Roots - Part 3 - Prayer And Pentecost Series

Roots

Pt. 3 - Prayer and Pentecost

I. Introduction

You really don’t understand the power of a root until have to try to cut through one. I have been faced with that challenge before. The smallest root can be extremely tough. The root is the lifeline and it tenaciously holds on to the tree and the tree tenaciously holds on to the root. We must do the same. Our root system is crucial and essential for life! Without the roots that I have been talking to you about we will be unstable and we will waver and go after every trend and fad in the kingdom! These 8 things keep us anchored to direction and God’s will for our lives.

Our root system is:

Praise

Purpose

People

Place

Prayer

Pentecost

Presence

Preaching

We are rooted to praise because in our praise is victory, plunder, and peace.

We are rooted to purpose because we understand that we individually and also “we” corporately have God given design and destiny.

We are rooted to people because Jesus was rooted to people. We must remain moved by people. We must take time for people, touch people, heal people and die for people. Without people we are playing church!

We are rooted to this place. God has situated us here for such a time as this. We must impact this place! He could have placed us anywhere, but He hand-selected this community for us!

So let’s examine the next two roots that bring us life. We are rooted to Prayer and Pentecost.

II. Prayer

Let’s begin by talking about prayer. We all know that prayer is a vitally important spiritual discipline. I understand that most, if not all of you, have heard countless messages on prayer. I know that most, if not all of you, have read books on how to pray.

So, I am not really going to look at the way to pray. If you need help on that I can suggest some other resources for you to get. I want to look at prayer a little differently this morning.

I have discovered that it is easy to pray when everything is going well. Granted the prayer isn’t very deep or prolonged, but praying when all is well is easy! I think we learn more about prayer when we examine how someone prays on the hard days, when the chips are down, and when it really matters. I don’t want you or our church to just be people who can only pray when it is good. I want to be connected and rooted to some folks who know how to go to battle in prayer when my life is going bad, when hell is onsite, and when I need help! I think the best place to learn about prayer is Jesus.

We read that Jesus often prayed. That in itself teaches and speaks to us about the importance and position of prayer in our lives. We often turn, and rightfully so, to the “Lord’s Prayer” for instruction on the steps of prayer. However, I think it is even more insightful to find out how Jesus responded to dark days, painful days, and an uncertain future. We get a glimpse into the importance of prayer in Jesus’ life in:

Matt 26:36-44

36Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray. 37And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled. 38Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me. 39And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words.

36Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” 37Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. 38Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”