Opening Video: The Mighty Influence of a Praying Mom: Rhonwyn Kendrick’s Story
Series: Find Joy in The Journey Through Prayer
Thesis: Jesus was filled with joy and this inner joy came from His relationship with God the Father through prayer. Prayer and inner joy are linked together because prayer opens a door to the presence and guidance of the Lord. Prayer is connected with joy! Prayer is also connected with praise.
Scripture: Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Summary:
Sermon 1: We observed some of the prayers of Jesus – to show us how He prayed.
Sermon 2: We studied the prayer Jesus gave us on - How to Pray called, “The Lord’s Prayer.”
Sermon 3: We studied last week “Why Pray?”
Sermon 4: We learned “Where should we pray?” The answer was Anywhere at any time!
Sermon 5: What happens when we pray? Answer: Miracles happen! Seriously – people get healed, lives get set free, people get delivered, families find forgiveness and inner healing, relationships are mended, marriages restored, cities changed, communities are changed and even countries are changed.
Sermon 6: P.R.A.Y.
Thesis: Misconceptions about prayer are common today so we need to have a proper understanding of the word - PRAY – P = Presence of God – R = Reminder of the race we are in – A = Awareness of the spiritual realm – Y = Yeshua in Hebrew means to rescue or deliver and is rooted in the name of Jesus.
Introduction:
The movie War Room:
Review of War Room:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Room_%28film%29
War Room is a 2015 American Christian drama film directed by Alex Kendrick and written by himself and Stephen Kendrick. It is the Kendrick brothers' fifth film and their first through their subsidiary, Kendrick Brothers Productions. Provident Films, Affirm Films and TriStar Pictures partnered with the Kendrick brothers to release the film.
The film was released in North American theaters on August 28, 2015, and received generally negative reviews from critics, but became a box office success and a sleeper hit, grossing $74 million worldwide including $67.8 million domestically to become the 7th highest-grossing Christian film in the United States.
Here is Roger Ebert’s review of the movie: from https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/war-room-2015
“Attention all God-fearing victims of domestic abuse—have the Kendrick brothers got a film for you. They’re the moviemaking duo (Alex Kendrick directs and co-wrote this film with brother Stephen) whose Christian-themed pictures “Fireproof” and “Courageous” made a splash with church-going audiences long before last year’s swath of faith-based indies were put into production. Now the Kendricks have returned, raking up surprising sums at the box office with their latest wide release, “War Room.” It may not be as brazenly offensive as “God’s Not Dead” or as spectacularly inept as “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas,” but it’s still awful, offering all the forced humor and superficial substance of a half-baked homily…
…Spirituality can be a beautiful thing to explore in cinema, but “War Room” has no interest in engaging its audience on a personal level. It has one single goal, which according to the Kendricks, is the only goal worth having. The film wants to evangelize by preaching an ideology that requires its followers to view the world in black-and-white terms…
…The multitude of problems in their marriage can be boiled down to one cause: Satan. Once the evildoer is cast out of the house in a stirring, borderline psychotic monologue delivered by Elizabeth, everything changes…
…They must acknowledge that life is far more complicated than the typical Sunday sermon would indicate, and that faith means more than submitting to a controlled existence ruled by fear. They must portray the full dimensionality of the material world before they can begin to explore the spiritual one.
Despite the criticism from the world’s movie critics the movie has impacted many who have watched it and reminds us Christian of the power of Prayer – the critics don’t believe in prayer so they rip the movie as unrealistic – but it shows their ignorance to the power of prayer.
Quotes from Movie see Power Point slides:
I. P - Presence of God
a. Misconceptions of prayer: Prayer is not a practice but a lifestyle – Prayer is not about a planning session with God of what you want Him to do – prayer is not about provoking God to action – prayer is not to be a pretend action with God – prayer is not to be work but a pleasure – prayer is not about doing my time to please God – prayer is not a duty I must do three times a day – prayer is not a spiritual plateau it’s a beginning of an amazing journey with God – prayer was given to us not to be used to protest to God.
i. Psalm 139:7-18: God’s presence is every where and prayer takes us deeper into relationship with God:
1. 7Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
b. Max Lucado reminds us how prayer is all about being in God’s presence – that ability to be in God’s presence is a honor for us – a blessing for us - a family perk.
i. The following is from Max Lucado https://maxlucado.com/entering-his-presence-the-holiness-of-prayer/
1. The Scripture connecting prayer and joy – “I will bring these people to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer (Is. 56:7).”
