New Hope Bible Chapel
Sept 23
- How Great Is Our God
- Your Love Never Fails
- Here's My Heart
- Reckless Love
- (NKJV): 18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.In our fast paced, tech savvy, pragmatically oriented society, me thinks we have no stomach for the greater service and discipline of true prayer!It is here that we must go today, that is if we will find any real power in our spiritual walk with Christ!To this point in our study of Hebrews, we have seen every reason to live holy, unfettered lives for the Lord Jesus Christ.We have been encouraged by His majesty and His deity!We have been encouraged and warned to stay the course of Grace and mercy and to avoid being entangled with worldly affairs.But now that we come to the conclusion of this impressive book, we are shown one more lesson - i.e. that all of this will be futile if we do not engage in a life of real prayer!But, what is meant by real prayer?We can answer that through the insight of EM Bounds, in an excerpt from his book on “The Power of Prayer”David Brainerd said: “I love to be alone in my cottage, where I can spend much time in prayer.”William Bramwell is famous in Methodist annals for personal holiness and for his wonderful success in preaching and for the marvelous answers to his prayers. For hours at a time he would pray. He almost lived on his knees. He went over his circuits like a flame of fire. The fire was kindled by the time he spent in prayer. He often spent as much as four hours in a single season of prayer in retirement.Bishop Andrews spent the greatest part of five hours every day in prayer and devotion.Sir Henry Havelock always spent the first two hours of each day alone with God. If the encampment was struck at 6 A.M., he would rise at four.Earl Cairns rose daily at six o’clock to secure an hour and a half for the study of the Bible and for prayer, before conducting family worship at a quarter to eight.Dr. Judson’s success in prayer is attributable to the fact that he gave much time to prayer. He says on this point: “Arrange thy affairs, if possible, so that thou canst leisurely devote two or three hours every day not merely to devotional exercises but to the very act of secret prayer and communion with God. Endeavor seven times a day to withdraw from business and company and lift up thy soul to God in private retirement. Begin the day by rising after midnight and devoting some time amid the silence and darkness of the night to this sacred work. Let the hour of opening dawn find thee at the same work. Let the hours of nine, twelve, three, six, and nine at night witness the same. Be resolute in this cause. Make all practicable sacrifices to maintain it. Consider that thy time is short, and that business and company must not be allowed to rob thee of thy God.”Bounds, E. M. (1999). Power through Prayer. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.I. There is a great need for it.I. There is a great need for it.How easily we ask for, and offer to pray nowadays.It, roles off the tongue like the way some people cuss and swear!We could be talking to a friend telling them about an upcoming trip or something, and we say, "hey, pray for me…"I wonder if we really think about what we're asking?It's not so much that we're really thinking we need prayer for this, but it's just one of those lines Christians use!The same goes and is more the case when we say, "hey I'll be praying for you!"Really? Will you indeed be praying for them? And will it be more than a mention during grace at dinner?A. Prayer should be as natural to the new creature as eating.Eating provides physical sustenance, while prayer provides spiritual sustenance.
John 4:32 NKJV But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”B. Prayer needs to take center stage in our lives.As I watch and see what attracts people to the faith, it seems to be in conflict to what the early church experienced.Music, exciting series, multimedia, drama, have all replaced a community of prayer.Oh, we’ll tag it on or incorporate it into everything “we do”, but is this the right way?Shouldn’t we rather be on our knees seeking the face of the Lord, and His will for us?But, as much as there is a great need for prayer…II. There is great power in it.If there is one thing that stands out about the pragmatic church, it is the lack of spiritual power.· Many are sick.· Many are anemic!· Many are cowardly!· Many are unloving!· Many are indifferent!But if this is true of us, the opposite is true of the spiritual church, it lacks nothing in power!· Many are healed!· Many are strong!· Many are courageous!· Many are loving!· Many are concerned!But why?Because they have disciplined themselves to be mighty in prayer!You know what’s really cool about this?It demands no special gifting or talent to have it!A. The power is God's and not mine.And because the power is all Him, it is also not subject to me, otherwise God would be subject to me.But we know that we are to pray in the will of God.Colossians 1:9 NKJV For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;Your kingdom come. Your will be done…Matthew 6:10 NKJV Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.B. The power is supernatural.Not by chance or attributed to circumstances.It is 100% supernatural, breaking all the rules of science and probability, and not leveraged by human intervention regardless of how He uses us.We need prayer and more of it!Conclusion:We need prayer and more of it!Our knees should bear the marks of the Lord Jesus, in that we are on them constantly begging and seeking and finding!p [];q Hebrews 13.18-19NKJV
John 4:32NKJV
Colossians 1:9NKJV
Matthew 6:10NKJV
- I Love You Lord
New Hope Bible Chapel
508.873.1567
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