Series: Find joy in the journey through Prayer!
Scripture: Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in 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.
Sermon: Prayer in Action sermon #8
Introduction:
“George Mueller, the founder of a great Christian orphanage work in England in the 1800’s, was a powerful man of prayer. He knew the importance of keeping at prayer even when the answer seemed delayed. When he was young he began praying that two of his friends might be saved. He prayed for them for more than sixty years. One of the men was converted shortly before his death at what was probably the last service Mueller held. The other was saved within a year of his death.” What do you think would have happened had Mueller given up? SOURCE: James Montgomery Boice. The Parables of Jesus. Chicago: Moody Press, 1983. p. 158]
Quote: “God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. They outlive the lives of those who utter them.” E. M. BOUNDS
Today we are doing our service different – during our prayer time as a staff on Tuesday and in our staff meeting the Lord dropped this thought for our service today – we are to put prayer into action during the message:
I will share 3 thoughts and examples from Scripture on Prayer – We will learn of the situation which caused the prayer and then hear the prayer and then observe the result of the prayer.
So, I will share about 10 minutes on each prayer story and then we will have worship and put prayer into action! Are you with me?
I. David’s Prayer for help and deliverance from betrayal.
a. Psalm 3 provides a concise portrait of crying out to God in the midst of great stress, crisis, and tribulation. David’s words are no less relevant to our modern workplace/culture/schools/homes and lifestyle as they were to this moment of great anguish when his son and many others betrayed him and sought to kill him:
i. Psalm 3: A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.
• 1O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah
• 3But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. 4To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah
• 5I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. 6I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. 7Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah
ii. Prayer is woven throughout Scripture especially in the Psalms and we see another example of travailing prayer in a time of great stress and trouble in David’s life.
• There are times when we lift our heads up and see that we are being attacked from every side – even from our own families!
a. David in the midst of fleeing for his life – and from the betrayal of his son cries out in an anguished prayer to God – “God they say you have abandoned me – I am on my own and you will not help me?”
i. David prayed to God and asked Him if what they were saying was true – God would not help him!
ii. Listen carefully the Devil is the one telling David – “God has deserted you!” – “He has left you to suffer on your own – He has left you to die at the hands of your own son Absalom.”
iii. The experience of David as he is fleeing: 2 Samuel 15:13-17:22: Shimei Curses David
1. 5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6 He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7 As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! 8 The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!” 9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” 11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.” 13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
b. Maybe you today feel similar to David – Family members have betrayed you – attacked you and others have joined them – they are telling you there is no hope – God has abandoned you - the attacks and slander are spilling over you – you are getting pelted with rocks and dirt – their voices are repeating themselves in your head over and over – slapping you around in your head – you hear “God has abandoned you – you are deserted and alone!” “You did it to yourself – you are to blame – you’re the sinner and God is bringing you down!”
• But notice – the word “Selah” inserted 3 x – it is inserted here and means to “Pause” to “Be calm and think about your situation?”
a. Observation 1 after 1-2: “Yes, many are against you but don’t believe the lies that God has abandoned you – or left you to take care of yourself in this time of great need! God has not forgotten His promises to you!” “Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy.”
i. That’s a lie – don’t listen to lies – it’s from the pit of Hell!
1. God will not forsake you and has not forsaken you! Listen to God’s voice!
ii. David ignored the tormenter and he drifted away in the dust and God refreshed David and then he prays like this!
b. Observation 2 after 3-4:
i. God is still my shield – just like when he helped me defeat Goliath! He has not left me – they are all liars used by the Devil!
ii. God is for me not against me.
iii. God will lift me up – vindicate me – and in the process He will get the glory!
iv. The Lord is with me – I know it because I hear His voice and feel His presence. He has refreshed me even in great grief and torment!
v. He hears my prayer!
c. Observation 3 after verses 5-8:
i. God has given me peace and rest – even sleep when I should have been sleepless! He has sustained me in trouble!
ii. David said – “I choose faith over fear!”
iii. God is with me he will bring down my enemies – He will deliver me from this betrayal and threat.
iv. He will knock out my enemy for me!
v. God will deliver me!
b. Psalm 37 written by David reveals how faithful God always is and was faithful to the upright – by the way you need to know this too.
i. 1Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:…11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.12The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.14The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broke. 16Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; 17for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.18The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.19In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty…23If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; 24though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. 25I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread…
b. Instructions for the prayer time:
i. Pray for deliverance from your situation – remember God’s faithfulness.
ii. Pray and ask for wisdom and spiritual insight for your situation.
iii. Pray and ask God to help you reject the lies, “Do not believe the lies put your faith in God’s Word” what He says about you!
1. Don’t listen to the tormentors!
iv. Pray and release the fear to God – “Let go of the fear like David did” – the anxiety – recognize the voices causing the fear and anxiety are not from God - they are voices from the enemy not from God! Don’t listen to others – listen to the Lord’s voice!
1. He is your deliverer – you do not have to figure it out He’s got your back.
v. Believe in God’s faithfulness – confess it in your prayer! Recall the times He delivered you from the past!
1. Say it in your prayers – “God is faithful He will deliver me!”
2. Say it in your prayers – “God has not abandoned me! He is with me living in me! He is my deliverer!”
T.S. - Praise song! We will have a time of putting prayer into action now – This is a time of you praying - so during this next worship song – pray – use these point above and voice them – you can do it at your seat – up at the altar – you can pray with others around you – if God lays someone on your heart to go pray for – do it.