2. Max states the following:
a. “In the court of King Xerxes, entering the king’s presence without permission carried a penalty of death for the offender. This law was not lightly taken by the people of Persia. But, in order to save her people, Queen Esther collected her courage and approached the throne. The king accepted her without rebuke, granted her request, and a nation survived. It’s a beautiful story of boldness spurred by devotion. And, though King Xerxes wasn’t too bad (as biblical rulers go), aren’t you glad our heavenly king rules his throne room differently? Aren’t you glad God is more accessible than Xerxes? What if we could go to God in prayer only when he called us? What if we needed an official guard to announce our presence? Suppose only certain people could pray. Suppose only specified topics could be discussed. Doesn’t sound like the throne room of our heavenly King, does it? Instead of limited accessibility, our King is always available, eternally ready to hear his people, and continually waiting for us to approach. In fact, no moment brings greater delight to the King than when his children enter his presence.”
i. Have you ever thought about what Max is saying here – PRAYER takes us into the throne room of God – The Alpha – Omega – The beginning and the end – The creator of the universe – do you realize how great a privilege this is?
ii. Max put this way: Glimpsing the Throne Roo
1. “You walk through the halls of a magnificent royal court. As you reach the entrance of the throne room, you peer through the doorway and see the king on his spectacular throne. Royal guards are posted along the wall and sentries stand at the door. But they do not stop you as you walk. They ask for no credentials or letters of introduction. You need not register with the king’s aide. There is no protocol that must be observed. For, as you enter the throne room, you say the word which brings the king rushing to you. “Abba.”
2. Max continue, “Why do we have instant access to the throne of God? Because the throne is occupied by our father. The Father loves us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children (I John 3:1).
T.S. - PRAY – P stands for being able to come into the presence of God like we could with a loving father – it’s because we are family that we have access to the King of Kings – the one who can do the impossible – the one who can do miracles! Our papa – our father!
II. R = Reminder of the race we are in – which is the race of life and death – the journey we are all running.
a. Misconceptions of prayer – We do it to tell God what race we should run – that He should open the door to run the race we want to run. God bless this because I want to do this rather than running the race for Him and following his race plan for my life.
b. Share the story of Eric Liddell
i. Clip - Chariots of Fire clip of Eric’s race!
ii. R – reminds us of the race we are in – it is about running the race.
iii. Runners must focus on what they are doing in races – if they look around they will get distracted – prayer is a reminder for us to stay focused on the prize – which is Jesus – which is finishing strong.
1. Apostle Paul states:
a. 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
c. Prayer helps us to focus on our running lane – it does not have us focus on other people’s lanes or other runners position in the race.
i. Jesus and Peter John 21:15-22:
1. Jesus Reinstates Peter: 15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 20Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
2. Hebrews 12:1–2 tells us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Part of our motivation is that “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.”
a. The Following from https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/running-the-race-looking-to-the-finisher
i. These are the runners from chapter 11 who finished the race of life before us. They have come around to line the way and cheer us on because “apart from us they will not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:40).
1. When the last Christian crosses the finish line of death, Jesus will return and raise us together from the dead, made perfect (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
ii. But we do not look sideways to the saints as we run. Our main motivation comes from looking straight ahead at Jesus. He finished the same race of human life. Only he never sinned, and so his race was perfect. When he finished his race, he finished our salvation. So we run, “looking to Jesus, the founder and finisher of our faith.”
3. When we pray it will open our eyes to real prize of life and help us not to look to others - no distractions by looking at others - bugs are a distraction to see Gods creation - peace found in the running - I was made to run chariots of fire - running my running pleases God.
ii. Isaiah 40:28-31
1. 28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
2. God will help us strengthen us as we run the race in the lane He created us to run in – He will through prayer give us the victory as we focus on what we are to do in the race of life and death.
III. A - awareness – prayer opens our spiritual eyes and senses!
a. Misconceptions of prayer:
i. Prayer does not open Gods eyes – it opens up our eyes – our spiritual senses – it helps us see what He sees
ii. Matthew 10:26-33 Helps understand God’s awareness of everything going on around us:
1. 26“So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny£? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
2. Prayer helps us understand God sees all and knows all – He is involved in my life – it actually says He lives inside of me which means He is aware of everything happening around me and within me.
a. 1 Corinthians 3:16: Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
i. If God lives in us – would he not see everything that happens to us?
ii. Awareness of the presence of God is one of the foundation stones of the spiritual life.
iii. Quote: “Him who dwells within us” St. Augustine tells us: Why climb the mountains or go down into the valleys of the world looking for Him who dwells within us? If God “dwells within us”, then everything we do is in the presence of God.
1. Developing an awareness of the presence of God simply means recognizing this, keeping it in your thoughts, and living like we really mean it.
