Teaching Documents

Thursday 10 21 2021

GOD SEEKS INTERCESSORS

EZEKIEL 22:30

Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

In The Old Testament times, God had among His people intercessors to whose voices He had listened and given deliverances. In Isaiah 59 we read of a time of trouble when God sought for an Intercessor but found none. Isa. 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. And He wondered! Think of what that means-the amazement of God that there was no one that loved the people enough or who had enough faith in the power to deliever, that He would intercede on their behalf. If there had been an intercessor, God would have given delieverence; without an intercessor, His judgements came down. (Ez. 22:30)

Of what infinite importance is the place of intercessor holds in the Kingdom of God! Is it not indeed a matter of wonder that God should give men such power, and yet there are so few who know what it is to take hold of His strength and pray down His blessings on the world.

Let us try to realize this position. When God had in His Son worked out a new creation and Christ had taken His place on the Throne, the work of the extension of His kingdom was given into the hands of men. All that Christ was to do in heaven was to be in fellowship with His people on earth. In His divine condescension, God has willed that the working of His Spirit will follow the prayers of His people. He waits for their intercession that shows the preparation of their hearts—where and how much of His Spirit they are ready to receive.

God rules the world and His church through the prayers of His people. God calls for intercessors; in His grace He has made His work dependent on them; He waits for them.

Our Father, open our eyes to see that You invite your children to have part in the extension of Your kingdom by their faitfulness in prayer and intercession. Give us such and insight into the glory of this holy calling, so that with our whole hearts we may yield ourselves to its blessed service. Amen.

Thursday 10 28 2021

7 ways the Holy Spirit Helps us in our Prayer Life

Romans 8:26,27

Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

1.He Helps our Will to Pray Rom.8:5-8

Ro 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

2. He helps our bodies in time of Prayer Rom.8:10,11

Ro 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

3. He helps in our Request Rom.8:26

4. He brings us into access of the Father Eph. 2:18

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

5. He helps us in our asking Rom.8:26

6. He works for all to work out for Good Rom.8:28

Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

7. He helps us have the victory Rom.8:31,21

Ro 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Thursday 10 28 2021

10 28 2021

The Work of the Spirit in Intercession

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

We know what “Abba Father” meant in the month of Christ at Gethsemane. It was the entire surrender of Himself to death, so that the holy will of God’s love in the redemption of sinners might be accomplished. In His prayer, He was ready for any sacrifice even the yielding of His life. In that prayer, the heart of Him whose place is at the right hand of God is revealed to us, with the wonderful power of intercession that He exercises there, and the power’s pour down the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has been bestowed by the Father to breath the very Spirit of His Son into our hearts. Our Lord desires us to yield ourselves as wholly to God as He did—to pray as He did, that is revealed in His desire for the salvation of souls, so also the desire of Jesus was made plain when He gave Himself for them. And He now asks that the same love would fill His people, too, so that they give themselves wholly to the work of intercession and, at any cost, pray down God’s love upon the perishing world.

Lest anyone should began to think that this is beyond his reach, the Holy Spirit of Jesus is actually given into our hearts so that we may pray in His likeness, in His name, and in His power It is the man who yields himself wholly to the leading of the Holy Spirit who will feel urged, by the compulsion of a divine love, to surrender himself completely to a life of continual intercession, because he knows that it is God who is working in Him.

Now we can understand how Christ could give such unlimited promises of answer to prayer to His disciples: they were first going to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Now we understand how God can give such a high place to intercession in the fulfillment of His purpose of redemption. It is the Holy Spirit who breathes God’s own desire into us and enables us to intercede for souls.

“Abba Father!” Grant that by Your Holy Spirit there may be maintained in us the unceasing intercession of the love for souls for whom Christ died. Give to Your children the vision of the blessedness and power that come to those who yield themselves to this high calling. Amen

Will you be an Intercessor

Jeremiah333.us

Isaiah 62:1-6

Isa 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

We read how God is concerned about His people, the state they have found themselves. I believe that we as God’s people should have a deep concern over the condition of the church and over our loved ones in our lives. Isaiah has a burdened heart, broken over the state of the remnant of God’s people.

Isaiah is pleading with the people to remember how merciful and good God has been to them. Dear friend we must remember that the church of God are a Holy people. God dwells in His people. He reminds us to pray for Revival and encourage others to do the same.

Will you not join us today to pray ?

I. What is Intercessory Prayer ?

A. When one prays for others, especially on their behalf or pleading

for another, it is known as Interceding or intercessory prayer.

B. When we intercede for others it takes our strength to be able to

do this, and make no mistake it takes time.

C. When we intercede for the lost, we are interceding for their soul.

Our enemy (Satan wants to destroy them and all that pertains in their lives)

D. When we pray for our loved ones that are saved, we must

remember Satan hates God, and hates His people. We are

stopping Satan’s plan in their lives.

E. When we intercede for individuals we are trying to deliver their

ever dying eternal souls from Hell!

Who do you know that will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire

Unless someone Intercedes for them?

F. We are standing in the Gap when we Intercede.

Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

II. What are the basis for being a Intercessor ?

A. We find it mentioned in Isaiah 59:16

Isa 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

B. WE find that God is looking for Upholders

Isa 63:5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

C. We also find that an Interceder is one who stands in the Gap

Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

III. What do I do now ?

A. Realize that there is a great need for Intercessors

B. Realize that God is seeking Intercessors (be willing to pray as He leads you & burdens you)

C. Volunteer your will to His Will to be an Intercessor

D. Ask the Spirit of God to lead you in this Great Ministry

video broke up so start from left and work to the right

Thursday 11-4-2021

CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE IN INTERCESSION

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Christ ”made intercession for the transgressors.” What did that mean to Him? Think of what it cost Him to pray that prayer effectively. He had to pour out His soul as an offering for sin, and He had to cry at Gethsemane, “Father, Your holy will of love be done.”

Think of what moved Him thus to sacrifice Himself to the very uttermost ! It was love for the Father, so that His holiness might be manifested, and His love for souls, so that they might be partakers of His holiness.

Think of the reward He won! As Conqueror of every enemy. He is seated at the right hand of God with the power unlimited and assured intercession. And He desires to ”see His seed” (Isa.53:10)

A generation of those who have the same mind as Himself, whom He can train to share in His great work of intercession.

And what does this mean to us, when we seek to pray for the transgressors That we, too, yield ourselves wholly to the glory of the holiness and the love of the Father, that we, too, say, ”God’s will be done, no matter what it may cost”; that we , too, sacrifice ourselves, even to pouring out our souls unto death.

The Lord Jesus has taken us up into a partnership with Himself in carrying out the great work of intercession. He in heaven and we on earth must have one mind, one aim in life; that we, out of love for the father and for the lost, consecrate our lives to intercession for God’s blessing. The burning desire of Father and Son for the salvation of souls must be the burning desire of our hearts too.

What a honor! What blessedness! And what a power for us to do the work because He lives and because, by His Spirit, He pours forth His love into our hearts (Rom.5:5)

Everlasting God of love, open our eyes to the vision of the glory of Your Son,who always lives to pray. Open our eyes to the glory of the grace that enables us to live in His likeness so that we may pray for the transgressors. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Thursday 11 11 21

Thursday 11 18 21

How to Pray For Unsaved Loved Ones

1Timothy 2:1-4 (School of Int. Prayer) 11-18-21

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

How do we pray for our lost loved ones?
How many of you have lost loved ones ?
How many of us realize what their eternity could be?
How many have tried to witness to your loved ones?

I think we all must agree that we are to pray for all people

We must ask God to help us to intercede on their behalf

The Bible says we are to pray for those in authority

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

So we are instructed to pray for the lost !
But we are also to pray for those who have drifted away
Many times they may appear that they are lost
Their lives may resemble a lost man
We love them and we see what’s up ahead of them
They do not understand the danger they are in

What is the Real Reason we Want our Loved Ones Saved ?

What is your reason for your loved One being saved ? This is a real important for those of us that are saved !

I have heard and talked with people over many years about why they are praying for a lost loved one to be saved.

One wife told me that she wanted her husband to be saved so he would come to church with her.
One young person told me that he wanted his mom and dad to be saved so they would not give him a hard time about church.
One woman said that she wanted her husband to be saved so he would not fuss and give her a hard time about going to church
One wife told me she wanted her husband saved because he gave her a hard time about dressing Godly
One says, He is always getting drunk, and I’m tired of it. He needs to be saved.

Whatever the reason as good as they may sound this is not the number one reason to want them to be saved !

You may think that the main reason for them being saved is that they will not go to Hell !

I believe the main reason is…….

1. That God is not receiving the Honor & Glory out of their lives !

Jesus Christ loved them so much that He endured the suffering and shame and all of its pain that His Father in Heaven would be pleased!

Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Joh 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Christ death was a sacrifice to God the Father
God’s wrath was deterred by the sacrifice Christ offered to Him
Christ offered up Himself ounce (Heb.7:27)

Hebrews 9:14-How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Christ death was a Sacrifice to God

2. It was a Submission to God (obedience)

3. It was a Substitution to God

{Christ was once to bear the sins of many

4. Christ death was a Satisfaction to God

5. Christ death was a Salvation to God- {So we could be saved}

Matt.10:28- He gave His life a Ransom for us !

He purchased us with His own blood

6. Christ death was the means of our sonship with God

This is talking about reconciliation Rom.5:10

{God’s anger and wrath has been satisfied by the death of Christ, all those who believe are welcomed to come into God’s Family !

So How do we pray for them ?

1. That God would get the Glory & Honor out of their lives in which He died

For them.

2. That God would remove the scales from their eyes- 2 Cor. 4:4

-the Bible says that the eyes of their hearts be enlightened-Eph.1:18

3. That they would come to the knowledge of the Truth. 2Tim.2:25

4. That God would soften their heart

5. That the Spirit of God would draw them

6. That God would give them another chance to hear and be saved.

7. That God would break the chains & barriers that have them bound.

8. That the Holy Spirit would convict them of their lost condition

Thursday 12-2-21

The School of Intercession Outline

Hebrews 5:7 Heb.4:14-16 Romans 12:1-2 12-2-21

1. Consecration means Sacrificial Living Rom.1

A. Sacrifice your Body

B. Sacrifice your Service (a living sacrifice)

C. It is a reasonable service (logical- Worship)

2. Consecration means a Separated Life Rom. 2

A. Paul was addressing the church & Christians

-running back to the world

-the world is shaping the church

B. Satan has convinced God’s people we don’t have to live

a separated life.

C. Renewing of the mind (brings proof)

D. Renewing of the mind by the Word of God

3. Consecration meant to Paul

A. The God that called Him (counted Him worthy)

B. The Grace that changed Him 2 Cor. 5:17

C. The Guarantee that Confronted Him Matt.28:19,20

D. The Gospel that compelled Him Acts 1:8

E. The Gain that consumed Him Phil.3:7-10

G. The Goal that challenged Him Rom. 1:14-15

Ro 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

1Co 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

THE SCHOOL OF INTERCESSION

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Christ, as Head of the church, is Intercession in heaven, we as members of His body, are partners with Him on earth. Let know one imagine that it cost Christ nothing to become an intercessor. He is our example because of the enormous price He paid. What do we read about Him? “Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. “ Notice the repeated expression to regard to the pouring out of His soul.

