Teach Us to Pray Passionately
Notes
Transcript
Love Community
Here are some staggering church planting statistics
Evan-free Association study found that
4out of 5 church plants do not make it past 4 years.
of those that do only 1 out of 10 ever make it above 100 people.
Whats more staggering is that there is nowhere in scripture that tells us to plant churches.
that’s one of the reasons I am not a church planter, just a guy who God has asked to plant a church.
The church grew out of a need because of salvations.
Churches should grow with salvations or they have lost their purpose.
Now a days people build churches through transferred memberships.
I have no interest in that.
I have no interest in having a house of worship that is not reaching lost people
I have no interest in having small groups and discipleship that is only self-serving.
Having the church first prepares us for new growth. we have come this far so that we can reach people in need of truth.
Love Community is the part of our vision that looks to connect to lost people and that we are all doing those things as a passion not a hobby.
Meet and greet: what are you passionate about?
Fast review (Seriously)
“Our Father” only His children can pray that. That privilege comes from grace not by nature.
Notice that Jesus starts first with honoring God by
1. Living to make God known,
2. Surrendering our will to His
3. And preparing people for His return
Before he moves into our need for provisions.
Please Stand.
“Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]
Prayer
Three Petitions that Powerful Prayer Approaches God For
1. Bread
2. Forgiveness
3. Victory Over the Temptation We face.
POINT 1
Powerful Prayer Approaches God for Bread
Powerful Prayer Approaches God for Bread
Three over spiritualization of the text
Communion bread
The Word of God
Jesus, as The Bread
But to read it directly from the Greek language, it means “This, give us as bread daily”
Explanation
What is “this” we are asking for?
In the Context it’s what we are lacking in order to fulfill the above petitions.
That is, upon deep reflection of what God expects of me and where I am falling short of those expectations that is my is what I need the most.
(possible rant)
What’s that got to do with bread?
Bread throughout Scripture was a sign to Israel of God’s provision.
Israel wandering in the desert was to teach them total dependance and obedience.
The manna was from Heaven. God personally provided it daily
If the command was disobeyed the bread would stink and carry worms
Most of the stink in our lives is as a result of disobedience.
Also on the sabbath they were not to gather only on the 6th day God would keep the manna from spoiling.
Illustration
In Iran and Iraq there is this bread-like topper that forms every night on one plant and it is very similar to that of manna from the Bible. the plant is called
Holoxolyn Salicornicum
Bugs eat the plant’s sap, then regurgitate a fluffy bread-like substance from the sap that is sweet in taste.
Cream of Wheat and Grits look a lot of like but they are as different as corn is from wheat.
Principal, God wanted Israel not to store up, or hoard the manna so as to only seek for provisions, rather He wanted them to trust Him as the provider.
Daily needs creates trust, dependency hope in the Provider.
Argumentation
The Bread represents our basic need for living. So yes, of course, if you are going to make your requests known to God, this is the place in powerful prayer to do so.
However keep in mind, Jesus already said that God knows those things.
Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.
“This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying?
Our greatest need is not for food, clothing, and shelter our greatest need is to know the provider of those things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
Our greatest need is to know God and lead others to Him (break these down)
The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed,
Next week we will look at how we are tempted to reject God’s plan for our lives and His goodness. but suffice to say, We are easily persuaded to towards the bread that is just regurgitated matter from this world, instead of that which has the power to
A wealth of salvation to those impoverished
Offer true freedom to those held prisoner to addictions and condemning thoughts
Help those blind to their destruction find their way to truth and life
Free those who are held captive by the evil of this world.
That salvation, that victory is not found in church it is found in Jesus.
He is the one from heaven who can remove the debt of death, guilt and shame from our sin.
Only he can set you free from the oppression felt from your sin.
Only He can give forgiveness that removes shame and brings you into fellowship
Only He can give understanding and healing to the deep hurts masked by addiction
Any church that thinks they are doing good when they are not growing through salvations-the setting of captives free, is settling for the regurgitated bread-like substances that is of this world.
Our daily bread is in resisting self and honoring God,
Our daily need is readying people for His return through evangelism and discipleship.
Our daily need is to be empowered by Him to lay down our will for Him.
Application
1. Just like God wanted Israel to trust Him daily for the things they could not do on their own, The Church is to obey God daily for what He is calling us to do. Make disciples for His name sake not a name for our sake.
2. Unlike Israel, we are not called to gathering bread in a wilderness, but we are to give the Word of life to people today who live in a spiritually barren world.
Is there something that is keeping you from living your life for God?
You know what’s best? selfishness?
Is something keeping you from telling others about Him?
Pride, fear of rejection?
Is there something keeping you from letting Him have full control over your life?
A desire for Control, pride of doing life all by yourself?
That is your greatest need! And it is a daily need to bring those things into submission to God.
