(Clip) Satan Does Not Like Praying Churches
Tim Conway emphasizes the critical importance of steadfast corporate prayer as a spiritual weapon against the devil's attacks and urges believers to remain devoted and not grow weary in prayer.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of persevering in prayer and not growing weary in seeking God. It warns against the temptation to neglect corporate prayer meetings and highlights the spiritual battle involved in prayer, as it is through prayer that strongholds are broken and the power of God is unleashed. The message urges believers to prioritize prayer, resist the distractions and deceptions of the enemy, and remain devoted to seeking God's face together as a church.
Full Transcript
The Scripture says don't be weary in well-doing. And you can get weary in praying. For 26 years, I've been coming to the prayer meeting.
And I saw it even when I wasn't an elder. I saw it. I mean, Ruby can tell you.
It was mandatory in our lives. Unless we were just wrought through and through with sickness of the severest kind, the prayer meeting was mandatory. Why? Why? Because we were laying hold on the Lord.
It was necessary. Brethren, don't become weary in this. You have to remember this, brethren.
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. And if there's anywhere the devil's going to try to wear us out, it's in our prayer. Because our prayers bring down his strongholds.
And you know what? You can hear it whispered in your ear. Ah, it's best to stay home, get a lot of rest, be able to rise early in the morning, the kids get full rest, all that. Brethren, don't be deceived.
Satan does not like praying churches. He loves it when the prayer meetings begin to diminish. Brethren, prayer unleashes the power of God and he knows it.
Don't give in to this. I mean, if some of you are not showing forth a devotedness to corporate prayer, brethren, I call you, repent of that. Turn.
Don't go down that path. And it can become easy. You justify it once, you justify it a second time, a fifth time.
Well, the kids... Brethren, don't do that. Now look, maybe there's some things we have to do. I mean, maybe our elders be open.
If there are things we can do with regards to our prayer meeting, I know we don't always start on time, whatever it is, but brethren, I'm telling you, do not forsake this. Because if you do, you're going the way that the early church did not go. Don't do this.
You want to go down the path to ineffectiveness? You want to go down the path to weakness? Then don't pray. It's not good.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Necessity of Prayer
- Prayer meetings were mandatory and essential
- Prayer is a weapon in spiritual warfare
- Do not become weary in well-doing
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II. The Enemy's Opposition to Prayer
- Satan targets prayer to wear believers out
- He desires prayer meetings to diminish
- Prayer breaks down the devil’s strongholds
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III. The Call to Perseverance
- Resist excuses to skip prayer
- Repent and recommit to corporate prayer
- Prayer leads to spiritual effectiveness and strength
Key Quotes
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.” — Tim Conway
“Satan does not like praying churches.” — Tim Conway
“Prayer unleashes the power of God and he knows it.” — Tim Conway
Application Points
- Commit to regular corporate prayer and resist the temptation to skip it.
- Recognize prayer as a powerful weapon against spiritual attacks and persevere even when weary.
- Encourage your church community to prioritize prayer meetings for spiritual strength and effectiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is corporate prayer so important?
Corporate prayer unites believers and unleashes God's power against spiritual strongholds.
What does the devil do to discourage prayer?
The devil tries to wear believers out and tempt them with excuses to avoid prayer.
What should I do if I feel weary in praying?
Remember the spiritual impact of prayer and persevere despite weariness.
Is it okay to miss prayer meetings for legitimate reasons?
Yes, but believers should avoid making excuses that lead to neglecting prayer.
What happens if a church stops praying corporately?
It risks becoming weak and ineffective spiritually, following the path of the early church’s failure.