Prayer

More Than Just Talking

Prayer is___________?

This is a question that when we look at it all begins with me we must fundamentally answer. Last week we began with our heart. The mild, casual christianity is not going to cut it anymore in regards to the prayer being our priority and missions being our heartbeat. We can’t go on living with a well I’ll get it to it mentality. We must devote ourselves to prayer and the mission of God. You can trace throughout scripture an over arching theme and that is when we live on mission we will be living in the business of God and that is redemption. Redemption begins in our hearts and carries over but the only way we can sustain that is through prayer. We can not create or sustain. Our job is stay connected to and that brings life. So the question of prayer is? Is a fundamental question as we dive into It all begins with me and we look at the foundations we are building on. What does it mean that prayer is our priority?

Prayer is not something that I do; prayer is something that I am.

Warren W. Wiersbe

True prayer is measured by weight, not by length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length. The Secret Of Power In Prayer, Volume 34, Sermon #2002 - John 15:7

Charles Spurgeon

Prayer as priority is not something i do its who we are.

English Standard Version Chapter 19

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”

Jesus here is quoting Isaiah 56:7 “these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.””

My house is a house of prayer for all peoples. Prayer as priority is our lifeline to God. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Its John 15:7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:1–3 ““I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”

We see that Jesus is telling his disciples that we are to stay connected to Him. He is the vine we are the branches our lifeline depends on our connectivity to the Father. We can’t connect with the father in a true unmistakable way if we are not making prayer a priority. Now that does not mean that we pray about every little decision that we must make. We don’t have to pray about the clothes we put on in the morning if we are to brush our teeth or shower, but you better be praying for direction in your life that day. How can we live in a world that we are to ambassadors for Christ if we don’t know the plans of the kingdom. The way we connect is through prayer. A house of prayer is a place where prayer is the currency of the house. We are not exchanging our prayers for answers we are merely communicating with our creator. He is the one who gives the orders and calls us to go and do. So must first know His plans and the only way we connect is through prayer. Prayer is priority when we choose to do that than anything else. Prayer is priority when we turn to prayer instead of turning to friends, self help books, and our own agenda. Prayer is the calling on the creator of the universe to come and dwell amongst us. Acts 2 tells us that they devoted themselves to prayer. Prayer in the NT church was priority. Acts 2 we see the church flourish because they were devoted to prayer. In acts 3 the first recorded miracle after Jesus ascension is happening on the way to prayer. Acts 3:1–3 “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.”

He was asking for alms but they were going to prayer. Others may be doing other things but we should be going to prayer. It has been said that of the welsh revival the way they counted salvations was not those who prayed but those who were in the prayer room the next day why because prayer is our priority its our connection to God is the only way we can sustain and live. We can not go on without prayer in our lives. David was credited many times that he enquired of the Lord. Why because he didn’t want to lose or go anywhere without the power and presence of God in His life.

In acts 4 peter and john are dealt with because they saw the lame man healed. Yet it was their preaching that made them mad. It was boldness by the Holy Spirit that gave them the ability to speak God’s word and see people saved. It was prayer. The NT church was birthed out of prayer meeting when are we going to be so hungry for God that we forgoe other things for prayer. Prayer is what brought about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Acts 4 they are released from the Pharisees and Sadducees and they return home

English Standard Version Chapter 4

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Prayer was not just something they did but it was who they are. Prayer was dedication to the mission. If Missions is our heartbeat and it starts with me its birthed our prayer. We can no longer be ok with prayer as a secondary or third decision but it must be our first priority. Prayer must be the clarion call of the church. Prayer must be the place that our worlds collide. We meet in the prayer room and we prayer not for ourselves but for others, we pray for the spiritually dead, we pray for those who are sick in body, we pray for our city, for the drugs to cease, for the addiction to be broken, we pray against corruption and the fear of man. We ask God to meet us and change us, We thank God for this goodness and mercy. Prayer is our lifeline to the Father. There is a story that is circulated quite often in regards to Billy Graham who was a voice to the nations in response to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He saw thousands come to the stage and give their lives to the Lord this story however traces back to the 40’s when Billy was but a student.

