Soul Pleasing

Soul Pleasing

John 16:33, Eph 6:18, 1 Th 5:17, Matthew 26:41, Matt 26:36-44, James 5:16, Mark 6:46

Luke 6:12, Mat 26:36, Matt 19:13, John 17:9, Luke 18:1, Matt 6:5, Luke 11:1, Matt 6:9-13

October 28, 2002

I. One of the things that we have to face about life is that it is not always easy, as a matter of fact it seems at times that it is never easy.

A. And, this shouldn’t surprise us because Jesus told us that there would be struggles.

(John 16:33 NIV) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

B. The life of a Christian will have struggles. We are in a war with the influence of satan in the world.

C. Christians will face trials, and temptations, and many times the trials are the result of giving in to the temptations.

D. There is no doubt that we have spiritual opposition, and that is why it is important that we worship and go into the presence of God, because we need to be reminded that we serve a God who has the ability to raise us above our trials.

E. And there is another thing that we need to do to improve our relationship with God.

F. The Gulf war was our first televised war, if you were like I was you watched a lot of it.

G. I spent a lot of time watching to see what was going to happen.

H. What was one of the very first things that they went after? What were some of the most strategic targets?

I. The communications equipment. The Americans used guided bombs, and missiles to break down the communications ability of the Iraqi Army.

J. That has always been and will always be one of the most important factors of fighting a battle.

1. That is really the way the Americans won the war so easily.

2. There was no one to tell the Iraqi troops we are still in this!

3. There was no one to tell them to keep on going.

4. There were days and days of bombings, and no word about what the outcome was.

5. Many of the soldiers probably didn’t know if there still was a Baghdad, with no communication, they lost the will to fight.

6. Communication is the key to winning any war.

K. As Christians communication is just as important, we need someone to talk to who can assure us that we are still in this! We need someone to assure us that our efforts are making a difference. Day in and day out we are bombarded in life with struggles that make us want to give up, or at least follow the path of least resistence, and not take stand for what we believe. We need to be reminded that there is a Heaven and there is a God in heaven that loves us and prayer is one of the main things that will do that.

L. It is important that we communicate to God that we love, adore and appreciate him in worship, but it is also important that we maintain a constant contact with God on a daily basis.

(Eph 6:18 NIV) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

(1 Th 5:17 NIV) pray continually;

II. Prayer is our line of communication with God and it is vital to our ability to stay in the battle.

A. Prayer is crucial to staying firmly planted in life.

B. Jesus realized the importance of prayer and he tried to show the disciples how important prayer is.

Matthew 26:41 (NIV) "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

C. When Jesus was in the most trying time of his life in Earth, what did he do?

1. He went to the garden to pray!

2. As Jesus was faced with death on the Cross, as the struggle went on between his human and spiritual sides, He fell back on the one thing that stabilized his life, PRAYER.

3. He faced death on the cross, as the struggle went on between the human and the Spiritual nature. Jesus fell back on the thing that had stabilized his life since the beginning of his ministry. PRAYER!

4. He went to the Father and set up the lines of communication, and it gave Him the strength to face the most painful death known to man!

Matthew 26:36-44 (NIV) Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." {37} He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. {38} Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." {39} Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." {40} Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. {41} "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." {42} He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." {43} When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. {44} So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.