THE COMMUNION OF PRAYER (4)
January 18, 2004 AM
Sermon Outline
LK 22:39-44
INTRO: Oh, how praying rests the weary; prayer can turn the night to day. Can you imagine the great servants of God without prayer? Think of Daniel, and it is difficult to think of him without thoughts of his praying. Think of David, and recall that the psalms are, for the most part, prayers to be sung. Think of Paul, and recall that virtually every letter mentions his petitions of prayer. Yes, prayer does rest the weary. It does have the power to turn the night to day. Let me share with you more lessons about prayer from Gods Book.
I PASSION OF PRAYER (INTENSITY IN PRAYING)
A. Lk22:44 - He prayed more earnestly
1. this prayer was most certainly passionate - intense
2. Jesus blotted out of His mind worldly distractions and put Himself totally into His praying ... serious prayer about a serious matter
3. Rom 10:1 and 1 Thes 3:10 - hearts desire praying exceedingly
B. How passionate are your prayers?
1. passion in prayer springs from deep desire, deep concern
2. prayers out of hearts desire are more than ritual utterance
3. Jas 5:16 - effectual fervent prayers - is prayer serious to you?
II PRUDENCE IN PRAYER (IT JUST MAKES GOOD SENSE TO PRAY)
A. Gen 28:3 - God Almighty bless thee
1. when youve done all you can do, then what? Quit?
2. unbelievers might ... but believers in God can do more!
3. El Shaddai ... ancient Jewish people put their hope in Almighty God
B. Just think a moment about God
1. Ps 24:1 - earth is the Lords ... Ps 50:12 - the world is mine ... Ps 90:2 - thou are God ... Acts 17:24 - God that made the world
2. now, doesnt it make good sense to petition El Shaddai?
3. Mt 19:26 - but with God all things are possible
III PRAYING FOR PEOPLE (INTERCESSION)
A. Jno 17:20,21 - ...but for them also
1. this longest prayer of Jesus ... is in behalf of other
2. it tells one much of the sort of person one is - how open hearted one is, or how selfish one is
3. Lk 22:31,32 - but I have prayed for thee
B. For whom shall we pray?
1. for the lost - Rom 10:1 & Col 4:3 (not that they should be saved in their sins - but that opportunity for their hearing and obeying would come - that circumstances will be such that they will be receptive)
2. for kings, for all men - 1 Tim 2:1,2 (that circumstances for the furtherance of the gospel will persist)
3. for brethren - Rom 1:9 (this was certainly Pauls habit)
4. our prayers should reach out and take in others!
IV PARDON IN OUR PRAYERS (CAN WE FORGIVE OTHERS?)
A. Mt 6:12 - forgive us ... as we forgive ...
1. relationship of being forgiven to as we forgive prevails in Jesus teaching
2. Lk 23:34 - this idea filled His final prayers
3. Mt 6:14,15 - it is useless to seek and ask Gods forgiveness if we will not be forgiving
B. Is there someone you need to forgive? and have not forgiven?
1. Mk 11:25 - God expects a forgiving initiative in us
2. prayer is a vital reflective time in which we may examine our relationship to others ... if we become forgiving in prayer, we will find an otherwise rocky relationship becoming smoother!
3. pardon and praying belong together in our lives in Christ
CLOSE: Prayer will enlighten our lives ... and will chase the shadows from them. But praying must become a serious and thoughtful part of our lives if it is to do so.
Cecil A. Hutson
18 January 2004