Lost For Words to Pray
Notes
Transcript
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
30 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf,
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO PRAY? MAYBE YOU DIDN’T KNOW THE WORDS TO SAY. PERHAPS YOU FELT LIKE THE WORDS YOU PRAYED DID NOT COME OUT RIGHT OR DIDN’T MAKE SENSE. MAYBE YOU FELT HURT OR SAD AND WERE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT TO SAY. MANY OF US HAVE BEEN THERE. SOME OF US MAY HAVE PRAYED ON BEHALF OF A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER AND DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY AND DIDN’T KNOW THE WILL OF GOD ON THEIR SITUATION. WELL I HAVE GOOD NEWS MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…..THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US WE HAVE A GREAT PRAYER PARTNERS TO HELP US IN INTERCEDING BEFORE GOD THE FATHER. (READ SCRIPTURE)
“BUT THAT VERY SPIRIT INTERCEDES WITH SIGHS TO DEEP FOR WORDS.”
IF YOU TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT CHURCH HISTORY, YOU WILL SEE THAT MOST OF THE GREAT MOVEMENTS IN THE CHURCH HAVE STARTED AS A RESULT OF PRAYER.
TRUH BE TOLD WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE BELIEVE IN PRAYER, BUT DO WE ALWAYS PRACTICE IT?
IN A RECENT SURVEY IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MOST CHRISTIANS SPEND LESS THAN 7 MINUTES A DAY IN PRAYER. IF THIS IS OUR POWER SOURCE THEN WHYS DO WE NEGLECT SUCH A GREAT SOURCE OF STRENGTH?
PRAYER IS NOT A MOOD. IT IS OUR LIFELINE TO ALL THAT IS GOOD AND MUST BE CHOSEN ABOVE OUR FEELINGS.
OFTENTIMES WHEN WE FIND IT HARD TO PRAY – WE NEED TO JUST GET STARTED.
• JUST START TALKING TO THE LORD
• JUST START PRAYING
• DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE WORDS
• DON’T WORRY ABOUT YOUR POSTURE
• DON’T WORRY ABOUT SOUNDING GOOD
• JUST START PRAYING
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…..I KNOW
IT’S DIFFICULT TO PRAY BECAUSE HUMBLING OURSELVES, GETTING OVER OURSELVES, AND COMING TO THE END OF OUR STUBBORN AND SINFUL SELVES IS HARD.
• WHEN WE PRAY, WE DIE TO SELF, AND DEATH HURTS
• THAT’S WHY OUR FLESH FIGHTS SO HARD AGAINST PRAYER
WHEN WE PRAY, WE ARE ENTERING INTO REAL WARFARE AGAINST OUR FLESH AND AGAINST THE FLAMING ARROWS OF OUR ACCUSER THE DEVIL AND HIS HOST.
ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT AFRAID OF US, THEY ARE TERRIFIED OF THE ONE WITHIN US AND WHO IS FOR US, AND THEY DESPISE THAT WE ARE PRAYING TO THE ONE WHO HAS CRUSHED THEM AND WILL DESTROY THEM.
SOMETIMES IT’S HARD TO PRAY BECAUSE OUR FOCUS IS TOO OFTEN ON PRAYING ITSELF AND NOT ON GOD.
• BY HIS SOVEREIGN GRACE, WE KNOW HIM
• WE KNOW HE IS THERE
• WE KNOW HE NOT ONLY HEARS BUT LISTENS
• WE KNOW HE IS NOT SILENT
• WE KNOW HE ALWAYS ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS AND ALWAYS ACTS IN ACCORD WITH HIS PERFECT WILL FOR OUR ULTIMATE GOOD AND FOR HIS GLORY
WHEN WE RECOGNIZE GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN PRAYER, WE ARE ALSO REMINDED OF HIS LOVE - GRACE - HOLINESS - RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WE ARE THEREBY CONFRONTED WITH THE HARSH REALITY OF OUR OWN WRETCHED SIN IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE.
PRAYER IS NOT A PREPARATION FOR WORK, IT IS WORK.
• PRAYER IS NOT A PREPARATION FOR THE BATTLE - PRAYER IS THE BATTLE
• REMEMBER THAT EVEN SIMPLE PRAYERS CAN BE LAUNCHING PADS FOR EFFECTIVE, FERVENT PRAYERS TO THE LORD
SOMETIMES, WE APPROACH PRAYER WITH THE WRONG PATTERN. WE SPEND MORE TIME FOCUSING ON PERSONAL NEEDS THAN ADDRESSING “OUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.”
