REASONS WHY WE OUGHT TO PRAY
1 THESS. 5:17
1. INTRODUCTION. THERE ARE REASONS TO DO WHATEVER WE DO. THE REASONS WE GO TO WORK IS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE INCOME TO PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER, TO PAY BILLS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE FOR OUR OTHER NEEDS. THE REASONS WE GO TO THE DOCTOR IS SO THAT WE CAN BE HEALTHY AND GET TREATMENT FOR ILLNESSES. THE REASON WE ENGAGE IN RELATIONSHIPS IS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE COMPANIONSHIP. THE REASONS THAT WE COME TO CHURCH IS SO THAT WE CAN WORSHIP GOD AND HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. YES MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THERE ARE REASONS FOR DOING WHATEVER WE DO. SO TODAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE REASONS THAT WE OUGHT TO PRAY.
2. THE TEXT. PAUL COMMANDS HIS READS TO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, WHICH MEANS THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE MINDFUL ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER.
a) PRAYER IS CRUCIAL TO THE SPIRITUAL WELL BEING OF EVERY CHRISTIAN.
b) BUT PRAYER IS LACKING IN MANY LIVES OF THE BELIEVER.
c) TO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE PRAY 24 HOURS A DAY, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WE ARE IN PRAYER MODE.
d) WHAT IS PRAYER MODE? PRAYER MODE IS SIMPLY BEING READY TO PRAY AT ALL TIMES.
e) EVERY CHILD OF GOD SHOULD SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH GOD IN PRAYER.
f) IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE MIRACULOUS POWER OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE, PRAY.
g) WHEN WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PRAYER, GOD WILL BE SERIOUS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE ARE PRAYING FOR.
h) SOME CHURCHES ARE STAGNANT BECAUSE THEY LACK PRAYER.
i) WHEN I SAY PRAY, I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE LITTLE QUICK PRAYERS, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE GOOD, BUT I’M TALKING ABOUT PRAYING EARNESTLY, SEEKING GOD’S GUIDANCE.
3. WHAT IS PRAYER? PRAYER IS COMMUNION, WHICH MEANS FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
a) PRAYER IS THE ONLY MEANS OF COMMUNICATION WITH GOD.
b) WHEN WE SING, WE SING TO GLORIFY GOD.
c) WHEN I PREACH, I AM COMMUNICATING THE WORD OF GOD.
d) WHEN WE TESTIFY, WE ARE COMMUNICATING THE GRACE OF GOD.
e) GOD WILL DO THROUGH PRAYER WHAT HE WILL NOT DO THROUGH ANY OF THE THINGS I HAVE JUST MENTIONED.
f) PRAYER IS OUR REACHING UP TO GOD, AND WHEN HE ANSWERS, IT’S HIS REACHING DOWN TO US.
g) EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD HAVE A PRAYER LIFE, WHERE WE GET ALONE WITH GOD AND POUR OUR HEARTS OUT TO HIM.
h) BE ADVISED THAT PRAYER IS NOT ALWAYS ASKING GOD FOR THINGS, BUT THANKING HIM FOR THINGS.
4. THE ELEMENTS OF PRAYER. A.C.T.S EXPLAIN. P.U.S.H., EXPLAIN.
a) WE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHERS IN OUR PRAYERS.
b) PRAYER REQUIRES FAITH
c) BUT SOMETIMES, IT’S JUST ABOUT US.
d) NOT MY MOTHER, NOR MY FATHER, BUT TIS’ ME O LORD STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER.
e) PRAYER MUST ALWAYS BE SINCERE.
f) WE SHOULD ALWAYS SAY, NOT MY WILL, BUT THY WILL BE DONE.
g) UNDERSTAND THAT GOD WILL NOT ALWAYS ANSWER OUR PRAYERS THE WAY THAT WE WANT HIM TO, BUT HE WILL ALWAYS ANSWER IN A WAY THAT IS BEST FOR US!
5. REASONS TO PRAY. GENUINE PRAYER GETS GOD’S ATTENTION.
a) PRAYER WILL PROVIDE INNER PEACE IN THE MIDST OF STRENUOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
b) WE ARE COMMANDED TO PRAY.
c) PRAYER HONORS GOD.
d) PRAYER GLORIFIES GOD.
e) PRAYER WILL PROVIDE DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE.
f) PRAYER WILL PROVIDE STRENGTH FOR THE STRUGGLE.
g) PRAYER BRINGS US INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD.
h) PRAYER WILL GET RESULTS…
• JACOB PRAYED AND GOD CHANGED ESAU’S HEART.
• JOSHUA PRAYED AND GOD CAUSED THE SUN TO STAND STILL.
• MOSES PRAYED AND GOD SENT THE PLAGUES UPON EGYPT.
• HEZEKIAH PRAYED AND GOD ADDED 15 YEARS TO HIS LIFE.
• ELIJAH PRAYED AND GOD HELD BACK THE RAIN FOR 3 ½ YEARS.
• PAUL AND SILAS PRAYED AND GOD SENT AN EARTHQUAKE TO SHAKE UP THE PRISON.
• THE CHURCH PRAYED FOR PETER AND GOD DISPATCHED AN ANGEL TO SET PETER FREE.
• YES MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT’S TIME TO TAKE PRAYER SERIOUS!
• IF WE WANT OUR PRAYERS TO MEAN ANYTHING TO GOD, THEY BETTER MEAN EVERYTHING TO US!
6. THREE POINTS/CONCLUSION.
a) ONE, PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY. THE CHRISTIAN THAT DOES NOT PRAYER WILL REMAIN WEAK AND UNFAITHFUL TO GOD. BUT THE CHRISTIAN THAT DOES PRAY WILL TRUST GOD NO MATTER WHAT COMES THEIR WAY.
b) TWO, PRAYER REQUIRES PATIENCE. WE’VE GOT TO WAIT ON GOD. GOD MOVES IN HIS TIME AND NOT ALWAYS AT OURS. OUR PATIENCE DEMONSTRATES THAT WE ARE DEPENDENT UPON GOD TO DO WHAT NO OTHER POWER CAN DO.
c) THREE, PRAYER REQUIRES A HUMBLE HEART. A HUMBLE HEART INDICATES THAT WE ARE NOT TO PROUD TO ASK GOD TO INTERCEDE ON OUR BEHALF. 2 CHRON. 7:14, TEACHES, “IF MY PEOPLE WHICH ARE CALL 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.
d) SO NOW THAT I’VE GIVEN YOU THE REASON WHY WE OUGHT TO PRAY, IT’S TIME TO START PRAYING.
• PRAY IN THE GOOD TIMES
• PRAY IN THE BAD TIMES
• PRAY THROUGH YOUR TEARS
• PRAY THROUGH YOUR FEARS
• PRAY IN YOUR SEASON OF PAIN
• PRAY LIKE NOTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD MATTERS.
• PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.
• I TOLD GOD THAT I’M GOING TO KEEP ON KNOCKING AT HIS DOOR.
• YOU CAN PRAY SCRIPTURES BACK TO GOD.
