NJ - MAKE PRAYER A PRIORITY
Jesus, The Way, The Truth, and The Life • Sermon • Submitted
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WELCOME:
WELCOME:
Good morning and welcome to Oasis Church! I am so glad you have made it here today, to experience the amazing presence of God with us.
Welcome to our brothers and sisters from our Oasis Church Moura and our online family, it is great to have you join with us today.
If you are visiting with us, we welcome you and look forward to chatting with you after our service.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
As of today, we are back to our normal service times with morning tea (I encourage you to catch up for a coffee with someone)
Thank you to all those who have served on team last year, we look forward to serving with you this year 2023.
We will join ACC churches across Australia from the 30th of January to 12thof February for 14 Days of Prayer.
Over the past weeks we have heard from a number of our pastors and leaders on the theme: Jesus the Way, The Truth, and the Life
Last week - Press On (KEEP MOVING FORWARD)
Paul tells us in Philippians 3:12-16: But I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward
I also shared what I see for our church in 2023. Spending time and talking with God, seeking His plan for us as a church moving forward, this is what I see:
I SEE THAT WE ARE:
A church that is thriving in God’s love and call
A church that is healthy and growing
A church that is a family where everyone belongs
A church that sees people saved, healed and whole
A church that is a praying church
A church that is reaching its community
A church where people can and are walking in the fullness of Gods call on their life
A church where people encounter the Spirit of God, encounter the presence of God, and encounter the power of God (You shall receive power)
A church that has room for more people to come and meet Jesus
A church where people are being discipled and are maturing in Jesus
A church where there is unity and God’s blessing is being poured out on all
Can you see it?
LET’S PRAY:
Father, we love you and thank you for who you are, we ask that you speak to us daily through your word, we open our hearts and lives, praying that you have your way in us. Bless your people today in Jesus’ name Amen.
I have titled my message: Make Prayer a Priority
INTRODUCTION
Make prayer a priority, I believe in this day and age that prayer needs to be a big part of our lives. When there are so many inconsistencies in the world, it is easy to be pulled to the left and to the right. We need stability a solid foundation. Jesus is the rock that we need to build our lives on, He brings stability to our hearts and lives.
16 Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.
Jesus made prayer a priority in His life. He made time to pray. He would often extract Himself from the crowds to go and spend time with His Father. This wasn’t just when things got tough, this was a regular disciplin of His. He knew He needed this time with the Father.
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.
If Prayer is not real to you then God is not real to you
1. Prayer must be a priority
As Christians it is important that we develop a prayer life (Not just praying when things are tough, not going the way we would like)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
We need to have a prayer place, Jesus, when he would pray, would go into his private place (uninterrupted)(A place where he would not be interrupted)
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Where is your place, do you have a place to go and pray? (uninterupted)
2. Make time to pray
Build prayer into your calendar (Purpose it, block out space on your calendar)
21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
3. Just Start Praying
In sharing with you today, I encourage you to start praying. There is power in praying, even short prayers, if I can get you to start praying, the more time you spend with Jesus, the more time you want to spend with Him.
Acknowledging Him every day in prayer, will produce profound results.
In the Bible:
Elijah prayed a short prayer contained in one chapter and fire fell from heaven
Simon Peter prayed a one-sentence prayer and a man who had never walked lane from birth got up and put the bed on his back and ran through the streets shouting praise to Jesus
The Apostle Paul in Acts chapter 16 cast The Devil out of a woman who was a fortune teller operating under a demonic Spirit of Witchcraft he prayed a short prayer, and the demon-possessed woman was set free.
Hezekiah in Isaiah chapter 38 prayed a short prayer and God added 15 years to his life. A short prayer and God gave him 15 more years
The Prayer of Jabez one of my favourite prayers I pray: Oh Lord that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory let your hand be upon me and keep me from evil and God granted him his request
The Lord's Prayer: Jesus said if you want to know how to pray, pray this: THE LORDS PRAYER. It would release God's miraculous power into your life into your family. Let’s take a look at it:
4. Pray the Lord’s Prayer
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Praise - “Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name.”
Priority - “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven.”
Provision - “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Pardon - “Forgive us our sins as we forgive others who sin against us.”
Power - “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Praise - “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”
5. Persist in prayer
As we persist in prayer, building our relationship with God, we need to discipline our lives so that we can push through the status quo. Sometimes our praying requires us to pray: Prayers of warfare, prayers of supplication and times of Prayer and fasting.
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal – 2 Corinthians 10:4
Those who wait on the Lord – Isaiah 40:31
Personal, Prayer and fasting – Joel 2:12
Conclusion:
As we conclude this part of our service, we have seen the importance of making prayer a priority.
1. Prayer must be a priority - Have a place to go and pray (UN-INTERUPTED)
2. Make time to pray (PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDER)
3. Just start praying (IT WILL RPODUCE PROFOUND RESULTS)
4. Pray the Lord’s prayer (EVERY DAY)
5. Persist in prayer (IT GETS EASIER)
Opportunity to receive Christ