The DANCE July 9, 2006
Prayer – The Rhythm of the Beat
Recap: We’re in a series entitled, “the Dance” which is focused on helping all of us to possess a genuine and intimate relationship w/ God. We’ve all heard that being a Christian is about relationship and not religion, yet most believers have only a religion b/c they’ve never learned how to dance w/ God.
Verse: Confess faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Jm 5:16
Note: People have many misconception of prayer—w/ most thinking prayer is to have a spiritual wish list for God. Prayer is the natural response to a spiritually- awakened life. It is the breath of the child of God. Just as breathing is natural for a child from birth, so too is prayer for the new born Christian.
Story: During WWII, Navy divers worked at incredible depths w/ only a single connection to the world above – an airline hooked to a pump and monitored by a private. The private’s only job was to man his post and make sure the pump worked – he provided the air for the divers to breathe. He was their life-line.
Note: So it is w/ God. Prayer is our life-support system and God is our life-line.
Trans: It has been said that prayer in its basic form is nothing more than talking, listening, and responding to God for the purpose of seeking to know His heart and will for your life. It’s checking in w/ Him on a daily basis.
Story: Just Checkin’ In – (see addendum). Prayer is checkin’ in w/ God – so how does one begin checkin’ in?
I HOW TO PRAY Mt. 6:5-13
Trans: In Matt. 6, Jesus spoke to His disciples concerning prayer giving us incredible insight into what is required to enter into God’s presence w/ boldness.
A HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE Mt. 6:5-8
Note: Before giving us a sample prayer, Jesus talked about the necessity of having a right attitude in our hearts about prayer.
1 Be HUMBLE—Stop trying to impress other people
Verse: When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.
Note: This doesn’t mean that we’re never to pray w/ others or pray aloud in public – but it does mean that we’re never to pray to make others think that we’re spiritual giants. This verse is about the condition of the heart – is it ready and willing to come under God’s authority and to trust His gudiance.
Note: According to the Bible, if we want God to hear and respond to our prayers – then we need to have a broken and contrite (humble) heart.
Verse: For you desire not sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Ps. 51:16-17
2 Be FOCUSED—Concentrate on meeting with God
Verse: When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Note: The reason we pray is to meet and speak w/ God. It’s not to throw up a grocery list into the heavens w/ the hope that God will respond and rain down His blessings. To pray is to communicate w/ God. Our focus needs to be on what He has to say to us more than what we have to say to Him.
Quote: To have prayed well is to have heard God speak to you. Luther
Note: When we pray we need to understand that we’re entering into the presence of God and into His courts of praise. We have an audience w/ the Creator and sustainer of the universe – the all-powerful, all-knowing God. We need to give Him our full concentration and show Him the honor due His name.
Note: This doesn’t mean that we have to pray in the KJV or fall on our faces. It simply means that He is worthy of our undivided attention.
3 Be GENUINE—Pray from your heart
Verse: Don’t recite the same prayer over and over as the heathen do, who think prayers are answered only by repeating them again and again. Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need before you ask Him!
Note: Remember – prayer is talking, listening, and responding to God – it’s not an exercise in futility. There isn’t a magic formula or secret handshake – nor is there any particular posture needed. Simply talk to God.
Insert: Prayer isn’t tattling on someone else.
Prayer isn’t talking w/ unnatural words or in a holy tone.
Prayer isn’t vain repetition or saying “Hail Mary’s” (Does God go long?)
Prayer isn’t talking to impress others.
Prayer isn’t trying to hold God hostage to your agenda.
Note: Prayer is conversing w/ God about the details of your life in light of His will.
B FOLLOW THE MODEL OF JESUS Mt. 6:9-13
Trans: So how does a person pray – where can I learn the art of prayer? From Jesus!
1 Begin with PRAISE
Verse: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…
Note: We need to begin our conversations w/ God w/ a heart of gratitude. We need to tell Him how thankful we are for what He has done and is doing for us. Truth is, in its basic form, the Christian life is nothing more that living our lives in such a way as to show God how thankful we are for His love. Praise Him!
2 Commit to God’s PURPOSE
Verse: your kingdom come, your will be done on earth and in heaven
Note: Pray for God’s will to be done in your life, family, church, and community; and for a willing spirit to obey His leading.
Insert: Do we actually believe that God’s way is the best way? If so, then as we pray for His kingdom to come we should also pray for a willing spirit to obey.
3 Seek God’s PROVISION
Verse: Give us today our daily bread...
