S. PRAYER

We have much of the same problem in the church today as was in the Garden of Gethsamane. While the Lord was praying - the disciples were sleeping.

It has been said that, “We are a generation of non-praying saints.”

This should cause us to think about what the Lord’s words meant when he said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.”

Is it recognized as such today?

Is it not true that we do more of everything else in God’s house but pray? Even as little as most of us give, our contributions probably exceed our offerings of prayer.”

We look in God’s Word and find that prayer should be one of our primary concerns as Christians.

Illustration: Importance of Prayer -( P-1-4)

“The space that Christ gave prayer in his sermon on the mount should tell us the great importance that He places upon it for our lives as his disciples. Out of the one hundred and eleven verses in the sermon, eighteen are dealing directly with prayer - with many more that deal with it indirectly.” (“A Treasury of Prayer” by E.M. Bounds. 18 of 111 verses.

We read elsewhere such words as:

“Men ought always to pray.” (Luke 18:1-43; Luke 1:1-80)

“Give yourselves to prayer.” (1 Corinthians 7:5)

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

“In everything by prayer and supplication with thanks­giving let your requests be made known to God” (Php 4:6).

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always.” (Luke 21:36).

“Continue in prayer.” (Colossians 4:2).

From these passages we can see that prayer is not a “last resort” but a primary part of living as God would have us live.

There are many reasons why we should want to pray-- let’s mentions two.

The first reason might be understood best by this story. Illustration: ( P-1-5 ) Three Reasons to Pray

“Three Reasons to Pray: An eldersly woman, who was known to spend much time in prayer, was asked one day by a skeptic, “Why do you pray?” The woman replied, “There are three simple reasons. First, I am so weak. Second. I need God’s help. And finally, God does help me when I pray.” Surely, those are reasons enough for anyone to pray!”

The second reasons we should mention is that prayerlessness is sin.

We find Samuel saying, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” (1 Samuel 12:23).

Prayerlessness is sin. It is sin because God wants us to pray - He teaches and commands us to pray - it’s sin not to!!

If prayer holds a secondary place in our lives that puts God secondary in our life’s affairs. This would put us in direct opposition of Matthew 6:33.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”

But, when prayer becomes a “first choice” and not a “last resort” we will find ourselves fulfilling the words found in James 4:7-8.

James 4:7-8 “ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” NASB

James had much to say about prayer. In ch. 5, vv. 13-18, he suggests to us six types of prayers we are to pray.

INDIVIDUAL prayer. “let him pray” (vs. 13).

Jesus stressed private, individual prayer. Matthew 6:6, “6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” [NASB].

The devil would rather the grass grow over our path that leads to our closet of prayer than to have it grow over the roads that lead to this meeting house. He knows that if he can keep you out of touch with heaven, he can keep you out of heaven.

Illustration (P-1-6) Power of Prayer. “No one is a firmer believe in the power of prayer than the Devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it.” (Guy H. King)

Yes, Satan will have disarmed us when he can keep us too busy to draw nigh to God in prayer.

In Luke 11:1 we find the disciples asking, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Think of this - the disciples, rather than asking, “Lord, teach us to preach,” asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

It is the only time in the record of the Gospels that we have the disciples ever asking the Lord to teach them anything.

Knowing how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to men. If a man can stand before God, he can stand before men.

Our aim should be that of the disciples - to know how to pray, that we too may be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.

One reason many individuals are so little for God and so little involved in His cause, is that they are so little with God in private, individual praying. “Dray nigh to God.” “Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord.”

UNITED prayer. “let them pray” (v. 14)

Jesus stressed united prayer - .Matthew 18:19-20, “19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.” [NASB].

We must not only learn to say, “My Father,” but also, “Our Father.”

Would anything be more unnatural than for children of the same family to always meet their father separately, but never together in a united expression of their desires and their love?

Paul believed in and encouraged often united prayers.

Romans 15:30, “30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,” [NKJV].

2 Corinthians 1:11, “you also joining in helping us through your prayers, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed upon us through the prayers of many.” [NASB].

Php 1:19, “19 For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” [NASB].

Colossians 4:3, “praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;” [NASB].

2 Thessalonians 3:1 “ Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you” [NASV.]

Acts 1:12-14;

Acts 2:42; And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 4:23-31;

Acts 12:12, “And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.” [NASB].

Acts 16:25, “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;” [NASB].

