A DIRECT LINE IN PRAYER

Series: Season of Prayer

Text: Hebrews 10:19-25

Title: A Direct Line in Prayer

Date: September 21, 2014

Introduction:

We know the positions of prayer:

Kneeling- 2 Chronicles 6:13; Acts 20:36

Acts 20:36- And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

Standing-1 Kings 8:22

1 Kings 8:22- And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

Bowing-Psalms 95:6

Psalms 95:6- O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

Falling on face- Joshua 5:14, Matt. 26:39

Joshua 5:14- And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

Matthew 26:39- And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Lifting up hands-Psalms 28:2

We know the power of prayer:

God hears

God answers

God waits on our prayer

We know the times to pray:

Early in the day

At noon

At evening

At all times

We know what hinders prayer:

Unconfessed sin- Psalms 66:18

Pride

Unwillingness to forgive others

Fighting in marriage

We know of Bible characters that prayed:

Joshua prayed and the sun stood still

Elijah prayed and it did not rain

David prayed for forgiveness of sin

Esther prayed and the Jews were saved

Jonah prayed his way out of the belly of the whale

Peter prayed and did not drown

Early church prayed and 3,000 were saved in one day

We know that real prayer is: Work, warfare and it is worship.

We know that real prayer involves: an interested seeker, the instructions of the Saviour, and the involvement of surrender.

Question: has anyone ever asked me…to teach them to pray like I pray?

Explain the Temple, Holy place, and Holy of Holies. The role of the priest entering only once a year to put the blood on the mercy seat…

Statement of fact: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ not only paid the penalty for sin it opened up a direct channel to God in Heaven that the world had never had…..

This Direct access changes everything in the life of the Christian….Let’s see 3 of the benefits of “Direct access” to our Heavenly Father….

I. Direct access provides an Unrestricted Access-vs. 19-21

A. Access because of a perfect sacrifice

1. See Hebrews 10:11-14

2. John 1:29

29- The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

2 Corinthians 5:21

21- For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

B. Access because of a permanent solution

Note-when Jesus died on the cross the curtain that restricted access into the Holy of Holies was torn…never to be repaired/restricted again…

Mark 15:37-38

37- And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

38- And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

Note-it was torn from the top to the bottom…signifying that it was God that was taking down the barrier!!!!

1. Permanent because His death never needs to be repeated !!! See-vs. 12

2. Permanent because His death was sufficient to pay the penalty for all sin!!!!

1 Peter 3:18

18- For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Hebrews 9:26

26- For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Hebrews 7:25

25- Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

C. Access because of a personal salvation

Note-the only restriction is that you must be saved in order to have this access….

John 1:12

12- But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Ephesians 2:18

18- For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

The Child of God had unrestricted, direct access to God because of His relationship with Jesus Christ!!!!

II. Direct access promotes an Undefiled Life-vs. 22

Note-the more time we spend with Jesus Christ the more we will become like Him…

A. Call into His presence

Like any good father, our Heavenly Father desires to spend time with His children.

Jeremiah 33:3

3- Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Luke 18:16

16- But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Matthew 11:28

28- Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Nearness promotes likeness…the closer I get to Him the more I become like Him.

B. Connection through prayer

Bible praying is two way communication…I talk He listens, He talks I listen…

James 4:8

8- Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

C. Changed from my past-Hearts sprinkled

1 Corinthians 6:11

11- And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

D. Cleansed through His power

E. Surrendered through Love

F. Serving through actions

III. Direct access produces an Unwavering Faith-vs. 23-25

A. Demonstrated by focusing on the Saviour-vs. 23

Note-Today’s Renewal Principle:

When our focus is on God and we find joy in Him, unity in our earthly relationships will be much easier to find.

Ephesians 5:1

1- Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2- Hebrews 12:2

3- 2- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

B. Demonstrated by friendship with other believers-vs. 24

Two Words in this verse:

Consider=To fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination; to think on with care; to ponder; to study; to meditate on. An example of this would be the Good Samaritan:

Provoke=to call to action, encourage, lift up, correct with love…

Luke 10:33-34

33- But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34- And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

John 13:34-35

34- A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35- By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

C. Demonstrated by fellowship with His church-vs. 25

The Church is not some man made institution it is a Divine organism that was started by Jesus Christ Himself in the gospels and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God in the book of Acts.

Matthew 16:18

18- And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 2:20

20- And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

For the Christian, church membership and church attendance are not optional!!!!

A Church is: the local assembly of baptized believers united to carry out the Great Commission.

This local assembly is a place of: teaching, encouragement, confrontation, forgiveness, restoration, equipping, empowering, worship, prayer, fellowship, friendship. Your attendance and participation in this church will be part of the single greatest things that you will do in your ENTIRE LIFE!!!

Quote-the greatest decisions that I have made in my life have come as a result of a message that was preached by God’s man!!! The greatest fulfilment that a Christian can have is through serving in their church!!!

Ephesians 5:25

25- Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Conclusion:

Christian you and I have a direct line into the very throne room of God almighty….are we taking advantage of this unbelievable resource?

Christian: how is you prayer life? Looking over your week, did you pray? Or did you just live life in your on strength?

Does MY life reflect the fact that I have unrestricted access to God?

Based on your lifestyle…would you have to admit that you spend very little time praying and your life reflects a heart defiled with the wicked and worldly and not the holy and Godly?

Does your lifestyle choices reflect the fact that you love God based on your involvement with His church and your church family?

What are you going to do about your prayer life that is lacking?

Unsaved friend: God has given you a direct line to seek Him for eternal salvation…what are you going to do?