2. This is a huge factor in the spiritual life. Imagine how different life would be if you were always aware of being in God’s loving presence! Even the smallest tasks would be meaningful, you’d treat everyone with greater love, every word you’d say could be said in union with God.
3. This kind of awareness is what St. Paul means when he says “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17).
iv. Being in the presence of God is simply living in union with Christ. This is one of the major goals of the spiritual life. And it’s something you can start to do now with Prayer!
iii. 2 Kings 6:17:
1. Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans: 8Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” 9The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. 11This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” 12“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” 13“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.”14Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. 15When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.16“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”17And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.18As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Strike these people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
a. Elisha prays for his servant see – Prayer makes us sensitive to Holy Spirit to seeing what He sees!
T.S. - When we pray we do become aware of the spiritual realm more and this helps encourage us in the battle knowing God has our back!
IV. Y = Yeshua
a. Misconceptions of prayer – we think if we pray – we do something - we sometimes think we will deliver ourselves, rescue ourselves with our great prayers – prayer is not faith in our faith – it is faith in the power of God to do miracles for us. Prayer is about a relationship with Yeshua who sets our prayers into motion – pray is an action we ask – God then responds with an action – He does it not us!
b. Yeshua is a name which means ‘Salvation’ in Hebrew.
i. Who is Yeshua?
1. Yeshua is the same as Jesus Christ of the New Testament Bible, and the same as the Messiah which was prophesied to come through the Jewish people over and again in the Old Testament Bible which is known as the Tanakh to the Jews.
c. Why do people call Yeshua ‘Jesus’?
i. The name Yeshua - From https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeshua#Etymology
1. Yeshua in Hebrew is a verbal derivative from "to rescue", "to deliver".Among the Jews of the Second Temple Period, the Biblical Aramaic/Hebrew name ???????? Yeshua‘ was common: the Hebrew Bible mentions several individuals with this name – while also using their full name Joshua. This name is a feature of biblical books written in the post-Exilic period (Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles) and was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, though Haggai and Zechariah prefer the spelling Joshua.
2. Strong's Concordance connects the name ???????? Yeshua`, in the English form Jeshua (as used in multiple instances in Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles), with the verb "to deliver" (or, "to rescue").It is often translated as "He saves," to conform with Matthew 1:21: "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (NASB).
ii. The name ???????? "Yeshua" (transliterated in the English Old Testament as Jeshua) is a late form of the Biblical Hebrew name ?????????? Yehoshua (Joshua), and spelled with a waw in the second syllable.
iii. The name ???? occurs in the Hebrew of the Old Testament at verses Ezra 2:2, 2:6, 2:36, 2:40, 3:2, 3:8, 3:9, 3:10, 3:18, 4:3, 8:33; Nehemiah 3:19, 7:7, 7:11, 7:39, 7:43, 8:7, 8:17, 9:4, 9:5, 11:26, 12:1, 12:7, 12:8, 12:10, 12:24, 12:26; 1 Chronicles 24:11; and 2 Chronicles 31:15, and also in Aramaic at Ezra 5:2. In Nehemiah 8:17 this name refers to Joshua son of Nun, the successor of Moses, as leader of the Israelites.
1. Note that in earlier English (where adaptations of names of Biblical figures were generally based on the Latin Vulgate forms), Yeshua was generally transcribed identically to "Jesus" in English.
iv. The name Yehoshua has the form of a compound of "Yeho-" and "shua": Yeho- ????? is another form of ???? Yahu, a theophoric element standing for the name of God ???? (the Tetragrammaton YHWH, sometimes transcribed into English as Yahweh), and ?????? shua‘ is a noun meaning "a cry for help", "a saving cry", that is to say, a shout given when in need of rescue.
v. The name Yeshua is a shortened version of the name Yehoshua or Joshua and is the literal Hebrew word for Salvation.
d. When we pray we should be reminded of Jesus – His Word – His teachings – His love and how he rescued us from sin – How He delivered us and still delivers us – How He is the answered prayer of many for a redemption to God.
i. We should experience Jesus and His Holy Spirit when we pray – as we allow him to speak into our hearts and mind as we pray!
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: We should experience 4 dimensions when we PRAY – P = The presence of God R = A reminder of the race we are in A = it will bring an awareness of the spiritual realm Y = we should connect and experience Yeshua!
Why do we need to know this?
Answer: We need to know that prayer is not sterile but all about a intimate relationship with Jesus – God the Father and The Holy Spirit!
What do we need to do?
Answer: We need to PRAY and expect to experience these dimensions of the spiritual realm through prayer.
Why do we need to do this?
Answer: Because prayer brings miracles, breakthroughs and is connected with getting joy in the journey of life!
1 Samuel 2:30 “He that honors God – God honors them! This is true as we honor God in prayer!”
