Prayer Praise and Persistence
Notes
Transcript
Prayer
Prayer
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
1 Timothy 2:8 “ I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
Prayer is what aligns us with Gods perspective and desire. It is what gives us access to abilities and blessing that our humanity cannot provide. Prayer is the foundational structure that lifts us out of the finite into the infinite. If we do not open the doors of prayer we will never see God pour out from the windows of blessing. Those doors are not meant to only be darkened on Sundays and Wednesdays in our lives you see prayer does not open the doors of heaven for us, it opens the doors of our lives to God. If you are looking at your life and wondering where God is most often I would say that
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Holds true for any and all of us in that place.
Prayer also is not meant to be a quiet placid thing. Whether personally or corporately we must shake ourselves from our places of spiritual habit and slumber and come into Gods spiritual culture. Often time we are lulled into a sense of comfort pertaining to our personality and the framework of our perspective but what this does not do is pattern itself after Gods blueprint for success.
Hebrews 4:16 “16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
James 5:16 “16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
ef·fec·tu·al
adjective
(of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective.
Fervent
adjective
having or displaying a passionate intensity.
I would like us to take notice of the words that are used and what they look like when they are actually applied. Effectual means that I have a goal in mind and I am pressing towards something specific. Effectual prayer has intent and is never aimless. If I want to see salvation for my family I am coming before God using those specific words. If I am wanting the presence of the Lord to be around me then I am asking the Lord specifically for that.
Matthew 6:7 “7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
When its time to pray we ought to come before God with the intent otherwise there is nothing that will actually happen because out prayer starts off not fulfilling the first requirement of the verse. This is no different in your private prayer time if we dont start off expecting to see God show up He will not.
Fervency
That word has synonyms like hot, burning, or glowing. If I am to claim to be fervent and there is no sign the fire of the holy ghost is burning in my like the coals of a fire having a burning glow that lets me now they are hot I can guarantee you that no spiritual enemy will have any reason to back up off of you. If there is no danger of getting burned then there is no reason to stay away. Fervency is not an internal you and Jesus thing it is a physical manifestation of a spiritual happening. That is why the bible speaks of the holy ghost AND fire
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
If you look at that words fire a little more closely it specifically refers more closely to the word lightning. It will be something that shakes you up and shocks your reality. You see fervent prayer will mess up your hair and have your tie crooked and your toupee sitting sideways. Not because you making an exhibit of yourself but because you came in contact with something so powerful that it can move heaven and earth and that was working through an earthen vessel and when that happens we then will see the availeth much part of that verse become our reality.
1 Corinthians 14:15 “15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “17 Pray without ceasing.”
Our prayer needs to be the total package that God ordained not just a fragment and a partial offering.
If we are to count ourselves to be righteous in His sight our prayer must be effectual, fervent and continuous.
So now we talked about that direct line to God or as they used to say it that Good ol Royal telephone. But now we are going to shift gears to talk about the fuel that is used to power the prayer and also to win battles.
Praise
Hallah” is the most common word for praise. This word simply means to boast, brag, or rave about God even to the point of appearing foolish. People who attend football games and shout and scream for their favorite team are called fans.
“Yadah” means to worship with extended hands.
Yadah is often a cry for help. Yadah praise is used when we are in desperate straits and need a victory from the Lord.
Raising the hands is one of the most explosive and meaningful expressions of praise.
Raising the hands is an international sign of surrender. A worshiping person raises hands in adoration and surrender to God.
3. Barak
3. Barak
“Barak” is used to denote blessing.
Or a praise of sacrifice in times of suffering.
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
4. Tehillah
4. Tehillah
“Tehillah” means to sing or to laud.
“Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises” (Psalm 22:3).
Tehillah involves music and singing-especially singing. Singing is vital to the worship of God. There are over 300 Bible mandates to sing. This word suggests that God himself is a song of praise. We might say it like this, “God is our song.”
6 & 7. Todah and Shabach
6 & 7. Todah and Shabach
“Todah” means to shout or to address with a loud voice. But Todah goes even further. It includes an attitude of gratitude for God’s promised deliverance even while we are still in need. This type of praise also refers to lifting of the hands in inviting God’s help. Todah praise is having faith and assurance that is well even before the victory actually comes.
For example, David is trapped by the Philistines in Gath. He gives thanks and offers Todah praise even before God delivers him.
“Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit... When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—All day long they twist my words; They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life. Record my misery… Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me” (Psalm 56:1-12).
Offer Todah praise and trust that God will deliver.
“Shabach” also means to shout or to address in a loud tone.
8. Hallelujah
8. Hallelujah
“HALLELUJAH” is the premier word for praise in the Bible. Hallelujah transcends the languages of the world. It is not translated; it is transliterated.
“Hallel” means to boast or to brag on, to make a show, even to the point of looking ridiculous.
“Jah” is the short form of the name for God.
Hallelujah is the spontaneous outcry of one who is excited about God. It is used only 24 times in the Old Testament all between Psalm 104 and 150. It is reserved for times of extreme exultation.
“Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord” (Psalm 150).
Nehemiah 8:10 “10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Psalm 16:11 “11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Psalm 22:3 “3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”
You see we get the strength for the prayer from the joy of the lord which we receive in his presence and his presence inhabits our praise. So if we want to be praying people we have to be a people that praise and our praise has to be the bible way. Praise that gets Gods attention is not praise that is comfortable to our flesh. It is praise that offers a Hallal it is a sacrifice of your pride and your image so that you might take on His image. Its the kind of praise that would cause others to call you extreme or would invite the sideways glances because someone else’s flesh is uncomfortable with a spiritual things that they don't understand. But that is exactly what God wants according to his own word.
1 Corinthians 2:14 “14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Praise was Gods go to when it came to victory in the lives of His people and it must be ours as well
Judges 20:18 “18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first.”
2 Chronicles 20:13–17 “13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation; 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.” “13 And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation; 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and…”
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever. 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. 24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
You see when we offer up praise the in the way God desires there is a victory so powerful that no adversary in our lives can escape. Is there anyone in the house that desires that kind of victory. Is anybody here ready to have more than just a patty cake party for Jesus is anyone ready to offer themselves a living sacrifice of praise that is holy and acceptable unto God?
Daniel 10:8–13 “8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. 10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days:
Prayer and praise are just as much about the war that we are fighting as they are about who we are serving. God wants us to know that we are greatly beloved even when the answers in our life are delayed. The delays are not a denial they are not God taking His eyes off of us they are simply the effects of the need for breakthrough in the supernatural and persistence will always win the day.
Matthew 10:22 “22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” \
Matthew 24:13 “13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
I invite you this evening to offer up praise and to bring before God the sweet incense of prayer. I invite you to bring to the Lord the sacrifice of praise from the soul that is defeated and ask you to come before your God and enter his presence with Thanksgiving and come into His courts with praise. I invite you into a biblical experience with the presence of God in a way that maybe your not accustomed to and might be foreign to your tradition or sense, but there is strength, power, victory, and provision in that place.