Noise_pt2: The Spirit of Prayer

1 John 5:14 NIV

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

WE! US!

There is a “spirit” that should be about us.

Something we share and live by...

A spirit of peace, as spirit of love, a spirit of joy

A SPIRIT OF PRAYER!

[PAYOFF] - We should share in prayer, together!

[STORY] - Adam splitting his pack of gum with me.

1 John 5:15 NIV

And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

If we know that He hears us - Agreement!

Agree with Him

Agree with each other!

[BACK TO STORY] - If we shared our “prayer” in the same way - What love, what agreement!!

John 17:20 NIV

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

The spirit of prayer

James 5:13–20 NIV

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Things we hear about other Christians

Fallen pastors

Certain government officials

Popular churches

Common enemy

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We share an enemy

Ephesuans 6:12

So, fighting against each other is futile, and allows our real enemy to win (and he’s already been defeated - buy Christ’s cost!)

[CURRENT EVENT] - What’s happening in Charlottesville, VA isn’t people groups against each other, it’s the plan of the enemy at work!

Shared heart

Acts 4:32 NIV

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Acts 4:34 NIV

that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

[PAYOFF] - When we share the same heart, we share everything!

One heart, one passion, one love!

We love the same thing!

United purpose

1 Corinthians 1:10 The Living Bible

But, dear brothers, I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won’t be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

Acts 4:

We must be on the same page!

Because we love Him and each other, we can be!

[PAYOFF] - Unity isn’t everyone else looking like ME, it’s US looking more like HIM!

Pray, pray, pray

1 Timothy 2:1–4 The Message

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned:

1 Timothy 2:1–7 The Message

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.

1. Pray for each other

Galatians 6:2 NIV

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 15:1 NIV

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

[PAYOFF] - Christians, we must start lifting each other up!

Stop attacking each other with opinions on Facebook!

We look stupid!

[STORY] - Pastor in my Facebook newsfeed...

Too much is at stake! We have a common enemy that is out to get us!

To confuse us. To separate us. To divert the plan of God to shine light, spread Gospel, share love!

[TRANSITION] - We can’t get trapped by our own differences. We share a mission!

2. Pray for the lost

Acts 26:17–18 NIV

I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

[PAYOFF] - “A place among” - Do the lost have a place among us at Connect Church?

Acts 4:32

Christ came for this purpose

He’s sending us for this purpose

[TRANSITION] - Still, in this world, there will be some that seem to be our enemies...

3. Pray for your enemies

Matthew 5:43–48 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Take Away

Ephesians 6:18 NIV

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Let’s live, together, in a spirit of prayer!