Building my Legacy.
Pillar 1 – Prayer
“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” – Martin Luther
James 4:2 (NIV) – You desire but do not have, so you *kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
*Kill – Your faith; Your dreams; Other people’s successes; kill peoples victories / their callings.
This is possibly one of the most important Pillars of your legacy.
For many Christians prayer is a huge struggle (If it wasn’t, we would see more people at prayer meetings than koek en tee)
If you are weak in prayer, you will be weak in every area of your life
If you are serious about building a legacy then you must be serious about prayer.
It is only through prayer can we discover, experience and achieve God’s purpose for our lives
It is through our prayers that we leave a solid legacy for the people we care about.
There are so many people who are mad at God
They have a problem or a situation they want God to change
And He hasn’t yet done what they wanted Him to do.
They sulk, rant and rave, complain and blame God for not helping them.
The strange thing is when I ask them if they prayed about their problems, they look at me with a dumbfounded expression and tell me NO.
People will go to great lengths to get their needs met – as James says:
James 4:2 (NIV) – You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
We can either face our problems in our own strength and ability
Or we can turn to God in prayer so we can face our problems with His strength and ability.
Prayer takes us out of the Driver’s seat and puts us in the passenger seat.
The Bible is clear that God has a purpose for each and every one of us.
Ephesians 2:10 (Amp) – For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above-spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us.]
Choosing not to pray limits that purpose
Apart from God’s power we are limited.
In our own strength we can never do all that God created us to do.
The key to every great man and women of God who left a lasting legacy – they were all prayer warriors.
We could mention Nehemiah or Daniel
Abraham: It was He’s rule to stand before the Lord in prayer
With the alter of Sacrifice was the alter of prayer
Genesis 18:27 (NIV) – Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes.”
David: Every Psalm is a prayer
Psalm 109:4 (NIV) – In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer
Elijah: What a prayer warrior
James 5:17(NIV) – Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years
Isaiah: What a great prophet of God
Isaiah 65:24 (NIV) – Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
Paul: this is the key to Paul’s legacy
Acts 9:11 (NIV) – The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.”
Jesus: Our ultimate example:
1 Peter 2:21 (NIV) – To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Mark 1:35 (NIV) – Very early in the morning, while it was still dark Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Luke 5:16 (NIV) – But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed
Luke 6:12 (NIV) – One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Acts 10:38 (NIV) – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Psalm 16:8 (NIV) – I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Prayer is one of the most important pillars of building a lasting legacy
Becoming a man and woman of prayer will not happen by accident
To learn to pray you must PRAY
We learn prayer’s deepest depths in prayer, not from books.
We reach prayer’s highest heights in prayer, not from Sermons
The only place to learn prayer is in prayer
It takes training like an athlete, who works on a physical challenge.
Prayer is a spiritual challenge that takes commitment and effort
The recipe for spiritual victory always includes prayer
Close with:
Franklin Field says: “The great dividing line between success and failure can be expressed in five words: “I did not have time.”
“When prayer delights you least, then learn to say: “Soul, now you’re greatest need is that you must pray.”
