A Life of Prayer

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:19-22

I. Prayer is a wonderful opportunity

A. It is extremely difficult to meet very famous and powerful people.

B. One has to have a good reason and be able to get in touch with the right people and, even then, one might have to meet with a representative of the famous person. Some Catholics desire an audience with the pope but, if they are permitted to see him they pass through his presence briefly and have no time to talk with him in great detail—they certainly cannot see him regularly.

C. God wants us to come to Him in prayer and is ready whenever we want an audience with Him.

D. We should want to take advantage of the opportunity God presents

E. However, wanting a closer relationship with God or more peace without prayer is just wishing Personal relationships are built upon mutual interest, desire to find moments together, and taking time to open up to one another. John 4:23 – God seeks us to worship Him

F. God desires our company; we should be humbled and awed by this

G. Will we open ourselves to God’s fellowship through prayer and study? We must invest ourselves in Him if we hope to grow in our relationship to Him We must determine to improve our relationship to God through prayer

H. Will we ignore Him and forsake this opportunity by ignoring His word and failing to confide in Him through prayer?

II. Prayer is a wonderful privilege

A. Not only do we have a great opportunity—or occasion—to pray daily, it is a privilege that Christians enjoy through Jesus Christ.

B. Privilege: “Any peculiar benefit or advantage, right or immunity, not common to others of the human race.” (Webster)

C. Hebrews 10:19-22 – Can come boldly to the throne of grace

D. Song: “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”

E. Lyric: “What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer” Lyric: “Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear; just because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

III. Daily prayer can transform daily life

A. Need strength for the day against trials and enemies

B. Hezekiah

C. King Hezekiah received a letter from the Assyrians that described their intent to conquer Jerusalem and take the people captive.2 Kings 19:14-19 – Hezekiah spread the problem before God

D. Deliverance from evil

E. Matthew 6:13 – deliver us from temptation1 Peter 5:8-9: “Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.” Since the devil is always seeking us, we need to always pray for help.

F. Need daily care from God

G. Matthew 6:11:” Give us this day our daily bread.” Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown: “In limiting our petitions, however, to provision for the day, what a spirit of childlike dependence does the Lord both demand and beget!”“There is nothing I will face today that God and I cannot handle”

H. Remind one of his relationship with God

I. Comfort knowing God is there Reminder of God’s constant strength Reminder that God is also a daily judge“A constant sense of Thy abiding presence”

J. Jesus is our example of constant prayer

IV. Why do some Christians not pray every day?

A. Start the day focused on tasks and problems; do not pause to pray.

B. Little trust that God will answer our prayers

C. Some Christians believe in God’s power and willingness to help His children but do not act on that belief. Francis Schaeffer: “It’s like a man who comes in hungry from the cold and there is a huge dinner set before him. He says, ‘I believe this food exists’ but then fails to eat it. Obviously, he is not fed.” He goes on to say that if we are not acting on our belief in daily decisions and seeking God’s help in prayer, the Christianity simply becomes the best answer to the questions of life but nothing more. If you profess the power of prayer but do not pray then prayer does you no good.

D. Can’t figure out how God will answer our prayers

E. Edward Bound: “The pride of learning is against the dependent humility of prayer.” The great people of faith in the Bible did not pray to God then tell God how to answer their prayers; they prayed and turned matters over to God.

V. What message does a life without prayer send?

A. You are not important to me

B. I do not have time for you

C. I do not want to schedule my precious time for youI do not want to spend time with you

D. I can handle things today without You

E. I do not believe that you can affect the things I am facing in my life

F. Today I have nothing of which to thank You or praise You

G. I can take advantage of our relationship

H. I’ll use You when I am in trouble or in need You will be there whether I pray or not