Prayer Precedes Week - 8
Notes
Transcript
Good morning and welcome to Living Faith Church. I am so excited to be able to worship Jesus Christ with you on this amazing Sunday. If we have never met before, my name is Aaron. My wife Stella and I are honored to be able to serve on the Pastoral team at LFC. Today we are in the 8th week of this series on Prayer.
The more I pray — the more I am convinced that it is impossible for me to
Spend too much time praying
Waste a moment by praying
After all that I have seen God do; how could I ever not believe that God can do anything? Yet, it all of this… some of the most costly decision we make are not the rebellious decisions, they are prayerless decisions.
In 2000 I went to work for a start up graphic design company. We started out as a subsidiary of a sign company producing flat stock designs - business cards, flyers, posters, etc. After a big fight between the CEO of the sign company and the manager of the subsidiary, my boss decided it was time to move out and start her own company. We found a cool little space to set up shop, but we didn’t have any computers. It just so happened that just a week prior, Stella and I had received an add from the Dell computer company offering a $5,000 line of credit. That was just enough money for 3 computers. We saw no harm, this start up had great people, we were destined for success. We purchased the computers under the handshake agreement that the business would pay us back once it hit a profit. We worked hard, made sales calls, visited potential customers, emailed everyone I ever knew offering logo design services, but the company was not taking off fast enough. We missed our first rent payment, and soon our owner was taking out loan for payroll. The next pay date came along and we were all laid off. Leaving Stella and I with three very expensive computers, $5,000 in debt — and no job.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
What we mean by prayer precedes is: Prayer comes before the decision, before the meeting, before the purchase, before the confrontation, the business launch or that text message. It means that we literally let prayer be foundation upon which our life stands.
Dr. Mark Jones in his book - a strategy for prayer in the Local church shows this graphic.
SHOW GRAPHIC: Prayer -> Vision ->Prayer -> Strategy -> Prayer -> Execution -> Prayer -> Results -> Prayer -> Management
Jesus prayed before His sermon in Matthew 11
Jesus prayed before feeding the 5000 John 6
Jesus prayed before raising Lazarus from the dead John 11
Jesus prayed before Judas betrayal John 17
Jesus prayed in the Garden before His crucifixion Matthew 26
Jesus prayed on the cross before His death Matthew 27
Prayer Precedes Is Seeking First His Kingdom
Prayer Precedes Is Seeking First His Kingdom
33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
When speaking about prayer and decision making, I find it critical for each believer to first consult ones heart and ask an honest question; “who’s kingdom am I trying to build”?
Years ago someone sought out my counsel on their dating relationship. They struggled to hear the will of God regarding the future of the relationship. As we talked it was evident that they were not only uncertain of Gods will, but fearful of Gods will. They wanted God to bless the relationship, but they did not want God to disapprove of the relationship. The counsel I gave to this person is council that applies to every aspect of our life. Until you come to the place where you desire Gods will, whether that be favorable or unfavorable, you will not hear Gods voice.
To seek Gods will is to seek His righteousness, or to seek being in right standing with the law of God. I love that in my Bible, the section of verses from Matthew 6:25-34 caries the heading “The Cure for Anxiety”. The more we seek Gods kingdom and righteousness, the less anxiety we have. Anxiety is the byproduct of an un-surrendered will. It is the byproduct of attempting to make our way work without Gods delight.
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
When I honestly believe that God cares for me, I have no problem giving every plan over to Him. Therefore, when we fail to pray, the truth of our heart is revealed:
We seek our own kingdom, even to the expense of Heavens Kingdom.
We seek our own kingdom , even when it means living under constant stress.
We seek our own kingdom, even at the expense of our relationship with God.
Prayerlessness is the opposite of seeking first the Kingdom of God. Seeking first is more than placing a prayer at the beginning of a schedule. Seeking first is giving God authority.
Prayer Precedes Establishes Our Steps
Prayer Precedes Establishes Our Steps
We ask not only, “will you bless my plans” but, “What is your will? What honors your kingdom? What should I do?” Prayer doesn’t replace the work of planning, rather, prayer makes planning dependent upon God.
21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
Prayer says, I have done my due diligence, but Lord, will you counsel me; Lord will you sustain me; Lord will you be my shield?
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
That word established [ H: kwn (ka-FAV-noon)] means “to make ready, to fix, to appoint, to confirm, to direct”
Hanna, after giving brith to Samuel, prayed a prayer of thanks to the Lord:
9 “He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail.
The Psalmist David prayed:
2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
Again in Psalm 66
9 Who keeps us in life And does not allow our feet to slip.
5 Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes!
When we allow God to establish our steps, He takes delight in our ways.
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
Matthew Poole’s Commentary on the Holy Bible, Volumes 1–3 Psalm 37
And he delighteth in his way;
For many believers, the reason we struggle in our lives is because we have not allowed God to establish our steps. We have stepped out on our own plans without Gods counsel — when we put our trust in God, we attract His favor, His joy, and His blessing.
Let’s make something really clear: It doesn’t matter if your decision is the right decision or the wrong decision If you have not sought the Lord. It’s not about “perfect will” — It’s about fearing God.
When we seek Him, we attract His delight and favor.
11 The Lord favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.
Prayer Precedes—God Prevails
Prayer Precedes—God Prevails
Prayer does not end when the decision is made. We pray before the decision, while taking the steps, and after the outcome begins to unfold. When we say, “Prayer Precedes,” we mean that we place more than the decision to act—or even the way we act—into the hands of God. We also place what happens afterward into His hands.
A prayer-soaked decision is a surrendered decision. We surrender the plan, the process, the timing, the consequences, and the results.
