The Purpose of Prayer

INTRODUCTION:

My Big Idea

I’ve been to many many countries and I am so blessed to have the opportunity to see places, people and patterns of life

Heritage, Culture, Tradition and Relgion

I found several things common to different peoples

People Eat, Laugh, Love and Pray (that reminds me of the movie eat, pray, love featuring Julia Roberts back in 2010)

People prays to different idols and gods

But christians prays to the one and only living God

For christians, praying should be like breathing

Just as breathing is the response of physical life to the presence of air

So, prayer should be the response of spiritual life to the presence of God

Our biggest barriers to a prosperous prayer life is our tendency toward “independence”

I was just like some of you here today who have difficulty praying

Many years before, I was very dependent on myself that I don’t find the need to pray

The repetitive prayers that they thought me in my previous religion took the real value and meaning of prayer

The words was too impersonal because it was like some poem that we have to memorize and recite when prayer time comes

We were taught to do cycles of prayers with not just repetitive, but redundant words, contrary to what Jesus taught His disciples

Matthew 6:7–8 NCV

7 “And when you pray, don’t be like those people who don’t know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing, thinking that God will hear them because of their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

”7-8

God precisely knows all your needs because He is an omniscient God (All knowing)

But, do not get confused by this passage

Don’t say that you need not to pray because God already knows your “needs” anyway

Prayer is God’s idea

Jesus is not going to teach His disciples to pray if was not

God wants to hear you say it… tap the person on your right and say, “God wants to hear you say it!”

while He already knows what you need, He wants you to tell Him what you desire

Psalm 145:19 AMP

19 He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Prayer, Humorous

Prayer, Humorous

A little boy was saying his bedtime prayers with his mother: “Lord, bless Mommy and Daddy, and God, GIVE ME A NEW BICYCLE!!!”

Mom: “God’s not deaf, son.”

Boy: “I know, Mom, but Grandma’s in the next room, and she’s hard of hearing!

Humorous Prayer

A little boy was saying his bedtime prayers with his mother: “Lord, bless Mommy and Daddy, and God, GIVE ME A NEW BICYCLE!!!”

Mom: “God’s not deaf, son.”

Boy: “I know, Mom, but Grandma’s in the next room, and she has difficulty of hearing!

But seriously, God knows what you need, though He wants to hear what you want

If I am going to ask those who don’t have enough courage to pray to raise their hands, they might not raise their hands because if they don’t have the courage to pray, they will not have the courage to raise their hands... So, I’d rather not ask anyway…

Let me just ask the opposite…

How many of you pray at least once a day?… keep your hands raised, those who pray at least twice a day… at least 3 times a day?…

See all I need to do is to ask the opposite, to simply know who are those having difficulty praying .. those who did not raise their hands! LOL

For the next 6 weeks, we will have our 40 Days of Prayer Campaign leading towards our celebration of Easter

OVERVIEW OF THE SERIES

The Purpose of Prayer

How to Pray with Confidence

The Pattern of Prayer ( Part 1 & 2)

Praying for a Breakthrough

How to Pray in Crisis

I will begin today with the....

The Purpose of Prayer

Brief Summary of My Points

Prayer is an Act of Dedication

Prayer is an Act of Communication

Prayer is an Act of Supplication

Prayer is an Act of Cooperation

My Scripture Text/Bible Reference

Open your Bible to Daniel chapter 6

Daniel, was also known as Belteshazzar when the chief official changed his name during his exile to Babylon

Daniel is one of the 6 Major prophets, you can find the book in the Old Testament, after Ezekiel, before Hosea

Daniel has the ability to interpret dreams, and that ability catapulted him to position and popularity

The same position and popularity that brought his faith to a great challenge when king Darius issued an edict prohibiting praying to other gods in the next 30 days

It was the administrators and satraps that talked the king into it… because they’re envious that the king planned to promote Daniel

Let’s take a look at the narrative… I’ll begin in verse 10..

Daniel 6:10–22 NIV

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 13 Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

Daniel

Background and Context from my Passage

After learning about the edict from the King, Daniel still went on to pray, 3 times a day as he usually did… And that’s “Dedication”

When the satraps (in other words governors) came to check on Daniel, they saw him praying… that’s “Communication”

Daniel was asking God for help… that’s “Supplication”

Early the next morning, when the king checked on Daniel, with an anguished voice he called on Daniel, “has your living God whom you serve continually been able to rescue you from the Lions?”

