LACK OF INVESTING IN PRAYER…
Consistent: firmness, regular, often repeatedly, habitual,
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Prayer is finding the WILL OF GOD… Prayer is total surrender.
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
WHILE MANY WOULD ARGUE CORNELIOUS WAS NOT EVEN A CHRISTIAN, THE LORD HEARD HIS REGULAR, DAILY INVESTMENT IN PRAYER.
Acts 10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
WE LIVE IN AN INSTANT GRATIFICATION DAY? BORROW TODAY AND PAY LATER?
Some prayers are immediate… MANY REQUIRE AN INVESTMENT TODAY WITH A LATER REWARD.
MOST PRAYERS HAVE DELAYED ANSWERS…. WE KNOW PRAYER HAS SEASONS… THHAT REQUIRE MUCH PATIENCE…
Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
WE HAVE A LOTTERY MENTALITY: GET RICH QUICK… PRAYER IS LIKE THE STOCK MARKET?
Dave Ramsey says to invest in the market may take 5 years or more to see good returns…
PRAYER IS LIKE A PERSON THAT PLANTS AND ORCHARD? THAT WORKS THE SOIL? FERTILIZES? PLANTS? CUTS THE WEEDS? WORKS AND SWEATS? AND NOT TASTE THE FRUIT FOR SEVRAL YEARS…. WE MAY SEE LITTLE TO NOTHING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
DO WE DEFINE OUR JOURNEY AS BEING TIRED, EXHAUSTED, WEAK…? PRAYER IMPROVES OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND HIS WORD.
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
INVESTING IN PRAYER IS A SRESS RELIEVER AND DAILY MENTAL VENTILATION…
PRAYER CAN REDUCE WORRY, STRESS, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND BE BENEFITUAL TO YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH.
WHA IS GOOD PRAYER? PETITION, CONFESSION, INTERCESSION, PRAISE, THANKSGIVING…
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:6 (MSG) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
Philippians 4:6 (NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER… PRAYER CHANGES MARRIAGES AND STOPS DIVORCE AND SEPERATION.
PRAYER HELPS A WEAKNESSES AND GUARDS MY TEMPTATIONS….
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
GOD IS CALLING US TO INVEST IN INTRCESSION… ARE WE INVESTING MORE IN THE FLESH AND THE CARNAL SIDE OF LIFE? DO WE SPEND OUR MONEY MORE WISELY THAN OUR TIME IN PRAYER AND GOD’S WORD? IS PLEASURE AND HAPPY MY GOALS?
Did you hear about the man that wrote a check? His wife said honey are you sure we can do this? The husband answer of course, we have almost 50 checks left at home…
We need to make spiritual deposits by prayer.
Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Ezekiel 22:30 (MSG) "I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the defenses of the city, to take a stand for me and stand in the gap to protect this land so I wouldn't have to destroy it. I couldn't find anyone. Not one.
Conclusion: JESUS IS COMING… Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
PRAYER CAN BRING HEALING…
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
IF WE INVEST PRAYER WE CAN CHANGE A NATION.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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