Persistence in Prayer

Speak briefly about Friday night and the fun that we had with the Nerf Dart Exchange!

Well, let me ask you something real quickly from last week’s message. I don’t really want a show of hands, for this question, but rather, I just want to emphasize something from the message that I gave last week.

For those of you who you who were here and heard the message last week, how many of you have really put some deep thought into the matter of getting out of your comfort zones and stepping out in faith for the Kingdom of God?

I spoke last week about leaving the familiar places in our lives, leaving the comfort zones in our lives and walking in faith and serving the Lord.

I mentioned that we become so accustomed to the “status quo” in our lives, that we never feel compelled to move out in the unknown.

And even when we do, if we feel the least bit uncomfortable, we instinctively turn back and return to the our familiar places, our comfort zones.

That is, we have a “plan B”, to fall back on.

That was the reason for me telling behind the song, “Burn the Ships” by for King and Country, which was based upon the explorer who gave the order to burn his fleet, so that the crewmen had no where else to go, except forward and follow him into exploring the unknown regions of the new island!

I think that we all have, or like to have our “plan B”s, right?!

Who doesn’t like to think that if you step out a little into the unfamiliar places in life and try something new, and if it doesn’t work, you have the familiar and comfortable “plan B” option to fall back on?

Just like if I was still working in the secular world and practicing Physical Therapy as I used to, and I wanted to try a new job, with a new company, I would absolutely love it, if my existing employer would say to me like, “Hey Chris, it’s OK, go ahead and try out the new job, with the new company. If you like it and it they turn out to be a better company and with better pay and benefits, then great! We support that and want the best for you. But, if you get there and it’s not what you thought it was going to be and you don’t really like the new job, we want you to know that your old job is going to be right here waiting for you, should you decide to come back. We will be your “plan B”!’

I mean, come on, who wouldn’t want a fool proof offer like that?

Every time that you step out into the unknown and get nervous, you can ALWAYS just return to where you came from, with no chance of getting hurt and never having to face discomfort and various trials!

And that is why, large and in part, that I gave the message that I did last week. Because you and I, as followers of Christ Jesus, were not called out of the familiar places and into the Kingdom of God, only to feel uncomfortable and uneasy and unsure, and turn tail and run back to our former life and its familiarities and comforts.

God doesn’t call us from the familiar into more familiarity!

He’ll challenge you and I to see if we will follow and trust in Him, or turn back and cling to the idols and things of our old life that were comfortable and familiar to us!

This is what we find in , where the Lord says,

Isaiah 42:15–17 ESV

15 I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools. 16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. 17 They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, “You are our gods.”

Isaiah 42:16–18 ESV

16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. 17 They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, “You are our gods.” 18 Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see!

Isaiah 42:16–17 ESV

16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. 17 They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, “You are our gods.”

The Lord calls us out of the world and its ways, and in doing so, He will to take us by the hand and lead us into the paths that He has for us and for our new lives in Him!

He wants our eyes focused upon Him and Him alone, at all times.

Just as He called Abraham out of his country and into a foreign land, with nothing familiar and nothing of comfort, so He has called us out of our familiar places in this world and into the kingdom!

That was the impetus for my message last week; getting out of the familiar and not looking back!

And as I gave the message last week, I closed it by mentioning to you that we have been blessed as a family here at Cumberland Worship Center, with this facility and the grounds that it sets on and its prime location.

This really is an excellent location where our building sets at and this facility is designed to host people and to share the gospel message, with the masses.

This place is going to become a beacon for the lost and the hurting, as the gospel message goes forth in truth and authority.

And the years of prayers and prophecies and hours of preparation that many have put into this church, are going to finally see everything come to fruition and glorify our great God and Savior!

And for this reason, I asked you last week to very prayerfully consider stepping out in faith and beginning to take ownership in your church here at CWC.

If there is an existing need within the building itself, or a need in serving in a department, then step up in ownership and meet the need.

And not half halfheartedly, but to the absolute best of your ability.

Because, the Bible says to you and I, that in everything that we do, whether we eat ,or drink, or whatever we do, we are to do everything to the glory of God!

And if this passage is talking about actions in our daily lives, then how much more do you think that it applies to our direct service to the Lord and His kingdom and watching over and taking care of the vessels/buildings that He has entrusted to us as part of our work in His kingdom?!

I’m not wanting to grow a church, there are already about 160 of those in this county.

I want to grow a family! A family who takes pride in what God has entrusted to them and who comes together, every time that these doors are open, to worship our Lord and Savior and to proclaim His glory and excellence to the people all around this area.

I want the lost and the hurting of this area to hear and to know, that this building is now, “Freedom Central”.

Because, in this place the TRUTH is continually going to go forth in love and in authority and wherever people hear the TRUTH of the gospel message, the Bible says that they will become set FREE!