• GOD IS TO BE GLORIFIED
• HE IS TO BE ADORNED
• HE IS TO BE WORSHIPED
WHEN WE’RE PERPLEXED ABOUT WHAT TO PRAY FOR. THE HOLY SPIRIT ALSO HELPS US WHEN “WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE OUGHT TO PRAY FOR.”
SOMETIMES ALL WE CAN GET OUT IS SOME SIGHING AND A LOT OF CRYING AS PSALM 5:1 SAYS: “GIVE EAR TO MY WORDS, O LORD, CONSIDER MY SIGHING.”
THE GOOD THING IS THAT THIS IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOD ACCORDING TO PSALM 38:9: “ALL MY LONGINGS LIE OPEN BEFORE YOU, O LORD; MY SIGHING IS NOT HIDDEN FROM YOU.”
MOST OF US STRUGGLE WITH QUANTITY (WE DON’T PRAY ENOUGH) AND WITH QUALITY (WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO PRAY). AND SO SOMETIMES WE TRY TO MAKE OUR PRAYERS SOUND PERFECT.
I THINK GOD IS MUCH LESS IMPRESSED WITH OUR “PERFECT PRAYERS” THAN WE ARE. PSALM 34:18 SAYS THAT GOD IS “IS CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED AND SAVES THOSE WHO ARE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT” AND PSALM 10:17: “YOU HEAR, O LORD, THE DESIRE OF THE AFFLICTED; YOU ENCOURAGE THEM, AND YOU LISTEN TO THEIR CRY.”
DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY JESUS TOLD ABOUT THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS PHARISEE WHO WENT TO THE TEMPLE AND PRAYED LUKE 18:11 ACTUALLY SAYS THAT HE PRAYED ABOUT HIMSELF: “I THANK YOU THAT I AM NOT LIKE OTHER MEN-ROBBERS, EVILDOERS, ADULTERERS-OR EVEN LIKE THIS TAX COLLECTOR. I FAST TWICE A WEEK AND GIVE A TENTH OF ALL I GET.” AND THEN THE TAX COLLECTOR, STANDING FAR OFF, NOT EVEN LOOKING UP, MUTTERED THIS PRAYER FOR MERCY: “GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER.” JESUS TELLS US THAT THE MAN WHO ASKED FOR MERCY WENT HOME JUSTIFIED WHILE THE ONE WHO WAS SELF-RIGHTEOUS WAS LEFT JUST PRAYING TO HIMSELF.
FOLLOWING A PATTERN FOR PRAYER IS HELPFUL AND KEEPS US FROM BECOMING DISTRACTED BY A PERSONAL WISH LIST. PATTERNS DIRECT OUR THOUGHTS BACK TO GOD. FOR THE DISCIPLES, PRAYER WAS A DIFFICULT DISCIPLINE THAT NEEDED REFINEMENT. THEY GRASPED THEIR NEED TO PATTERN THEIR PRAYERS, SO THEY WATCHED JESUS PRAY. THE TEACHER PROVIDES THEM (AND US) A HELPFUL PATTERN TO BE MODELED AND EXERCISED. IF YOU TAKE TIME TO READ THROUGH THE LORD’S PRAYER IN ST.
MATTHEW 6
YOU WILL NOTICE HOW -
• GOD IS EXALTED
• SINS ARE CONFESSED
• NEEDS EXPRESSED
THERE ARE CONTEMPORARY MODELS THAT CAN SERVE AS TOOLS FOR YOUR PRAYER LIFE IN AN EFFORT TO HELP US WHEN WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PRAY. THERE IS AN ACRONYM I LIKE TO USE (ACTS) –
• A = ADORATION
• C = CONFESSION
• T = THANKSGIVING
• S = SUPPLICATION
LET ME SHARE SOMETHING HERE THAT JUST MIGHT CHALLENGE YOU. SOME OF THE GREATEST PRAYERS ARE IN SILENCE. SOME OF THE GREATEST PRAYERS ARE WHEN WORDS NEVER COME OUT BECAUSE THE PAIN IS TOO STRONG.
