Saints, 4 Jan 11
There is power in prayer—we must pray.
We do not fabricate or conjure up this truth. God designed it this way. Jesus instructed it. Prayer is how the church is supposed to work.
Today’s thoughts are divided into two truths, the first is that Jesus designed each of us to function in and through prayer. The second is that the church (any group of Christ followers) has power in praying together—power from God to accomplish God’s purposes, for God’s glory!
As we all know, a basic literary device used to emphasize a point is repetition. If the Son of the Most High, Creator God, decided to repeat something six times, how important would you think it is? Jesus Christ repeats six times in John that if we ask anything in His name or according to His will, He will grant it. Here are the references for these passages for you to look up. Remember these come from a part of scripture which is referred to as Christ’s farewell discourse. Jesus is telling His Disciples how to carry on after He leaves them. In other words, this is what Jesus thinks is most important in order for His true followers to carry on. He is sharing how to love, work, serve, witness, and make disciples. Within this farewell narration is found the repeated instruction to pray (1 & 2: John 14:13-14, 3: John 15:7-8, 4: John 15:16, and 5 & 6: John 16: 23-24).
The Kneeling Christian is a powerful book about prayer written by (as the author described himself) an “unknown Christian.” Today, we believe that Albert Ernest Richardson is the “unknown Christian.” Here are his thoughts about Jesus’ call to prayer,
“Never before had our Lord laid such stress on any promise or command—never. This truly marvelous promise is given six times over. Six times, almost in the same breath, our savior commands us to ask whatsoever we will. This is the greatest—the most powerful—promise ever made to man. Yet most people—Christian people—practically ignore it. Is it not so?”
He continues…
“…So our blessed Master gives us the final exhortation, before He is seized, and bound, and scourged, before His gracious lips are silenced on the cross, “Ye shall ask in My name…for the Father himself loveth you” (John 16:26-27). We have often spent much time in reflecting upon our Lord’s last seven words on the cross. And it is well we should do so. Have we ever spent one hour in meditating upon our Savior’s sevenfold invitation to pray?” (chapter two, Almost Incredible Promises)
You may not agree with how Richardson
David Platt says in his sermon, The All Satisfying Christ, that Daniel knew the importance of prayer as a “God ordained means to God ordained ends.”
Brothers and sisters, may we surrender to the Holy Spirit as He prompts or even compels us to pray, while at the same time giving us the very words to say in prayer.
On to the second point this week--God wants us to pray together.
Andrew Murray quote from With Christ in the School of Prayer
“Who can say what power a church could develop and exercise, if it gave itself to the work of prayer day and night for the coming of the kingdom, for God’s power on His servants and His Word, for the glorifying of God on the salvation of souls? Most churches think their members are gathered into one simply to take care of and build up each other. They know not that God rules the world by the prayers of His saints; that prayer is the power by which Satan is conquered; that by prayer the church on earth has disposal of the powers of the heavenly world. They do not remember that Jesus has, by His promise, consecrated every assembly in His Name to be a gate of heaven, where His presence is to be felt, and His power experienced in the Father fulfilling their desires.”
Yes Andrew, bring it on!
The Apostle Paul knew the power of corporate prayer.
To the Romans he says,
Romans 15:30 (ESV)
30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
To the Corinthians,
2 Corinthians 1:11 (ESV)
11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
To the Ephesians,
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
To the Thessalonians,
2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NASB)
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;
As a missionary once said, “Prayer is the work.” Another missionary to Asia in the early 2000’s was used by God to at one point to train 300-400 church planters per month. By 2003, God’s work in this area produced 9,320 new churches and 104,542 baptisms (Church Planting Movements, p291). “If you ask John the secret of this powerful movement, he will pull up his pants legs and show you the calluses on his knees. “You must spend two hours every day in prayer,” he says. (Garrison, p 290)
Father, help us to see the desperate need for prayer in our lives and for your kingdom’s impact. God, please give us your intercessory Spirit.
May God grant us a compelling passion to know Him more—to go deeper with God in prayer.
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