Don’t stop believing
Notes
Transcript
Stories of persistence
Stories of persistence
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. — Thomas Edison”
Colonel Sanders was 60 when he started KFC.
The Donkey and the well.
Persistence is the root cause of success.
No diet has ever been successful in the first week. But many have failed.
We admire those that work hard for what they have, but label people that find easy success as, “LUCKY”
God calls us to be persistent in prayer
God calls us to be persistent in prayer
1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”
Adoration
Consecration
Supplication
Intercession
Protection
Persistent Prayer
Persistent Prayer
5 Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
7 and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’
8 “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
Persistent Widdow
Persistent Widdow
1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
2 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3 “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’
4 “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ ”
Jesus tells them that God will bring out justice for His elect quickly because of their persistent prayer.
Persistent
Persistent
Shamelessness, Without regard for time, place or person.
Katie and the barbie
For us, there was a money component, so we had to learn how to say no, but it worked 100% of the time on my mother. It works 100% of the time on my wife.
Jesus calls for our persistence in prayer:
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.
Jesus was persistent in prayer
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.
38 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
He catches them sleeping
42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
He catches them sleeping again
44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.
Jesus parabolizes persistence in prayer
He preaches persistence in prayer
He practices persistence in prayer.
WHY is persistence in prayer important to God
WHY is persistence in prayer important to God
Before we answer……
1. The Holy Spirit does cause us to let some things go.
Danger of not being persistent.
Lazy in our prayer life…..check box prayers.
Too self reliant.
Not waiting on God.
Benefit of persistence
Benefit of persistence
Keeps you heavenly focused.
33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Think of it this way. If every time you pray for what you want, you modeled the Lord’s prayer.
One more time Adoring God, Affirming your commitment to His will, Another time of confronting your own sin and asking for forgiveness.
Keeps you strong
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Cures anxiety
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.
Creates in us a strong character
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Prayer moves God
In Daniel 10 we saw Wednesday evening how Daniel denied himself good food and wine and was seeking God for 3 weeks,
God sent an angelic being:
12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.