The pouring out of His soul is a divine meaning of intercession. Nothing less was needed if His sacrifice and prayer was needed if His sacrifice and prayer were to have power with God. This giving over of Himself to live and die so that He might save the perishing was a revelation of the spirit that has power to prevail with God.

If we as helpers and fellow laborers with the Lord Jesus are to share His power of Intercession, we need to have the travail of soul that He had, the same giving up of our life and its pleasures for the one supreme work of interceding for our fellowman. Intercession must not be a passing interest; it must become an ever growing object of intense desire, for which we long and live above everything else. (It is the life of consecration and self sacrifice that will indeed give power for intercession.)

The longer we study this blessed truth and think of what it means to exercise this power for the glory of God and the salvation of men, the deeper our conviction will become that it is worth giving up everthing to take part with Christ in His work of intercession.

Blessed Lord Jesus, teach us how to unite with You in calling upon God for the souls you have bought. Let your love fill us and all Your saints , so that we may learn to plead for the power of Your Holy Spirit to be made known. Amen.

Interceding for the Preacher

2 Thess.3:1

2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

Paul said in Ephesians 6:18,19- Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, These expressions of Paul suggest the strength of his conviction that the Christians had power with God and that there prayers would bring new strength to him in his work. Paul had such a sense of the actual unity of the body of Christ, of the interdependence of each member—even the most honorable—on the life that flowed through the whole body, that he sought to rouse Christians for their own sakes and for his sake and for the sake of the kingdom of God, with this call: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: Col.4:2,3.

The church depends on the ministry to the extent that we very little realize. The place of the preacher is so high—he is the steward of the mysteries of God, the ambassador for God to beseech men in Christ’s name to be reconciled to Him—that any unfaithfulness or inefficiency in him must bring a terrible plight on the church, how much more does the ministry in our day need them?

The preacher needs the prayers of his people. He has a right to them. He is dependent on them. It is his task to train Christians for their work of intercession on behalf of the church and of other churches. Let them plead for God for individual men and for special circles. Let them continue in prayer, so that ministers may be men of power, men of prayer, and men full of the Holy Spirit. Fellow Christians, pray for the preachers.

Our Father who is in heaven, we humbly ask You to arouse believers to a sense of their calling to pray for the preachers of the Gospel in the spirit of faith. Amen

Heading 6

Important Facts Every Intercessor needs to Remember
1 John 1:9

Part One

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Have you ever thought, “How can I pray when I know I’ve failed God?” The awareness of recent sin or even a remote memory can haunt the mind and cripple your confidence in prayer.

You will never feel guilt but that Satan, whom God’s Word labels as the accuser as well as the adversary, will hound our minds with added evidence of our unworthiness and, therefore, of my hopelessness if I do pray.

Can you hear him now ? “You’ve botched it up so badly, how can you seriously expect a hearing from God. You don’t deserve anything. You know it, and He knows it ! Why do you not just forget all this praying ?”

Even after He says those things to us some of us press on by that attack to the point we pray something, but the words when our minds have been bombarded by the guilt and condemnation have a way of falling to the floor. Absent is the sense of the creative power to speak boldly in simple trust to God of all of Heaven. We feel instead like someone who seeks an audience with the head of state of a nation whose flag we have just trampled.

WAIT JUST A MOMENT ! (Think clearly) What just changed ? Do you think for a moment that Satan’s nature would defend God’s Glory by urging us to keep our dirty distance ? He’s consistently opposed to my union with the Father. When Satan contest a believer on righteous grounds you can count on it there is a trap

somewhere. The truth starts to surface. Remember, God is the God of all Glory and the God of all Grace !

What you and I need to learn is how to handle our biggest obstacle to effective prayer : GUILT ! the sense of having failed and thereby being disqualified for bold approach. What do I do with this dirtiness that I feel like I’m carrying ?

Remember God is on our side. “This man companies with publican and sinners !”
God’s forgiveness is available and adequate because it cost and infinite price: the blood of Jesus. (Forgiveness is abundant !
His love is designed to prompt our praise and thanksgiving……

…. Our bold approach to His Throne, even when we have sinned.

Handling this dirtiness in the Throne Room is not accomplished by hiding it but openly acknowledging exactly what we know to be so.

Loving Father, My heart is filled with the Greatness of your love. I want to please you. I want to thank you for your precious blood that washes me and cleanses me that I may have access to your Throne. Thank you for your abundance of Grace. In Christ Holy name, Amen

The Degree of Excellence of a Intercessor

Ephesians 6:18

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

You have heard me say that I have always interceded for others since I have been saved
But this calling of being an intercessor is one that has more passion and longing to intercede than ever before.
I have prayed, I have fasted, I have plead with God, I have cried, I have had sleepless nights, I have rejoiced at answered prayer. I have asked God that He would get honor and Glory if He answered this prayer.
When God called me to be an intercessor I knew without a doubt that this would be a on going learning experience.
I was given a set of E.M. Bounds books by my friend Dr. Darrell Dunn
He asked me about my Prayer Life. (think about that)
The average Christian does not stop and evaluate their prayer time.
What an honor, what a privilege to be an Intercessor.

I wanted to list some qualities that an Intercessor has.

(Hannah) Persistence

1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

Persistent definition means-stubborn,continuence,resolution,constantly repeated
A quality of being persistent !

I believe that Hannah had this quality
Her prayer life was one that was persistent
God is not afraid of our prayers nor is He offended
God is faithful and will answer our prayers

We give up too soon (wait patiently on the Lord)

She meant business, went to the Temple & prayed
She cried, she poured her heart out to God
She gave God her all & her request

(Daniel) Empathy

Da 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

This is a quality which means……

The quality of being able to identify with others.

He understood the importance of praying for others.

He prayed & fasted for others because he understood that

They were in captivity because of their sins

He knew prayer would transform peoples lives !

He knew they had needs that were unmet in their lives

He prayed when they were unable to pray

King David (Trust in God)

David learned and knew that the Lord could be trusted
He was a warrior at heart- on battlefield & in the Spirit
Listen to some of His prayers

Ps 4:1Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Ps 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Ps 25:6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

He prayed for all occasions (he prayed about Keilah)
He prayed his way through the hard times and bad times
He prayed constantly for the guidance of God
He knew the God he served (just read some psalms)

4. Job (Reliability)

Job 42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

We usually do not think about Job when it comes to prayer
But we see him praying constantly for his family & others
He prayed for his family because He knew God was merciful
We learn from Job about repentance
Job prayed on their behalf (family and friends)
God looks for our availability .

Dr. Radar said…. “If a man can beat the devil in the matter of regular daily prayer, you can beat him anywhere !

5. Apostle Paul (Dedication)

I believe an intercessor must be committed to Christ.
If this be so then he will pray for others
There is no substitute for dedication.

Dr. Brooks said….. If a man is man and God is God,

To live without prayer is not merely an

awful thing; it is an infinitely a foolish thing.

Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Paul was constantly praying and asked to be prayed for
Paul prayed for opportunity & success in the ministry
Paul wanted to be in God’s perfect will
Paul wanted more grace, peace and love

One of the Biggest Challenges to Intercessory Prayer

Luke 18:1- And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Ro 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

One of the greatest drawbacks to the life of intercessory prayer is that the answer does not come speedily as we expect. We are discouraged by the thought, “Perhaps I did not prayer correctly,” and so we do not persevere in prayer. This was a lesson that our Lord taught often and urgently. If we look further into the matter, we can see that there may be a reason for the delay, and the waiting may bring a blessing to our souls. Remember Daniel, who waited 21 days for the answer to his prayer. (Read Daniel 10:1-15)

When we pray, our desires must grow deeper and stronger, and we must ask with the whole heart. God puts us into the school of intercessory prayer of perseverance. This is so that our weak faith may be strengthened.

Believe that there is a great blessing in the delayed answer to prayer.

Above all, God wants to draw us into closer fellowship with Himself. When our prayers are not answered, we learn to realize that the fellowship nearness and the love of God are more to us than the answers to our petitions, and we continue in prayer. What a blessing Jacob received through the delay of the answer to his prayer ! He saw God face to face and a prince he had power with God and prevailed. Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Christians, listen to this warning. Do not be impatient or discouraged if the answer does not come. Rather, continue in prayer. ”Pray without ceasing.” You will find it an unspeakable blessing to do so. You may ask whether your prayer agrees with God’s Will and His Word. You may inquire if i9t is in the right spirit and in the name of Christ. Keep on praying, you will learn that the delay in the answer to prayer is one of the most precious means of grace that God can bestow on you. You will also learn that those who have persevered in intercessory prayer and pleading God’s promises are those who have had the greatest power with God in prayer.

For those of us who are intercessors understand these truths we can look back already what God has done, it encourages us to keep on praying. Just think, How exciting it is to our souls to see and hear how God answers our prayers.” Praise God!”

THE INTERCCESSOR AND THE PRAYER MEETING

Acts 1:12-14

Ac 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

The disciples returned to Jerusalem from Mount of Olives
They had just witnessed an event they would never forget
The ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven
There they received the Great Commission (go into all the world)
This is for every Christian to obey
Of course we can do nothing w/o the power of the Holy Spirit Acts 1:8

-not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord

The Lord gave the instructions and they headed back into town

-they returned to Jerusalementered into upper room

-here they gather to pray

Chapter 2 we see the empowerment of the Church by the Holy Spirit
We see them united in prayer (One Accord)

-if we ever see a spiritual awakening it will come by Prayer !

-God is not waiting for Gov.’t officials to come to Him

-God is not waiting for the world to come to Him

-GOD IS WAITING FOR US TO GET ON OUR KNEES !

He wants us to Repent !

There are several things I would like to point out about this prayer meeting !

They Prayed Obediently

Ac 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.1

Their obedience was immediately
Their obedience was joyful

Lu 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

Their obedience was full of expectancy

-they expected to see something when they returned

They Prayed Constantly

They continued

They Prayed in Unity

They were united by the Saviour

-united by His great power

B. They were united in a common quest

- Jesus said the coming of the Spirit

C. They were united in a common Goal

-the great Commission

-get the gospel to the world

Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Make disciples)

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mr 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

The Intercessor and the Prayer Meeting

Acts 1:14, 2:4

Ac 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Ac 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The value of a genuine prayer meeting is enormous. There God’s children meet together, to lift up their hearts unitedly to God. By this means Christians are drawn closer to each other. Those who are weak are strengthened and encouraged by those who are more experienced.

The prayer meeting may become a great power for good in a congregation and a spiritual help to both the preacher and members. By means of intercession, God’s blessing is poured out at home and abroad.

But there are dangers to be considered. Many attend and are edified but never learn to pray themselves. Some go just for religious fervor and have a “form of godliness” but do not know the hidden life of prayer. Unless there is much prayer in the inner chamber, attendance at a prayer meeting may be a mere form.

It is a good thing to ask, “What constitutes a living prayer meeting?”

There should be hearty love and fellowship between the members. The leaders should realize how great the influence of a prayer meeting may be, with its roots nourished by the life of prayer in the inner chamber. Prayer should include God’s people and His church all over the world. Above all else there must be waiting on God for the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Dear reader, our goal is to help you in your spiritual life .Remember you are a part of the body of Christ. We must include all Christians in your intercession.

The hidden prayer life is inseparably bound with united prayer.

