Devoted to Prayer

Intro

Good morning church fam! Today we are finishing up our series called Devoted. Over the last few weeks we have looked at three practices the early church was devoted to and today will will take a look at the fourth.

There are four things that the early church devoted themselves to are found in:

Acts 2:42 NASB95

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Teaching

Fellowship

Breaking of Bread

Prayer

I fully believe that if we as the church of today would be fully devoted to these four practices, we too will see a change not only in our church, but in our community for the Kingdom of God.

People are devoted to a lot of things in life that have no spiritual impact. We are devoted to our hobbies, social media, catching the latest episode of our favorite show, our jobs, and so much more. Yet when it comes to the spiritual disciplines that we as followers of Christ are called to practice, we fall short.

The enemy will fight you and I on these because these practices are POWERFUL. These practices can change a persons life and impact those around them for the Kingdom of God. The enemy knows this.

The practice of prayer is right up there with fellowship, that the enemy will keep you from. Prayer is one of the hardest disciplines that a follower of Jesus can practice, but yet it is one of the most powerful.

Power in Prayer

Growing up I love the Indiana Jones movies. I still watch them from time to time. I have memories of visiting my aunts house for the holidays and she had a big screen TV and tons of VHS movies.

In a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark , Indiana Jones runs down a street and rounds a corner, finding himself face to face with an Arab swordsman. Remember the guy? He skillfully brandishes his sword. Indiana Jones just rolls his eyes and pulls out his revolver. Boom – that’s the end of the swordsman.

Did you know that scene wasn’t supposed to happen that way? The swordsman spent a month practicing for a sword fight, but Harrison Ford was feeling ill that day and improvised.

I like this scene because it is an illustration of a Christians life. Something that looks menacing is neutralized by a superior weapon.

Prayer is the superior weapon we have in this spiritual battle that we are in.

In the book of James, we find the profound statement,

James 5:16 NASB95

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.

Notice that your prayer is effective. Your prayers do not just hit the ceiling and fall back down.

The word accomplish means to have power, to wield power (like a weapon), to have strength to overcome, to be a force.

A Christians prayer is both effective and POWERFUL.

When a Christian prays, we are accessing the throne room of God. Think about that for a moment.

We are not speaking nothing. We are not just speaking to ourselves. We are not speaking to a dead person.

We are speaking to God. The One who spoke into existence the heavens and the earth and all of the millions and millions of galaxies at the sound of His voice.

Consider the story of Paul and Silas in prison. Instead of succumbing to despair, they prayed and sang hymns to God at midnight. Their faith-filled response brought an earthquake that opened the prison doors. This vivid account teaches us that prayer not only sustains us but can unleash God’s power to change circumstances and hearts, as we align ourselves with His purpose in prayer.

This teaches us that not only is prayer POWERFUL, but there is power when we pray with others.

Prioritizing Prayer Together

The early church made it a priority to pray together. They devoted themselves to praying with other believers.

We know that Jesus often went off by himself to pray. Some believe that we should just pray by ourselves and corporate prayer should not be practiced. After all didn’t Jesus say:

Matthew 6:5 NASB95

5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

The religious people of Jesus day used to flaunt their spirituality to show people how pious they were. There was nothing humbling about their prayer. It was mainly for show.

This type of prayer should not be done. But this doesn’t mean corporate prayer should be done away with.

In fact, just a few verses later the Jesus said,

Matthew 6:9–13 NASB95

9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is 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 also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

Notice the plurality of the words used:

Our Father

Give us

Forgive us

Forgive our debtors

Do not lead us

The most famous prayer of all time is a communal prayer.

As believers we are a part of a larger community. Too often we think in terms of our western individualistic mindset. Our culture screams individualism.

My life

My rights

My self expression

My personal relationship with God

While being an individual in and of itself is not a bad thing, for we are all fearfully, wonderfully, created in the image of and by God.

We are individuals, but we are also a part of the family of God and we must not neglect living life and walking out our faith together..

Prayer is a part of that. Whether it is in prayer on Wednesday nights, in small group, or in a Sunday morning service. We are called to pray with one another.

Communal prayer gives us an opportunity to take our eyes off of ourselves and listen to the requests of others. It is a time where we can share in the joy and sufferings of our church community.

There is power when we pray together. Why?

Matthew 18:20 NASB95

20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

We are gathered right now in Jesus Name. Guess what? Jesus is here. He is here in this very room. Even if you are watching online…Jesus is there. All the other churches that are gathered in Jesus Name…guess what? He is there too.

Anything can happen when Jesus is in the room. If anything can happen, then our prayers shouldn’t just be over little things.

I have heard of people not wanting to bother God with the big stuff.

