Shameless Audacious Prayer

Kingston Church of the Nazarene

July 31, 2016

Sermon: Shameless Audacious Prayer

Scripture: Luke 11:1-15, 1 Thessalonians, Psalm 84

INTRODUCTION – Shameless Audacious Prayer

Shameless Audacious Prayer is essentially persistent prayer. We are told in 1 Thessalonians to pray without ceasing. Shameless Audacious Prayer is the type of prayer we pray with all of our heart, mind, body and soul expecting to be heard and for the prayer to be granted.

[slides] Prayer is mentioned many times in the bible. As a matter of fact -

1. There are 650 prayers listed in the Bible.

2. There are approximately 450 recorded answers to prayer in the Bible.

3. The first time prayer is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 4:26 (earlier dialogues where initiated directly by God, e.g., Genesis 3:8-13, Genesis 4:9).

4. The Bible records Jesus praying 25 different times during his earthly ministry.

5. In the Bible, Paul mentions prayer (prayers, prayer reports, prayer requests, exhortations to pray), 41 times.

6. Although prayer can (and should) be done from any bodily position, the Bible lists five specific postures: Sitting (2 Sam 7:18), standing (Mark 11:25), kneeling (Chronicles 6:13; Daniel 6:10; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60, 9:40, 20:36, 21:5; Ephesians 3:14), with one's face to the ground (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:35), and with hands lifted up (1 Timothy 2:8).

7. In Jesus model for how his disciples should pray (Luke 11:1-4), he provides five areas of focus: That God's name be honored - the focus on his everlasting glory (“Father, hallowed be your name”); that God's kingdom come - the focus on his eternal will (“your kingdom come”); that God's provision is given - the focus on our present (“Give us each day our daily bread.”); that God's forgiveness is granted - the focus on our past (Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.); that God's deliverance will be provided - the focus on our future.

8. The Bible lists at least nine main types of prayer: prayer of faith (James 5:15), prayer of agreement (also known as corporate prayer) (Acts 2:42), prayer of request (also known as petition or supplication) (Philippians 4:6), prayer of thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2-3), prayer of worship (Acts 13:2-3), prayer of consecration (also known as dedication) (Matthew 26:39), prayer of intercession (1 Timothy 2:1), prayer of imprecation (Psalms 69), and praying in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:14-15).

9. The word “Amen” (which means “let it be, “so be it,” “verily,” “truly”) makes its first appearance in the Bible in Numbers 5:22. In that passage God commands it to be said by a person who is yielding to his examination.

As you can tell, prayer is an essential part of the Christian life, so much so, God initiated the first prayer in Genesis 3:8-13 (Adam/God).

TRANSITION

We could spend months on the topic of prayer. Today, I want to talk about Shameless Audacious Prayer. This is the kind of prayer we pray that is so centered on God and his will that we would pray it in front of the US President, or in an Isis Militant regime who were about to beheaded for being a Christian because we believe God will answer our prayer in any circumstances.

Shameless Audacious Prayer is defined by different translations as:

• "persistence" (NASB)

• "shameless persistence and insistence" (Amp)

• "keep knocking long enough" (NLT)

• "importunity" (KJV)

• "not ashamed to keep asking" (CEV)

• "boldness" (NCV)

• "brashness" (CEB)

Do any of these words describe your prayer life? God honors a bold faith that believes that what is being asked for is as good as done! And when the answer from God is slow, that person is bold and persistent.

Shameless Audacious prayer believes that God has heard our prayer and will answer it. It’s prayer with passion and conviction, and with sincerity of heart and mind, and with a humble spirit.

TRANSITION

Luke 11:1-13 helps us to know how to pray.

[slide] V. 2 WHEN WE PRAY: The presupposition is we will pray because we have a desire to spend time with God. So, when we do pray, we are to pray understanding that prayer is to be entered into reverently understanding the juxtaposition between God and man.

We also must understand that God isn’t some vending machine in the sky waiting for you to drop your quarters into in order to receive your blessing.

“We pray as if God’s chief objective is our personal comfort. It’s not. God’s chief objective is His glory.”

Therefore, we reverently come to God with an understanding that he is the maker and creator of the universe, and he has authority to produce life and to take it away.

WHEN WE PRAY also says God has a desire to have a relationship with us. Therefore, he has invites us to pray and enter into his presence. We don’t need a set day and time, but we are to spend time with God all of the time, without ceasing.