A TRUE MODEL OF INTERCESSION

Luke 11:5-8

Lu 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

We all have seen the power of prayer. It is the one power on earth that commands the power of heaven.The story of the early days of the church is God’s great object lesson—to teach His church what prayer can do. How we may draw down the treasures and powers of heaven into the life on earth.
Intercession is the most perfect form of prayer. In the prayer Christ prays on His throne let us learn what elements of true intercession are.

An urgent need.

A friend came at midnight. He was hungry and could not buy bread. If we are going to learn to pray properly, we must open our eyes and hearts to the need around us.

The willing love.

The friend took his weary, hungry friend into his house and into his heart. He did not excuse himself by saying he had no bread, even though it was at midnight. I am reminded of the verse in 1 Corinthians 13:4,5 The very nature of love takes their needs and makes them its own. I believe it is finding real joy in living and dying for others, as Christ did

The sense of impotence.

We often speak about the power of love. In one sense love does not have power itself, but this truth has its limitations which must not be forgotten. A mother might be willing to give her life for her dying child and yet not be able to save it. The friend was willing to give bread to his friend, but had none. It was a sense of impotence. This sense of impotence with God’s servants is thestrength of the life of intercession.

The faith in prayer.

What he does not have himself, another can supply. He has a rich friend near who will be both able and willing to give bread. He is sure if he only asks, He will receive.

The importunity that prevails.

The faith of the friend meets a sudden obstacle: the rich friend refuses to hear “I

Cannot rise and give thee”. His loving heart could not accept it. He presses his plea:

You are my friend and I have a need. This is the basis for our Intercession. We just

Cannot take no for the answer !

The certainty of a rich reward.

“I say unto you….because of his importunity he will….give himas many as he needeth. If we could only believe like that.. Those of us whowho pray must trust and believe. We need to take courage. This request will become joy and hope.

The model Intercessor is the model Christian worker. The secret of successful work is to give away daily what we ourselves are receiving from God. Intercession is the blessed link between our impotence and God’s omnipotence.

Prayer and Fasting

Mt 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

21 Howbeit this kind goth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Our Lord here taught us that a life of faith requires both prayer and fasting. That is, prayer grasp the power of heaven, and fasting loosens the hold on earthly pleasure.

Jesus Himself fasted to get strength to resist the Devil. He taught His disciples that fasting should be in secret and that the

Heavenly Father would reward openly (Matt.6:6). Abstinence from food, or moderation in taking it, helps strengthen the soul for communion with God.

Let us learn this great lesson that abstinence, moderation, and self-denial in temporal things are a help to the spiritual life. After eating a hearty meal, one does not feel much desire to pray. To willingly sacrifice our own pleasure or bodily enjoyment, and to subdue the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, will help to set our minds more fully on heavenly things. The very exertion needed in over coming the desires of the flesh will give us strength to take hold of God in prayer.

The great lesson is this: our dullness in prayer comes from our fleshly desires for comfort and ease. Ga 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Prayer is not easy work. It may easily become a mere form. For the real practice of prayer, to really take hold of God and have communion with Him, it is necessary that all that can please the flesh is sacrificed and given over to death.

Beloved Christian, it is worth the trouble to deny ourselves daily, in order to meet the Holy God and receive heavenly blessings from Him.

God’s Clear Direction about Prayer & Fasting-*

Matt.6:16-18

Mt 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

1. Should Christians be Fasting in this Day & Age ? Lk. 4:1,2

A. Jesus gives us an example

B. Jesus said that they would fast after He was gone Matt. 9:14,15

C. Jesus taught them how to fast & please God Matt. 6:16-18

D. There are times when prayer needs to be joined with fasting

2. The examples of Fasting in the early church

A. The Brethren at Antioch Acts 13:1-3

B. The churches in Galatia Acts 14:21-23

3. The examples of Paul fasting as he ministered 2Cor. 11:23-28

Some fast for health reasons
Some fast in times of grief & sorrow
Some fast to gain self control

Christians Fast when seeking Divine Help !

OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS FASTED- David Fasted over sick loved ones

Daniel Fasted when seeking forgiveness

Ezra Fasted seeking God’s Protection

NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS FASTED- Jesus Fasted dealing with Temptations

Church at Antioch-serving the Church

Church at Galatia-selecting Elders

Fasting does…Humbles the Soul-Ps.35:13

Chastens the Soul- Ps.69:10

The Fast That Pleases God- Matt.6:16-18

The Prayer Life of an Intercessor (outline)

Matt. 6:9-13

Mt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

I. Jesus prayed Intercessory prayers

He was ever praying for others

A. Jesus gave many instructions about prayer

B. Jesus gave Himself to prayer

C. Jesus taught us that God is over all.

D. Jesus gave us a command to pray

II. Peter & James gave us advice about how to handle Satan

A. Peter said to be Sober & Vigilant

B. James had this to say about the devil 1 Peter 5:8, James 4:7-8

III. Jesus Interceded for Us

A. He ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit Jn.14:16

B. He prayed for us Jn.17:19 Heb.7:25 Rom. 8:34

IV. Intercessory Prayer changes things

A. When you pray for others

B. We should be focused on what God wants

C. Let us be persistent in prayer

I believe Elijah was passionate

I believe Elijah was persistent

I believe Elijah was purposeful

I believe Elijah was powerful

GOD MOVED MIGHTILY

Jehovah Jireh (outline)

Genesis 22:14

Ge 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

I. God calls each believer to prove His faith

Ge 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

II. We must purpose in our hearts to trust God

Even when we don’t understand.

Ge 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? {lamb: or, kid}

8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

III. The Lord see’s our faith & rewards us in His Time

Ge 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

The angel is the pre-incarnate OT
Abraham called that place Jehovah Jireh
The Lord will see & will provide

The Lord ever liveth to make intersession for us Heb.7:25

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

He [Holy Spirit] shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16:14

When our Lord said to His disciples, “Lo, I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20), they did not at first understand or experience the full meaning of His words. It was at Pentecost, when they were filled with the Holy Spirit from heaven who brought down into their hearts the glorified Lord Jesus, that they began the new life in the joy of the abiding presence.

All our attempts to live this life of continuous, unbroken communion will be in vain unless we, too, yield ourselves wholly to the power and the indwelling of the ever blessed Spirit. Throughout the church of Christ, there is an apparent lack of faith in what the Spirit is as God, in what He can enable us to be, and in how completely He demands full and undisturbed possession of our whole beings. All our faith in the fulfillment of Christ glorious promises, especially that of the Father and Son making their abode in us (John 14:23), is subject to one essential and dispensable condition: a life utterly and unceasingly yielded to the rule and leading of the Spirit of Christ.

I hope no one will say, “The experience of Christ’s being with us every day and all day long is impossible.” Christ meant His words to be a simple and eternal reality. He meant the promises to be accepted as absolute divine truth: Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. But such truth can only be experienced where the Spirit, in His power as God, is known, believed in, and obeyed. What Christ spoke of in John 14 is what Paul testified of when he said, “Christ lives in me” (Gal.2:20), or as John expressed it, And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 1Jo.3:24.

Christ came as God to make known the Father, and the Spirit came as God to make known the Son to us.. We need to understand that the Spirit, as God, clainms absolute surrender and is willing to take possession of our whole beings and enable us to fulfill all that Christ ask of us. It is the Spirit who can deliver us from all the power of the flesh, who can conquer the power of the world in us. It is the Spirit through whom Christ Jesus will manifest Himself to us in nothing less than His abiding presence. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matt. 28:20

OUR COMFORTER

John 16:7,8

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: {reprove: or, convince}

I think every Intercessor should know as much as possible about the workings

of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

There is so much material given about Him that we will just talk about one area

which is He as Comforter.

I. The Holy Spirit is the believers Comforter.

A. Comforter means “one to run to our side and pick us up”

1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

The word advocate means “Comforter”
Jesus is our comforter and advocate.

B. When Jesus went to Heaven, He sent us another Comforter.

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

II. Jesus returns to Heaven to do His Work

A. To do His Work

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

B. He went to give the Holy Spirit His work to do

C. As the comforter, the Holy Spirit helps our comforters.

Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

The Holy Spirit uses human instruments to do His comforting
The Holy Spirit at times will comfort you Himself
The Holy Spirit will empower & strengthen those who He sends to you.

III. The Holy Spirit brings things to your mind

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

A. The Spirit filled Christian may yield himself to the Holy Spirit

B. The Holy Spirit will give you what to say

C. The believer will enter the very work of the Spirit Himself

(as a tool to be a comforter)

Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

IV. Our Lord was our Comforter while He was here

A. He continues to comfort us on the right Hand of the Father

B. He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us & do greater works can be done

C. Thank God you can talk to Him (the Holy Spirit)

D. He is with you, wherever you may be or go.

The Spirit of Prayer

“The spirit of the soul is in itself nothing else but a spirit breathed forth from the life of God, for the sole purpose that the life, nature, working, and inclinations of God might be manifested in it.

“The spirit of prayer is a pressing forth of the soul out of this earthly life; it is a stretching with all its desire after the life of God; it is a leaving as far as it can, all its own spirit, in order to receive a Spirit from above—to be one life, one love, one spirit with Christ in God. This prayer, which is an emptying of all its own natural desires and an opening of itself for the light and love of God to enter into it, is the prayer in the name of Christ to which nothing is denied. The love that God has for the soul—His eternal, never ceasing desire to enter into it, to dwell in it, and to open the birth of His Holy Word and Spirit in it—stays until the door of the heart opens for it. For nothing can keep God out of the soul, or hinder His holy union with it, except the heart that is turned away from Him.

“A will that is surrendered to worldliness is much like Nebuchadnezzar,’ who was driven from men and ate the grass like oxen.’ (Dan.4:33). Such a will has the same life as the beasts of the field, for earthly desires maintain the same life in a man and an ox. It is suitable for earthly food to be only desired and used for the support of the earthly food to be only desired and used for the support of the earthly body; but when the desire, the delight and the longing of the soul is set upon earthly things, then humanity is degraded, is fallen from God, and the life of the soul is made as earthly and animal as the life of the body.

Child of God, I pray that you will rise to a right conception of what it means that the eternal Father, by the Holy Spirit, breathes into us and is seeking to have His life, His nature, and His work revealed within us. In earthly things, we are not unwilling to make sacrifices for the objects of our desire. Will we not therefore begin, as never before, to make the knowledge, love, will, and pleasure of God the purpose of our study and our efforts? God is waiting to bless us, to reveal Himself to us, to fill us with His life, to use us for His glory, if we will simply yield ourselves to the life of continual dependence and adoration. We will then prove how possible it is for man to walk in the footsteps of Christ Jesus, living His life on earth every day in the love of the Father and to His glory.

The Spirit of Prayer-(outline)

Romans 8:26-27

Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

I. The Promise & Fulfillment of Prayer

A. Old Testament promise concerning prayer Zech.12:10

B. Romans 8:15

II. Our Weakness and Prayer- Rom.8:26,27

A. Why are we so weak ?

B. What is the ministry of the H.S.to us in prayer ?

C. We are weak because of our enemies

D. We all are deficient in some way

III. The Holy Spirit helps us in Prayer

A. The test is not how He makes us pray better

But that He prays for us

B. He is our comforter (He prepares us,teaches us)

C. He knows what we should pray for

IV. The Spirit help in the matter of prayer

A. Rom. 8:26

- He intercedes for us in what we ask the Father for

-shoes, coat, suit, car etc.

