Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
To emphasize the importance and power of prayer at all times, and to assure believers that God, as a good Father, will always provide the best for His children.
Good morning, church family. I’d like to share with you today about the importance and power of prayer in all seasons and at all times. Our scripture passage for today comes from Luke 11:1-13. I'm reminded of a quote by Oswald Chambers, "Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work." As we dive into these scriptures, let's keep in mind that prayer is not just something we do as a formality, it's our direct line to God, a communion with our Savior, and it's available to us even in the midnight hours of our seemingly hopelessness.
When we say that prayer is for all seasons and all times, we are acknowledging the omnipresence of God in our lives. We are recognizing that there is no moment too insignificant or too monumental for us to bring before Him in prayer. In the scripture passage from Luke 11, we see the disciples asking Jesus to teach them how to pray. This request came not during a time of crisis or celebration, but during an ordinary moment. This teaches us that prayer is not just for the high and low points of our lives, but for the everyday moments as well.
A. Prayer is not just a tool to be used in times of need, but a constant dialogue with our Creator. It is a means of maintaining a relationship with God, akin to how we would maintain a relationship with a loved one through regular communication. Just as we would not limit our conversations with a loved one to only times of crisis or celebration, we should not limit our conversations with God to these times either.
B. In the passage, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray for daily bread, for forgiveness of sins, and for deliverance from temptation. These are not seasonal needs, but daily ones. They are needs that arise not just in times of crisis, but in the ordinary moments of our lives. This teaches us that prayer is not just for the extraordinary times, but for the ordinary ones as well.
C. Furthermore, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is a prayer for all seasons and all times. It is a prayer for the here and now, as well as for the future. It is a prayer that recognizes that God's kingdom is not just a future reality, but a present one as well.
D. In the parable that follows, Jesus teaches His disciples about the power of persistent prayer. He tells them about a man who goes to his friend at midnight to ask for bread. Despite the inconvenient timing, the friend eventually gives in because of the man's persistence. This teaches us that prayer is not just for the convenient times, but for the inconvenient ones as well.
E. In the final part of the passage, Jesus assures His disciples that God, being a good Father, will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. This is a promise for all seasons and all times. It is a promise that God will always be there to provide for our needs, to guide us, and to comfort us.
In Luke 11:5-8, Jesus tells a parable about a man who goes to his friend at midnight, asking for bread ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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