TEXT: LUKE 18:1-8
A. THE KINGDOM
PARTNERSHIP OF PRAYER
Prayer makes a way for God to act sovereignly on earth. Jesus said to pray, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt.6:10). God has chosen to work through people, not around them. Therefore, He also says, “Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” (Matt. 18:18). The obvious inference is that God has limited some of HIS activities on the earth and will respond only to the prayers of His children. Heaven waits for those of us on earth to pray for things to happen. (see Isa. 43:26; Jer. 1:12).
Prayer was a priority in Jesus’ life. He considered it more important than physical rest, and He was commonly pictured praying all night (see Luke 6:12). Talking with the Father took priority over His social activity. Scripture often refers to Jesus going off alone to be with the Father (see Matt.14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; 6:12). And finally, Jesus made prayer a priority over His physical appetite. He fasted for long periods of time, withdrawing from physical food to spiritual power (Luke 4:2; Matt.6:18,25-31; Heb. 7:25). Prayer was the primary communication link between Himself and the Father. Every major event and every minor decision in Jesus’ life was shrouded with prayer. If we are to be Christlike, or like Christ, we must follow His example. Jesus did not pray because He had to; Jesus prayed because He wanted to be obedient to, united with and empowered by the Father. Prayer is to be our priority for those same reasons. Prayer is the way that we, His branches, draw the nutrients we need from God the Vine to produce the fruit of His Spirit in our lives. And we do this because, as believers, prayer has to be our primary ministry.
2. Without prayer you have no fellowship with God.
3. Without prayer sins cannot be forgiven.
4. Without prayer there will be no revelation for direction from God
5. Without prayer you easily fall in times of temptation Matt.6:13
6. Without prayer you are disobeying God
7. Without praying for others you are sinning against God
8. Pray because it is a command.
9. Pray because it leads away from sin
10. Pray because it is a lifestyle
11. Pray because prayer cancels calamity
12. Pray in all the seven areas of life
13. Pray in all steps of prayer-Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication.
INTRODUCTION:
Prayer is the responsibility of
every Christian. God’s word tells us to pray. But we don’t pray just because we
have to; we pray because talking to God is a privilege. Prayer is entering into relationship with God so we can determine His
will in any matter and call His will into existence upon the earth. Prayers
and references to prayer appear in sixty-two of sixty-six books of the Bible,
all except the Song of Solomon, Obadiah, Haggai, and 2 John. Generally speaking
the Old Testament contains more information about prayer, and the New Testament
stresses the importance of prayer. We can divide prayers into two groups, those
in which we ask God for something
and those in which we tell Him something.Prayer makes a way for God to act sovereignly on earth. Jesus said to pray, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt.6:10). God has chosen to work through people, not around them. Therefore, He also says, “Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” (Matt. 18:18). The obvious inference is that God has limited some of HIS activities on the earth and will respond only to the prayers of His children. Heaven waits for those of us on earth to pray for things to happen. (see Isa. 43:26; Jer. 1:12).
Question: What do you understand by the Sovereignty of God? Discuss Hebrew 4:14-16
B. THE MINISRY OF
PRAYER
Ministry to God must come before
ministry to people. First Peter 2:9 says that you are “a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may
proclaim the excellences of Him who has called you out of darkness into His
marvellous light”. The role of the priest
is to minister first to God; then to the people. The way that we minister
to God is by praising, worshiping and communing with Him in prayer and
meditation. The way that we minister to the people is by allowing the overflow
of what we have received in our time alone with Him to pour out into the lives
of others (Prov.15:8; 1 pet.2:5; Eph. 1:4-5; 2Cor.5:21; Heb. 4:16)
C. THE PRIORITY OF
PRAYER
Prayer was a priority in Jesus’ life. He considered it more important than physical rest, and He was commonly pictured praying all night (see Luke 6:12). Talking with the Father took priority over His social activity. Scripture often refers to Jesus going off alone to be with the Father (see Matt.14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; 6:12). And finally, Jesus made prayer a priority over His physical appetite. He fasted for long periods of time, withdrawing from physical food to spiritual power (Luke 4:2; Matt.6:18,25-31; Heb. 7:25). Prayer was the primary communication link between Himself and the Father. Every major event and every minor decision in Jesus’ life was shrouded with prayer. If we are to be Christlike, or like Christ, we must follow His example. Jesus did not pray because He had to; Jesus prayed because He wanted to be obedient to, united with and empowered by the Father. Prayer is to be our priority for those same reasons. Prayer is the way that we, His branches, draw the nutrients we need from God the Vine to produce the fruit of His Spirit in our lives. And we do this because, as believers, prayer has to be our primary ministry.
Pray without ceasing.
PRIORITY OF PRAYER
1. Without prayer you receive
nothing from God.2. Without prayer you have no fellowship with God.
3. Without prayer sins cannot be forgiven.
4. Without prayer there will be no revelation for direction from God
5. Without prayer you easily fall in times of temptation Matt.6:13
6. Without prayer you are disobeying God
7. Without praying for others you are sinning against God
8. Pray because it is a command.
9. Pray because it leads away from sin
10. Pray because it is a lifestyle
11. Pray because prayer cancels calamity
12. Pray in all the seven areas of life
13. Pray in all steps of prayer-Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication.
MEMORY VERSE:
Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by
ceasing to pray for you…….. (1Samuel 12:23b).
Church of Eternal Life Jos Plateau State.
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