Lesson 11

Prayer, Part 1

May 13, 2007

Mike Larsen

Adult Sunday School

Romans 8:14-16

Open your Bible to Romans 8:14-16, “For as many as are lead by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”

Introduction:  As we continue in our discipleship series we come to the subject of Prayer.  Last week we looked at sanctification.  In order for us to develop and be what God wants us to be, both mentally and physically, we can not allow ourselves to be indoctrinated by this world system.  So we hold every thought and action up against the standard of the truth of God and accept only that which is right.  We will be different than the world because we are a peculiar people.  Would you want it any other way?  Would you expect God’s children to run with the Devils children?  Of course not!  Even you good parents set guidelines and standards that are in your children’s best interests.  They may not fully understand why but in your wisdom you make those decisions.  Well our father has infinite wisdom!  Stop arguing with God and love and respect Him as the perfect loving Father that he is.  You notice that in a home where the children are rebellious and disrespectful there is no peace or joy?  Maybe you don’t have real peace or joy because you are fighting God.  Surrender!  Let go!  God knows best!  He wants you to flourish in your walk with Him.  Fullness of Joy!  Today we will look at prayer.  Prayer is the most wonderful part of the Believers life.  Prayer is that direct personal connection to your loving Father.  Have you ever been away from your spouse or kids or parents and could not communicate for a while.  You still love them but your relationship seems distant doesn’t it?  That is how it is with God when you don’t pray.  Prayer is the simplest yet most profound of the spiritual disciplines. When we pray we are simply communicating with God.  No fancy mystical rituals just dialog.  And yet it is dialog with the exalted Lord of the universe.   We have the amazing privilege of speaking directly to Almighty God!  More amazing is that He listens and speaks to us in return.   In order for us to have the right perspective when we pray Jesus went to great effort to show us how to relate to God when we pray.  He could have emphasized God as the Judge or King but instead he presents Him as Father.  (The kind of Father who welcomes his children with open arms Mark 10:13-16)  Jesus said we come to God as little children and he took them up into his arms and held them.

As we look at prayer that is the context to be in.  God is eager to hear you tell him everything!  He wants you to tell him so he can comfort you and guide you as his child.

I. Why Pray

A. Prayer changes us as much as it changes the situations which we pray about.  When we pray we begin to tell God our problems with other people or a situation. The Spirit of God begins to shine a flashlight around the inside of our heart and we hear, “I see you’ve noticed that spec in that person’s eye but did you happen to notice that huge beam sticking out of your face?”  Ever had that happen?  Of course you have.  You are praying and you begin to realize it is you!  Confession is made, your attitude is changed, and then you relate with that person from a different perspective.  They notice a change in you and that causes them to relate differently to you and the relationship is healed and what do you know, that is what you prayed for!  Yes prayer causes us to see that we can not justify ourselves and God changes our heart.

B. Prayer increases our faith.  Sometimes we have a huge need.  It is a seemingly impossible situation.   As we pray we begin to realize that God is in control.  By praying we acknowledge that we need God and we can not do it.  That is good because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble!  We begin to realize that God will have to do it and we get to be part of it.  We rely on God and then see Him work and are amazed by Him.  Seeing Him work in our lives increases our faith!  Dawn used to hear me worry about a situation and she would start singing the song “Tell It To Jesus”.  Tell it to Jesus, depend on Him and your faith will increase and your doubt or fear will subside!

C. Prayer works!  The most obvious reason to pray is that Prayer works.  God answers prayer!  Prayer changes things!  When we pray God unleashes His power.  Are you sick? Pray.  Need a job? Pray. Want your family to know Jesus? Pray.  Facing conflict with someone?  Pray.  We will be amazed to see the things our Father does when we ask Him for help.  Of course we need to be asking;

in Faith, nothing wavering, James 1:6,

in Jesus name, John 14:13,

with a right relationship with your wife,1 Peter 3:7,

according to God’s will and not our own lusts James 4:3,

If we harbor sin in our hearts God will not hear us!

Now there are certain things that prayer will never change for example; Jesus is coming again whether we pray or not.  He will judge the quick and the dead whether we pray or not.  These things are fixed events in God’s purposes, but there are things God will not do unless we pray for them.  God says at times we have not because we ask not. James 4:2  Some people might say, “If God wanted you to have it, don’t you think he is big enough to give it to you?  God certainly does not need us and He can do anything He wants.  He can make the rocks praise Him if He wants to.  However as I say often, it is not about what God can do, but what God does do.  He is certainly big enough to give you anything he wants but he has decided that he will not do certain things unless you ask him.  In fact some things even require prayer and fasting both! Matthew 17:21

God wants us to be an active part of his working by prayer.  He wants to show himself mighty and loving by answering our prayers.  He wants us to stay dependant on him.  For some reason He desires to let us have a part in His plan and purpose. What a blessing that is!

