Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
To emphasize the privilege and power of prayer, and how it can be used as a weapon when aligned with God's will.
Good morning, church! Isn't it a blessing to gather together in the house of the Lord today? We've got a timely message for you all. It's about our privilege of approaching our Heavenly Father, the power of prayer, and how prayer can be our weapon.
In the words of the great Christian author, E.M. Bounds, "Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty." Ain't that the truth? We are not obligated to pray; we are given the privilege to converse with our Creator!
A. The privilege of approaching the Father is a privilege that is not to be taken lightly, but rather, it should be cherished and appreciated. The ability to approach the Creator of the universe, the One who holds all power and knowledge, is a privilege that is beyond comprehension. Yet, it is a privilege that has been freely given to us through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. The privilege of approaching the Father is not a right that we have earned or deserved. It is a privilege that has been granted to us purely out of God's love for us. We did nothing to earn this privilege. In fact, we were in a state of rebellion against God, yet He chose to extend this privilege to us. This is a testament to the depth of God's love for us. He desires to have a relationship with us, to commune with us, and to hear our prayers.
C. This privilege is not limited to a select few. It is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. Regardless of our past mistakes, our current circumstances, or our future uncertainties, we have the privilege of approaching the Father. We can come to Him with our joys and our sorrows, our victories and our defeats, our hopes and our fears. We can approach Him with confidence, knowing that He hears us and cares for us.
D. The privilege of approaching the Father also means that we have direct access to the Father. We do not need to go through any human mediator. We do not need to earn our way to the Father. We have direct access to Him through Jesus Christ. This is a profound privilege that we should not take for granted. We can approach the Father at any time, in any place, and in any situation. We can approach Him in the quietness of our rooms, in the busyness of our workplaces, or in the chaos of our world. We can approach Him with our praises, our petitions, our confessions, and our thanksgivings.
E. The privilege of approaching the Father also means that we can approach Him with boldness and confidence. We do not need to approach Him with fear or trepidation. We can approach Him with boldness because we are His children, and He is our Father. We can approach Him with confidence because we know that He hears us and that He is willing to answer our prayers according to His will.
F. The privilege of approaching the Father is a profound privilege that we should cherish and appreciate. It is a privilege that should drive us to our knees in prayer, that should fill our hearts with gratitude, and that should motivate us to live lives that are pleasing to Him.
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