Daniel answered, “My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions, they have not hurt me because I was found innocent in his sight.”.. And that’s “Cooperation” from God

Very clearly…

PRAYER IS AN ACT OF DEDICATION

We saw the kind of dedication of Daniel that when his greatest weapon became his greatest challenge, he did not waver

He remain steadfast, he kept his resolved, he continued to be firm, he was not shaken by the threat

With an Act of Dedication, he prayed

He prayed before, and not during the calamity

To borrow some of words from Pastor Rick Warren he said, “Prayer should be your first choice, not your last resort.”

Daniel 6:10 NIV

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

We saw the kind of dedication of Daniel that when his greatest weapon became his greatest challenge, he did not waver

He remain steadfast, he kept his resolved, he continued to be firm, he was not shaken by the threat

With an Act of Dedication, he prayed

He prayed before, and not during the calamity, unlike many of us… we wait until we’re in a storm before we call on God

To borrow some of words from Pastor Rick Warren he said, “Prayer should be your first choice, not your last resort.”

The biggest hindrance to “Prayer” is “Pride”

We overestimated our own abilities

We are fooled by the ads of our society… “Just do it!”… pushing people to right away do it, without praying for it!

As long as you think that you are self sufficient, you will not pray

Unless you accept that fact that apart from Jesus, you can do nothing, you will not pray

Until you make that declaration of “dependence”, you will not pray

My Scripture Text/Bible Reference

PRAYER IS AN ACT OF COMMUNICATION

My Second Point

Daniel 6:11 NIV

11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.

My Scripture Text/Bible Reference

They found Daniel praying… That’s an act of “Communication”

Daniel was communicating with God

Most of the problem in life are communication… lack, or poor, or no communication at all

You can’t know the right way to communicate unless you know the person you’re communicating with

We need to know the person you’re talking to, to be able to communicate with him effectively

We need to know God , to be able to pray effectively

When you communicate with God, you don’t have to pass through some bureaucrats in heaven

Paul said there is only one mediator between God and mankind, and that is the man Christ Jesus ()

bureaucrat

PRAYER IS AN ACT OF SUPPLICATION

Daniel 6:11 NIV

11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.

Daniel praying and asking God for help… that’s supplication

My Scripture Text/Bible Reference

Supplication is a Bible word that simply means, to make a request

God’s method of meeting your requests is through prayers

Earlier I said, God knows your need, but He also wants to hear your request…

Take a listen to what James, the brother of Jesus said...

James 4:2 GNB

2 You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.

Billy Graham said

“Heaven is full of answers to prayers, for which no one ever bothered to ask.”

PRAYER IS AN ACT OF COOPERATION

Daniel 6:22 NIV

22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

My God sent His angel… see, that’s God’s way of cooperating with Daniel’s prayer

7 times in the gospel Jesus said, “You Ask”… now why 7 times?… well, because it’s not 8, neither it was 6! LOL

Matthew 21:22 NIV

22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

My Fourth Point

Mark 6:23 NIV

23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

Mark 11:24 NIV

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Luke 11:9 NIV

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Luke 11:

John 14:13 NIV

13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 15:7 NIV

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:16 NIV

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

John 16:23 NIV

23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Our part is asking, His part is doing

Isn’t that “cooperation”?… that’s full “cooperation” from God…

If we keep on asking, He will keep on doing....

My Scripture Text/Bible Reference

APPLY THE PASSAGE:

On May 9, 2014 I experienced the power of prayer… (show photos)

It was high noon, and I was to preach before hundreds of inmates at the National Prison in Muntinlupa, Philippines

We were under a small shaded stage while the inmates was in an open basketball court, under the scorching heat of the sun

At the early part of my preaching, I prayed, and I boldly asked God to send some clouds to provide some shade for the inmates as they listen

Not long after I prayed, as I was preaching, clouds started to form over my audience, and cold breeze of air started to blow gently through us

People were cheering for the relief… and as soon as I ended my preaching, the cloud disappeared, and sun shined so bright again! Amazing!

CONCLUSION/EXHORTATION:

That’s why we’re studying prayers for the next 40 Days, and I pray that with your dedication, you will learn to communicate your request (supplication) to have the cooperation that you need from God

This will give new hope to your life

If you’re lacking in life, simply because you’re not asking

Every breakthrough begins in a prayer

I know that everyone of you needs a breakthrough

Maybe a breakthrough from your estranged marriage, or from troubled finances, or maybe you’re battling cancer or other disease

Maybe your job stinks, or you’re looking for one or aspiring to be promoted

Or maybe your in a “rut”, you’re stocked and you feel like you’re not getting anywhere

I want you to close your eyes… and I want you to think of one thing that you could ask from God

What’s your greatest need right now?..

What’s your greatest worries right now?..

Let one thing pop up in your mind right now… and remember what that one thing is… and begin praying for it…

This series can change our life forever…

Are you ready to ask?