Land I prayed for

The Communion of the Holy Spirit 1

2 Cor. 13:14

2Co 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

The word communion here is (having in common)
This way God made it to be that Christians may live in harmony.
They have something or some things in common.
One of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible is….

Mt 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

The word agree is where we get the word “symphony”.
When a believer is in tune with the Holy Spirit, we will be in tune with each other !
If we are in tune with Him, we will be in tune with each other.

I. We should be concerned about being in tune with

the Holy Spirit.

A. We have examples of this in scripture

Acts. 2:44, Acts 4:32, Acts 2:46

B. When we are in tune with Him, we will be in tune with

Other believers

C. We love the same Book,

D. We delight in fellowship with the Father

E. Walk in the Spirit

F. We enjoy the same songs He does

G. We walk in the light

1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

II. WE as God’s Children should tune ourselves

with the Holy Spirit.

A. If every Christian would get in tune with the Holy Spirit we

would not have many troubles we are having.

1. Church arguments

2. Church Splits

3. We would not have church gossip

4. We would not have rumors spread

5. We would not have (critical natures running wild)

6. Slander on each other’s characters

7. Church members would love each other

B. Think of what it would do in a couples marriage.

1. Staying in tune with each other

2. Unnecessary fussing and fighting

III. We need to be in Tune with the Holy Spirit so

That we may be in Tune with Jesus

1Jo 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

A. Since the Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example of being

Yielded to the Holy Spirit

When we are in tune with the Holy Spirit
We will be in tune with each other
We will be in tune with Him

B. We will be in Harmony with each other !

(God loves Harmony)

The Communion of the Holy Spirit

2Co 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

When the Lord choice His twelve disciples, it was so” that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach”(Mark 3:14). A life in fellowship with Him was to be their preparation for the work of preaching.

The disciples were so deeply conscious of having this great privilege that when Christ spoke of His leaving them to go to the Father, their hearts were filled with great sorrow. The presence of Christ had become indispensable to them; they could not think of not being without Him. To comfort them, Christ gave them the promise of the Holy Spirit, with the assurance that they then would have Himself in His heavenly presence in a far deeper and more intimate sense than they ever had known on earth. Their first calling remained unchanged; to be with Him, to live in unbroken fellowship with Him, would be the secret of power to preach and to testify of Him.

When Christ gave them the Great Commission to- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matt.28:19,20) He added the words, “Lo I am with you always ,even to the end of the world.

This principle holds good for all Christ’s servants for all time, as it did for the twelve disciples: without the experience of His presence always abiding with them, their preaching would have no power. The secret of their strength would be the living testimony that Jesus Christ was with them every moment, inspiring, directing, and strengthening them. It was this reality that made them so bold in preaching Him as the crucified One in the midst of His enemies. They never for a moment regretted His bodily absence; they had Him with them and in them. In the divine power of the Holy Spirit.

In everything that we do depends on a awareness through a living faith of the abiding presence of the Lord with His Servants. The living experience of the presence of Jesus is essential in preaching the Gospel. We need His Breath and His blessings. “Lo, I am with you alway.”

Prayer & the Holy Spirit in Divine Appointments-1

Acts 16:6,7 (Intercessory Prayer)

Ac 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

This subject tonight I have had several experiences concerning this subject
Those of us that are Intercessor’s need to get acquainted with it
Over these years since I was saved, I have had many Divine Appointments
It is a sad thing that some I did not realize what was happening
Oh how much God needs us !

Isa 14:27 For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

Alexander Scott

It was the winter, (Dec. of 1977 in Louisville Kentucky. Visiting my bus route off of the outer loop. I had just been thrown out of a house where some kids were. I had made a promise to the Lord to visit 7 hours on my bus route. I had an hour left. I was discouraged. I’m going home. The H.S. reminded me of my promise and commitment. I went to a set of apartments off of Preston Hwy. The 3rd door opened. Big hairy man stepped out. Get in here ! sat down.

He came out with a Big Bible. He started crying. He got saved, door bell rang, son & his wife came in. They got saved. He gave me 60 $ for bus kids

God has a purpose for everyone of us !

A Divine Appointment for Phillip Acts 8:29

Ac 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and thyself to this chariot.(to be glued to him)

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

H.S. is telling and leading him to this divine appointment

II. A Divine Appointment for Peter Acts 10:3-10

Peter is at a home near the sea side

Ac 10:3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

Peter goes with the men to Joppa to meet Cornelius
Cornelius excepts Christ

III. A Divine Appointment for me.

General Hospital (Mr.Bus Man) Mr. Scott sent for me

Da 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Pr 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Character Traits of the Holy Spirit

Jn.16:7,8 6-30-22

Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: {reprove: or, convince}

I would like to remind us that the Spirit of God is a person
He is not an it, or solely an influence
He is a person which has (Characteristics)
Just because we cannot see Him doesn’t mean He’s not real
We can prove all this by the Word of God

The Holy Spirit’s Works manifest Personality

The Holy Spirit Speaks….

He said some will depart from the faith- 1Tim.4:1

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

The Spirit gave directions to Philip- Acts 8:29

Ac 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

He gave Peter charge over the Gentiles- Acts 10:19-20

Ac 10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

He told the brethren at Antioch about Paul & Barnabas

Ac 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

The Holy Spirit Speaks
The Holy Spirit Teaches

He said He would teach the Apostles all things

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jesus consistently refers to the H.S. as a “HE”

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The Holy Spirit bears witness

He testified of Jesus- Jn. 15:26,27

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

The Apostles did bear witness of Jesus
The Holy Spirit also did the same
Remember the H.S. always points to Jesus
The H.S. never draws attention to Himself

The Holy Spirit guides, speaks, & Tells

He carried on the work of Christ

Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Notice Jesus always refers to the H.S. as “He”

The Holy Spirit Forbids Acts 16:6,7

Ac 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

The Holy Spirit Intercedes Rom.8:26

Ro 8:26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Just as Christ intercedes for us Rom.8:34
Ro 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

The Holy Spirit’s Works manifest Personality
The Holy Spirit Possesses Personal Characteristics

He has a Mind- Rom. 8:27

Ro 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (He thinks on His own)

He has knowledge 1Cor.2:11

1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

He Possesses Affection Rom. 15:30

Ro 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

He has a Will 1Cor. 12:11

1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

He the H.S. divided the gifts to each person

III. The Holy Spirit suffers personal Injuries

A. He can be grieved Eph. 4:30

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are

Sealed unto the day of redemption

He can be Blasphemed Matt. 12:31,32

Mt 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

He can be Insulted Heb.10:29

Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

He can be lied to Acts 5:3

Ac 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

He can be Resisted Acts 7:51-53

Ac 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

Keep in mind that He is a real person. He is not a thing, He is not a it, He is not some kind of floating cloud but He is a real person.

Dr. R.A. Torrey said……

All the distinctive marks or characteristics of personality are ascribed to the Holy Spirit in the Bible. The marks of personality are. knowledge, feeling, and will and any being who knows, thinks feels, and wills is a person whither He have a body or not.

(page 16-The Holy Spirit Who He is, and What He Does)

PRAYING PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE

1 Samuel 12:23 {Intercessor Class} 7-7-22

1Sa 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

- When comes to praying, this great Man of God encourages me much

- Samuel is a man that is known for praying continually .

- Samuel was known as the Mighty Intercessor for Israel.

Samuel was a product of his mother’s prayers

1Sa 1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.

10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

Samuel learned the business of Importunate Prayer

She poured out her soul

15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

She would not take No for the answer

12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord

Eli marked her mouth.

She Made a Covenant with God

III. Let us first dwell upon HIS HABIT OF INTERCESSION

Intercessory prayer is a benefit to the man who exercises it,

Ps 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

As Noah sent out the dove so that it returned

1Sa 12:19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

Samuel brought about great deliverances for Israel
Samuel did not scold the people when they rejected him

1Sa 8:21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

Samuel would not cease from praying no matter what

Unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand

Of the Philistines.

A. Samuel knew not to pray was a sin

1Sa 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

B. Samuel was hurt & grieved but he kept praying

C. Samuel had put his faith & trust in God to handle this.

-God told Samuel they were rejecting Him not Samuel

- 1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto

The voice of the people in all they say unto thee, for they

Have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me,that I

Should not reign over them.

Samuel in HIS PERSEVERING INTERCESSION.

1Sa 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

Samuel was pouring out his soul

Samuel showed HIS SINCERITY IN INTERCESSION

He continues long after they reject God’s plan

1 Samuel 15:& 16.

Scripture says that the people feared God & Samuel

1Sa 12:18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

Samuel continued interceding after God was rejected

1Sa 19:18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

1Sa 19:21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

Great welch Revival

I have several books about this great Revival
When the fire fell-
Fire in the Thatch
Voices from the Welch Revival

Reporter was going to expose Evan Roberts

Abraham, The Intercessor

Genesis 18: 16-33 {Great people of Prayer} 7-14-22

When I spoke to children at camps Jr,Churches there were several

Several Bible characters I loved to preach about.

Abraham was one of them
Abraham was a great Intercessor !

-His intercession for Lot which was at Sodom maybe the 1st intercessory prayer in the Scriptures,

This is a remarkable prayer.
We see this Intercessor plead with God on others behalf.

-this is what an intercessor does

Ge 18:16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.

30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.

32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Abraham was such a man that could move God that could move the Forces of Nature !
Abraham was a great Intercessor.(pleads on the behalf of others)
Let us look at a few things about this great Intercessor

THE INTERCESSOR PLEASES GOD

God is pleased to see Abraham cared for others to plead

For others.

There are so many people who never get a chance to

Experience the mercy of God & get a 2nd chance.

God is moved with love and compassion

He is open to compromise (don’t sound right does it ?)
He is moved by Abraham’s intercession

He starts at 50, 45, 40, on down to 10

A Intercessor makes a big difference

Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Abraham cared enough to plead for these sinners

Plead for the guilty

Abraham said, Shall not the God of all the earth do right ?

God has no pleasure of the death of the wicked

He is always looking for a way for victory
He sent His Son to die for sins of this world

The Intercessor gives God the basis for mercy

He is patient
He is looking for Intercessor’s

The verses that God gave us when He called me into this is…

1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

THE INTERCESSOR PLEASES GOD
THE INTERCESSOR IMPACTS MAN

It may appear that Abraham’s prayers wasn’t answered

- actually, He got God down to 10

- Lot was removed which was an answer to his prayer’s

His prayers were actually answered

To the extent that God could do so consistent

with the facts.

Abraham prayed that the righteous would not be destroyed with the wicked.
That prayer was fully answered

Ge 19:29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

THE INTERCESSOR EXERCISE’S FAITH

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The only way possible to please God is by Faith
The word “believe” is in the aorist tense, a decisive act,

Ounce foe all.

-those who come to God must believe that He is !

-we have not seen Him but we believe He is an eternal Spirit, -self-existing Jehovah.

C. Abraham believed God ! Enoch believed God

-we believe that the one and true God

-we simply believe He is God, period !