Note: Did you know that God is intimately concerned about our lives. We need to ask Him to meet our needs, no matter how big or how small b/c He cares for us. Consider the promises of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
Verse: Read – Mt. 6:19-34 – How much more does He care for you – (1 Pt. 5:7)
4 Ask God for His PARDON
Verse: Forgive us our debts…
Note: We need to ask God to show us the sin in our lives. When He brings the offense to our minds, we need to agree w/ Him that it’s sin, and ask Him to forgive us.
Verse: If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn. 1:9
Note: The reason we confess our sin is to restore our relationship w/ God and to come into agreement w/ Him regarding right and wrong so that we won’t do it again.
5 Pray for Other PEOPLE
Verse: ...as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Note: We need to ask God to help us to have a heart for others—to pray for them, encourage them, and forgive them.
Verse: Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy for them; give thanks for all He is going to do for them. 1 Tm. 2:1
Note: In learning to forgive others we share the grace we have received w/ others. We remain mindful that we all are just sinners saved by grace.
6 Trust in God’s PROTECTION
Verse: ...lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Note: We are at war w/ God’s enemy who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. We need God’s Spirit to lead and guide us to paths of righteousness.
Note: In praying, we need to ask God to help us in our daily lives as we face the spiritual battle every Christian faces. Rather than succumbing to the wiles of the devil, we can trust in God’s Spirit to protect us through truth and faith.
Verse: Greater is He that is in you than the spirit who is in the world. 1 Jn. 4:4
II THE ESSENTIALS OF PRAYER
A Proper AUTHORITY
Verse: And whatever you may ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:14
Note When we pray Jesus’ name we’re acknowledging His authority and ability to sovereignty rule and respond to our lives. We’re seeking to be in agreement w/ God’s will as we strive to abide in Him.
Insert: But praying in Jesus’ name isn’t a secret formula guarantying a favorable response from God. It’s not a secret code proving someone is a Christian (I was once told that only real Christians say “In Jesus’ name…”). But we do need to remember who we are talking w/ and just what ability He possesses.
B Proper APPROACH
Note: We’re to approach God’s throne w/ boldness, expectancy, and desperation – yet until we believe we need God’s direction and help, we will only play at prayer. And unfortunately, too many of us really are not that desperate for God.
Story: A man was praying when boy asked him to teach him to pray. The man began sharing w/ the boy about how to approach God through prayer but the boy didn’t understand. Nonetheless, the boy kept persisting until finally the man took the boy and held his head under water for a lengthy period of time until the boy began to squirm in desperation. The man then w/drew the boy from the water and said, “The first lesson of prayer is that you must be so desperate to commune w/ God that like your breath you can’t live w/out it!
C Proper AIM
Note: When we pray we should pray expecting God to answer. The good news is that God answers every prayer: (1) YES – Immediately; (2) No – Never; (3) YES, but wait; and (4) YES, but differently than expected.
Story: When the Shimer’s adopted their daughter Anna from China, they were responding to the call of God. In prayer they sensed God telling them to adopt – they had a 6 year old in mind, but God gave them a 16 mo. old. And not a day goes by that God gave them exactly the child He wanted them to raise.
Trans: I love to hear about answered prayers. But this is my all-time favorite.
Story: The pastor’s kitten had climbed a tree and was too afraid to come down but the tree was too unstable for the pastor to climb so he got the bright idea to tie a rope around a limb and pull the tree over so that he could pull the cat out of the tree. As fate would have it, just as soon as the pastor pulled forward bending the tree over, the rope broke and the cat went flying. After several hours of looking for the cat, the pastor prayed that the cat was okay and in good hands. The next day, the pastor was at the grocery store and noticed that one of his members known to be a cat hater had a can of cat food in her cart. Anxious to rib the member the pastor asked her why she was buying cat food. She then shared an unbelievable story of how her daughter had pestered her to the point that the mom said, “Child, if God will give you a cat, then you can keep it.” She then watched as the little girl went into the backyard and began praying – when suddenly from out of nowhere a cat flies from the heavens and lands right next to the little girl. The mom explained that if she hadn’t seen it w/ her own eyes she wouldn’t have believed it. Don’t you just love God’s sense of humor?
CONCLUSION
Note: Let me assure you, God is on the look out for prayer warriors – those individuals who will fight the good fight and will not back away; those who will boldly approach His throne in intercession seeking the heart and will of God.
Note: Praying – isn’t an easy spiritual discipline – but it is an essential one. We have a God who wants to move in and through our live and we have an enemy roaming around like a roaring lion seeking out whoever he might devour.
Trans: So let me invite you to get on your knees and fight! Why not start today. The time has come to sound the BATTLECRY!
Video: Battle Cry – www.sermonspice.com
