Sun. Jan. 29/95 Acts 4:22-33
Should The Church Pray?
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Obituary of Mrs. Prayer Meeting
"Mrs. Prayer Meeting died recently at the
First Neglected Church, on Worldly Ave. Born
many years ago in the midst of great revivals,
she was a strong, health child, fed largely
on testimony and Bible study, soon growing
into world wide prominence, and was one of the
most influential members of the famous Church
family.
"For the past several years Sister
Prayer Meeting has been failing in health,
gradually wasting away until rendered helpless
by stiffness of knees, coldness of heart,
inactivity and weakness of purpose and will
power. At the last she was but a shadow of her
former happy self. Her last whispered words
were inquiries concerning the strange absence
of her loved ones now busy at work and places
of amusements.
"Experts, including Dr. Works, Dr.
Reform, and Dr. Joiner, disagreed as to the
cause of her fatal illness, administering
large doses of organization, socials, contests
and drives but to no avail. A post mortem
showed that a deficiency of spiritual food
coupled with the lack of faith, heartfelt
religion and general support, were
contributing causes, Only a few were present
at her death, sobbing over memories of her
past beauty and power.
"In Honor of her going, the church
doors will be closed on Wednesday nights, save
the third Wednesday night of each month when
the Ladies Pink Lemonade Society serves
refreshments to the men’s handball team."
Mk.14:37
......couldest not thou watch one hour?
14:38
Watch ye and pray, lest
ye enter into temptation. The spirit
truly [is] ready, but the flesh [is]
weak.
I ASKING
========
When the early church prayed it was:
1. Immediate
2. United
3. Believing
4. Worshipful
5. Scriptural
6. Christ Honoring
7. Directed
8. Answered
II ANSWERING - Acts 4:32
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a. Prayer Gives Power
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1. Power Against Sin
- Heart is purified
- Conscience made sensitive
- Will strengthened
- Soul protected on every side
2. Power Against Backsliding
- Warmth > Sp. Life
- Health > Sp. Life
3. Power Against Slacking
- Sign Christian service a burden
- His yoke is easy
To serve Him is to reign
b. Prayer Gives Life
--------------------
1. Attitudes Are Changed - Rom.8:6
COMBINING
- Surrender & Submission
- Aspiration & Desire
- Dependence & Trust
- Communion & Fellowship
Enters the hidden life & gives
expression to the attitudes
- Would we be right with God - let us pray
- Would we be true to God - let us pray
- Would we be strong for God - let us pray
2. His Presence Given
- The Peace of His presence - Calming
- The Joy of His presence - Cheering
- The Light of His presence - Guiding
- The Glory of His presence - Sanctifying
3. His Will Known
- As we pray Discernment given
(mark of sp. growth)
- Phip. 1:9
c. Prayer Gives Purpose v.31b
-----------------------
1. Prayer will, bring constant blessing on
our testimony
2. Prayer will take us into deeper
fellowship with God’s purposes for the
world
III. ACTING v.32-34
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- They Believed - One Heart
- One Soul
- Spirit of giving
J. Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI says "The
spectacle of a nation praying is more
awe-inspiring then the explosion of an atomic
bomb. The force of prayer is greater than any
possible combination of man-made or
man-controlled power because prayer is man’s
greatest means of tapping the infinite
resources of God. Invoking by prayer the mercy
and might of God is our most efficacious means
of guaranteeing peace and security for the
harassed and helpless peoples of earth."