And whoever the Son sets FREE, shall be FREE indeed! Amen?!

Please do not misunderstand what I am saying, about this place. I am not saying that we are the only part of the Body of Christ in Cumberland County that is teaching the gospel truth.

And I am not saying that we are better than any of the other church buildings in this area, because I personally know several pastors in this area who teach the truth and who love the Lord with all of their hearts! I also know of a lot of other brothers and sisters in Christ in this county, who attend other places that they call their church home and who are sold out to serving the Lord and serving in their church families!

But here’s the thing though, I wasn’t called to shepherd those other flocks! This is where God has brought me and placed me as a shepherd and you are the body that He has entrusted to me!

And as long as God almighty allows me to serve this body, I will do so and do it according to the way that He designed it to be done; according to His Word!

Listen to this passage real quick and of how the first church operated. says,

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The original church body devoted themselves to the teachings of the leadership and to fellowship and to sharing in communion and to praying! The people were like minded in the Lord and they were always looking after one another as brothers and sisters. They were going to each other’s homes and sharing meals with glad hearts for one another and always PRAISING GOD!

And the Lord added to their numbers day by day, those who were being saved!

Who............who added to the number of those being saved according to this passage? Was it the planning committee, or the deacons or the elders of the church?

Was it the pastor or ministerial board of the church? Was it the finance committee and the trustees?

NO!!!!!!! It was the Lord and the Lord only!

Some plant and some water, but it is always God who brings the increase!

Having said all of that, there is one part of the passage from , that I just read, that I want to focus on this morning. And that one part is found within the opening sentence of the passage, that reads, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

The original body of Christ, His ekklesia, as it was called in the Greek, which was birthed on the day of Pentecost, had several traits which are absolutely necessary within the body of Christ today.

They were devoted to the teachings of the apostles and to fellowship with one another and to the taking of communion. There were signs and wonders being done within the body through the apostles, as the people were meeting daily in each other’s homes to share meals, with grateful hearts and to continually praise God.

And, they were devoted together in PRAYER!

They were “devoted” together in prayer. That word, “devoted”, as it used in the original Greek writings means, “to continue to do something with intense effort!

I know that I have talked off and on over the last half of this past year about the subject of PRAYER and I have said that we were going to move into a more dedicated service for, just PRAYER, in our Wednesday evening meetings, and that is exactly what we are going to do!

We are going to meet to PRAY!

How many of us here today, or those of you who are logged in and watching live, could say with assurance, that your prayer life to the Lord God, could be described as “devoted”. That is, your prayer life to the Lord is something that you continue to do, with INTENSE EFFORT?!

I know that mine is not at that place right now!

The disciples of Jesus the Christ, knew very well, the importance of prayer, as they had witnessed the Lord, Himself, continually doing that very thing, DAILY and yes, with INTENSE EFFORT!

This is why you see PRAYER being at the forefront of the of the believer’s lives, coming out of the birth at Pentecost.

The continuum of prayer in the life of the disciples and the apostles was a must!

This is why you read of this same Greek word for “devoted” being used with reference to prayer in other places in the NT.

In , where the disciples chose seven other men to tend to the daily distribution of supplies for the needs of the widows, the disciples appointed this task to these seven other men, because, and I quote, “We will devote ourselves to PRAYER and to the ministry of the word.”

4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

To the church in Rome, the apostle Paul said in his epistle of Romans, chapter 12, that the believers must love one another, serve one another, as they serve the Lord. That they must be fervent in spirit, rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and be constant (DEVOTED) in PRAYER!

He said the same thing to the church in Colossae, in , where he said, “Continue steadfastly (devoted) in PRAYER, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

Further Instructions

And to the church in Ephesus, where Paul placed his beloved spiritual son Timothy in charge, Paul gave the same charge, by saying, “PRAY in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your PRAYERS for all believers everywhere. And PRAY for me, too.

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

19 And pray for me, too.

Prayer was the first thing that new church did when things happened, not as an after thought and not after the committee meetings were adjourning; PRAYER came first before any other thing!

In , we read of Peter and John being held in front of the religious leaders and questioned about their sharing of the gospel message and of their healing a man who had been lame for 40+ years at the temple area.

The Bible says that Peter and John were filled with boldness by Holy Spirit and would not back down to the threats of the leaders.

Upon being released, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them everything that had just happened.

Their first response to the amazing testimony of Peter and John, was not to get on social media and post and Tweet about the event, to draw publicity and get likes and hits on their church media page!

NO! The Bible says, “And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God.”

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God

They began PRAYING!

And their prayer was focused on God strengthening them to continue proclaiming the gospel message with ALL boldness.

