Practical Discipleship- Drive By Praying

Intro

Do you ever pray while you are driving around in the car or truck. Do you ever praise God for the good things. Do you ever dwell on Him and those he has put you in contact with....

READING: 1 Thessalonians 5:117

1 Thessalonians 5:16–19 ESV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.

We have looked at this verse many, many times… and simply we know that Paul taught us that we are to pray “without ceasing” ().

1 Thessalonians 5:15–18 ESV

15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

17 pray without ceasing,

1 Thessalonians 5:17–19 ESV

17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.

READING: 

1 Thessalonians 5:15–17 ESV

15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing,

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

17 pray without ceasing,

We have looked at this verse many, many times… and simply we know that Paul taught us that we are to pray “without ceasing” ().

How can we do this?

How would you do that?

I was talking to a old professor, and he was talking about the of drive by praying...

Now I have talked about that in the past when pray to God and we fail to stop and listen to what God has to say…

But this is a completely different way of praying… it is talking the opportunity to take in our surroundings as we go here and there, to and fro and see what God has in store for us...

So one of the practical ways we can do this is to utilize “drive-by praying” any time we’re in the car. As you drive, watch for these opportunities to pray:

1 Thessalonians 5 ESV

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

1 Thessalonians 5 ESV

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

So I thought of this...

One of the practical ways we can do this is to utilize “drive-by praying” any time we’re in the car. As you drive, watch for these opportunities to pray:

Paul taught us that we are to pray “without ceasing” (). One of the practical ways we can do this is to utilize “drive-by praying” any time we’re in the car. As you drive, watch for these opportunities to pray:

“For Sale” signs in front yards. Pray for the family who’s leaving and the family who will be buying the home.

Pray they will know Jesus personally.

Public school buildings. I doubt I need to explain much about praying for the safety of students and staff, for the believers’ witness in those schools, and for the protection of students living in unhealthy or dangerous situations.

Hospitals. Inside those walls are people facing life and death issues. They need our prayers.

Worship sites for other world faiths.

Pray, for example, for those attending the local mosque. Ask God to make Himself known to them.

Government buildings. It’s easy to get frustrated with government leaders when we’re not praying for them. Change that pattern in your life by praying for leaders.

Children and teens you pass.You never know, but you might be the only person praying for them that day.

Church buildings.How many churches do you pass on the way to your church on Sunday—but you don’t pray for them?  Pray that the gospel will be preached when those congregations gather.

As you drive, you might also pray for drivers who seem to be frustrated,

First responders on their way to an emergency, and School bus drivers transporting children throughout the day.

In fact, you can come up with all kinds of opportunities to pray even during a short trip.

And consider this… rejoice always.... in the midst of praying, can we find joy, can we find true joy in praying for the blessing and peace of the Lord in our life and in the lives.

And then this last phrase, do not quench the Spirit… Stifle… do not stop or put our the leadership of the Holy Spirit in your life...

In all these matters that we have seen today, they are speak to areas where the Lord might lead us to pray, stop and help others. Follow the Lord’s leadership in your life.

PRAYER: “God, teach me to pray any time I get in the car.”