Pray Like You Mean It!

What is the one thing we should be doing as Christians more than anything? Is it reading His Word, Witnessing, Praying, Living Holy Lives? Which is it?

Intro

Illus: When on duty at the hospital I begrudged one time one aspect of my job. I would often get a call at 4:30 AM, to go and pray with someone before surgery. I was tired, exhausted, often up most of the night being with someone whose family member was dying. The last thing I wanted to do was get out of bed and go and pray with someone before surgery.

I remember one day walking down the hall grumbling and complaining about it when God stopped me in my tracks:

“Isn’t prayer a joy and blessing?”

“Isn’t prayer important?”

“Why are you complaining about coming before my throne through my Son why saved you through prayer?”

As Christians we are often led astray by our own heart, emotions, feelings, desires, etc . . .

How do we get reoriented?

Prayer

Drama

Jesus ascension

Disciples return

Doctrine (Biblical Truths)

Jesus ascended

Exaltation

First, he was exalted in his resurrection

Now, in his ascension

WLC Q 53

“visibly went up into the highest heavens”

“to receive gifts for men.”

Ephesians 4:8–16 ESV

Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:8–16 ESV

Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

“to raise up our affections”

Col

Colossians 3:1–2 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

We should be focused on thins above

“to prepare a place for us”

A reminder this is not our home

Jesus will return (Vs. 11)

WLC “and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the world.”

This truth must be held because without it we have no hope

Our hope is in the fact that Jesus is ruler over all and vanquishes our enemies

This is our “blessed hope”

While we wait we should come together and pray (12-14)

“with one accord”

united as based on truths of Scripture

We may disagree but, we should always base that off of Scripture

We must be willing to submit to authority

“devoting themselves to prayer”

This devotion was in anticipation of the HS

- Revival/Spiritual Warfare

Ajith Fernando - 1850’s the US “was in a weak spiritual state.”

1857 - Jeremiah Lanphier, a 46 year old business man, started holding prayer meetings in New York City. It was open to anyone. The first day he prayed alone for the first 30 minutes. By the end of the hour 6 men from four denominations joined him. 20 came the next week. 40 the following week. Soon, they were meeting daily. The group swelled to over 100 people. Within 6 months it was nationwide and tens of thousands were meeting daily in New York City alone. In North American history this is known as the “Great Awakening” that lasted around 2 whole years. Over 2 million people were led to Christ over this time period.

App: We don’t need programs or special gimmicks tp share Christ. No, we first need to devote ourselves to prayer for the lost.

What does it mean to be devoted?

How much time should we spend praying?

Paul says: “pray without ceasing”

Matthew Henry - “When God wants to do something special in the world, he first gets his people to start praying.”

App: We need to start praying. It need not be an afterthought in our Christian walk and discipline. We need to be in prayer often and much. If you want this church to grow, if you want to see God do something in Thomson, then we need to be on our knees in much prayer.

We need to value each person as valuable to the Kingdom of God

“together with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus”

The Work of Jesus had accomplished breaking down cultural barriers

God’s kingdom is not concerned with race, sex, status, geography, etc . . .

Paul -

Galatians 3:28 ESV

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Illus: Women’s ministry of the church

There is male leadership in our church, and it is biblical and is to be submitted to and accepted

Yet, let us not be so imbalanced that we neglect the fact that the prayers of women and men are equal in God’s eyes

Ministry is accomplished by all with various gifts and talents

App: What are your gifts and talents, how can you serve this church as a part of God’s kingdom?

Doxology

Knowing biblical truths form how we pray

Jesus ascension accomplishes unity within the body through various gifts - producing an ability for unity

Let us thank him for unity and seek to be unified as a body of believers

App: God has called us to work together within His Kingdom

Is

Isaiah 62:6–7 ESV

On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.