II. The Prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10)
a. “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.”
i. When the author of Chronicles dutifully provides us with a list of Judah’s descendants, he can’t help but stop himself. Right in the midst of all these names, he comes to Jabez, a man he wants us to notice, a man of true honor. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve caused pain or if you’ve ever wanted to believe that God can do more than you can ask or imagine, this prayer is for you.
ii. We learn from this example of Prayer another way to pray:
1. Bruce states, “Sometime around three thousand years ago, one of history’s great nobodies decided to pray. When he looked at himself and his circumstances, he saw no reason for hope. But when he prayed, he prayed the boldest, most hopeful prayer he could imagine. And God answered. God is still answering.”
a. Wilkinson, Bruce. The Prayer of Jabez Bible Study Leader's Edition (p. 3). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
b. Lessons to learn from Jabez’s Prayer from Bruce Wilkinson:
i. 1st part of prayer to observe according to Bruce is, “Personal change begins when you cry out to God for what He wants for you with hands open and heart expectant.”
1. Jabez prayed and cried out to God to bless Him!
a. Bruce notes: “You’ve probably asked Him to bless the food, bless the kids, bless your day. But when was the last time you asked God for something huge—something that would change your life now and make an impact for all of eternity?”
i. Wilkinson, Bruce. The Prayer of Jabez Bible Study Leader's Edition (p. 6-8). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
ii. 2nd part of the prayer is asking God to enlarge his territory (His business – his livelihood – his income).
1. Bruce states, “For his second request, Jabez pleaded for more territory. With more influence and more responsibility, Jabez could make a greater mark for the God of Israel. But he was stuck on a tiny patch of opportunity. So, he asked for more.”
a. Wilkinson, Bruce. The Prayer of Jabez Bible Study Leader's Edition (p. 22). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
iii. 3rd part Lord please let your hand be with me! Don’t let me do it alone!
1. Bruce states, “Have you ever taken on a big task only to discover too late that you’ve gotten in way over your head? When you ask God for more blessings and more territory, you’ll have that experience. You’ll feel like you set out to dog-paddle across your favorite pool only to end up in the middle of the English Channel. Jabez knew that feeling. That’s why in the third part of his prayer he cried out: “Oh, that Your hand would be with me!”
a. Wilkinson, Bruce. The Prayer of Jabez Bible Study Leader's Edition (p. 36). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
iv. 4th part Pray that the Lord would keep you from evil!
1. Bruce states, “After three border-busting requests, the last request in the Jabez prayer reaches for safety, protection, and long-term security—“Oh, Lord, keep me from evil!” The request makes a lot of sense. When you’re hugely blessed by God, you have a lot to lose. Besides, when you’re taking territory for God by His power, you are taking it from someone else. And the evil one doesn’t like it. With God’s hand using you in mighty ways for Him, you will become a larger target for the enemy. That’s why Jabez’s prayer to be kept from evil is so important.
a. Wilkinson, Bruce. The Prayer of Jabez Bible Study Leader's Edition (p. 50). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
c. Instructions: pm
i. Cry out to God to bless you!
ii. Ask the Lord to increase your territory – in the realm of influence , finances, blessings, etc.
iii. Ask the Lord to be with you in all you do!
iv. Ask the Lord to keep you from evil/ from sin!
T.S. - Praise song! We will have a time of putting prayer into action now – This is a time of you praying - so during this next worship song – pray – use these points above and voice them – you can do it at your seat – up at the altar – you can pray with others around you – if God lays someone on your heart to go pray for – do it.
III. Pray for empowerment of the Holy Spirit
a. John 16:7-11:
i. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
b. Acts 1:4-5:
i. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
c. Acts 1:8:
i. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
d. Acts 2:1-21 Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Spirit comes as Jesus promised to empower the church, lead the church and be with the church!
i. The Promise of the Holy Spirit’s empowerment is poured out on the church and it is still being poured out on the church.
e. How the Holy Spirit can empower you – fill you up – use you for the Kingdom of God.
i. A day in a life of prayer with the help of the Holy Spirit
1. Matthew 6:7: Jesus said, “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.”
a. You don’t only need to devote hours of time to prayer in order to bring God into your workday. Quick prayers are enough for God to do something. You can Pray for others throughout your day as lead by the Holy Spirit
i. Through your work you have the opportunity to impact many people. There are the people you see every day who are influenced by your attitude and your prayers.
ii. There are also people you don’t see on a daily basis who experience the benefits of your work. You have the chance to ignite all these people through short purposeful prayers throughout your workday.
b. Prayer in the workplace doesn’t need to be a big production. It could be a quick “prayer” whenever a new person crosses your path. Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight people for you to pray for each day.
i. Any customer service representative can make a habit of prayer. Example - every time the phone rings you could pray, “Thank you, God, for the person I’m about to talk to.”
ii. The prayer didn’t take longer than one ring to say, and it changed the way this worker approached the phone call. I believe, whoever was calling left the interaction feeling blessed.
2. Martin Luther said that prayer could be “brief, frequent, and intense.”
a. Whoever crosses your path today, whether it’s a customer, a coworker, fellow student, or the person who empties your trash can, take a moment to pray for them. Expect God to do the rest.
f. Instructions: Praise songs!
i. Prayer stations: 1. work/school - For boldness to pray for people during our days 2. prayer station for people to be delivered from fear 3. prayer station for healing 4. prayer station for empowerment of the Holy Spirit. 5. Prayer station - the prayer wall and answered prayer wall.
We will conclude with prayer stations – please take the time today put prayer into action!