D. Faith accepts that the fact that God is…….

a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

He is the rewarder of every good & perfect gift. Ja.1:17

-diligently seek Him means-keenly desire for God

-desire to fellowship & walk with God (Enoch)

of God. May God help us all to improve in the area of the

ministry of intercession.

How to Spend Thirty Minutes With God

James 4:3

Praise: (Thanking God for what He does) 1 minute to make a list

4 minutes to express

Worship: (Thanking God for what He is) 1 minute to make a list

4 minutes to express

Confession: (Confessing your sins to God) 1 minute to make a list

4 minutes to ask forgiveness

Prayer:

1 minute- basic needs
1 minute- asking forgiveness
5 minutes- praying for others
5 minutes- praying for the power of the Holy Spirit
3 minutes- conclusion:

Ask the Holy Spirit to ask the Father for anything you forgot, or anything He knows you need that you don’t know you need.

(Romans 8:26)

Ask for forgiveness for anything that may have been amiss in your prayer. (James 4:3. Romans 7:18,19, Job 42:8, Ecc.7:20, Psalms 19:14)
Claim a promise. (John 16:23, Romans 8:28, 2Peter 1:4, John 15:7, Romans 8:32. Psalms 119:132, Matt. 7:11, 2 Samuel 23:5, Matt. 7:7,8
My final plea.(1 Samuel 1:17, 2 Chron. 6:40-42,1 Kings 8:51-52

Ephesians 3:20, John 16:23)

Give God the last bit of Honor. (Psalm 41:13, Revelation 19:1-4

1 Timothy 1:17, Revelation 7:11,12, Revelation 5:13,Jude 24,25

Just a note, We are busy people, This is not a replacement for spending much time with God. But at times you can still spend quality time with Him even if the time is short.

Dr. Timothy Anderson

Elijah, the one who prevailed with God

James 5:17,18 (Great people of prayer) 7-28-22

Jas 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Elijah one of the oldest of the prophets learned the lesson of prayer.

He is known as one who prevailed with God.

His time was the time of vengeance.

He did not come clothed with a Olive Branch, but come with FIRE !

He was the symbol of Justice and the messenger of wrath.

Her stood with Holy Boldness

Elijah prayed in faith

1Ki 18:41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

He heard what others did not hear. Heb. 11:1

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This is the secret of powerful praying.

(believing before the answer arrives)

Elijah prayed Humbly

1Ki 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

He went Boldly before God in the spirit of Humility

Humble yourself before God & He will lift you up

Elijah prayed persistently

1Ki 18:43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, .

Elijah prayed Definitely

He knew exactly what he wanted ! (Rain)

Ps 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

-it means to set in order as arrows in a bow

-prayers that get answers are those based on the Word of God

1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: {in: or, concerning}

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Elijah prayed successfully,

1Ki 18:44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

The prophet had the promise
He presented the need to God
He ask the Lord that He would send rain
He knew God’s Word was true

He got the answer, (small cloud) He claimed it for God !

Hezekiah ,The Man the Lord Heard

2 Kings 19:14-19 People of Prayer 8-4-22

2Ki 19:14 And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

15 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

16 LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.

17 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,

18 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.

In those days Hezekiah became very ill
Isaiah the prophet went to see him on his death bed.
The prophet told him ,God said put your house in order
You are going to die, and will not recover
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and wept bitterly.

2Ki 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

Before Isaiah left the courtyard, God sent him back in

The Lord said that He heard Hezekiah’s prayer & would heal him.

This is an amazing story in Scriptures

4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

Let us look at the prayer for just a few moments

What happened that the Lord reversed this whole out come ?

How he received the bad news

2Ki 20:2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,

-to hide, to get along with God, cozy up

-he really prayed ! (pour your heart out)

-it caused him to get real with God !

II. How he approached God with this news

3 I beseech thee, O LORD,

-without hypocrisy (he has come clean with God)

-All that he has accomplished would all be reversed

-God would be dishonored

III. How he prayed while facing this this news

3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked

before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done

that which is good in thy sight.

It does matter how we walk before Him
It does matter how we live before Him (truth,perfect heart
And have done that which is good in thy sight

What did Hezekiah do that which was good ?

-He changed everything that his wicked father did(King Ahaz) He was Zealous for the Lord

He restored the priesthood & opened up the Temple

-pagan gods & idols were destroyed

-He put God first in everything

C. -He stood firm when facing the Assyrians 185,000 dead

3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

IV. The brokenness he exhibited facing this news

Hezekiah wept sore
Hezekiah burden & brokenness can be seen in Isaiah 38:9-20

Isa 38:9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:

10 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.

11 I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

12 Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

13 I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

14 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

15 What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.

16 O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.

17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

20 The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.

V. The Lord hears and sends the answer back quickly

4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

A. What a lesson we learn when we have our own needs

B. Let us realize our God hears & answers prayers

God’s answers to me have been so many

Groceries needed

Bills paid

Cars broken down

Cloths needed

Money sent for God’s Work

Daniel ,The Man who Talked with God

Daniel 6:10 8-18-22

Da 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

What do you think when I say The Man Daniel ?
He was such a man of prayer, that he was arrested for praying
If you were arrested for praying, would there be enough evidence to convict you ?
He prayed when it was against the law to pray
Daniel prayed in secret, but did not keep it a secret that He prayed ! (everybody knew)
What was the characteristics of Daniel’s prayer life ?

He was committed to prayer

After he knew the law was wrote, he continued to pray with his windows open !
He continued as He had been doing as before
He was committed to prayer !

Prayer was His personal devotion to His God

He depended upon His God vrs.10,11

Da 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

Daniel was loyal to King Darius,

…. But more loyal to the God of Heaven

…..He is the living God

…..He served Him continually

…..He is able to deliver

…..The king recognized that He was the living God

…. The king acknowledged God was the God of Daniel

Da 6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

Da 6:26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Daniel devoted specific time for prayer

3 times a day

Ps 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Daniel had a specific place to pray Daniel 6:10
Daniel prayed with thanksgiving

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Daniel knelt when He prayed

Ezra , a Priest who Prayed

Ezra 7:10, 4-15

Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

God’s people are in exile in Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar took them and vessels from temple
The Temple was demolished
Gates and walls were destroyed (Nehemiah)
All order was destroyed from life to Worship
God placed it in the Kings heart (Cyrus’) to build a Temple
The king then puts Ezra to over see this process

"Ezra reveals God as the power behind earthly events, moving even pagan kings according to His purposes.”

{Something we know about Ezra}

Ezr 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

He was a man of God who held up the standard of God’s holiness! (That earned him the reputation of having God’s hand on him)

EZRA’S REPUTATION REVEALS A MAN WHO THIRSTED AFTER GOD’S HOLLINESS

God’s Hand was on Him
He studied God’s Word (diligently) 2 Tim.2:15
This effected the way he lived his whole life Ez.7:10

Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

EZRA APPLIED WHAT HE LEARNED TO HIS DAILY WALK

He understood that He was accountable unto God
He was consistent in his walk with God
He was consistent in his temperament when confronted by evil

I’d rather see a sermon

I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day.

I’d rather one should walk with me than merely show the way.

The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear;

Fine counsel is confusing, but example always clear;

And the best of all preachers are the men who live their creeds,

For to see the good action is what everybody needs.

I can soon learn how to do it if you’ll let me see it done,

I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lectures you deliver may be wise and true;

But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do.

For I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give,

But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

EZRA’S ATTITUDE WAS ONE OF HUMILITY

Ezr 7:27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:

28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

He always gave glory to God for all he did and accomplished.
He was humble & God honored that
He was Humble and people honored that

EZRA WAS A PRIEST THAT TRUSTED GOD WITH HIS WHOLE HEART

He had Faith in God that God would finish the task through him.
He knew it was God that protected him

Faith and Doubt

Doubt sees the obstaclesFaith see’s the way !

Doubt sees the darkest night,Faith see’s the day !

Doubt dreads to take a step,Faith soars on high !

Doubt questions, "Who believes?"Faith answers,“I”

Faith answers, "I"!

EZRA WAS A PRIEST WHO KNEW THE HEARTBEAT OF GOD

He grieved over sin like God did
He felt the pain of sin when the Holy Spirit was grieved
He led a public prayer of confession
He linked his self with the community

Ezr 9:6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,

11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.

12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;

14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?

15 O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

Ezra’s prayer

1. He involved himself with those of whom he spoke (6)

2. He was keenly aware of the havoc wrought from sin (7)

3. He was conscious of God’s mercy (8,9)

4. Ezra confess’ blatant disobedience of God’s commands (10-12)

5. He recognizes the right of God to destroy them (13)

6. He cries for mercy (14,15)

EZRA LED THE NATION TO REPENTANCE

NEHEMIAH, A MAN WHO BUILT A CITY ON PRAYER

Neh. 1:1-4 9-7-22

Ne 1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

Let me for a few minutes as the way of interdiction to Nehemiah
Many believe that Ezra (priest/scribe is the author of the book)
Nehemiah was born in exile to Jewish Parents
He was the cupbearer to Artaxerxes, king of Persia. (Neh. 2:1.)
He is noted for rebuilding ancient Jerusalem walls under great odds
His name means.. Comforter
King Artexerxes stepmother was Queen Esther
He became the King’s closet confidant

Nehemiah’s Prayer Neh.1: 5-11

Ne 1:5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

Nehemiah’s Reflection Neh. 2:1,2

Ne 2:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.

2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

Four months goes by
His countenance was sad
The king noticed this (serious thing)
Nehemiah gives the run down about the situation
Long story short (He returns & rebuilds the walls & gates)

Let’s look at Nehemiah’s prayer & analyses it tonight

Nehemiah’s Passionate Prayer (he moved God’s Heart)

Praise- Ne 1:5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: (great & teririble) awesome

God keeps His promises

Nehemiah’s is declaring God’s Character

Petition-1:6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants,

Immediately after Praise he makes his petition

God always pay’s close attention to us

Confession- 1:6,7 , and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

He admits his families sin in breaking God’s rules

Our sins always hinders God from working in & though us

Claiming God’s Promises 1:8-9 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

This deepens our connection with Him

Claiming His promises ,He cannot lie ! 2

His Humility is on display 1:10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

Nehemiah acknowledges God’s power of redemption

He refers to God being successful in bringing out His people out of Egypt

He knows God can do it a second time

His Fervent Praying 1:11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

God wants us to pray from our heart

Our petitions serious and meaningful

Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Esther The Woman Who Saved The Jewish Nation

Esther 4:16 9-14-22

Es 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

We have been looking at praying people in Scripture

Samuel the product of a Mothers Prayers

Abraham the Intercessor

Elijah, the man who prevailed with God

Ezra, the Priest who prayed mightily

Daniel, the man that talked with God

Nehemiah, a man who rebuilt a city on prayer

The woman who saved the Jewish Nation

This is another Bible Story I would love to break down &

Explore step by step.

Maybe we will revisit all of these at another time.

7 things mentioned

I would like to give you a little back ground about Esther
There is much to discuss, but simply can’t / time wise

Esther is a highly revered book to the Jews
This book is one of the 5 Scrolls read at Jewish Holidays

Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther

The purpose of the Book- demonstrates the Sovereignty of God.
God is seen in His power, providence, protection,

& preservation.

Esther is stamped with Romans 8:28

Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Esther means- Persian Star

-she is a beautiful picture of the redeemed

Of the Lord, believers in Jesus Christ

I can tell you that the book Esther is a prophetical

forecast of God’s deliverance of the Jews

from the Anti-Christ in the Tribulation.

