Outline: Principles Of Prayer
Luke 18:1 Text: “Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.”
When speaking in regards to prayer, do you know of anything more valuable to a Christian than that of prayer? Prayer is more valuable than the greatest riches of the world and do you know why I say that? Has money, jewels, gold or silver ever answered one prayer? Yes, they may have been an answer to prayer but have they ever answered any prayer?
Jesus Christ knows what is valuable, what is important for people. Our sense of value is like that of Jesus because ours has been faulted by sin.
Ilustration: This statement reminds me of some pranksters who entered into an unlocked hardware store over a weekend. They didn’t take or physically damage anything; just-changed price tags of a few items. Imagine the shock of the owners’ face that next Monday when customers were buying lawn mowers for $6.00 and others outraged by hammers that cost over $500.00.
Man’s view of value and that of Jesus are scarcely the same. Man places a great value on things of the earth that are temporal. Matthew 6:19-21 tells us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It doesn’t tell us what the value of the treasures of heaven are but that they are much more valuable than any treasure of earth. Jesus knows value.
Are text also tells us that we need to live a balanced life of prayer and reading God’s word. An overemphasis on one over the other leads to neglect. For example, overemphasis on prayer and neglect of the bible leads to fanaticism or an overemphasis of the bible to the neglect of prayer leads to formalism. We need to keep a balance of both to have a balanced Christian walk.
How is this done, to have a balanced Christian walk? We have Jesus as our example. 1 Peter 2:21 says, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” As you look at the life of Jesus you find that he began His life with prayer at the wedding banquet, He continued it with prayer for many times it states he went out to pray, and He terminated His life with prayer while on the cross as he suffered he prayed for those about him. And now in heaven, Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” He is forever more hearing our prayers and taking those requests before the Father in heaven. And Jesus gives prayer top priority because in Matthew 21:13 it states, “. . .My house will be called a house of prayer. . .” We should live our lives as prayer warriors because that is how important prayer is for Jesus and it should be even more so for us.
I would like to give you some principles of prayer in which the Bible our guide to life gives to us. Look at your outline in the bulletin and take notes on the principles listed so that you have them for your daily use. Commit them to memory it can only help to improve your prayer life.
Christ Valued Prayer More Than Healing
One of the thrilling points of the Bible is when you read of the accounts of miraculous healings that Jesus performed. Many times He interceded in the lives of people and healed them of their frailties of life. It inspires us to see the compassion that Jesus had for the suffering of mankind. Sometimes, even today, Jesus sees fit to heal some of us in our infirmities. The day of miracles has never passed our sovereign Lord.
Though miracles are a tremendous sign of his power, Christ valued prayer more than all the healings he performed. Luke 5:15-16 reminds us, “Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely place,” and what did he do? “And prayed.” He prayed! Why would he withdraw from public few when his popularity was taking off? Why would he leave the crowds and all the fame? Why would he go to remote places just to be by himself? Was he anti-social? Was he shy? No! Never! Jesus knew the value of prayer and that he could do nothing without the power he obtained from a healthy prayer life. Prayer was his life-blood.
Jesus knew that popularity was a fleeting moment and that prayer was the most powerful tool a person could use. He turned from things that were of lesser value, such as healing, to things of eternal value. A man could obtain eternity with a sick and diseased body but a man with a sick and diseased soul can never enter heaven. These are the value of prayer, eternal significance.
Christ Valued Prayer More Than His Sleep
Mark 1:35 states, Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
Luke 6:12 also states, “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”
Jesus would deny himself rest and deprive himself of sleep just to go off by himself and get close to God. How many hours do we deny ourselves to get closer to god? How many minutes or hours do we spend in prayer each week to strengthen our resolve and to promote Christ’s ministry in our community? It’s not without self-denial and self-sacrifice that a Christian can effectively help with Christ’s ministry. Luke 9:23 reminds us, “…if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” How often are we to deny ourselves and take up his cross? Daily! Without failure, we are to do it daily.
Where have you denied yourself to become a more devoted follower of Jesus Christ? Our ministries will be more effective and successful if we have a healthy prayer life. What has priority in your life – family, work, rest, sleep or prayer? Without prayer our ministries can never be as effective and successful as when we devote ourselves to the daily exercise of communication with the heavenly realm. We can move the hand of God when we effectively pray. Our time came never be more valuable than the time we seek out God and his will for our lives. Remember to pray and do it often.
