Prayer
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Transcript
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Prayer The Outward and Inward Journey
Prayer The Outward and Inward Journey
We want to strengthen our lives as we move in the practice of prayer. The inward moves to the outward. The outward strengthens the inward.
The Inward Journey
A journey to change from flesh to Spirit - the battle
The struggle to go and pray - “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying”.
The struggle to remain in prayer - “Could you not tarry…?”
It is a battle to pray. And praying simply places us in the position that God can change us from fleshly desires to spiritual desires. If we are unwilling to go through that difficult process, we will abandon prayer. It will be easier not to pray, or our prayers are pointless. Because it becomes manipulative of God. We ought to change, not God.
God has already given us all of Himself, it is us that block ourselves from Him. For all of us, it is a journey of removing these layers from him. That is key, getting it right is not so important, but a willingness to change and be transformed is key. It is God with any power, prayer by itself does not have power.
This fight, this crucifying of flesh is not without purpose, it gives us first hand experience on the battle of life. If we cannot learn the intricacies of combat, the deception of the human heart - the outward prayer for others will not be effective. It will be shallow and unrealistic. If we cannot strain through the groans, cries and tears of prayer in our own heart, we will have little power and struggle through prayer for others. Many good coaches were athletes themselves, because they know the mental anguish it involves. What do you think is hindering you in your spiritual life? I am facing personal battles now. Personal battles of doubt and fear, and many times I pray I collapse to the floor, I fall asleep, I cannot physically hold up my own body. But I must keep going on, and you must pray for me. If not, how can I lead any of you? Or anybody? I will collapse. I am collapsing now so that I might not collapse for others.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2. A journey from speaking to listening
As we come close to His heart, we learn to listen and submit more and more to him. And that is a discipline of prayer. It is not all cruel, hard fought battle.
The one who trains our hands for battle also leads us to still waters, He restores our souls. In fact - “A misconception of prayer is to view it as always a struggle, “getting under the burden of prayer”. I believe there are seasons for this, but it is not the common experience all the time, lightness, comfort, joy and serenity is frequent because He is walking with us and is a good Father, not just a boot camp instructor.
In there he speaks his truth into lies, his comfort into our pain, his order into our chaos.
In prayer we trade in our pain and sorrow, shame and guilt, and he gives us his truth that sets us free.
It is interchangeable. We struggle to go to prayer and remain in prayer, we learn battle and train our hands, as we do we receive from Him and our cup is filled, He knows what we need everyday, He knows what we need each season. It is a living relationship with Him and prayer is the forefront of that, it is communication and communion with Him. We are not anxious, we give thanks, our cup overflows. We come to him and receive freely from him.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
What is your season of inward prayer with the Lord? Most of all, prayer is personal and we must learn to pray. And then we all go through this inward journey.
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
The Outward Journey
I would describe the outward journey as praying for others, praying for anointing for ministry, praying for change, praying for strongholds, prayers of healing, restoration of relationships, light shining in darkness.
We begin immediately by slowly learning how to pray for others and the world bit by bit. We do not need to wait until our inner journey is all sorted out, because it is simultaneous. We are free to question, experiment, fail as we are learning. Richard Foster describes this as an exciting journey of research. This journey saves us from disappointment when we don’t see results to prayer. We do not start with praying for 20 year long arthritis or tearing down demonic strongholds. We start with coughs, colds, aches, for peace for someone, for someone in cell group in a small way. And then we move on. If we don’t see results, we examine how we are praying, make adjustments and try again. Faith as small as a mustard seed.
It is important to start somewhere to experiment with the power of prayer. Feel free, and free yourselves to pray for something simple and small - pray for your headache, pray for help in work, pray for peace for a difficult conversation, pray for your colleague in your heart, lay hands on your church friends and pray for them.
What are some small ways you can start experimenting the power of prayer?
Jesus was so deeply walking in His Father that he knew what should be done. It was so positive, it took on the form of a command, direct and authoritative rather than a request.
Even though we start small and we cannot yet raise the dead and cast out demons, we do not get discouraged in this place, however, we begin to journey straightaway how to pray outwards.
As we walk our inner journey, we realise that if prayer is more about listening then we do not simply babble along in our outward prayers. We realise how to pray strategically and accurately. We realise what strongholds are standing, we speak prayers with accuracy because we know this is exactly what the Holy Spirit wants to do.
And then as we battle inwardly we take strength and courage. I remember learning this, having to preach and being terrified and I would keel over in tangible fear. As we learn to battle our inner demons and take authority over it, we are able to battle the outward demons. A wrong way to pray will be coming from a place of defeat, seating, surrendering and resigned to circumstances, “Oh God, please help me if you can”. It takes strength and courage. We speak accurate prayers with boldness and courage, not a rash boldness but a deep confidence in knowing how God has won the victory in this world that stems from a conviction because He has won the victory in your heart.
Just think of Peter standing confidently, because he had the experience of betraying Jesus and being forgiven. Just think of the Apostle John who meditated deeply on the love of Christ - he became all about love and coined - “for God so loved the world...”
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Questions
How have you interceded for others? What was your experience like? How was the result?
