The Key To Intimacy With God

The Key to Intimacy with God

1 Thessalonians 5:14-17

Introduction: The importance of this letter and its companion from Paul cannot be over overstated. We do not know for certain that the Apostle was ever able to visit them personally. He intended for it to be read by the churches and individuals. These believers were dealing with several issues relating to the second coming and Paul seeks to encourage and build them up. Let’s read our text:

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing.

Someone said, “Prayer is the best way to meet God.” That is certainly true in salvation for a sinner must pray a prayer of confession, repentance and faith in Jesus as his/her Lord and Savior. But what about after we become Christians? What does the Bible say to us about the subject? I’ve selected one of the shortest statements about prayer found anywhere in God’s Word. It is short but powerful! Paul admonishes these believers in several areas of Christian conduct but none is more important the what we find in verse 17. How important is prayer in the life of a believer? Prayer is the secret to intimacy with God. Sadly many Christians never know this kind of relationship. Many never pray unless they are in a crisis. Others pray when they want something. Others have never developed the discipline of prayer. Prayer is life changing but it is also challenging.

I. The Exhortation to Prayer

a. The Scriptural Imperative

The first good reason for doing anything is that God has commanded it. And God has commanded us to pray. Throughout the Bible there are Scriptures with the imperative command to pray.

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Luke 18:1 says, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” This is a statement, not that some men should pray, but that men, mankind, everywhere and in all times, should pray. It is an impelling duty which Jesus taught.

b. The Scope of Intercession

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” A Christian is to pray literally about everything.

1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” We are commanded to pray not only at all times, but for all men.

c. The Saints Inclusion

Ephesians 6:18-19 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.”

Prayer, then, is a duty expressly commanded for every Christian, all the time, and about everybody and everything. Not to pray is a sin, the sin of disobedience to the plain and often repeated command of God! Lack of prayer is a sin. Doubtless all of our sins and mistakes and failures are prayer sins, prayer mistakes, and prayer failures. Samuel said to the people of Israel in 1 Samuel 12:23, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” Christians ought to pray because it is so strictly commanded in the Bible.

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II. The Explanation of Prayer

It is interesting that the disciples never did ask Jesus to teach them to preach but they did ask Him to teach them to pray. I believe that they heard the Lord in prayer to the Father many times and that they were impressed with the intimacy of the Lord’s prayers.

Luke 11:11 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray…

Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. What can we learn about prayer based on the Lord’s teaching?