And look at outcome of that prayer. says, “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”

How important is prayer? Well, put it this way, no one prayed more than Jesus and He was the Son of God. In fact, PRAYER, is what we find Jesus doing at the very start of His earthly ministry, throughout His earthy ministry and at the close of it on the cross. tells us, “One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was PRAYING, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove.” In , the Bible says that, “Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and PRAY.” And then in , we see Jesus praying to His Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him.

Jesus not only prayed, but He taught us how to pray, why to pray, what to pray for and who to pray for. From the easiest of those to pray for, such as our loved ones, to those that are the most difficult to pray for, such as our enemies, as Jesus said, “Love your enemies and PRAY for those who persecute you.”

And the life of prayer that Jesus modeled for us, was one that was DEVOTED, one that continued with intense effort!

Jesus taught His disciples that PRAYER to God, was to be done with persistence and not halfheartedly.

Do any of you here today have need of anything in your life? Whether for yourself, or for someone else that you love?

Are you PRAYING for that situation, daily and even hourly?

And when you pray, does your faith and belief in God sustain your prayers and tell you that what you just petitioned was heard and help is on the way?

I love a couple of quotes about prayer from the late, Corrie Ten Boom, where she says, “Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden."

And she also asked, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"

If someone comes to me with a concern in their life and begins to wail about the depth and horrible state that they are in, I am going to ask them FIRST THING, are “YOU” praying about this?

And if so, how long have you been praying about it and how often do you pray about it.

And even more importantly, do you truly believe that God is hearing your prayers and that He WILL answer them?

The thing about our prayers is that there will be those that we see, plainly answered in our lives and then there are going to be many that may have been answered, but that we never see, or understand. (explain about prayers being answered around the world to people other than whom we prayed for, that may indirectly bless the person that we prayed for. God exists out of time and therefor does things differently than we can ever understand!)

But whether we see the answers come to fruition or not, we MUST continue praying to God.

As Martin Luther said, "To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing."

In and in , Jesus taught two parables, that both echo the same meaning. Our prayers are to be both purposeful, but even more so, they are to be PERSISTENT and CONTINUAL!

In , right after Jesus models for the disciples how they should pray, He then gives them a parable about the intensity and persistence of their prayers and of how God, as out loving heavenly Father loves to bless us with answers to our prayers.

The parable is that of the one man going to another’s house at midnight to borrow 3 loaves of bread, because of the unexpected guest that just arrived at his house and found him without anything to give the guest to eat.

The one man told the other to go away, because his house was locked up and he and his family were in bed already.

But the man kept knocking!

Jesus said, “But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.”

And then Jesus said of our prayers, we are to, “keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

In , we read of another parable that Jesus gave that stresses the importance of continued, DEVOTED prayer, and that is the parable of the persistent widow.

READ FROM ,

Luke 18:1–8 NLT

1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ ” 6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

The understanding in this parable of where Jesus says that God, is the just and loving judge and that He will grant justice “quickly”, is not that as soon as you pray, it will be answered, though it could, but rather that when God does answer, it is swift and immediate!

For this reason, people cry out to God “how long oh God”, in response to their situation and to their prayers.

The 88th Psalm is one of the only, if not the only one, that ends without optimism and an answer of hope.

opens by saying,

O LORD, God of my salvation,

I cry out to you by day.

I come to you at night.

2 Now hear my prayer;

Psalm 88:1–3 NLT

1 O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. 2 Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. 3 For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near.

listen to my cry.

3 For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near.

and death draws near.

And it was David who cried out in anguish in his prayer to God in ,

Psalm 13:1–2 NLT

1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? 2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Jesus said in , “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” And then John later writes about what we pray and ask of God, by saying in , “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

So, if you and I abide in our walk with Jesus and keep His words active in our hearts, then we can and should PRAY to God, in Jesus’ name, and ask for whatever need we have. And if our petition is according to the will of God, then we can have confidence and know that our prayers are going to be answered!

BUT, we must PRAY. Pray without ceasing, pray with boldness, pray with passion, pray out of love and pray with persistence, but we MUST PRAY!

And we have MUCH to be praying about church.

READ FACTS FROM CHARISMA ARTICLE.

The church in America, needs a lot of prayer!

But then around the world, look at all of the natural disasters that are happening. Look at Australia and fires that are blazing and they are saying, in the natural, that these could go on for another 2 months, base on the season that they are in.

Look at the middle east and recent strike on the Iranian general and the trouble that is brewing now.

And look at all of the strife in our own nation, just pertaining to the President and the HATE for him.

We have much to be praying for church! And these things do not even pertain to the individual prayers that we have for own lives.

This is why we need one another as a church FAMILY! To intercede and pray for one another and lift one another up.

As I mentioned at the beginning about our having a plan “B”, well PRAYER, is your plan A,B,C,D and on down the line!

You pray and you keep praying, constantly, persistently and in faith that the Lord is hearing and already answering your prayers.