I would like to give you a short explanation about this

wonderful story that God has preserved in His Book

for us to hear and know !

The Refusal

Chapter 1- The King (Ahasuerus)- makes a feast

He commands His wife Vashti to appear

The Search

Chapter 2- The search for a new queen (Esther is chosen)

Mordecai her uncle is her guardian

Mordecai discovers a plot to hurt the king

The Advancement

Chapter 3- Haman is introduced (advanced over all princes)

All were to bow to him (Mordecai would not bow)

Mordecai was a Jew (Haman wants all Jews dead)

Law was made to kill all those he considered enemies

The Great Threat

Chapter 4- Mordecai mourns & puts on sackcloth with ashes

The Queen is made known of the law

For such a time is this (Fast proclaimed )

If I perish I perish

The Invitation

Chapter 5- The gallows were being built (Haman’s wife’s advice)

Esther stands before the King

The King’s Insomnia

Chapter 6- The King does some late night reading

The king honors Mordecai (Haman is humiliated)

The Queen’s Revelation

Chapter 7- Esther reveals Haman’s plot to destroy all the Jews

Haman begs forgiveness (Haman is hung)

The wrong is made right

Chapter 8- The King sends out messengers to reverse the law

Chapter 9- The coconspirators are all put to death

Chapter 10- It is all recorded for us to see God’s great work

What we learn from all of this

The Lord is always working in our lives
Follow the Holy Spirit’s guide in your life
There will be days when your world is turned upside down.
If we do not yield in God’s plan, He’ll send someone else
Walk with God before the problems come
God will make a way and bless you above what you

could ever imagine

No matter who you are or where you came from, God

Can use you to accomplish great things

Prayer & fasting is more powerful than we realize
God can turn things around & make it all work for His Glory

10. God still worked in Vashti’s life (Had a son-Artaxerx)

Prayer Was Made

Acts 12:1-5 9-21-22

Ac 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.

4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

There is a before & after in Peters Life (like us all)
Peter was brought to Jesus by Andrew his Bother
We see him confessing Christ Diety-Mat.16:13-19
He was rebuked by Christ- Mat.16:21
He ask some important questions Mat.18:21 (sin against bro.)
Reusing Christ menial service-Jn. 13:6-10
Walked on water-
The denial of Christ- Mat.26:69-75
Weeping bitterly
Returns to fishing- Jn.21

Ounce he was a coward- courageous

Ounce he was impulsive- humble

Ounce he was ignorant- enlightened

Ounce he was inquisitive- submission

Ounce he was boastful of self- bow of Christ

Ounce he was timid & afraid- fearless

Ounce he was asleep- vigilant

Peter is now being used of the Lord (Annanias & Sapharia)

Peter & Lame man,

Peter is on housetop receiving a vision (explanes it to others)
King Herod is persecuting the church (grandson of Herod Aggippa)

Killed many at Jesus birth

The persecution has broadened from the Government

-influential people liked it

-they killed James the Bro.of John with a sword

-Peter is left, so they lock Peter up

The church meets together to pray

………..the Bible says w/o ceasing

………..importunity praying

Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

God’s Power was revealed by Peter’s imprisonment

Satan waste no time
Satan wants to bury the church Jesus founded
Persecution
Bring in strife to the others

God’s people learned what Prayer really was

No one else to turn to
He was guarded by 16 soldiers
The weapon of Prayer (God obligates Himself to answer)

(Hezekiah & Isaiah- verses Sennacherib)

(Elijah on Mt.Carmel)

God’s people saw what Prayer could really Do

I believe God wants His people to see what He can do!
God may lead you into a situation for you to see it also
Herod dies & is eaten by worms !
The Word of God grew & multiplie
All in the house learned a great lesson

Fasting & Prayer in Scripture Outline

Mark 9:23-29 9-28-22

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

• On this particular day came a man with his child for help

• The child had demon (dumb spirit)

• They could not cast the demon out

• So Christ cast the demon out & explained why they could not

FASTING IS A BIBLE DOCTRINE MANY DON’T PRACTICE

1. THERE IS A TOTAL FAST

-no food, no drink in a certain period of time

-pure fast in a 24 hour

2. THERE IS A JUICE FAST

-nothing is eaten, but water & juice is allowed

-we are talking about fasting

-drinking or not is up to you

-not eating food is fasting

The 1st mention of fasting is in Exodus 34:28

Moses is receiving the 10 Commandments

Moses did not eat or drink for 40 days

• Can’t mention all of the fasting in the Bible

3.1 Kings 19:8 Elijah ate no food

4. 2 Samuel 12:21-23 David Fasted (lost the baby) prayed for healing

5. Ezra 8:21- Ezra fasted (proclaimed a fast ) Jews returned from exile

6. Nehemiah 9:1- Great revival under Nehemiah-fasted

7. Esther 4:3- Jews Fasted, Esther risk her life, Hamman wanted Jews dead

8. 2 Chron. 20:3- Josephat fasted

9. Daniel Fasted- Daniel 9:3, supplication & prayer with Thanksgiving

10. Joel 1:14- during a time of National Calamity a fast was proclaimed

11. Jeremiah 36:9- another National Calamity, the whole Nation w/o food

OUR LORD JESUS FASTED !

12. Acts 13:2,3- The church sent out missionaries (Paul & Barnabas

13. Acts 10:30- The early church fasted

14. 2 Corinthians 6:4,5- Apostle Paul fasted

SEVERAL TIMES OUR COUNTRY FASTED

George Washington Fasted

He called for a day of National Prayer & Fasting

James Madison “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

John Quincy Adams””””””””””””””””””””””””””

Abraham Lincoln”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

I. The powerless Disciples

-they could not cast the demon our

II. The prayerless Disciples

-going through the motions

III. The purposeful Enlightenment

-Now they understand

-they received the truth

-to whom much is given much is required

Great answers over the years

Land provided

Cars provided

Cloths provided

Results provided

Needs met

This Kind !

MOSES PRAYED OUTLINE

Numbers 11:1,2 (Intercessory Prayer) 10-5-22

Numbers 21:7

Nu 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.

• I know when I speak on prayer, most folk think it is all

the same old stuff.

• But I want you to know that if the Lord does anything or anywhere else

it will be from the response of people prating.

• Unless we as God’s people get serious about God’s agenda He will do

nothing.

• I’m not I interested in seeing what I can do I want to see what God can do

-I’ve been in this thing long enough to see what is real & what is fraud .

• A lot of things looks good from a distance, but close up it is a

a different thing ( TV Show Amos & Andy)

• A lot of Christians are walking around that have no substance to them.

• You talk to them about having fellowship with the Father &

They look at you funny.

-talk to them about intercession & supplication their baffled!

-talk to them about a Holy life, they think you’re Holy roller

• I’ve had my members tell me that others has said, come to

Our church, want be bothered about Holiness &

Being separate or being spiritual, all that stuff !

No wonder we are spiritually empty.

How come He is not working as in days of Old !

If we are not obedient, He’s unable to do what He promises

The reason we are not obedient, we don’t believe God

We do not have faith for Him to work

Faith & prayer moves God

Faith is the foundation for Christian character

An obedient faith make a powerful praying

Todays Christian lives like they want to

Dresses the way they want to

Talks like they want to

Hang with who they want to

Wear hair styles like they want to

Whatever appeals to their flesh !

Moses was on praying ground !

I. Moses prayed & God’s Judgement was stayed

2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.

A. Judgement comes in many forms

Fire, possessions were lost, sickness, loss of health, loss of a job

Loss of income & security, death, loss of loved ones

B. Their sin was the sin of complaining

-some think this was to severe !

C. The history of complaining in Israel’s history

1. They complained & grumbled because of trials

-they wanted to return back to Egypt Num.14:2-4

2. They complained & grumbled because of no food 16:2,3

3. They complained & grumbled because of no water 17:3

4. They complained & grumbled because of leadership 16:3,11

5. They complained & grumbled at God’s judgement 16:41

Complaining & Grumbling are signs of distrust & unbelief 16:8

Ex 16:8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.

-heart of unbelief

-don’t believe in God’s power

-don’t believe in God’s control & will work things out

Complaining & Grumbling are often due to a person’s lack of Faith

In God’s Word

Ps 106:24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

25 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.

-refusal to read & obey God’s Word

Complaining & Grumbling are often due to foolishness & sin

Pr 19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

La 3:39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

Complaining & Grumbling are to have no part in a believers life

Php 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

When Moses prayed, results followed

When Moses prayed Judgement stayed

Helpful Daughter

Little Susie, a six year old , complained:"Mother, I've got a stomach ache."

"That's because our stomach is empty", the mother replied. "You would feel better if you had something in it."

That afternoon her daddy came complaining that he had a severe headache all day.

Susie perked up: " That's because it's empty", she said. "You'd feel better if you had something in it."

WHAT WE SAY, WHEN WE DO NOT PRAY

Luke 18:1-8

Lu 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Some years ago I was convicted about not having a prayer life
I started reading books about men that were Men of Prayer

R.A. Torrey, George Muller, E.M. Bounds, D.L. Moody,John R. Rice. Evan Roberts, Andrew Murray, Jack Hyles,

Praying Hyde, S.D. Gordan, G. Campbell Morgan, Charles Blanchard

Such statements that were made convicted me of my prayer life
Actually I did not have a prayer life (Man of Prayer)
I found myself trying to place prayer around my work
I should be placing my work around my prayer !
I found myself not having time to pray

So what are we saying when we do not pray ?

It is a Denial of God Ps. 65:2

Ps 65:2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

He is our Creator
We are made for the Praise of His Glory
He is a Jealous God
We are worse than Atheist

Ps 77:14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. 1

It is a Denial of His Existence Ps. 145:18

Ps 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

It is a Denial of His Nature Matthew 7:11

Mt 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

God is Holy & perfect
His nature is to provide for His children Ps. 37:4

Ps 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

We tie God’s Hands by not asking
God has locked Himself into an agreement with Man to answer prayer

1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: {in: or, concerning}

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

It is a Denial of His Purpose Luke 18:1

Lu 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2Ti 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Prayer is a privilege (ask Him for everything)
Ask Him for a Child, Job, car, Right Mate, unsaved to be saved etc…
Ask Him according to His Will !
The Men of God in the Bible were Men of Prayer

We say plenty when we do not pray

No wonder we have no Revival
No wonder we have no converts
No wonder we have no power
No wonder our churches are failing
No wonder we are loosing our children ! 2

Teach us to Pray-Outline

Luke 11:1-4 Matthew 6:9-13

Lu 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:9-13

Mt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

HOW’S YOUR PRAYER LIFE ?

Ps 55:1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

I. Biblical Prayer Warriors

A. Nehemiah- Neh. 1:4-11 (fasted & prayed seeking God

B. Daniel- Daniel 6:10 (daily praying & giving thanks)

C. Elijah- James 5:12-18 (prayed earnestly)

D. Jesus-Luke 6:12 (often prayed all night)

E. Paul- Eph. 3:14-19 (bowed his knee before the Father)

II. Historical Prayer Warriors

A.Charles Wesley - one of the seventeen children of Suzanna Wesley – her most famous: John and Charles Wesley (founders of the Methodist Society) – it said of Charles Wesley that the floor by his bed had imprints from his knees because of his time spent in prayer.

