Note: This sermon was written in late 2019 and scheduled for March 29, well before the COVID-19 outbreak. The delivery was slightly modified and updated to connect with the COVID-19 pandemic. I believe every message is Spirit-led as I write them, but I truly believe this message was given by God in preparation for this global event. I therefore chose NOT to include the few modifications I made for the March 29, 2020 delivery so that it may be adapted for your setting according to how the Spirit inspired me as I wrote this message. You may find the delivery of this message on YouTube by going to our channel GCC Winchester or our webpage www.gracecommunity.com. To God Be All the Glory!
13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land or send pestilence among my people, If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)
I wonder how many times we’ve heard that Scripture? Most of us hold onto this for the reason of national purposes. We say, we’ll pray and God will heal the brokenness in America. God will help end racism. God will tear down walls of poverty, kill injustice, restore the meaning of marriage, and so on. But that’s too easy because we get to deflect God’s call from ourselves onto something external. Meanwhile, how are things in your land? How are things progressing in the brokenness in your home? How is God healing the racism in your heart? How is He doing as the Lord or your finances? How’s your marriage? Are you humbling yourself, seeking God’s face, praying, and letting him heal your land?
What about our church? Are we investing the fervency in prayer that God is asking us? Is our church humble enough to pray for our land, our marriages, our homes, our pastors, our community? How would you grade our church today in the subject of prayer? As the pastor here, I often feel convicted about how little time we as a church focus on prayer.
I. Our Prayers are the Deepest form of Worship to God
I started this series with a definition of worship: “Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by His holiness (not mine); It is the nourishment of the mind with His truth (not mine); It is the purifying of the imagination by His beauty (not mine); It is the opening of the heart to his Love (not mine); It is the surrender of the will to His purpose (not mine)” All of these things are predicated on us being people of prayer. In other words, if we are going to be a church of worship, we must FIRST be a church of prayer!
That's why God starts with the words, "If MY PEOPLE who are called by MY NAME..."
Let us go back to Romans 12:
12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
No how do we do that?...
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, [and most importantly] BE CONSTANT IN PRAYER.
People are blown away by the success of churches in South Korea and the victory there. It doesn’t take long to realize the reason is 6:30 AM prayer meetings; weekly prayer groups and constant meditation on God. People were blown away by Lisa’s miracle (be raised from the dead). I knew a miracle was coming because God’s people decided to pray - not me - you did! And look at what God did that night. I hear quite a bit of talk about the desire for these kinds of things, but very little action.
I’m not talking to everyone today. I’m talking to the group of you out there that will settle for average. You know God’s doing something here; you’ve told me you feel like God is doing something here and you’re on the edge of your seat. You’re a competitive group. The group that likes winning and hates losing. The group that’s hard-working and not afraid to sweat. Who loves the challenge of giving their all and their best.
My job is to EMPOWER you to be a soul-winner. A constant example of consistency to everyone around us. God never called anyone to mediocrity. He has not called us to be wishy-washy- having a form of godliness - He’s called you to be a warrior. A person who refuses to allow the enemy to have his way among God’s people and in God’s house.
II. Prayer is the Transformational Force Needed in Your Life Today
Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. 2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray; 3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch (Psalm 5:1–3).
If I could just get about 30-40 people who hunger for God. Who isn’t asking for permission or waiting for permission, but leading the way because they’re tired of marriages failing, they’re tired of defeated lives, they’re tired of a cancer diagnosis? Where in the Bible does it tell us to give up and accept the effects of sin? Nowhere!
I scoured the New Testament trying to find where in ministry does God exclude prayer. Do you know what I found? Nothing. Everything God does in the work of ministry He does through prayer:
• Prayer is the way you defeat the devil (Luke 22:23, James 4:7)
• Prayer is the way you get the lost saved (Luke 18:13)
• Prayer is the way you acquire wisdom (James 1:5)
• Prayer is the way the person who fell away comes home again (James 5:16-20)
• Prayer is how the believers get strong (Jude 20; Matthew 26:41)
• Prayer is the way we find laborers for the mission field here at GCC and across the sea (Matthew 9:38)
• Prayer is how we cure the sick (James 5:13-15)
• Prayer is how we accomplish the impossible (Mark 11:23-24)
(Dave Early, Prayer: The Timeless Secret of High-Impact Leaders, 2008)
Everything God wants to do in our lives, God has subjugated onto one thing: Prayer
III. Prayer Prepares the Way for God’s Victory in Our Land
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (Ephesians 6:10-17).
The Apostle Paul gives us extraordinary insight into the workings and effectiveness of the saints when engaged in spiritual warfare. I want you to see that we are given incredible power from Heaven as Christ’s ambassadors to overcome the enemy. The armor of God protects us and strengthens us when Satan comes after us. However, there is a discipline that is essential for the armor of God to be effective. Prayer.
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:18-20)
Prayer is far more than asking God for things. Intercessory prayer is a means to release God’s power into people and situations to thwart the enemy's efforts to overturn God’s efforts. When you pray you should search for ways to pray outside of your sphere of influence. Pray for your pastor, pray for your neighbors, your community, your city. Pray for the work of the gospel and for laborers in the gospel. Pray hard, pray often, pray earnestly.
If you don’t know what to pray for, pray for God to show you how to pray.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27).
Jesus told his disciples in Luke 18:1 to pray always and not to lose heart. We have to understand, pastors, teachers, ministry leaders, worship leaders, that your job is too big for you to handle. We need God’s power to enable use to lead the work of the ministry in the church. We are fighting a losing battle when we engage in ministry without prayer. Paul knew this even from a jail cell, that he could not even effectively be in prison for Christ without the interceding prayers of the saints.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; (1 Chronicles 16:28-29)
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. (Ecclesiastes 5:1)
Conclusion
So here’s my challenge to you today, church. Before Christmas Jay shared about a time he took up a challenge to pray 4 minutes a day for 40 days. I am going to challenge you to do that starting today. 4 minutes each day for the next 40 days. We’re going to publish prayer needs for the church on our website and faithlife app. I want you to intercede for our church and our community. This is a prayer that goes beyond ourselves.
Even more, get into some groups that meet together for the purpose of prayer. Start a prayer journal. Let’s see what God will do when we come to him and pray for this church and this community.
Take it to the Cross
Close
Pray
