PRAYER SPECIFICS
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
Main idea: basics of prayer
INTRODUCTION
How many of you prayed this morning?
Do you pray every day?
And during the day?
Are you satisfied with your prayer life?
What if we couldn’t pray – what would be missing?
(let them answer)
TRANSITION
Prayer important – talk about it now this morning
I. THE COMMAND TO PRAY Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Ephesians 6:18 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.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Someone read this in your language?
I URGE: Gk parakaleo – encouragement and order
encouraged and ordered to pray
like soldier encouraged and ordered to fight
prayer really is a battle!
Prayer is the battle, not preliminary to the battle
FIRST OF ALL: before anything else Timothy must pray – top priority
Before ministering to people, pray for them!!!
REQUESTS: Gk deeseis, prayers focusing on special needs
Pray for special needs in lives of people
Plead and beg for them
Intense and deep brokenness before God in behalf of others
“you have not because you ask not” James 4:2
PRAYERS: gk proseuchas – special times of prayer set aside for devotion and worship
Daily time for prayer and worship to God a must!
Attitude continue all day – pray without ceasing I Thes 5:17
LISTENING TO GOD important part of this
INTERCESSIONS: Gk enteuxeis bold praying
Standing before God in behalf of another as Christ stands before God in our behalf
Stand in the gap between them and God
Pray for more laborers Luke 10:2
THANKSGIVING: Gk eucharistias (eucharist) thank God for hearing and answering
II. THE CONTENT OF PRAY
CONFESS SINS
NEEDS OF OTHERS
Keep lists, write things down
I give lists on back of bulletin
OWN NEEDS
PROTECTION, hedge, like Job
FRUIT OF SPIRIT – Gal 5
ARMOR OF GOD – Eph 6 (piece #7 is prayer)
WORSHIP
Need both:
WORSHIP – Who and What God IS
THANKSGIVING – What God DOES
Worship gets our eyes off ourselves and onto God
Best antidote for worry, fear, discouragement
Big God = little problems
Little God = big problems
Worship reminds us what a big God we have
Focus today is on worship as ENTERTAINMENT
On what WE get out of it
Does it make US feel good?
Focus must be on GOD, not on us
We are too aware of our feeling good
Not if God is feeling good
When awake during night, early in morning – praise worship!
If God waking you up, that’s what He wants
If the enemy waking you up, praising God will soon stop his doing that!
PRAYER: PUBLIC in church
FOR OTHERS
PRIVATE personal devotions
Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
James 5:16-18 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
Pray daily for the world, for all people
For needs of sheep, by name regularly
TRANSITION
COMMAND – just seen
HOW TO PRAY – next
III. THE EXAMPLE OF A PRAYER
Colossians 1:9-14
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Someone read this in your language?
POWER OF THE PRAYER
Know all of this is God’s will to pray
Appropriate to pray for anyone and everyone
Meets every need, no matter what it is – applies to everyone
Encouraging prayer – for one praying it and one prayed for
God-centered (our prayers are us-centered)
Can pray this with confidence, assurance and authority
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will
Understand clearly the will of God for their life
Can’t obey God if don’t know His will
First priority is to know God’s will for things
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
In detail, how applies, what means, future goals, etc
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way
bring glory to God
honor to name Christian
holy, righteous life
others watching, attract them to Jesus –want what we have
SALT: changes flavor, heals, preserves
Do people see something different in you?
bearing fruit in every good work,
being busy doesn’t mean being fruitful
what difference does this make 20 or 100 years from now
anything that impacts others lives in positive way
not just self-centered, focused on self
focus on self instead of building into children, mate,
fruit = life has eternal consequence, not things just for this
life but for next
God wants us to be FRUITFUL
growing in the knowledge of God,
do you have a hunger and thirst to know more about God, know HIM better?
How much time spent in pursuing God? Deeper knowledge of God?
How is intimacy growing? Where is god working in your personal relationship?
Phil 4 – Know God (not about God)
Knowledge = head, then into heart
11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
pray for God’s power to work in their life so they have patience, steadfastness
pray for power of God to be released in their life
don’t pray for circumstances to change
pray for perseverance to go through the trial
and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father,
pray they would be thankful, attitude of gratitude
MOTIVATION to pray
Notice all are present tense – not future tense
who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
Jesus’ blood qualifies us, nothing else
We are sons and daughters of God
Eternal inheritance awaits us – greater than what we suffer
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
Jesus saved us from Satan’s kingdom brought us into light
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
transferred into Jesus’ kingdom
present tense, no chance of going to hell for believer
we didn’t put our self into the kingdom so can’t take ourselves out
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins
What would man pay to have sins forgiven?
Ours gone eternally, forever
IV. HOW TO LISTEN TO GOD
1. WHAT DOES GOD’S VOICE SOUND LIKE?
a. Gentle Whisper (still, small voice)
1 Kings 19:11-13 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Ten a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Someone read this in your language?
NOT verbal voice, sensational or emotional experience
Very easy to overlook, think just our own thought, excuse or decide against it
ME: day before wedding decline to marry people
in pain, hurt – magnifies His voice so listen better, hear clearer – like Job
causes us to focus and listen better, want/need to hear more
TRANSITION
What to listen for (HOW God speaks)
1. A gentle whisper (still, small voice)
Where to listen (WHERE He speaks)
2. Rich and enlightened thoughts
b. Rich & Enlightened Thoughts
John 2:22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Someone read this in your language?
