The Suffering Messiah: Prayer Potential

Last words

We have spent the last couple of weeks and continue to journey towards Easter

Jesus knows exactly where He is headed and what is coming

It is interesting to look at what He wanted to focus on in those last weeks

It is that old idea, “if you had 6 months left to live what would you say to others?”

First thing was - Jesus is who he claimed to be -Messiah, God in flesh

Last week - His heart for marriage and family

Today we are looking at prayer - how passionate Jesu was about it

I believe very few have experienced the full potential that prayer offers.

It is something we just do out of obligation - it is a privilege

Hebrews 4:16 CSB

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

That is an amazing offer to us - to go right up to the Throne

We don’t. I don’t

We go through the motions - we get frustrated - we make it the exception and not the rule - or we stop praying all together - wondering where the power was

The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.

- F.B. Meyer

Of all the things Jesus could teach on before the cross - He chose prayer -

He knew how important it would be for us to get this

My hope today is that a passion for prayer will be reignited in you and me

Turn to Mark 11: 15-25

Mark 11:15–25 CSB

They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!” The chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching. Whenever evening came, they would go out of the city. Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”

Let’s pray

1. The Place of Prayer

We can and should pray everywhere and any where

But, there is a place we should come together and the focus should be Jesus and what is He wants for us and from us -

1. The Place of Prayer - The Lord’s House

Mark 11:15–17 CSB

They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”

The focus here is Jesus - not programs or agendas. Just Jesus

So if this a house of prayer - them let’s pray

Right where you are at we ask you to join in prayer -

We will have prompts on the screen to help guide us

Before we get started though we need the right attitude - confession and forgiveness

Before the prompts begin - ask God to search your heart - if repentance is needed then repent, if forgiveness is needed then forgive

I will start us - we will give you time for confession, then the prompts will start

Pray right where you are at in person or online

Let’s Pray

Pray for those who are hurting and lonely

Pray for those who are lost

Pray for those in Ukraine and Russia

Pray for those facing medical issues

Pray for world leaders

Pray for families

Pray for our campuses

Pray for those who have lost a loved one

Pray for nation and economy

Pray for missionaries around the world

Understand- what we just did unleashed power that we could never even imagine

When the devil sees a man or woman who really believes in prayer, who knows how to pray, and who really does pray, and, above all, when he sees a whole church on its face before God in prayer, he trembles as much as he ever did, for he knows that his day in that church or community is at an end. - R.A. Torrey

2. The Power of Prayer - Faith in God

Mark 11:24 CSB

Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for—believe that you have received it and it will be yours.

God answers every prayer

We may not know how or when - but He answers

I stand here today a month ago we having discussions in my house what life looks like if my wife would die

Today she is in church -healed and getting stronger

Maybe your prayer is like mine - the most honest prayer in the bible

Mark 9:23–24 CSB

Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

3. The Posture of Prayer - A Forgiving Heart

Mark 11:25 CSB

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”

We must be int he right place to not only talk to God, but to be able to hear from Him also

Prayer is both ways - if there is sin or un-forgiveness - it is going to muffle the sound

The Suffering Messiah

Prayer can feel awkward - you might be frustrated and unsure

That is the time we must lean in harder

Hebrews 4:15–16 CSB

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

There is a place where thou canst touch the eyes Of blinded men to instant, perfect sight; There is a place where thou canst say, "Arise" To dying captives, bound in chains of night; There is a place where thou canst reach the store Of hoarded gold and free it for the Lord; There is a place — upon some distant shore — Where thou canst send the worker and the Word. Where is that secret place--dost thou ask, "Where?" O soul, it is the secret place of prayer! — Alfred Lord Tennyson

My our days and lives be marked by prayer.