There’s a story of a group of college students who went to visit the home of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church. They noticed there were indentions on the floor of his room where he knelt to pray each day. After the tour, the class loaded on their bus. When the teacher counted, there was one missing. He went back through the property looking for the student and found him kneeling in those imprints praying, “Do it again, Lord. Do it again!” The teacher quietly walked up, tapped Billy Graham on the shoulder and let him know they had to leave. Billy was not just a good man but he saw thousands come to know Jesus. Every revival throughout history can be traced back to someone praying. Prayer changes the way we function, the way we live, the way we act towards others Prayer truly is our priority. It has to be if we are going to see the Kingdom of God advance. We here at NPC believe fully in the power of prayer. We stand on the fact that prayer changes things and that it our life line to Heaven. We also know that prayer is not simply talking to God but its being obedient and listening as God speaks. There is a time of prayer that we listen a time we speak and time we do. Prayer is not mechanical its not formula driven but its about communing with our creator.

As I was looking back through my notes of alone time with God, I saw this note i wrote a few weeks ago. The question is what needs circled. It comes from the story of Honi

Honi the Circle Maker is a legendary sage from ancient Israel (around 100 BCE) famous for his powerful prayers, especially for rain during droughts, earning his name by drawing a circle in the dust and refusing to leave until God answered. The story, found in the Talmud, details how Honi would pray within this circle, asking for specific types of rain, from a drizzle to a full downpour, and even a gentle, gracious rain, saving his people from severe drought through his bold, intimate dialogue with God.

There are things in our lives that God asks us to circle here is what I felt like God was asking of me and now I feel like I am asking of you.

WHAT IS GOD CALLING US TO?

Consistency beats intensity every single time! 

The aftermath of our consistency is the miracle of Him meeting our need! 

Jericho wasn’t destroyed by one walk but 13 it was not easy it was not fun but it was important. 

Don’t destroy the plans for lack of movement! Keep pushing keep doing it and see what God does! 

The law of measures. What you give is given back to you

Pray read pray read pray read pray read….don’t stop short don’t stop without His approval!

He is the gate keeper of your miracle!

He is the one who plans and decides He is the one who calls us to greater things!

Plan practice practice practice practice and let it become so intrinsic that you aren’t worried about competing against others but you are concerned with how you measure up to you!!

Are you better than you were before, do you have room for improvement then keep going keep pushing and keep doing! 

Prayer creates moments of worship: Worship creates moments of experience: Experience creates moments of encounter: Encounter creates moments of prayer

I heard the Lord say Desire for me creates desire for My will.

Private Prayer results in public power

Prayer is our priority. Lets create knee impressions for the next generation. Prayer is the desire of our heart and the call our soul. Prayer is our priority.

So today the challenge is simple Prayer. I belive we are to end this service in prayer we are going to pray through a few topics together. We are going to worship and pray and prayer is our priority. Prayer happens every week at this church Sunday mornings at 10a We meet in prayer. Every Sunday we pray for our service we pray for the presence of God and we pray that we touch heaven and change earth. So tonight we will be in the prayer room at 5p for our worship night at 6p we will pray and then we will worship together. I want to challenge you today to make prayer a priority. You may say I don’t know how to pray well good thing that we have developed a prayer guide for the week each day praying for something specific and prayer for our church and city. So today here is the ending to this thing Prayer

Prayer points for Altar

*Repentance Psalm 139:23–24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

*The Lost Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.””

*Students Matthew 19:14 “but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.””

*Healing Malachi 4:1–2 ““For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.”

*City Jeremiah 29:7 “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

*Church Isaiah 6:1–5 “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!””

*Revival Ezekiel 36:22–23 ““Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.”