Can God put a new idea directly and immediately into our minds
ME: what to go over in these conferences
WISDOM when setting up sermons & lessons,
INSIGHT when counseling
TRANSITION
What to listen for (HOW God speaks)
1. A gentle whisper (still, small voice)
Where to listen (WHERE He speaks)
2. Rich and enlightened thoughts
3. Warm, burning heart
c. Warm, Burning Heart
CONTEXT: Road to Emmaus resurrection morning
Luke 24:32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Someone read this in your language?
Ps 39:1-3 I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.” 2 But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased. 3 My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
Someone read this in your language?
ME: to INDIA and back to India
TRANSITION
HOW GOD SPEAKS TO US
GENTLE WHISPER – subjective awareness
WHERE GOD SPEAKS TO US
RICH & ENLIGHTENED THOUGHTS – speaks manly to our mind, rational thoughts
WARM, BURNING HEARTS – speaks mainly to our emotions, feelings
WHAT GOD SPEAKS TO US
Next topic
2. WHAT DOES GOD’S VOICE SAY?
a. Conviction
1. Of need of salvation
2. Of sin in life after salvation
b. Information, Guidance
Listen to God in spiritual warfare – how to proceed, counsel, pray, command
Listen to God in counseling – what to ask, challenge, comfort, advise, focus on
Listen to God in preaching – sermon prep, focus, MI, delivery, invitation, etc.
INSIGHT – God reveals new meaning in a passage or situation
LOOSE KEYS, all of a sudden find/remember
c. Encouragement, Peace
Strength, comfort, encouragement
Scripture passage in mind
MSBC: God give peace about size, finances, future, etc
Passages, songs abut perseverance, faithfulness
d. Enablement in Ministry
USE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
ME: teaching & counseling
Pastor role of leading sheep
e. Revelation of Himself = Worship
Praise, worship in response to His greatness spoken toUS
Enjoy His presence, fellowship
New idea, revelation about God’s person
Waves of appreciation, praise, worship sweep over me
V. THE KEY TO EFFECTIVE PRAYER
John 1:1-17
TIME: Late at night, Thursday, April 2, 33 AD (night before the crucifixion)
PLACE: Jerusalem streets, walking and talking
PARTICIPANTS: Jesus and the 11 disciples (minus Judas)
John 15:1-17
Someone read this in your language?
I. THE PRODUCER: GARDNER & VINE
A. THE TRUE VINE 1
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
True = genuine, real
Israel pictured as vine, God as owner/gardner
Was to produce for God, but often didn’t
“The vine lives to give its lifeblood to the branch.”
B. THE UNFRUITFUL BRANCHES 2-3
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
The whole purpose of the branch is to BEAR FRUIT
Wood no good for building, furniture, anything
Salvation not in view, but FRUITFULNESS is
Lost reward, not salvation
Pruning to bring more fruit, not to punish (Rom 8:1)
EXAMPLES OF PRUNING in your life, others???
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Make sure they know they aren’t losing their salvation
C. THE FRUITFUL BRANCHES 4-6
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Remain, abide, continue, cling to
Analogy: branch to vine, us to Christ
WHAT IS THE PARALLEL?
WHAT LESSONS FOR US?
apart from me you can do nothing
– not ‘very little’ but can do NOTHING
Same SAP shared between vine & branch (Jesus & us) Sap =HOLY SPIRIT
II. THE PROCESS: ABIDE & OBEY
(THE CONDITIONS)
A. ABIDE 7a, 9b
7a If you remain in me
9b Now remain in my love.
B. OBEY 7b, 10a
7b and my words remain in you
10a If you obey my commands
III. THE PRODUCT: FRUIT OF LOVE
A. WHAT FRUIT OF LOVE IS (RESULTS)
Fruit 8b, 16a
8b bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
16a I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit
“FRUIT” – product of a living entity
fruit of the vine – grapes
fruit of the womb – infant
fruit of the Christian – traits like Jesus
not just 9 or 11 listed above
anything we produce like Jesus
Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
LOVE for those who do not love in return
JOY in the midst of painful circumstances
PEACE when something counting on doesn’t come thru
PATIENCE when things aren’t going fast enough for you
KINDNESS toward those who treat you unkindly
GOODNESS toward those who have been intentionally insensitive to you
FAITHFULNESS when friends have proved unfaithful
GENTLENESS toward those who have handled you roughly
SELF-CONTROL in the midst of intense temptation
Love 12, 17
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have
loved you.
17 This is my command: Love each other
LOVE = INTIMACY with others
Also with God
B. WHAT FRUIT OF LOVE DOES (BENEFITS)
1. To God: Glorifies God 8a
8a This is to my Father’s glory
INTIMACY WITH GOD
2. To Others: Display Discipleship 8c
8c showing yourselves to be my disciples.
3. To Self:
Experience Jesus’ Authority 7c, 16b
7c ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
16b Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
Experience Jesus’ Joy 11
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
JOY not the same as HAPPINESS
Experience Jesus’ Friendship 14-15
14-15 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Experience Jesus’ Love 9, 13
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
CONCLUSION