9 The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
We are a smart people, we know how to make smart decision. But there is not a person alive who can with certainty predict the future. Only God knows time and eternity. We make plans, but we do not control everything our plans produce. We cannot predict every complication, prevent every disappointment, or manage every person involved. We cannot see what is waiting around the next corner—but God can. Prayer acknowledges that God is already standing in the future we cannot see.
This does not mean every prayer-soaked decision will produce an easy future. It does not mean we will avoid opposition, disappointment, suffering, or delay. It means that even when the outcome looks different from what we expected, it remains under the providential care of God.
Prayer does not guarantee that my plan will prevail.
Prayer guarantees that God’s purpose will prevail.
21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
We often measure the success of prayer by whether we received the result we wanted. But sometimes God answers prayer by blessing the plan, sometimes by changing the plan, and sometimes by allowing the plan to die so that His greater purpose can live. If I have sincerely sought His kingdom, submitted my steps, and obeyed what He placed before me, then I do not have to live tormented by the outcome. I can trust God with what happens next.
In Acts 16 we see the Apostle Paul in full Pauline greatness.
While in Derbe and Lystra Paul picks up young Timothy as his ministry partner.
They are passing along the new decree (found in Acts 15) that gives great liberty to the gentile believers.
Churches are being strengthened - Acts 16:5
Churches are increasing! Acts 16:5
When all of a sudden Paul hits a wall.
Acts 16:6
6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
Verse 7 they hit another wall —
Acts 16:7
7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
Finally, Paul receives a vision from God about His next step
9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Now that Paul has a direction from God, we would assume that the Lord would make things work peacefully, in Pauls favor, without hindrances. But that is not the case.
Acts 16:22-24
22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods.
23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely;
24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
From the outside, it could have appeared that Paul had misunderstood God. How could a God-directed decision end in a prison cell? At this point, most of us would assume that we had heard God wrong, that we had misunderstood God.
But at midnight, Paul and Silas began praying and singing hymns. Suddenly, an earthquake opened the prison doors. The jailer and his household received salvation, and a church was established in Philippi.
The prison was not evidence that God had lost control.
The prison became the place where God prevailed.
When prayer precedes, setbacks do not get the final word. Opposition does not get the final word. Delay does not get the final word. Even our limited understanding does not get the final word. God does.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Notice that Paul does not say all things are good. Some things are painful. Some things are disappointing. Some things do not make sense when they first occur. But God is able to take all things and work them together for His purpose. When prayer precedes, I can say:
“I sought Your kingdom”
“I allowed You to establish my steps”
“Now Lord, I trust you with the results”
I do not have to manipulate the outcome. I do not have to force open a door God has closed. I do not have to keep something alive that God has allowed to end. I do not have to panic when the process becomes more difficult than I expected.
Salvation Response
Salvation Response
Prayer does not guarantee that my plan will prevail. Prayer guarantees that God’s purpose will prevail. That truth brings us to a moment of decision. Because God cannot prevail in the places we refuse to surrender. We cannot pray, “Your kingdom come,” while continuing to protect our own kingdom.
There are two groups of people in this room today, and I believe God is calling both groups to respond.
Surrender Your Kingdom
Surrender Your Kingdom
The first group is those of you who believe in God, love God, and would genuinely call yourselves Christians—but if you are honest, you have been living for your own kingdom.
You want God in your life, but you still want control of your life. You want His blessing, but you want it attached to your plans. You want Him to establish your steps, but you have already decided where those steps must lead.
Your kingdom may be the career you are determined to pursue—even though God has been dealing with you about its effect on your family, your integrity, or your spiritual life.
It may be a relationship you know is pulling you away from God. You have asked God to bless it, but you have never honestly asked whether He wants you in it.
It may be a financial decision, a personal ambition, an offense you refuse to release, a habit you continue to defend, or a future you have already planned without seeking the Lord.
It is not that you do not believe in God. It is not that you do not love Him. But somewhere along the way, you began loving your kingdom more than His.
Today, God is not calling you to add Him to your kingdom. He is calling you to lay your kingdom down and seek His.
Maybe your prayer today needs to be:
“Lord, I have been asking You to bless what I want, but today I surrender what I want. I give You my plans, my relationships, my ambitions, my future, and my need for control. Your kingdom come. Your will be done.”
If that is you, I want you to respond right now. You know the area God has placed His finger upon. Do not negotiate with Him. Do not practice creative avoidance. Get out of your seat and come to one of these prayer partners. My responsibility is obedience. The outcome belongs to God.
Surrender Your Life
Surrender Your Life
The second group present today is those of you who do not know Jesus. You have never surrendered your life to Him or received Him as your Lord and Savior.
You may believe that God exists. You may have attended church or even prayed when you needed help. But you have continued carrying the responsibility of being your own lord—directing your own steps, building your own kingdom, and trying to manage the weight of your own sin.
Jesus did not come merely to improve the kingdom you have built. He came to rescue you from sin, give you new life, and become the Lord of your life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We know that sin leads to death – you’ve felt the sting, and pain of sin. The good news is this, Paul calls God’s gift of life a “free gift”. I want to pray with you right now to receive this gift. If you would say, I want God’s forgiveness, I want to accept this gift of life, I want Jesus to live in my heart, raise your hand so I know who I am praying for.
**KEEP YOUR HANDS RAISED HIGH - I HAVE A PRAYER PARTNER COMING TO PRAY WITH YOU **
“Heavenly Father, I trust You to save me through Your Son, Jesus. Forgive me for all of my sins. Make me brand new. Because You died for me, I want to live for You. Fill me with Your Spirit, so I could follow You. Jesus, You’re now my Lord and the Savior of my life. Take my life. It is Yours. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”
