Waking Up To The Wonder of Prayer

"WAKING UP TO THE WONDER OF PRAYER!"
1Thess 5: 17

Intro:
One of the most powerful weapons at our disposal is the weapon called prayer. Someone once said that prayer is a golden key, which should open the morning, and lock up the evening. It has also been said that prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will make a man cease from prayer.
The unfortunate fact of life is that we have this weapon near at hand, yet so few of us properly use it. We place our trust in our leaders, or friends, or family, or even in ourselves. We struggle, and fight, and battle for all that we are worth, yet we refuse to take time to pray.
In Genesis 4: 26, following the birth announcement of Adam and Eve's grandchild Enos, we read: "Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord." From that day, prayer has played a major roll in the affairs of mankind. Offering us an avenue in difficult times.
Tonight, as we kick off our Home Coming, we want to examine the blessing of prayer. In particular, I want to help you “WAKE UP TO THE WONDER OF PRAYER.” God has given us a great gift, but if we refuse to take advantage of it, then it is a gift given in vain. For the next few moments, I want us to examine the three “P’s” of prayer. I hope that through something that is said here tonight, that you will understand the power that God is offering you through the avenue of prayer.

I WE MUST SEE THE PLACE OF PRAYER.

1. Prayer must be a priority in our lives.
A. Lk 18: 1, Ro 12: 12, 1Th 5: 17 over and over again the Bible shows us the role prayer ought to play in our lives.
B. Acts 16: 24-25 in times of trial we ought to pray!
C. Jam 5: 16 in spiritual matters we ought to pray!
D. Mt 26: 39 in the face of persecution and death we ought to pray!
2. I encourage you to also make prayer a prerequisite.
A. before entering into any situation, take time to ask for God's help.
B. Acts 1: 24 before they made the decision as to the new apostle, those men of God found in the first chapter of Acts went to God in prayer.
C. Luke 1: 18 if it is true that we ought to pray, then the perfect time to pray is before making life changing decisions.
C. Don’t be like the men who were discussing the perfect time and position of prayer. The first said that he believed that one should pray in the morning, while on one’s knees, and his head bowed. The second said that prayer is best done in the evening, while standing with one’s head toward Heaven asking for a gift as a small child. The third stated that he didn’t know about the first two times and methods, but that he found that he did his best praying win he fell into the well upside downing the afternoon.

II WE MUST SEE THE PATERN FOR PRAYER
(Matt 6: 9-13)

1. Here in Jesus' prayer, he shows us two petitions, or request that we should bring before God.
A. Those, which are of a physical nature.
B. Also, those, which are of a spiritual nature.
2. First, there are those petitions of a physical nature.
A. 1Thess 5: 18 we should thank him for all that he has done, and will do for us!
B. Psa 5: 8 we should ask him for guidance through the troubled paths of life!
C. Psa 23: 4 we should turn to him for comfort in times of fear and distress!
3. However, sense Jesus mentions more spiritual petitions than physical petitions; perhaps we should focus more upon the spiritual issues that we are to bring before god.
A. 1Jn 1: 8-10 we should bring our past personal sins before him.
B. Lk 23: 34 we should grant forgiveness to those who sin against us.
C. 1Co 10: 13 we should seek deliverance from both temptation and evil.

III THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER

1. So often we examine the prayers of the great men and women of the scriptures, and we consider ourselves unworthy to pray to God.
A. Jam 5: 17-18 how can I pray with the faith of Elijah?
B. Ex 33: 13 how can I pray with the confidence of Moses?
C. Mt 26: 36 how can I pray with the love and humility of Jesus?
2. We need to remember that, "prayer is not only the privilege of the spiritual giant, but it is open to all saints, without exception."
A. 1Sa 1: 1-20 that means that we can pray as Hannah prayed!
B. Lk 18: 13 that means we can pray as the publican prayed!
C. 1Ch 4: 10 that means that we can pray as Jabez prayed!
D. Regardless of whether or not you are a spiritual Giant or not: god still hears your prayers!