Can you imagine - if the Lord’s church has grown as much as it has with so little praying, what could happen if we really restored New Testament praying!! Who could say what power a church could develop and exercise if it gave itself to prayer night and day?

BELIEVING prayer: “the prayer of faith” (vs. 15).

Jesus taught us that we must have faith when we pray, that God will answer. (Mark 11:22-24). Mark 11:22-24, “22 And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. 23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. 24 “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.” [NASB].

Notice: Christ said, “Have faith in God.” The power to believe a promise depends on our faith in the promiser.

“He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

Before our prayers ever start toward God, our faith must have already gone on ahead.

Read James 1:6-7.

How can we increase our faith so that we’ll not be like this man?

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17).

When you know the God of the Bible you will trust His words and promises concerning prayer.

Trust in the person begets trust in his word.

INTERCESSORY prayer: “pray for one another” (vs. 16).

Illustration: (P-1-7) “Others”

The following is a story that shows the power in praying for others. Illustration: (P-1-8) Power of Prayer. [Modified to true story heard from Indiana.]

Mr. and Mrs. Seamore of rural Indiana had worked hard all their livves. Though they lived simply in a small, isolated farm home, people said they had money. One night, as she peacefully listened to the radio and he read, a masked man burst into the room, gun in hand. “Give me $500,” he shouted, “or I’ll kill you!” Mr. Seamore rose calmly, picked up his Bible, and said gentlyu, “nellie, let’s pray for this poor, lost boy.” The two knelt side by side and began to pray earnestly for the bandit. He watched them, then dropped his gun. Sobbing, he knelt beside Mr. Seamore. The old man put his arm around the younger man’s shaking shoulders. “You should call the police,” the man wept. “I came to rob you ... “ ”Why?” “It’s my wife. She needs an operation and I have no money to put into a hospital.” “Then she’ll have it,” Mr. Seamore said. “I’ll lend you the money and give you a job so you can pay it back ...” “But, why are you doing this?” “God gave me all I have, and I’ll gladly share it with you.” The “thief” still works for the Seamore, but he’s like a son now. He and his wife attend church with the couple who literally “saved” their lives.”

Love for God and love for our neighbor are inseparable. (1 John 3:14-24 4:20)

1 John 3:14-24

1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” NASB

Cite examples of Paul’s intercessory prayers for his brethren.

Look at the Lord’s example in John 17:20, “I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;” [NASB].

FERVENT prayer: “the effectual fervent prayer” (Vs. 16).

There needs to be a fire in our souls when we pray. Fervent praying is intense prying - earnest and sincere praying.

There is no room in fervent praying for halfhearted, shallow, fickle praying. Fervent praying is like Jacob wrestling with the angel: “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

Yes, God draws near to the fervent prying man. Listen to this fervent prayer of Moses: “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin - and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book.” Exodus 32:32

Not fuss and noise - but intensity - something that burns in our souls.

See example Christ gave of the friend at midnight. (Luke 11:5-10).

DEFINITE prayer: “he prayed earnestly that it might not rain” (Vs. 17).

Jesus once asked a man, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” (Mark 10:51).

Christ not only wanted the general petition for mercy, but the distinct expression of what his desire was. And until he speaks out, he is not healed.

We should pray in meaningful specifics and not in vague, wandering generalities.

Notice the example of prayer Christ gave his disciples - notice how specific it was.

“Our Father ... hallowed be .. thy kingdom ... will ... on earth ... Give us .. And forgive .. Lead us not into ... For thine is the Kingdom, Power, and the Glory ...

Illustration (P-1-9) Trying to please the Master.

There is the story of a coal miner named Sam. He didn’t have much education. He had no account at the bank; his clothes were worn and ragged; and he had to walk a long distance to the mine and back home at night - tired and aching. But onthe way home there was a small church building, and Sam would always stop there and pray. The minister had noticed this for some time and one evening he stopped Sam and asked him, “Sam, I’ve been watching you stop here for many months to go in and pray. And I’ve notice that you never stay more than a minute or two. Why are your prayers so short?” Sam looked down for a minute, then said, “Well, I don’t have much to say - ‘cause I really don’t know how to pray. But I know the Lord id pleased when I try - so I just come in and pray, ‘Lord, this is Sam,’ and I know the Lord understands.”

Friend, are you trying to please the Master?

“Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).