B.George Whitfield- – Most famous preacher of the Great Awakening – is said to have constantly prayed over every verse of the Bible asking God to give him understanding.

C.David Mueller – ran an orphanage completely on faith and prayer. It is said that the children in his care never missed a meal.

D.Charles Spurgeon – the Prince of Preachers. Said his ministry was fueled by the prayers of his church.

E.Thomas Watson – the Puritan writer – died in his prayer closet on his knees. 1

III. The Fact of the Matter

A. We all want to pray better

We all want to be satisfied with our prayer life

Old Timers said, (Pray Aright)

B. We all want to have an intimate fellowship with God

To be a prayer warrior

To enter into the Throne of Grace without fear

To approach His Throne of Grace , no rejection

Book stores are full of books on how to pray

C. I cry out, Lord teach me to pray !

-O if there was a Prayer 101 course that we could take

Good news there is one !

These Model Prayers are not to be prayed like so many pray them

Matt. 6:9-13 or Luke 11:1-4- These are what we call the Model Prayer

Repeating them, becomes mechanical & repetitive, reciting them

Lutheran Church Aunts funeral

Mt 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

So Jesus teaches His Disciples how to Pray

-they heard Him Pray, they saw results, they felt His presence

1. Heavenward

OUR FATHER

Mt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

- The focus is upward, toward God

- The focus is on our relationship with God

- We were one time alienated from Him ,hostile, sin separated us

Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled {in...: or, by your mind in}

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

- When we believe on Him we become His children

- John 1:12- Sons of God

Hallow Be Thy Name

- Never forget who you are approaching

- He is the Holy God, Creator Gen.1:1 1 Peter 1:16

Thy Kingdom Come

Mt 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 2

- He is King of Kings & Lord of Lords

- We are acknowledging that He paid the supreme price for us !

- He is Ruler, we are bought with a Price

1. Heavenward

2. Earthward focus is now toward Man

Mt 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

- Daily Bread- showing our dependence

Ps 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Ps 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

- Forgivness- Forgive us our sins

Mt 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Forgiveness begins with us !

Romans 5:8

Peters question about forgiving a Brother

Loving God, can’t hate a Brother

- Lead us not into temptation

Mt 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

- acknowledging our deliverance is on the Lord Rom 7:14-25

- He will never lead you into temptation (make a way to escape)

CONCLUSION

Step One: Start With Praise & Worship

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Step Two: Pray God’s Will Be Done

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Step Three: Pray For Your Needs

“Give us this day our daily bread,”

Step Four: Confess Sin & Ask For Forgiveness

“..and forgive us our debts,”

Step Five: Ask For Help Forgiving Others

“..as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Step Six: Pray For Saftey, Protection & Deliverance

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Important Points to remember about Prayer

Matthew 6:5,6

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

I know that we call this section the sermon on the Mount
But Jesus was instructing His Disciples on many things
But one major thing He was teaching was……

being alone with your Heavenly Father !

He talked about how the religious leaders loved impressing

those around them

In verse 6 He mentions getting away from others & being along

with God

I will speak soon on the way we get the Closet door closed !

Notice Jesus said to them (pray to thy Father which is in secret)

Tonight I want to point out some important points in praying

to our Father which is in secret !

{ little boy praying loud to God when his mother walked by}

Have a secret place to pray

Have a special place where you spend time with God
It can be a closet, or a place where you can be alone
Do not make it your bed room (if at all possible)
Not in a recliner (sitting or kneeling)
A place where you can be along from outside …………….disruptions
Take a pen & paper with you,be ready to hear from

Begin with a time of Praise

This is Thanking God for what He has done as well as

what He is doing !

Example- Salvation,Family,Job,House,Car,health

Church, America, etc….

Has He did anything for you ?

Next- spend some time Worshipping Him

This is Thanking Him for who He is !

Example- HE is ELOHIM my Creator, Living God He is

The GOD OF ISRAEL

HE is the ANCIENT OF DAYS

HE is MY SHIELD(protector)

HE IS MY HIDING PLACE

Next is -A TIME OF CONFESSION

This is why it is so important to be along with God

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you of any sin that you may

Have over looked(reveal it to you)

Simply come clean with Him

Next is PRAYER & SUPPLICATION

Your Basic Needs

Asking Forgiveness

Praying for Others

Praying for the Power of the Holy Spirit

In conclusion, Ask Him if there is anything you may have missed

Spend some time just Loving on Him !

George Muller in his life time recorded over 30,000 answers in prayer

He supported Missionary’s and orphanages

He prayed in over 7 Million Dollars without asking anyone for a dime

Prayer and Miracles

Acts 1 :1-3

Ac 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

You notice that Jesus showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs
Acts is the 2nd part of a two volume work, Luke being the first Col.4:14
Luke chronicled all that Jesus began to do & teach.
Jesus called His Disciples & gave them power & authority over demons

& to cure diseases and to preach the kingdom of God.

I believe in Miracles. Had several myself over these many years

What is a Miracle ?

a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.

a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences.

an amazing product or achievement, or an outstanding example of something.

Our Father is a Supernatural, prayer answering God !
We are a part of God’s family and will pray for Miracles

All through the Scriptures we have miracles performed

Healing the mother of Peter's wife. Healing of the blind man of Bethsaida

Healing of one that was born blind . Healing of the Deaf Mute of Decapolis

Think about this verse…..Mt 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

The story about the $ 4,500.00 dollars needed at a very crucial time
The little lady that picked me up when I ran out of Gas
The money needed to pay a bill that came at the last moment
E.M. Bounds at the railway station, waiting there with his son

I could go on, talking about the many miracles I have witnessed in my own life

How can we see Miracles in our own lives ? (even more)

Spend time with Jesus in your Secret Place

Mt 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. {without me: or, severed from me}

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

II. Pray for Miracles

Ac 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

-the early church prayed for miracles and saw lots of them

III. Stir up your Faith

Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

-Read stories in the Scriptures that deal with miracles happening

-Remember when the Lord did something for you (encouragement)

-Study those verses that deal with Prayer Promises

-Share your experiences with each other

The greatest of all miracles was when Jesus saved you

How To Get The Door Shut

Psalms 91:1

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Matthew 6:6

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

The Closet- The Closet can be anywhere that you can go

that is private where you and God can be

alone!

1. Have a secret place

2. Pray secret prayers

3. Be persistent in your prayers.

In the Closet you are going to pray to the Father which is in Secret ! Remember the door needs to be closed in order to have a glorious experience with the Father. This is obtainable .

Most of all Christians go into the closet and pray but never get the door closed !
The average Christian does not know how to get the Closet Door closed !
If the Closet Door is not shut then we can not live in the Secret Place !

What a Special Privilege it is to be in the Throne Room of Heaven

This is so Real ! You can almost see Heaven before you! (The eyes of your Heart)

It is so real, you can’t wait to go back there again

Why Get The Door Closed ?

-The first door we can open by just stepping into it. (Inside this door acts as a corridor)

-You cannot shut that door on your own. Why? The Devil has hold of the door handle.

-When you pray, He is on the outside yelling and bringing things to your mind!

-Our minds wonder, He harasses us while we are in the closet ! (Bills, phone, etc.)

How Can We Get The Door Closed ?

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Since we cannot close the door because we are no match for the Devil,
The Holy Spirit lives in your body, when you enter into the Closet the

Holy Spirit enters with you into the Closet !

Ask the Holy Spirit to close the door !
Acknowledge your helplessness , tell Him you cannot shut the door!

Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The Holy Spirit Is The Spirit Of Prayer !

The Holy Spirit is the One that will bring you into the Presence of the Father!

The Holy Spirit is the One that will Shut The Door and Open the Door into the

Throne Room Of God.

What is the Devil doing while you are in there ?

He is shouting but you cannot hear Him because the Door is Shut !

Ro 8:15 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.

Do not give up, Do not faint, Mean business about what you are doing !

The Certainty Of Prayer

Luke 11:1-4, 13

Lu 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Lu 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Jesus was in Bethany- (Home of Lazurus,Mary,Martha)
Chapter 11,starts off with them being in a certain place !
The disciples have been watching Him Pray & hearing Him pray.
One of them said…. (Lord, Teach us to pray) (John taught also)
I think as a Pastor- One of my jobs is to teach- (many things)
But the greatest thing would be PRAYER !
I would be a failure, if I did not teach you this truth

CERTAINTY-firm conviction that something is the case.

-the quality of being reliably true.

- a fact that is definitely true or an event that is definitely going . to take place.

I. A Certain Place vrs.1- we must all have a Secret Place

II. A Certain Plan vrs. 1- teach us to pray

III. A Certain Pattern vrs. 1- as John taught his Disciples

IV. A Certain Pleasure vrs. 2- when you pray

V. A Certain Person vrs. 2 – Our Father

VI. A Certain Praise Vrs.2- Hallowed be Thy Name

2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

VII. A Certain Program Vrs. 2- Thy Will be done

VIII. A Certain Petition Vrs. 3- Give us this Day

Lu 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

-our daily bread……….Forgive us our sins

-we forgive others……..lead us not into Temptation

- deliver us from Evil

IX. A Certain Parrable Vrs. 5-13

Lu 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

X. A Certain Promise Vrs.- 13 The Holy Spirit

Prevailing Prayer

James 5:13-20

Jas 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

{ -cause to make it happen, fervent, powerful, forceful}

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

We have covered a lot on this road of prayer
We have discussed much but we have so much yet untouched

Tonight I would like to discuss Prevailing in Prayer

What is Prevailing Prayer ?

-a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

Prevailing, or effectual prayer, -is that prayer which attains the blessing that it seeks. -It is that prayer which effectually moves God. -It is a effectual prayer that effects its object.

What are the attributes of Prevailing Prayer ?

-no time or space to mention all the things to make up

Prevailing Prayer, but mention some of them

Attribute-regard something as being caused by (someone or something).
a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

You must pray for a definite object. (not random praying)

-Must have an distinct object

2. You must pray in accordance with the revealed will of God

- there are 3 ways in which God’s Will is revealed to man

a. express promises in the Bible Mark 11:24

(what things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye

Receive them, and ye shall have them)

b. some things God reveals His will by His Providence

He makes things clear, by His Word (it is written)

c. by His Spirit- The Spirit will instruct you (Rom.8:27)

3. To pray effectually you must pray with submission to the Will of God.

4. Effectual prayer implies a desire for that object & it’s importance

(Jacob praying I will not let thee go unless you Bless me Gen32:26)

(Prevailing prayer is often offered in the present day)

5. Prayer, to be effectual, must be offered from right motives.

(should not be selfish- you want God to have the Glory)

6. Prayer, to be effectual, must be by the intercession of the Spirit.

( influenced by the Spirit of God- must be a faith)

7. It must be Persevering prayer. (until you get an answer) “Agony”

8. You must pray a great deal.

(to pray effectually there must be much time on your knees)

9. You must offer it in the Name of Christ. (not in your name)

(His name is always acceptable)

10. You must renounce all sin, repent of them.

11. You must pray in faith. (faith pleases God)

I. What is Prevailing Prayer

II. What are the attributes of Prevailing Prayer

Why does God requires such Prayer ?