II. Jesus is the example

A. Jesus prayed in the morning – Mark 1:35  Jesus rose up a great while before day.  Before the hustle and bustle of the day.  Before the e-mails and meetings and phone calls.  Before you begin thinking of all that you have to do that day in your busy schedule.   That’s a good time to pray.

B. Jesus prayed in solitary places – Mark 1:35 People used to pray more out loud.  I know I prefer to pray out loud.  The Pharisees prayed out loud but they did it in public so all could see which was not good.  Jesus went to a solitary place where He could talk to God Alone. 

Mat 6:6.  Pastor talks about the prayer closet.  That is a solitary place where you can get alone with God and talk to him out loud as you would talk to a loving Father.  No distractions.

C. Jesus prayed after work – Mark 6:45-46  Look back beginning with verse 30.  It had been an extra long day!  They had pulled a double shift!  Jesus was not driven by a “This is my time to relax” mentality.  In our fast paced society isn’t that a temptation?    It is for me I confess.  After that hard day he went off to pray.  That tells me that Jesus found communicating with the Father refreshing.  When we are tired and get the idea that we will pray later, that is the devil talking.  That’s the time to reflect on the day and thank God for giving you the strength to get through it.  If you don’t do that you may stew all night about how unfair it is that you had to work so hard and fall into despair.  Prayer helps you keep your perspective right.

D. Jesus prayed in the midst of success and popularity – Lk 5:15-16  Jesus just heals a person of leprosy.  Jesus is at a pinnacle of fame and success.  He does not get puffed up with pride.  He withdraws and prays. When we have our biggest successes is when we need to be careful don’t we?  We can so easily begin to think we are something special and forget that it is God who gives us the talent or skill we have.  As one writer said, “Who is responsible for this success God?  You are! Please reduce my head back to its original size.”  It is important for us to acknowledge daily our dependence on Him.  We must do this to maintain our humility because God resists the proud.

E. Jesus prayed before making major decisions – Luke 6:12-13  Jesus had a huge decision to make.  He was choosing the future of the church.  He knew He was also choosing a traitor.  He prayed all night prior to that decision.  If you are facing a major decision (job change, major purchase, move to another city, marriage, etc) nothing will clear your mind like getting alone with God about it.  By the way when you pray in these major decision times, make sure you wait upon the Lord so He can communicate back to you.  So often I am in a hurry.

Prayer at night can be amazingly fruitful as well.  He prayed all night!  If you awaken in the middle of the night, before you take the Nyquil why don’t you pray?  There are times I know God has awoken me just for that purpose.  Many people get saved in the middle of the night when God wakes them up in fear after contemplating the Gospel and the preaching of Hell.

F. Jesus prayed with regularity – Luke 22:39 Jesus went out “as he was wont”.  That means it was his habit.  It was normal and usual for him.  We would say, “Jesus went out as he normally did to the Mt of Olives.”  We see throughout the Gospels that Jesus prayed very often and about everything.  Prayer should not be a special event but a regular part of your daily life.  Pray without ceasing the Bible says.  That means be in a state of communication with God all the time.  It is good to just stop during the day and communicate with God as needs come to your mind.  There is no need to wait and try to remember it all at the dinner table!  We need to make prayer a regular part of our daily lives.

G. Jesus prayed honestly – Luke 22:39-44 Jesus was about to enter the most terrible moment on earth.  He would suffer the entire wrath of God for the sins of the whole world.  God would for the first time turn his back on the Son and leave him totally alone to suffer.  Jesus honestly asked God to spare him from this but at the same time he acknowledged his submission to the will of the father.  If he prayed like many people he could have said, “This is going to be tough God but I’m glad to suffer this for you.”  No, he was honest with God and showed he did not want to go through this.  If Jesus could have paid for our sins any other way he would have!  He was in agony and he asked the father to remove this cup from him. 

Have you ever noticed how little children come to their mom and dad?  They don’t hold back their tears do they?   They are not concerned what others think when they are small.  They are hurting emotionally or physically and then openly cry and cling to their mom and dad.  As parents we want them to come to us openly and honestly don’t we?  That is the only way we can really help them.  God wants us to come to him honestly as well.  Total honesty!  He wants us to come to him as little children completely dependant on Him.  There is no use lying to the one who knows everything. 

“God I yelled at her.  I was angry! Did you see what she did?  I am sorry God I was wrong and I did not control myself as I should have. Oh God I am weak and wretched.  Father please forgive me and give me your strength to change and to control my temper.”   

As we pray honestly God changes us.  You say, “I see why to pray and I see Jesus example but how do I pray?”  That is what the disciples asked and Jesus answered them.  We will look at what Jesus said about how to pray next week.

Conclusion:  Prayer is a vital part of our healthy Christian life.  Don’t allow your relationship to become distant with your heavenly Father.  If it is distant right now then realize he did not move.  You did.  Turn back to him and do that by communicating with him openly and honestly.  He loves you and wants to restore the fellowship.  You will find that he will kill the fatted calf and welcome you in his open arms.