Christ Valued Prayer More Than Miracles
When Peter was in danger of failing Jesus didn’t work a miracle to protect him but he prayed for Peter. Luke 22:32 records, “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” As the events of Jesus crucifixion played out we know that Peter failed miserably and denied Jesus three times that dreadful night. Jesus prayed for God’s strength to cover Peter and build his faith. He didn’t take it upon himself to protect Peter from the forces at work that night.
Also, Jesus placed great emphasis on prayer to promote God’s kingdom. He prayed so powerfully that at one point one of the disciples asking Jesus to teach him how to pray. They saw the power of a healthy prayer life and the blessings available from prayer. When Jesus saw a need whether it was a blessing, comfort or miracle; he went to his knees first before he did anything.
We get what we emphasize. A. C. Dixon said, “When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do.
Christ Valued Prayer More Than Becoming A CEO
Jesus didn’t spend his time during his ministry building a mega church or a gigantic Christian organization. He spent his time in pastoral care and prayer. Matthew 9:35-38 tells of Jesus ministry, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus emphasis was on people not the ministry and when the ministry needed labors, look at verse 37 & 38. “Then he said to his disciples, ‘the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
What I just read is one of the most neglected requests of Jesus when it comes to church growth. Prayer for workers allows God to demonstrate his power. One of the greatest secrets of church growth is to remember to do things God’s way not ours. Prayer will help solve many of our church problems especially that of the shortage of workers in our churches.
Christ Valued Prayer More Than His Instruction
Jesus taught his disciples how to pray but know where in scripture does it say that Jesus taught them how to preach. Matthew 6:9-13 shows us, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Jesus knew prayer.
If a church learns to pray well they will be successful at building their church. Without heartfelt prayer, our preaching, our teaching and our soul winning efforts are just empty words. James 5:16 reiterates, “…the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Let us never forget in doing God’s work to do it God’s way through prayer.
Christ Valued Prayer More Than Ministry
Many times in the gospels accounts, Jesus shows us that prayer was valuable, a time of renewal and strengthening. Jesus left us his model of a dynamic and devoted prayer life to follow. Ephesians 6:18 reminds us, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying …”
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days by Satan it was the Word of God and prayer that helped him make it through successfully. He didn’t rely on his own strength but that of his Fathers. Satan can meet all of man’s personality, pep and programs but he is stopped when he sees the weakest saint upon their knees. We resist Satan only by the Word of God, prayer, praise and testimony. Satan can’t stand where God is in control and at work.
Illustration: A man dreamed he was traveling in a distant land and he came upon a small country church. He noticed a demon was sleeping on the front stoop; leaning against the spire of the church. He thought that looked a little odd but he continued and traveled on down the winding dirt road until he came to a small but humble cottage on a lakefront. Surrounding the cottage was a large band of demons who were wide awake and making a noisy rut case. Thinking back on the church with the sleeping demon he approached the nearest demon and demanded an explanation for their actions. The demon replied, “The little church that he had passed was one where the people were asleep spiritually, so only one demon would suffice to take care of that entire church; however, in the cottage was an elderly man and woman who were devoted to prayer and were constantly in the presence of God.”
John 3:21-22 states, “And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” Jesus knew the power of prayer and more; he knew the power of God through which prayer unleashes. Heaven was opened it states and God spoke. Do you want to see God move in a mighty way in this church? The bible tells us, if God’s people will humble themselves and pray, God will heal their land. If the people of this church will humble their selves and pray, god will heal their church and work in a mighty way within our lives.
I feel all of us want to see this church become a dynamic influence in the Big Rapids area. Prayer, real heartfelt prayer is the only way we are going to make a difference in this community and in the lives of the people in the homes around this building. I ask all of you to commit to seeking out God’s will by having a healthy prayer life.
Prayer is the master key to God’s storehouse of blessings. Prayer is our effectual weapon against all of Satan’s wiles. Romans 8:26-27 tells us, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself interceded for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” God is never more than a prayer away from helping us in our darkest hours. Let it not be said of us as a church, “You do not have because you do not ask (James 4:2).”
