Surviving Through Prayer Series

SURVIVOR SERIES

#3 – SURVIVING THROUGH PRAYER

Today, we are continuing with our sermon series entitled SURVIVOR

And what we’ve been doing over the last several weeks, is talking about the fact that in light of…

--the bad economy

--lay offs

--bail outs

--these tough times we’re living in

In spite of all that is going on, we can be A SURVIVOR

Now the thesis of this series is that God wants you to do more than SURVIVE – He wants you to THRIVE

But in order to THRIVE, you have to SURVIVE!

And so, that’s what we’ve been talking about

Already, we talked about…

--The Assurance of Salvation

--Is There A Reason To Be Excited

--Surviving Motherhood

Next week – How To Survive Through the Power of The Holy Spirit, as next Sunday is PENTECOST SUNDAY

But this morning, I want to talk to you about SURVIVING THROUGH PRAYER

I heard about a woman who recently got married. And someone asked her where she found her husband. She said I met him at a travel agency – he was my last resort!

Listen, if you’re going to SURVIVE, prayer…

--must not

--should not

--can not

Be your LAST RESORT – it must be your FIRST AID!

The late Adrian Rogers said…

When trials come, don’t wring your hands – bend your knees!

That’s the way to SURVIVE!

With that in mind, let’s read…

•Luke 18:1 (KJV) And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

•1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without ceasing.

INTRODUCTION

Let me say to you at the outset of this message – if West Road Church fails, it will not be because of a failure of…

--personalities

--people

--property (buildings)

--prosperity (money)

If…

--we close our doors

--we don’t fulfill our potential

--we fail

It would be a failure of PRAYER

And when it comes to SURVIVING, there is just absolutely no way that you’re going to SURVIVE without this thing called prayer

To some, prayer is…

“…a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma…”

They don’t understand what prayer is

But the truth of the matter is that prayer…

--is not complicated (anyone can do it)

--is not isolated (not just for a certain few holy people)

--is not time-related only

In fact, one of the greatest statements on prayer that has helped me can be found in Rick Warren’s book

Of course, it is important to establish the habit of a daily devotional time with God, but he wants more than an appointment in your schedule. He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem and even every thought. You can carry on a continuous, open-ended conversation with him throughout your day talking with him about whatever you are doing or thinking at the moment. “Praying without ceasing” means conversing with God while shopping, driving, working, or performing any other everyday tasks.”

But the thing about prayer is like Nike: You’ve got to JUST DO IT!

And so that you will JUST DO IT, and so that you will have a better understanding, I want to give you several things about prayer

First of all, let’s talk about…

1. THE PRINCIPLE OF PRAYER

For you see, there’s one common thread that runs throughout all of human history

There was a time…

--of Noah

--of Abraham

--of the Law

--of the Kingdom

--of the Prophets

--of the Life of Jesus

--of the early Church

And all throughout the various times and dispensations, ONE THING, ONE THREAD is common – and that is this thing called PRAYER!

In fact, prayer pre-dates…

--the church

--the Jewish temple

--Moses

--Abraham

The first mention of prayer goes all the way back to the FIRST FAMILY…

Genesis 4:25-26 ( KJV ) 25And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

And, so, this thing called prayer is a principle that has been around for all time

Paul said…

Philippians 4:6 ( KJV ) 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

In other words, we are to pray about everything and worry about nothing

However, to many they worry about everything and pray about nothing

But if you’re going to SURVIVE, then you will do so on your knees

That’s the PRINCIPLE of prayer

And then, let me talk to you, secondly…

2. THE PATTERN OF PRAYER

Because, prayer is like a rainbow, it has many colors, shapes, and sizes