First, Pray (February 8, 2023)

First, Pray

1 Timothy 2:1–4 NKJV

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I want to talk to you about the importance of praying first.

It is a new year and I think we all would like to know and live according to God’s will. In order to accomplish that goal, we have to first know God’s will and then second act on it.

And the first part is where prayer comes in.

Without knowing the will of God we are at risk of starting the year of in our own strength. We don’t know what this year will bring. We don’t know what challenges or opportunities await us.

But that’s where prayer comes in. When we pray first before we plan or act then we can learn and grow in the will and way of God. God is omniscient, knowing and understanding all things (1 John 3:20). He is omnipresent, dwelling in eternity (Isaiah 57:15).

In other words, God sees and knows all things, including where you go and what you do for the coming year. He has plans for you that are good for your future and full of hope and to know them you will need to pray first (cf. Jeremiah 29:11).

To the Throne of Grace

As I was reading an preparing for this message I read a statement that got me thinking. It was written to a previous generation but still holds true today. He wrote:

The Quotable Tozer I: Wise Words with a Prophetic Edge Protestantism

We say we believe in such things as prayer and fasting but we do not practice them unless it is convenient. Very few of us are willing to get up before daybreak as many Catholics do in order to be present in their daily services.

I think if we apply the general idea to our own generation that there are many Christians who turn to God in prayer as a last resort and not a primary one.

And I understand that. Praying last is the natural way of things. It seems like it is the easiest way of doing things. Unfortunately, that’s the least effective way of accomplishing the will of God.

Jeremiah 10:21 NKJV

For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the Lord; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered.

Dull-heartedness and lack of prosperity were the result of the shepherds not seeking the Lord.

The habit of praying first is the kingdom way, God’s way. Jesus often withdrew to pray (Luke 5:16). He sought the wisdom and will of the Father before He set out to fulfill the works appointed to Him.

What would your life look like if you adopted the habit of praying first? What great miracles and opportunities are dependent on you seeking God?

The good news is that we have been granted access to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). It is our privilege as sons and daughters of God to come boldly before Him and make our requests known. And because He loves us, He gives us the kingdom (Luke 12:32).

Praying First

Since prayer is the kingdom way and a privilege that each believer has been given, here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Pray First

Daniel 2:14–18 NKJV

14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; 15 he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

The king of Babylon had a dream from God and wanted to know what it meant. He asked his wise men and council and they were unable to tell him what he needed to know.

Daniel’s response to the need was to pray. Not panic, consulting books, talking about it with others, or reassuring the king. He went to God.

The simple application is that we pray first. It is simple, practical, and necessary.

Before we plan for this year we need to pray first.

Before we start our day, pray first.

Before you have that conversation, pray first.

Before you do your work, pray first.

Whatever it is…pray first.

Illustration: Story of old lion and young lion. Young lion came to learn from old lion who was the best hunter in the savannah. Old lion listened and laid there. Young lion wanted to impress the old one so he went out and caught a rodent. Old lion said nothing. A little later the young lion went out again and brought an emu. Still the older lion did not move. The young lion kept going out and getting kills to prove his worth. Then a herd of buffalo came and the old lion took off in a flash. The young lion, too tired from all his earlier hunts, stayed where he was. Soon the old lion came back dragging a huge buffalo carcass. He sat down and enjoyed his meal under the tree.

The point is that we waste so much energy and effort by not doing the most important things first. If we would stop and pray first then we would spare ourselves of the effort and energy lost by going in our own strength.

Start your day with prayer. Start your projects with prayer. Start your planning with prayer.

This is what we are doing as a church during the next 21 days. We are starting the year by seeking God first.

Hopefully this will go beyond a 21 day fast and became a daily habit.

Pray in Faith

Mark 11:22–24 NKJV

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

When we pray, we need to pray in faith. We do not need to be moved or motivated by fear or uncertainty or a lack of understanding.

We can pray in faith, trusting in the word and will of God.

Illustration: Larry King shared a story about 3 farmers who gathered daily in a field during a horrible drought. They were on their knees, looking up, and praying for the skies to open up and pour out rain. Unfortunately, nothing happened for days. One day a stranger came and asked what they were doing. They told him they were praying for rain. He looked at them and said, “No, I don’t think so.” They had angry responses: look at the drought, no rain for a year, our families and livestock need it. He listened and told them they were wasting their time. The third farmer said what would you do differently? The visitor asked if they were serious. They said yes. He said “I would have brought an umbrella!” (Larry King, Powerful Prayers, p.243)

When we pray, believe God. Stand on His word. Declare His promises.

When we pray first and pray in faith then we will see what God has promised come to pass.

Pray and Fast

Mark 9:23–29 NKJV

23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

Jesus understood that fasting produced a measure of power that would not be available otherwise. - Jentezen Franklin

Fasting is a powerful discipline that works by disconnecting us from the desires of the flesh. It works by starving out its voice and silencing its desire.

When you pray with fasting you increase your sensitivity to God’s voice, enter into a deeper holiness, and experience God’s power in a new way.

Basic tips for fasting:

Biblically, fasts generally deal with abstaining from food.

Use wisdom to the degree you fast. What/how much. Example: Daniel fast, Jesus’ fast, etc.

Be prepared for physical effects as toxins, chemicals, leave your body

Consider fasts from other things that keep you from God. Example: social media/media.

Illustration: When I was young I got swimmer’s ear so bad that my ear was swollen shut. This brought pain and affected my ability to hear and process. What the doctor needed to do was remove the obstruction and to clear things out in order for me to hear clearly.

Ultimately, the purpose of a fast is to humble yourself and afflict your soul. It is to starve your fleshly cravings and stir up spiritual hunger. It is to release us from bondage and to release God’s freedom into our lives (Isaiah 58:3-9).

Fasting can release God’s power in our lives that normal prayer does not do. It removes obstructions and enables us to hear God more clearly.

As we start this year’s pray first prayer initiative consider adding fasting with prayer for greater clarity and power.

Conclusion

Let’s start this year with prayer. Over the next 21 days lets commit to praying first. As we develop this practice I hope that it will become a habit. First, pray. Then obey. First, pray and then act. First, pray and then go.

And when we pray, stand on the promises of God. Let our faith rest on the word of God and in the God of the Word. As we pray in faith we will see mountains move and miracles take place.

Finally, for more spiritual power, pray with fasting. Deny your flesh and disconnect from the things that demand your attention so that you can focus on seeking God.

When we pray first we will see more answers to our prayers and we will find our priorities more in alignment with the will of God.

And if we will extend the practice of praying first into a lifelong habit then we will abide in the will of God and become an active partner with Him to see His will be done in our lives and our world.

So, before you do anything, first pray!