The Power Of The Prayer Closet

THE POWER OF THE PRAYER CLOSET

Mt. 6:5-6

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Some things really changed between the former generations and the kids of the last generation.

2. At a grandma was keeping/ babysitting her grandson Dirk. Dirk followed her into the bedroom as she puts up things away in the closet.

3. "Grandma," he said, "what room is this?" "This is a closet, Dirk," she explained. "We don't have a room like this in our house," he said. "Of course you do," she said, "You have lots of closets in your home."

4. When he again denied having closets in his house, she tried another tack. "Where do you keep all your clothes?" she asked.

5. A true child of the times, he replied, "In the dryer."

6. Dirk isn't the only person who doesn't know much about closets. Many Christians don't act like they have one either.

B. TEXT

“5 And when you pray, you shall 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 you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly.” Matt. 6:5-6.

C. TORNADOES SPARE THE PRAYER CLOSET

1. Fox News ran a story on 3/26/19 about an Alabama grandmother whose prayer closet was left standing after surviving two tornadoes.

2. It happened in Beauregard, Alabama, where 23 people lost their lives. The praying grandmother, known affectionately as "Momma Reese," sang and praised her way through the storm. “We just prayed together and held each other," her daughter said.

3. Chaplain Jason Smith wrote, “I just left a family who survived the tornado in this house and the only [thing] left standing is this closet.” He continued: “It's the grandmother's prayer closet, and the whole family survived.”

4. The picture of the closet that survived went viral and made national headlines. It emphasizes the power of prayer to avert disasters! Praise God!

D. WHAT’S A PRAYER CLOSET?

1. The word "closet" could be better translated "bedroom." What is a “Prayer Closet?”

2. It's the Habit of shutting yourself in with God, Seeking Him, calling on Him, and having Intimacy with God.

E. THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

The Gospel of Luke has been called "The Gospel of Prayer." WHY? OTHER GOSPELS SAY... BUT LUKE SAYS....

1. Jesus in the Jordan when Spirit descended like a Dove.

Luke says…It was while He was praying that the Spirit descended.

2. The Gospels say, Jesus chose 12 apostles. Luke says it was after He spent a night in prayer that He chose them.

3. Other Gospels say that Jesus died on a cross. Luke says that while he was dying, Jesus was praying for his enemies.

4. Other Gospels say Jesus went on a Mt. and He was transfigured. Luke says it was while He was praying that He was transfigured.

I. NOTHING IS MORE TRANSFIGURING THAN PRAYER

Prayer doesn't always change God but it always does change us.

A. IT CHANGES OUR VIEW OF GOD

1. Isaiah in chapter 6 was praying when he saw a vision that altered his life.

2. Paul was praying when he was caught up to third heaven, and saw unspeakable things. His life was changed.

3. The Apostle John was praying on Patmos when he heard a great voice say “Come up here” and he received the Book of Revelation.

B. IT CHANGES OUR CIRCUMSTANCES

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. Rom. 8:18-19.

C. CHANGES OUR VIEW OF OURSELVES

When we see ourselves as God sees us, then we’re changed.

D. CHANGES OUR VIEW OF OTHERS

We begin to realize the people around us are saved or lost.

II. NOTHING’S AS REFRESHING AS PRAYER

A. BEGIN EVERY DAY WITH PRAYER

1. "Don't have your concert and tune your instruments afterward. Begin the day with prayer."

2. We begin each day by taking a bath or shower, don’t we? Likewise, we should also get prepared spiritually.

3. HUMOR.

a. There was a girl who asked her mom if she could start taking a bath each day before school, instead of at night.

b. Her Mom asked her, "Why?" “Because each day at school, for two months, the teacher has asked, ‘Would everyone whose taken a bath today, please raise your hand.”

c. "For 2 months I haven’t been able to raise my hand that I’ve taken a bath!”