What you should know is, you can’t bother God. He isn’t going to be like, “Oh man, James is calling, I wonder what He wants.” “Hey Jesus, can you get line one. Tell James, I am out of the office.”

No! Talk to God about the small stuff…but also:

We should pray BIG!

Pray Big

I am talking about praying for something that only God can do!

When we were pastoring in Indiana, our church had a debt on the building from a building program. We were a small church of around 30 or so. There wasn’t a lot of tithe and offerings that came in and so the church struggled financially. Often we would go weeks without a salary. I didn’t get into pastoring for the money.

It was in January of 2012 or 2013 that I called the church to pray and fast specifically that God would take care of the $14,000 debt so we could open up finances for more ministry to take place.

I remember seeing some peoples facial expressions and eye rolls. Like “yeah right, God can’t do that.” Days went by and nothing. Weeks went by and nothing. Months went by and nothing. About 6 months later, we recieved a check for $14,000. By the time we got the check the debt was just over $12K. God answered!

Can I tell you that I still had someone come up to me and tell me, “I know how that happened. So and so received and inheritance.”

I responded with a rebuke, “Don’t you dare take credit away from God!”

I didn’t know someone would tithe on their inheritance they recieved from a passing relative. They didn’t know their relative was going to pass. It was God!!

Ephesians 3:20 NASB95

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

I am crazy enough to believe that God can also take care of the debt we owe from doing the remodel here at New Life!

We cannot be afraid to pray BIG PRAYERS!

What is a BIG prayer you have? The one that seems impossible. (Take a few moments and pray over it together).

Persevering in Prayer

Finally, this is the hard part. We need to persevere in prayer.

Paul reminds us again to be devoted to prayer.

Romans 12:10–12 NASB95

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

Again devoted means to persevere. Sometimes when you pray you don’t see results right away. This can be discouraging. It is at times like this you must press in and press through. We call this travailing in prayer.

Travailing in Prayer

To travail in prayer means to pray with intense effort, persistence, and deep emotional engagement, often to the point of spiritual labor or struggle. This type of prayer goes beyond ordinary requests, reflecting a deep burden for a particular issue, person, or situation.

It involves pouring one’s heart out before God, much like how a woman endures labor pains before giving birth.

Isaiah 66:8 NASB95

8 “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.

This verse uses the metaphor of childbirth to describe the spiritual breakthrough that comes when Zion, symbolizing God’s people, travailed in prayer. It highlights the intense spiritual labor that leads to results.

Romans 8:26–27 NASB95

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit interceding with “groans” that words cannot express, which reflects the deep emotional and spiritual travail that sometimes occurs during intercession.

Paul has personal experience with this type of prayer. He compares it to being in labor.

Galatians 4:19 NASB95

19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—

Paul uses the metaphor of childbirth pains (travail) to describe his deep prayer and spiritual concern for the spiritual maturity of the Galatians. It highlights the labor and persistence of prayer for others’ spiritual growth.

I have never given birth, but I have experienced the birth of all my girls. I know the travailing that went forth. I heard the travailing that took place.

Too often we say a quick pray and leave it at that. When nothing happens we give in and give up.

What if we travailed? What if we just cried out to God with all we had as though we were in labor?

What if we travailed together for our lost sons and daughters?

What if we travailed together for the drug dealers in our community to come to Christ and put the dope down?

What if we travailed for those who are addicted, lost, broken?

What if we travailed for our country? What if we travailed for whomever lives in the White House?

What if we prayed about it as much as we complain about it?

2 Chronicles 7:13–14 NASB95

13 “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Closing

As we prepare to leave today, let’s remember the early church’s example, as seen in Acts 2:42:

Acts 2:42 NASB95

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

These four pillars are more than just actions; they represent a life fully committed to walking with Jesus and with each other.

1. Teaching – Let’s continue to devote ourselves to God’s Word. May we commit to not just hearing it today, but carrying it in our hearts throughout the week, seeking to grow and be transformed by His truth. Also, looking for an opportunity to share it with someone.

2. Fellowship – We are not called to walk this journey alone. Fellowship strengthens us, encourages us, and helps us bear one another’s burdens. Let us be intentional about building each other up and reaching out in love.

3. Breaking of Bread – This act of remembrance draws us back to the cross, reminding us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. May we keep His love at the center of everything we do, reflecting it in our actions toward one another.

4. Prayer – Lastly, prayer keeps us connected to the heart of God. Let’s be people who pray continually, seeking God’s guidance, expressing gratitude, and interceding for one another and for those around us.

As we close, let’s remember that these aren’t just practices for today, but for every day.

Together, we can be a community that brings hope and light to the world. Together we can impact our church and community for the Kingdom of God.

Let’s pray that we leave here renewed in purpose, bound together in love, and being devoted to living out these four foundations.