• THE HEART CAN SPEAK AND GOD HEARS THE PRAYERS OF A BROKEN HEART
• IF IT HURTS TO PRAY, THEN BE STILL FOR A MOMENT
SOMETIMES ALL I CAN SAY IS “GOD YOU KNOW, HELP!”
• IT’S NOT ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE PRAYER - IT’S ABOUT THE HEART
• GOD UNDERSTANDS AND HE WEEPS WITH YOU
• JESUS IDENTIFIES WITH OUR SITUATION
• ALLOW YOUR HEART TO SPEAK POWERFUL WORDS TO GOD AND ALLOW HIM TO POUR OUT HIS LOVE
REMEMBER WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID IN OUR OPENING SCRIPTURE? –
• FOR WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT
THE SECOND HALF OF VERSE 26 TELLS US WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES AND HOW HE DOES IT. LET’S LOOK FIRST AT WHAT HE DOES: “BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF INTERCEDES FOR US.” DO YOU HEAR THE EMPHASIS HERE? IN CONTRAST TO OUR PALTRY PRAYERS THE “SPIRIT HIMSELF” PRAYS FOR US. THE WORD “INTERCEDE” MEANS TO “SPEAK IN BEHALF OF, TO APPEAL AND PLEAD FOR.” IT WAS USED OF RESCUING SOMEONE IN TROUBLE WHO HAS NO RESOURCES TO ESCAPE. STOP AND PONDER THAT FOR A MOMENT. THE THIRD MEMBER OF THE TRINITY PRAYS AND PLEADS ON OUR BEHALF, APPEALING TO THE ALMIGHTY. DOESN’T THAT JUST BLOW YOUR MIND?
BUT WAIT. IT GETS EVEN BETTER. DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE’S SOMEONE ELSE INTERCEDING ON YOUR BEHALF RIGHT NOW? WE NOT ONLY HAVE THE SPIRIT INTERCEDING IN OUR HEART; WE ALSO HAVE THE SON INTERCEDING IN HEAVEN. JUMP AHEAD TO VERSE 34:
Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
“CHRIST JESUS, WHO DIED-MORE THAN THAT, WHO WAS RAISED TO LIFE-IS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD AND IS ALSO INTERCEDING FOR US.” HEBREWS 7:25TELLS US THAT JESUS IS INTERCEDING ALL THE TIME FOR US: “THEREFORE HE IS ABLE TO SAVE COMPLETELY THOSE WHO COME TO GOD THROUGH HIM, BECAUSE HE ALWAYS LIVES TO INTERCEDE FOR THEM.” AND 1 JOHN 2:1 ASSERTS THAT WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WHO INTERCEDES ON OUR BEHALF: “BUT IF ANYBODY DOES SIN, WE HAVE ONE WHO SPEAKS TO THE FATHER IN OUR DEFENSE-JESUS CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUS ONE.” OUR DEFENDER MAKES UP FOR ANY DEFICIENCIES IN OUR REQUESTS.
“THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE OUGHT TO PRAY FOR, BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF INTERCEDES FOR US THROUGH WORDLESS GROANS. AND HE WHO SEARCHES OUR HEARTS KNOWS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT, BECAUSE THE SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR GOD’S PEOPLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WILL OF GOD”
WHEN WE’RE WEAK AND WEARY. THE SPIRIT WHO IS HOLY HELPS US “IN OUR WEAKNESS.” THIS WORD LITERALLY MEANS “WITHOUT STRENGTH” AND SPEAKS OF BEING INCAPACITATED. I’M REALLY GLAD TO KNOW THIS, AREN’T YOU? SOME OF US THINK THAT WE HAVE TO BE STRONG IN ORDER FOR GOD TO USE US. ACTUALLY, GOD GOES TO WORK WHEN WE’RE WEAK AS
2 CORINTHIANS 12:10
SAYS: “FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.”
HEBREWS 4:15
TELLS US THAT THE SON SYMPATHIZES WITH US WHEN WE FEEL FEEBLE: “FOR WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO IS UNABLE TO SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES…”
HOW AMAZING IS THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! BETTER THAN ANY TECHNOLOGY OR COMPUTER PROGRAM, HE CLEARLY COMMUNICATES MY THOUGHTS AND DESIRES IN HARMONY WITH THE FATHER’S PURPOSES. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT NOT ONLY MAKES PRAYER WORK, THAT INTERCESSION ALSO CARRIES US WHEN OUR HEARTS FAIL.
