Seven Loves of a Healthy Spiritual: Love Prayer

Briefly discuss fellowship Last week

Proverbs 27:17 KJV 1900

Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Pr 27:17

Sharpening my Fillet knife this week

It is not unheard of a brother or sister being a blessing, but we must make sure we’re not around those who could be destructive.

1 Samuel 13:20 KJV 1900

But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

We need a rock to be Sharpened by, Jesus.

Love Prayer

THE WORD THAT CONQUERS

By Clarence Edward McCartney

What is the single word that can conquer the great God that we serve?

What is the word that turns captivity captive?

What is the word that unites far separated souls around one common seat of mercy?

What is the word that brings man’s storm driven ship into the haven of safety and peace?

What is the word that turns back the shadow of death on the face of life’s dial?

What is the word that gives songs in the night and that lifts the load of guilt from the conscience smitten heart?

What is the word that puts a sword in our hand when we face temptation?

What is the word that gives us strength to bear our daily burdens?

What is the word that fortifies the soul when it kneels before its cup in some Gethsemane of sore agony?

What is the word that lifts us up when we have fallen?

What is the word that brings angels down from heaven to minister to us when we have overcome the devil?

What is the word that makes us co-workers in the Kingdom of God?

What is the word that calls the wanderer from the far country?

What is the word that is the best physician for both soul and body?

What is the word which, when we speak it, may set the captive free?

What is the word that companions the soul in its hours of loneliness and that comforts it in the day of sorrow?

What is the word that sets a lamp of forgiveness and reconciliation in the window for the prodigal and the wanderer?

What is the word that is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try?

What is the word that is smallest strain that can reach the majesty on high?

What is the word that makes the angles rejoice when they hear it on lips of a contrite sinner?

What is the word that is our watchword at the gate of death, the word with which we enter heaven?

That mighty, all prevailing, God-conquering word is prayer.

James 5:16 …the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

All of that is true of prayer and there is even more that has not been tapped concerning the power and magnitude of prayer.

If such is true of prayer, then why is not the church and her ministers more involved in such activity?

Why is the church unwilling to make an all out stride for fervent prayer

1Thessalonians 3:10

10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 1 Timothy 5:5

5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

Just as the race car driver who tries to when the race by running

Or the construction company that refuses to use power equipment

Or the painter that refuses to climb the ladder

Or the farmer that tries to plow his field by hand

The church without prayer or the Christian without prayer is just as foolish and their efforts are just as fruitless.

Power of Prayer Abraham Genesis 18:32

32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, will not destroy it for ten's sake. Jacob Genesis 32:26

26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Moses Deuteronomy 9:18

18 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. The Syrophonecian Woman Matthew 15:27

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. The Early Church Acts 12:5

5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Elijah James 5:17

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.throne of grace?

Why is the church willing to live in the shallows of true religion by merely dabbling with prayer?

Why can the church not shake the sleep from her eyes to pray?

Perhaps because the church does not understand the magnitude, the power, the hope, nor the royalty of prayer.

There is small chance of success in the spiritual life unless men are willing to sacrifice and crucify the listless, slothful, and self-indulgent habits.

Men who are weak and anemic in the Spirit are generally those men who refuse to pray.

Prayer needs to be entertained at all times.

It cannot be embraced only in the midst of tribulation and turmoil.

Prayer is a necessity.

It is imperative that the church learn how to pray. LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Of all the things asked for, it was the knowledge of prayer Of all the things that the disciples requested of the Lord, the request “Teach us to pray” is by far the most important.

When one searches out the requests of the disciples, one finds that they did not ask the Lord of a great many things.

Collectively, they only made two requests. One is found in our text of Luke 11:1 and the other is voiced by Philip in John 14:8-11 when they requested to see the Father.

Of all the things that they could have asked for, careful consideration should be given to the fact that they asked to pray.

They did not ask for a greater knowledge of the Law.

They did not request for power over the elements.

They did not ask to have the capacity to work miracles.

They did not ask for greater love or patience or other great character traits.

They did not ask for thrones or dominions.

They asked…”Lord teach us to Pray”

Through Prayer We Discover Our Spiritual Poverty One of the ways that prayer becomes developed is by the discovery of our own spiritual poverty.

Once that men come to the knowledge of their own sinfulness, once the conscience is fully alert, men find themselves with a choice.

The choice: Repentance or Rebellion

Revival or Revolt.

There is Power in Persistent Prayer Luke 11:5-10 5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. We Have a Duty to Seek God Deuteronomy 4:29

29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. 2 Chronicles 14:4

4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. Psalm 105:4

4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Isaiah 55:6

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Amos 5:4

4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

Zephaniah 2:3

3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger. Matthew 6:33 -- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Conclusion: Our Prayers became a Sweet Savor before the Lord.

Old Prayers never die!

Keep praying!

Prayer Conquerors the World…the enemy…our flesh…and it moves God