10. Real Prayer - A Prayer Hearing & Prayer answering God

Introduction

The strength of our church will be directly attributed to the prayer life of our members.

"Prayer is the spark plug that sets in motion the work of God" Unknown

The early church was characterized by prayer

Acts 1:13–14 KJV 1900

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

1. Their Attitude - "one accord" - agreement - harmony of mind - symphony

2. Their Action - "in prayer and supplication" - there was a humility and earnestness about their prayers

If we are going to accomplish anything worthwhile, it must begin and continue through prayer.

Philippians 4:6 KJV 1900

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Quote: I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day. - Abraham Lincoln

We are going to discuss two aspects about prayer that are wonderfully displayed for us in God's word.

Psalm 65:1-13

God is a Prayer Hearing & Prayer answering God

I. It is His Nature

"thou that hearest prayer"

One of the hardest things for us to believe is that God- the God of David, the God of Daniel, the God of Elijah and the God of Paul is the very same God that we pray to today.

Malachi 3:6 KJV 1900

For I am the LORD, I change not; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Hebrews 13:8 KJV 1900

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

God describes himself in his word as "thou that hearest prayer"

Prayer speaks to us about Gods attributes:

1. A Prayer Hearing and answering God - is a living God

1 Kings 18:26 KJV 1900

And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

2. A Prayer Hearing and answering God - is all knowing

He can hear the cry of all creation all people at the same time in every place.

3. A Prayer Hearing and answering God - has all power

Rain to pour

Soil to bring forth crops

Sun to stand still

Joshua 10:12–13 KJV 1900

Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, Until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, And hasted not to go down about a whole day.

4. A Prayer Hearing and answering God - is a miracle working God

When someone gets saved

When someone gets well

When something happens that can only be attributed to God

5. A Prayer Hearing and answering God - is a God of infinite love and mercy

We do not deserve Gods mercy or his grace yet he gives it. Our ability to bring our petition to God shows us his love and mercy towards sinful man.

Not only is prayer hearing and prayer answering part of God's nature it is also absolutely necessary for you and I!

II. It is our Necessity

"unto thee shall all flesh come"

A. The "why" we must come

1. Because of our Sin

"iniquities prevail against me....thou shalt purge them away"

1 John 1:8–9 KJV 1900

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Do you have a "besetting sin" something that you cannot seem to get victory over?

2. Because of our Satisfaction

"that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house"

The only way to truly be satisfied is to come close to God in his courts. Verse 3 says "blessed is the man" - in other words happy is the man that spends time on his knees before God and takes seriously his need to approach God and enter into his presence.

3. Because of His Strength

"which by His strength setteth fast the mountains"

When we spend time in prayer we can be reminded of His strength.

Hebrews 11:3 KJV 1900

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4. Because of His Stillness

"which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves"

Illustration: The Ocean is loud

Survey Says - The Ocean is really loud!

by Mark Floyd Oregon State News & Research Communication Friday, August 30th 2013

"...at times, the biggest contributor to the low-frequency sound budget is from the surf breaking on the beach a few kilometers away," he added. "That's where Oregon trumps most other places. There haven't been a lot of studies targeting surf-generated sound and its effect on ambient noise levels in the coastal ocean, but the few that are out there show a lot less noise than we have. Our waves are off the charts."

Another unusual source of noise was the wind. Even at 50 meters below the surface, the hydrophone picked up sound from the wind - but not in the way one might think. It wasn't the howling of the wind that was noticeable, Haxel said, but the ensuing waves, known as "whitecaps" or "wind chop," and the clouds of bubbles that were injected into the water column.

Mark 4:35-41

Many times my heart has been overwhelmed and the waves have been calmed and stilled by a season of prayer. In this story Jesus was sleeping but as He is seated on the right hand of God he never sleeps and he is willing to calm the storm that seems to be raging in your heart.

Psalm 46:10 KJV 1900

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

5. Because of His Supply

"Thou visitest the earth"

Matthew 6:27-34

Here the Psalmist reminds us of all that God has done to provide for our earthly needs. We would not last a single moment without his providing hand and it can be seen all around us. Even though He has provided he still wants us to ask.

B. The "how" we must come

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

1. We must believe that He is

"believe that he is"

Believe that He is exactly who He says he is.

Faith begins by grasping this one great, basic, essential fact: there is a true and living God. The Bible does not begin by seeking to prove that God is but simply states it as an incontrovertible fact: "In the beginning God"- John Phillips

2. We must believe that He will

"and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him"

James 1:6 KJV 1900

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.