THE LAST PART OF VERSE 26 TELLS US HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR US: “WITH GROANS THAT WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS.” I FIND IT SO COMFORTING THAT THE COMFORTER GROANS WITH ME. THE HOLY SPIRIT JOINS WITH US IN DEEP, YET INAUDIBLE SIGHING.
GOD’S SPIRIT GROANS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCED AS OUR GROANINGS AS TOGETHER WE AWAIT THE FULFILLMENT OF THE GLORIOUS WORDS FOUND IN REVELATION 22:3: “NO LONGER WILL THERE BE ANY CURSE. THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB WILL BE IN THE CITY, AND HIS SERVANTS WILL SERVE HIM.” OUR SIGHING WILL CEASE AND WILL BE REPLACED BY OUR SERVING.
IT’S SO INTENSE THAT WORDS ARE INADEQUATE TO EXPRESS IT. HERE ARE SOME PASSAGES THAT MENTION GROANING:
* WE GROAN WITH HARDSHIP. EXODUS 2:24: “GOD HEARD THEIR GROANING AND HE REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT…”
* WE GROAN WITH GRIEF. PSALM 6:6: “I AM WORN OUT FROM GROANING; ALL NIGHT LONG I FLOOD MY BED WITH WEEPING AND DRENCH MY COUCH WITH TEARS.”
* WE GROAN WITH SICKNESS. PSALM 31:10: “MY LIFE IS CONSUMED BY ANGUISH AND MY YEARS BY GROANING; MY STRENGTH FAILS BECAUSE OF MY AFFLICTION, AND MY BONES GROW WEAK.”
* WE GROAN WITH HEARTACHE. PSALM 38:8: “I AM FEEBLE AND UTTERLY CRUSHED; I GROAN IN ANGUISH OF HEART.”
* WE GROAN BECAUSE OF UNCONFESSED SIN. PSALM 32:3: “WHEN I KEPT SILENT, MY BONES WASTED AWAY THROUGH MY GROANING ALL DAY LONG.”
* WE GROAN AS WE GROW OLD. PROVERBS 5:11: “AT THE END OF YOUR LIFE YOU WILL GROAN, WHEN YOUR FLESH AND BODY ARE SPENT.”
* WE GROAN FOR GLORY. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:2, 4: “MEANWHILE WE GROAN, LONGING TO BE CLOTHED WITH OUR HEAVENLY DWELLING…FOR WHILE WE ARE IN THIS TENT, WE GROAN AND ARE BURDENED…”
BUT LOOK AT VERSE 27: “AND HE WHO SEARCHES OUR HEARTS KNOWS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT, BECAUSE THE SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR THE SAINTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD’S WILL.”
OUR FATHER KNOWS OUR MOTIVES.
OUR FATHER KNOWS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT. SINCE THE FATHER KNOWS WHAT’S IN OUR HEARTS, HE CERTAINLY KNOWS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT. THEY ALWAYS WORK TOGETHER, AND SINCE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WORKING WITHIN US, WHAT HE GROANS IS WHAT GOD THE FATHER HEARS AND RESPONDS TO.
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL. I WONDER HOW MANY OF MY PRAYERS ARE REALLY ACCORDING TO MY WILL AND NOT ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL. 1 JOHN 5:14: “THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE WE HAVE IN APPROACHING GOD: THAT IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS US.” WHILE WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PRAYING ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL,
• IF YOU RELATE TO THIS, I HOPE YOU DON’T FEEL GUILTY
• JUST KNOW THAT GOD IS LISTENING, NO MATTER WHAT YOU TRY TO SAY.
• AND IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO PRAY, DON’T WORRY
• IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN
--WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF GOD, AND THAT IS WHY WE PRAY
--SO, WHEN WE PRAY, WE ARE REMINDED OF WHO WE ARE NOT
--WE ARE REMINDED THAT WE ARE NOT GOD
--WHEN WE PRAY, WE ARE REMINDED THAT WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL
--WE ARE REMINDED THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND IN CONTROL
--WHEN WE PRAY, WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT PRAYER IS OUR DAILY AND CONTINUAL SURRENDER OF OUR PERCEIVED CONTROL OVER OUR LIVES TO THE ONE WHO HAS CONTROL OF THEM AND CARES ABOUT THEM MORE THAN WE DO
--BUT HERE IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED - WHEN WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PRAY – KEEP ON PRAYING
