Persist in Prayer
Notes
Transcript
12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. 17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
Jesus continued Habitually to go away to be alone with the Father in prayer
Relationship- Communication- Talk and listen
Went
Continued in Prayer
Called
Chose
Named- Apostles
Named Simon Peter
Returned/Came down
Stood
Healed/Cured
Exuded Power
Persistent Prayer
Persistent Prayer
12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
17 pray without ceasing,
Throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Word of God we find countless examples of prayer. The Psalms are the prayer book of the Word of God.
Prayers of:
Preparation
Pursuit
Praise
Preparation
Preparation
Each time we are told Jesus was praying in the Gospel of Luke, something significant takes place at the conclusion of His time in prayer.
12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.
11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
God gives us exactly what is best and what is good.
Throughout the early church and into the Modern age, many spiritual revivals were pre-empted by a consistent dedicated time of prayer, by a specific small group, church or group of churches.
Turn to Eph 6, where we are given instructions about preparing for spiritual battles, which are indeed the battles that matter. Spiritual battles are of eternal consequence.
Paul lists the pieces of the armor of God and then says as you put on these parts, you must be in prayer
18 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, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
We must be lead and guided by the Spirit of God, fitted with the Armor of God. Because the is the way God equips us and prepares us for warfare.
WARNING!
We can have “Orthodoxy” and yet be dead! Knowledge and good works apart from the Spirit of God is dead.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
“Put on the Gospel armour
Each piece put on with prayer.”
“Keep your armour bright
Attend with constant care;
Still walking in your Captains’ sight,
And watching unto prayer.”
Put on all the parts, by praying with all kinds of prayer & supplication.
Pleas, Praises, Preparations, Pursuits
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Pursuit
Pursuit
Early in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians the apostle Paul, describes how he prays for the church as they worship God and their pursuit of knowing God.
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Prayer is effective in our pursuit of Peace. Prayer is effective in bringing PEACE. Pray for your enemies and you will come to a place of seeing them as God sees them.
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Ask/Plea/Inquire/- if you don’t have it’s because you don’t ask. If you ask and you don’t have, it’s because you aren’t asking correctly.
24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Praise
Praise
1 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise?
1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble
1 My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! 2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
Persistent Prayers of Preparation Pursuit and Praise
Persistent Prayers of Preparation Pursuit and Praise
Communion
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.