You know this is a daily need because if it weren't, you’d pray one time and God would remove the pride, stubbornness, selfishness and rebellious heart.
But it cant be resolved in one prayer because those things are daily temptations.
Our daily bread is that we would want what God wants and that He would enable us to surrender to Him.
Through faith and obedience people are given hope and set free,
God loved His people and wanted to care for them. He cares for you and wants you set free from the schemes of this world and overcome the temptation to be passionate about His purpose for you.
The call is to trust Him and obey Him is one of faith.
We are going to close with a new song for us called Hymn of Heaven. There is a line that talks about us one day standing next to the Heroes of the Faith with one voice singing worthy is the Lamb
What made them heroes? They sought the Lord in prayer daily for their deepest need to deny self, pick up the cross and follow Him, the one who was slain so that we would have life in Him?
Is that true of you?
Below is all maybe.
For some of us we want to know every detail before we trust, but in the world of science that often leads to
Take care of my things and I’ll take care of your things.
Prov. So that I do not steal.
POINT 2
Beyond our most essential physical need, the second petition addresses our most essential spiritual need which is forgiveness.
the Old testament prophesied about the Messiah coming, and being crucified, and that he would be raised from the dead. In the Gospels we see Him come in the form of a babe, which broke the silence of God to man after 400 plus years.
Jesus also spoke of those things more plainly and the disciples did not understand it. However after His resurrection he appeared to His disciples at night saying
He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day,
and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
they then took the word to impress upon the life of Jesus and the need to be forgiven
Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near.
Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive.
Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Hope statement “The prodigal son was not driven by guilt but drawn by hope.”
I’m not worthy please make me a servant and he is given all the father has
Why do I need forgiveness if I am already forgiven?
When we trust Christ, we are no longer ruled by sin, but that is different than sin not remaining in me. I do not become unable to sin the only the penalty of sin is removed. But the effects of sin still impacts me and it still impacts my father.
Does our present sin cause us to lose our salvation? No
The relationship with God does not cease but the condition of the relationship does
Illustration
Holly and I have an arrangement $50 dollar spending limit, Suppose your spouse bought a car.
They would still be your spouse but the condition of the relationship has taken a hit. Im grieving cause she didn't honor our deal.
He broke trust and I’m hurt.
Our disobedience does not cast us out of the kinship of God, but the break in His command causes a reaction (grieve the HS passage)
While I am not cast our the relationship is not thriving, humor, intimacy, oneness is not experienced until the consequence of those sins lead us to seek forgiveness.
JOHN 13
Are you a forgiving person?
If not you should examine weather you have been shown the forgiveness of God.
Read our text again. the resolve is that we would be automatic to forgive that when we pray we have already exercised forgiveness.
One can never forgive more than God, nor should we withhold it from others.
In the context of Peter asking how many times do I have to forgive people who keep sinning against me.
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven.
For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.
When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents was brought before him.
Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.
“At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’
Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.
“But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’
“At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he wasn’t willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed.
When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened.
“Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’
And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed.
So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart.”
The point is in the amount owed.
The one is inconceivable debt while the other is a reasonable debt. But what we have received in forgiveness, cannot withhold forgiveness.
Alistair Begg “The major hindrance of blessing in our churches, and in our families, and in our personal relationships, is the absence of the practice of forgivingness. And in the absence of forgiveness comes the enjoyment of God’s pardon.
Action: do not hold onto the memories, photos, letters or the mental memories of those who have hurt you
POINT 3 LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATIONS
I remember an old man in his 80’s saying at a men’s ministry that he still struggles with the temptation to lust. I was 22 and saddened at the realization that temptation lasts a lifetime.
the context of prayer carries with it much temptation. The devil knows that drawing near to God is drawing away from his ways.
He is a liar, the father of all sin and his objective is to use temptation to kill steal and destroy the deliver.
How does that work when earlier, you said we are eternally secure? It is true we are secure in Christ. God knows it, even the devil knows it, but if you don’t know it then He is not going to tell you otherwise.
The way that the devil tempts us in the context of prayer is by trying to accuse us before God (verse insert) and to try and distort who God is to us (the garden)
Application
Powerful prayer
Honors God through holy living
Seeks His kingdom and shares that with others
Petitions GOd’s will over their own
That is when our greatest needs become apparent. Yes, help me with my bills lord but help me honor you as holy, give me the trust I need to share my faith, give me the eyes to see my sin before you and to forgive others of the rsmaller sins against me.
Help me Lord to not see you as anything but Good, holy, best.
Action
Our passion for Jesus and prayer will rise up like a fountain when we
Trust God for our needs and live to declare His glory
Accept his capacity to forgive and own our identity in him as we forgive those who sin against us
Understand that His will is good and that and we can see the schemes of the devil exposed.
