Praying is the Kingdom way of life.
“The prayer of a righteous* man is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16b
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) – God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
By Pastor George Lehman
What is prayer?
It’s having direct and intimate communion or fellowship with the living God.
1 Timothy 2:8(LB) – So I want men everywhere to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from sin and anger and resentment.
Kingdom people are people of Prayer
It is a priority by them to spend time corporately and privately in communion with God.
Jesus said it:
Matthew 6:6 (Amp) – But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.
These are private secluded personal intimate times where you meet with God
Matthew 18:20 (Amp) – For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.”
These are times we come together corporately as believers with the sole purpose of meeting and communicating with God
Whether privately or corporately God demands our best.
Because prayer changes us our circumstances and not God
Prayer is the highest order of business, for it links a powerless human to the creative force of God’s Sovereign Power
Proverbs 8:33-36 (LB) – 33”Listen to my counsel-oh, don’t refuse it-and be wise. 34Happy is the man who is so anxious to be with me that he watches for me daily at my gates, or waits for me outside my home! 35For whoever finds me finds life and wins approval from the Lord. 36But the one who misses me has injured himself irreparably. Those who refuse me show that they love death.”
The great dividing line between success and failure can be expressed in five words:
“I DID NOT HAVE TIME”
The point is:
Excuses are not fabricated by those who live close to God
“If we displease God, does it matter whom we please? If we please Him, does it matter whom we displease?” – Leonard Ravenhill
You cannot live wrong and pray right…
Ephesians 5:15-17 (Amp) – 15Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], 16making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.
Jesus set the example:
It wasn’t only His habit, when perplexed, He prayed; when hard pressed, He prayed; He received direction when He prayed. His success was a result of His prayer life.
Galatians 6:7 (NIV) – Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Colossians 4:2 (NIV) – Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Here’s a great call to believers
Hosea 10:12 (NKJV) – “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”
Are you willing to commit to be a Kingdom seeking prayer warrior?
Here are power points of Prayer:
#1 The preparation of prayer (Break up)
Psalm 139:23-24 (LB) – 23Search me, O God and know my heart; test my thoughts. 24Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Prayer begins with a heart and mind that have been softened and planted with the word of God.
#2 The hindrances of prayer (un-ploughed fellow ground)
2 Timothy 3:7 (NIV) – Always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
The condition of our hearts determines our growth and our faithfulness
Jeremiah 4:3 (LB) – The Lord is saying to men of Judah and Jerusalem, Plough up the hardness of your hearts; otherwise the good seed will be wasted among the thorns.
A prepared heart is a powerful praying life.
#3 The urgency of prayer (“For it is time”)
Psalm 69:13 (Amp) – But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable and opportune time; O God in the greatness of Your favour and in the abundance of Your loving kindness, answer me with truth [that is, the faithfulness of Your salvation].
It’s always the right time to pray
#4 The focus of prayer (“To seek the Lord”)
Psalm 105:4 (NIV) – Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) – If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
#5 The persistence of prayer (“Till”)
“If you don’t feel like praying, it is a sure indication that you should start praying immediately.” – Billy Graham
Luke 18:1 (LB) – One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes.
#6 The dynamic presence of God in prayer (He comes through for us)
God’s attitude to our prayers;
Isaiah 65:24 (LB) – I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
Jeremiah 33:3 (Amp) – “Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and might things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.”
God always answers prayers;
Psalm 65:2 (Amp) – O You who hear prayer, to You all mankind comes
#7 The abundant answers to prayer (Rains righteousness on you)
Rain is symbolic of God’s favour, blessings, strength and prosperity
Isaiah 58:11 (Amp) – “And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”
Let us make a commitment to spend time privately and corporately in communion with our Awesome God.
YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!!!
******
