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"You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." And then "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (NASB). So many of our prayers seek the hands of God instead of His face. We are selfish and greedy. We expect God to bless even though we are unfaithful and living in the consequences of our disobedience.
Keeping a prayer journal helps believers to write down answers to prayer. Looking at those pages and years of answered prayer are quite a blessing, particularly when Satan tempts us to question God’s faithfulness.
Prayer teams from several churches in a city near Phoenix, Arizona began to pray fervently for their community. They were amazed to see how things changed. The entire police force became Christians. A Hispanic congregation fervently prayed and walked through their community every week. In just a few months they reported that every crack house to sell drugs was closed. Even the radical changes in New York City can be traced back to groups of faithful believers praying fervently for their city.
"The praying that makes a prayerful ministry is not a little praying put in as we put flavor to give it a pleasant smack, but the praying must be in the body, and from the blood and bones." -E.M Bounds .
B. Biblical prayer becomes contagious. When people are exposed to biblical prayer they want to take part in it. This is why the disciples asked Christ in Luke 11:1 to "teach us to pray." The Jews prayed a lot. The ritual prayers were different from what Christ was doing. The disciples wanted to learn how to pray like Jesus was praying.
Humans have a "God-shaped hole" in their hearts. The only thing that can fill this hole is a relationship with their Creator. Adam and Eve enjoyed their fellowship with God until they sinned. They tried to hide from God. God took the initiative to come find them. Even though many people try to hide from God by saying they are not interested in formal religion, they are glad when the Creator God finds them. This is what causes humans to create ways to meet God on their terms and conditions. These false religions are often based on earning salvation or doing good deeds. They impose on God their ideas of what God should be and do. They each have a form of ritual prayer (Matt. 7:7-9).
Religion then can be defined as "Human created ways to find God." Please recognize that this is very different from Christianity as seen in John 3:16-17. Christianity can be defined as "God’s created way to find humans." This is not just one of the gods found in today’s pluralism. The Creator God takes the initiative to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).
In addition to the genetic memory of walking with God in the Garden, God continues to make himself known to humans. Paul teaches in Romans 1:20-25 that "God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made…so that they are without excuse." It is sad that humans "changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man….who exchanged the truth of God for a lie"(NKJV). False religion with its ritual prayers is dry and lifeless. They are human made and unattractive. Biblical prayer as taught by Christ makes humans want to talk with their Creator the way Jesus did.
The young Buddhist man confided in his Christian friend. "I don’t think Buddha hears me pray. When I hear you pray to Jesus, you sound like you are talking to someone you know that listens to you. It is very peaceful."
In John 14:27 Jesus talks about the peace that He gives believers. The word "peace" comes from a Greek word meaning "to reunite or reconcile" those who are separated. It referred to outward and inward peace. Humans can only find peace by being reunited with the Creator God, through His Son Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
A church prayer coordinator warns, "Prayer needs to be important in every part of the church. Sometimes the prayer ministry is only a small group on the edge of the church. Teaching biblical prayer as the heart of all you do will bring in people who want to get involved."
C. Hearing from God empowers prayer. There is a lot of false teaching available on prayer and spiritual warfare. It is very important to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (I John 4:1, NASB). In Matthew 6:5-14 Jesus commanded his followers to pray. His model prayer gives an outline of biblical, effective prayer.
Jesus began his model prayer with a very intimate and personal phrase that refers to God as "daddy." He then praises God and acknowledges His authority. Even the Son of God balanced intimacy with God while placing himself under the authority of God. Humans sometimes want to impose our agendas on God instead of listening for His agenda. Jesus moves to intercession for "daily bread" and forgiveness of sin. He prays for consistency and protection. He concludes by again acknowledging that God is the Creator who is sovereign over time and space.
It had been a very hot day in Manaus, Brazil when the prayer teams began their evening Prayer Journey. The Brazilian pastor led us into a community that reflected the poverty and hopelessness of life without Christ. On the porch of a corner apartment, a young mother sat crying with her infant daughter in her arms. The pastor spoke to her and told her we were a prayer team from the Baptist church. Through her tears she gave us a beautiful smile. "I have been praying for two days for God to send someone to show me how to have hope." She accepted Christ, and brought two friends with her to church the next Sunday. Her testimony helped every person in the congregation to see the faithfulness of God to answer prayer. The Sovereign God of the universe brought that team to that woman. One of the team members confessed what we each had thought, "It was so hot, I didn’t want to go, but now I’m glad I did."
II. Response Time: Pause for a prayer time to focus on the biblical lessons learned. Seek God for a renewed faithfulness in prayer. Thank God for telling us no when we ask for the wrong things. Pray for righteousness. Pray to be contagious in prayer.
"More believers on their knees praying will result in more Christians on their feet evangelizing."
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