Prayer in Suffering

PRAYER… A topic so many of us are aware of yet so many of us are not near proficient in! Why is that?

Uncertain how to or what to say?

Maybe we don’t think it is all that important

Or maybe we are just too busy?

"Is what we are doing really worth doing, if we can do it without prayer?" ~Howard Hendricks~

o “How little time the average Christian spends in Prayer! We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity but we accomplish little.” ~R.A. Torrey~

We are so connected to the world around us through technology, schedules, activities, news, phones, and people around us… WE FAIL TO REMAIN CONNECTED WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!

One of my favorite hymns is “Sweet Hour of Prayer” #640 in your hymnals.

You can pray the Psalms as well… Psalm 103

When was the last time you spent an hour in prayer? 5 minutes? What about 1 minute…

Dr. Hendricks said: One of our problems is . . . We pray like Ol' MacDonald's wife with a gimme, gimme here, and a gimme, gimme there, here a gimme, there a gimme, everywhere a gimme, gimme. I had a student in my office a while back, he said, "Prof, I'm really struggling in my prayer life." I said, "I'll give you an assignment. Go home and pray for five minutes without asking God for one thing." So, he goes to his room, gets down on his knees, and starts to pray. He prays about everything he knew of in theology. He quoted every verse of Scripture he had ever memorized. He sang every Christian song he could remember. He got up and looked at his watch. Only three minutes had gone by.

PRAYER IS HARD WORK!!!

Not about asking and getting

Not a gimmick for Christians

Not a means to end suffering

We left off in 1 Thessalonians with Paul declaring that as followers of Jesus Christ, we are Destined for Suffering...

Paul sums up this personal portion of the letter with sharing his prayers for the people in the church at Thessalonica. Follow along as we look at 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

1 Thessalonians 3:9–13 NASB95

For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

Gratitude in Suffering

Paul and his companions are in their own times of distress...

Paul is writing to people who are going through suffering…

Paul is Thanking GOD!!!

Rejoicing before God is prayer (we are in His presence)

Paul was thanking God and was not even able to express the gratitude for God working

Answered prayer and as we see God work!

They were praying day and night

Faithful in prayer

With Timothy’s report they saw the fruit of their prayers...

If we don’t pray… we miss out on praising Him for the work He does through our prayers.

Selfish or Selfless Prayers

Selfish… Me me me me

Selfless… We consider WHO we are talking to and speak carefully, it’s hard work!

Some have asked: How do I practically reach out in this time… PRAY

Paul prayed allowing God to work… He had no choice!

Has God put situations in your life that force you to pray so you see Him

Do you look for Him to work in your life

Consider what Paul prayed for:

To see them face to face / a desire for fellowship OPPORTUNITY!!!

Complete what is lacking in their faith / a maturing in their faith (God worked and used the letters “them/us”)

Consider what is not prayed for:

Not for persecution to stop

No for ease

Paul prayed for their faith… saving faith vs maturing faith

Faith is like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets.

Faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. God tries our faith, not to destroy it, but to develop it. (Warren Wiersbe)

Growth is needed for them and for each of us! Paul will exhort and equip them as he finishes up this letter

Paul prayed for the Lord to increase their love

For one another… known for this

For all people

A heart that prays for others… is a heart that loves others

So that...

Paul prayed their hearts would be established / strengthened...Without blame and Holiness

Paul’s third request was for holiness of life.

Again, it is the return of Jesus Christ that motivates the believer to live a holy life.

Our Lord’s return is also a source of stability in the Christian life.

When Christ returns we will be holy as He is Holy

How often do you praise God concerning His coming again?

Does it have a regular place in your speaking with Him?

When we come before the Father in prayer it should cause us to long to be with Him and look forward to His coming!

I AM PRAYING FOR YOU

As your pastor, I pray for you,

for those who are brothers and sisters in Christ I pray for you

For the lost I pray for them too

The scriptures record these words of Samuel the prophet 1 Samuel 12:23-24 and I want to close with them...

1 Samuel 12:23–24 NASB95

“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. “Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

Not only will I commit to teaching you from God’s Word, I will pray for you. I ask you to consider these words of scripture and pray with a new zeal and gratitude in your hearts as you lift up one another!