Pray at all times!

Introduction: What is prayer? A discussion with God. Quite often it seems one sided, but if you take some time you just might hear His voice. Listen for it, and watch expectantly for the answer to the prayer. Remember it might be Yes, it might be No and it might be later or something in between. We have to be patient, He’s working, He’s always working.

Now for a little information about prayer. As a reminder there are basically five kinds of prayer -

Blessing and adoration (praising God)

Petition (asking for what we need - forgiveness)

Intercession (asking for what others need)

Thanksgiving (for what God has given and done)

Confession (of your sins)

Each of these has a purpose as we talk with God. Each of these should be used regularly as we talk with God.

As a child of God and a follower of Christ Jesus we should each have a prayer life. A prayer life life that helps us draw closer to God and helps bring us peace.

Our passage for today is Philippians 4:4-7

Philippians 4:4–7 NASB95

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

So what does this say about prayer?

Verse 4 tells us to rejoice. But what does that mean? Rejoice when you in this manner is a salutation from the writer to the reader. He is wishing us happiness or more precisely joy. This isn’t the fleeting happiness that comes with doing something some or something that makes you feel good. It’s the deep down feeling that we should have because of our position in Christ Jesus.

Regular old happiness is fleeting and comes and goes based on worldly emotion. If things aren’t going well we tend to be angry or scared; if they are going well we may be happy or excited.

However joy is given to us by God. We should carry it with us a gift from Him. A gift we always offer to others because we have the Holy Spirit.

Last week we spoke about seeking the things above and not the things of this earth. Joy is one of those things that can help us be a part of the things above. It is so important that Paul tells us twice to make sure we get the point. He wants to make sure we get what rejoicing does.

If you look farther in the passage you will see that it helps bring peace. Wonderful peace. However, there is a requirement for it. We have to pray. Pray all the time and in all circumstances. We should even add supplication to our prayer life. For those of you who don’t know what supplication is; it is the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.

Have you ever fallen to your knees and begged for something from God? That’s what Paul is saying, get down on your knees and start begging.

We’re going to take a pause in this program and watch/listen to a video. This is Third Day and I need a Miracle.

There’s one thing we need to remember add in some thanksgiving. The answers to the prayers will come so thank Him.

Mark 11:24 NASB95

24 “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

It’s this thankfulness that brings peace. We can be at peace with the things around us and with God. If you believe what the Bible says about God you will know that He is always at peace. Nothing catches Him off guard. If He is at peace then we can have that same peace.

That peace can guard our hearts which are fragile things and can be broken easily. Our lack of peace can create a great deal of pain and a complete loss of trust in people and the things around us.

So what’s the answer? Well, remember that suit of clothes, the one that hides us in Christ Jesus. Put it on and pray.

So what does this have to do with our worldview? Do you believe that prayer can bring you peace? Do you do it regularly? Do you pray for all things and at all times? Do you praise God and thank Him for all you have? Are you at peace? If prayer isn’t a part of your worldview you won’t have the benefits of talking to God.

Now let’s take some time to actually practice what I just preached. As we go along feel free to lift up your voices and pray.

We are going to go through the five different types of prayer.

Let’s start with Adoration:

Does anyone have some praises to lift up?

Now let’s Confess our sins: go ahead and confess. You can keep this between you and God - or you can confess to someone else - or everyone.

Now let’s do some Intercession: Let’s pray for others and their needs. Go ahead and lift up some names of those you have been praying for.

Now Supplication: What requests do you have for yourself? Speak them or keep them between you and God - your choice.

Now Thanksgiving: What do you have to be thankful for?

Now before we finish up I want to provide an opportunity for anyone who would like to be anointed.

James 5:14 NASB95

14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

Pray!