I will state some of the reasons why these things are essential to effectual prayer. ?

1. These strong desires strongly illustrate the strength of God's feelings.

2. These strong desires described are the results of great benevolence benevolence,

3. The soul of a Christian, when it is thus burdened, must have relief

4. These effects of the spirit of prayer upon the body are the feelings of the soul

It is not essential to prayer, but is the natural result of great efforts of the mind.

5. This exercise of agonizing prayer forms a bond of union between Christ

And His Church. (His love for souls)

SUCH PRAYER WILL AVAIL MUCH.

Elijah mourned over Israel going away from God
Elijah prayed that the judgments of God would come

Upon the guilty nation.(not rain, shut up Heaven)

Jas 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he . prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the . earth by the space of three years and six months.

John Knox was a man famous for his power in prayer, so that Queen Mary of England used to say that she feared his prayers more than all the armies of Europe. And events showed that she had reason to do it. He used to be in such an agony for the deliverance of his country, that he could not sleep. He had a place in his garden where he used to go to pray.

One night he and several friends were praying together, and as they prayed, Knox spoke and said that deliverance had come. 21 He could not tell what had happened, but he felt that something had taken place, for God had heard their prayers. What was it? Why, the next news they had was, that Mary was dead!

REMARKS.

A great deal of prayer is lost, and many people never prevail in prayer, because, when they have desires for particular blessings, they do not follow them up. They may have desires, benevolent and pure, which are excited by the Spirit of God; and when they have them, they should persevere in prayer, for if they turn off their attention, they will quench the Spirit.

Praying for each Other

Romans 15:30

Ro 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

I have had a lot of nice things done for me over these many years
I have experienced the unexpected things happen also
The greatest thing that we can do for each other is to pray for one

In the 15th chapter of Romans Paul continues to address the Christians

In Rome.

Paul had hope to visit them on his way to Spain

Paul wrote the letter to Roman Christians while being in Corinth

Paul understood that many of the Christians were being persecuted by

the Jewish people.

Paul is wanting to encourage and uplift those new believers in Christ

So Paul says-that we strive together praying for him and others!

Prayer is getting things done for others that you ordinarily

could not do.

2Co 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Paul is expressing gratitude to the believers for their

help in support- financially, moral supportbut most

of all their prayers.

There is nothing more important to God than prayer with dealing with mankind
Failure to pray is a failure along the whole line of life

Asking God to do.
Asking God to use you to do.

Praying for others enables us to love people that otherwise

we would not love.

Phm 1:22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

A personal letter written to one individual (no church polity)
Paul was imprisoned for the first time, (prayer for release)
Philemon was lead to Christ by Paul (speaking 2 yrs. In Closs)
Philemon owned slaves (Onesimus had ran away)
Paul led Onesimus to Christ.

Pray for those who spitefully use you (mistreat you)
When Job prayed for his friends (God answered his prayers)

I. Prayer is getting things done for others that you ordinarily

could not do.

II. Praying for others enables us to love people that otherwise

we would not love.

Praying for others gives us interest in them

You will feel a closeness to your own children
You will feel a closeness to your friends
You will feel a closeness to your enemies

Praying will give you more victories

You pray for others, they can get a victory
When they get a victory, that is your victory also
They’re thrill becomes your thrill also

Praying makes us grateful for each other

Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

We feel loved if others are praying for us
We all meet at the Throne of Grace

The Importance of Prayer Meetings

Matthew 18:19,20

Mt 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

I was asked by a old preacher why I had prayer meetings.
He seemed to think it was a waste of time.
Prayer meetings are all throughout the scriptures
I would like to talk a little about united prayer meetings

Here is a perfect picture of Unity in Prayer (two)
Here is a perfect picture of agreement in prayer (agree on earth)
Here is a perfect picture of what prayer is. (asking)
Here is a perfect picture of the power of unity in prayer.

(it shall be done for them)

Here is a perfect picture of the One who performs. (my Father)
Here is a perfect picture of unity around His Name
Here is the perfect picture & promise (I am in the midst)

ACTS 12:5-17

Ac 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

Here we have another example of united prayer being made
Prayer Meeting at Mary’s home (John Marks Mother)
How did the Lord answer their prayers ?

Peter was kept in prison (5)
Prayer was being made without ceasing of the church (5)
Peter was bound with chains between 2 soldiers & keepers (6)
The angel of the Lord came upon him (a light, a smote, raise) (7)
The chains fell off Peter (7)
The commands given for moving time. (8)
The chains fell off when he obeyed (7)
The answer came so quickly (9)
God open the doors for Peter (10)

6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

Peter was shocked at the answer (11)
Prayer meeting was shocked the answer really came (13-17)

12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

Never under estimate the power of prayer

Never under estimate the power of united prayer

Just a few more verses just for us to think about !

Ac 21:5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

Ac 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Lu 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. {mighty: or, hidden}

Jeremiah 33:3

Jere.33:1-3

Jer 33:1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

2 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name.

3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jeremiah is in prison (He told the king the message God had

King Zedekiah)

The people grew tired of Jeremiah’s message of repentance.
They were all for the king trying to shut him up.
Jeremiah will continue to tell the truth (must obey the truth)

The Power of His Position “Call unto me”

-When God thinks about us He thinks thoughts of

peace & not of evil(Jer.29:11)

-Jeremiah said to seek Him & He will be found

-Luke 11:9,10- Knock and it will be opened

-Psalms 55:17-Evening,morning, noon will I pray

II. The Power of His Promise “I will answer thee”

-You are serving a God that cannot lie

-Romans 8:32- He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up . for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

- I am preaching today because someone prayed for me.

- I am pastoring this church because of prayer

III. The Power of Persuasion “I will Shew thee”

How will God show us ? How will He persuade us ?
He said 3 ways…..

Great Things
Mighty Things
Things which Thou knowest not.

Examples in Scriptures- Jacob faces Esau’s wrath

Jacob experiences deliverance

were about to attack Moses & God’s people yet

they experienced a great deliverance

Gideon thought little of himself, but God wrought great things

thought much of himself yet God used him to give

the enemy a final blow.

won great victories in his life because of prayer

Nothing is beyond the ability of God !

Paul got an answer about a prayer. He asked 3 times about it !

God said-“My grace is sufficient for you”-for my strength is made

Perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9

Great Things- (Nothing is beyond the Ability of God

His Healing-physically, mentally, spiritually

Mighty Things- (Is anything to hard for the Lord?)

Rebuilding, Restoring, Showing Mercy

Things Thou knowest not- (Can’t imagine)

Deliverance, answers come, Hope

{ Conversion of one of our teens}

Kentucky & my Life verse- (Needing a Job, for school)

The Goal of Prayer

James 5:16-18

Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

E.M. Bounds…..{little prayer is the characteristic of a backslidden age and of

a backslidden church}

…..{whenever there is little praying in the pulpit or in the pew,

spiritual bankruptcy is imminent & inevitable}

E.M. Bounds….{We have twin doctrines, you will not find one without the other.

{Prayer fails when we desire and effort for personal holiness

fail. No person is a soulwinner who is not an adept in the

Ministry of prayer.}

Please read the following……………………………………..

Mr.Moody, at a time no other place was available, kept his morning watch in the coal shed, pouring out his heart to God, and finding in his precious Bible a true ”feast of fat things.”

George Muller also combined Bible study with prayer in the quiet morning hours.

At one time his practice was to give himself to prayer, after having dressed, in the morning. This his plan underwent a change. As he himself put it; “I saw the most important thing that I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed ; and that thus, by means of the Word of God, whilst meditating on it, my heart might be brought into experimental communion with the Lord. I began, therefore, to meditate on the New Testament early in the morning. The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words for the Lord’s blessing upon His precious Word, was to begin to meditate on the Word of God, searching, as it were, into every verse to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word, not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated on, but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably thus, that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that, though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer, but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less into prayer.” The study of the Word and prayer go together, and where we find the one truly practiced, the other is sure to be seen in close alliance. But we do not pray always. That is the trouble with so many of us. We need to pray much more than we do and much longer than we do.

Robert Murray McCheyne gifted and saintly, of whom it was said, that ”Whether viewed as a son, a brother a friend, or as a pastor, he was the most faultless and attractive exhibition of the true Christian they had ever seen embodied in a living form,” knew what it was to spend much time upon his knees, and he never wearied in urging upon others the joy and the value of holy intercession. 1

“ God’s children should pray,” he said. They should cry day and night unto Him, God hears every one of your cries in the busy hour of the daytime and in lonely watches of the night. “

In every way, by preaching, by exhortation when present and by letters when absent, McCheyne emphasized the vital duty of prayer, importunate and unceasing prayer.

Luther spent his last three hours in prayer : John Welch prayed seven or eight hours a day. He used to keep a plaid on his bed that he might wrap himself in when he rose during the night, Sometimes his wife found him on the ground lying weeping. When she complained, he would say, ‘O, woman, I have the souls of three thousand to answer for, and I know not how it is with many of them.’ The people he exhorted and charged: “Pray for your pastor. Pray for his body, that he may be kept strong and spared many years. Pray for his soul, that he may be kept humble and holy, a burning and shining light. Pray for his ministry, that he may be abundantly blessed, that he may be anointed to preach good tidings, Let there be no secret prayer without naming him before your God, no family prayer without carrying your pastor in your hearts to God.”

TO SUM IT ALL UP- THE GOAL OF PRAYER IS THE EAR OF GOD The goal can only be reached by patient and continued and continuous waiting upon Him, pouring out your heart to Him and permitting Him to speak to us.

Only by so doing can we expect to know Him better we shall spend more time in

His presence and find that presence a constant and ever increasing delight.

Why should we pray ?

Prayers Honors God

High Regard, Great Respect, To Credit,To Worship

Prayers Acknowledges His Being

God is Creator,God is Right,God is Truth,God is All Powerful

God is Just[]

Prayers Exalts His Power

This world has a lot of powerful things operating in it

Bible says that All power belongs to God !

Prayers Adores His Providence (future provision, God’s Guidance)

Nothing Escapes His Eye

Nothing Escapes His Ears

Nothing Escapes His Way

Nothing Escapes His Will()

Prayer Secures His Aid
Isaiah brought news of death and God added 15 more years

Nineveh -was spared from destruction because of prayer

- Prayed over dead children & they came to life
- kneeled beside Dorcas & she opened her eyes
- prayed for the sick and they were healed
- prayers gave Samuel to Israel
- prayers changed Esau hate to brotherly embrace

John the Baptist- was given to Elizabeth because of prayer.

-prayed and the famine ended and a harvest to Israel.

Ezra’s- praying carried the Spirit of God in a heart-breaking conviction

to the city of Jerusalem.

Hezekiah- prayer brought an angel to slay 185,000 in Sennacherib’s

Army in one night.

- praying opened to him a vision of prophecy and shut the lions

The angel was sent to Cornelius to open through him the gospel to the

Gentile world.

…….. This doesn’t even began to touch-

The ReformersThe Martyrs

The Saints of today

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Addressing the Hindrances to Prayer

Acts 6:1-7

Ac 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Important Facts:

Nothing that is truly built on God can excel or exceed without Him .
The difficulties of the ministry has lead me into a closer walk with Him.
When friends leave you & disappointment comes, He never will.
To accomplish His task & goals, we must have His blessings & presence.
To have the power of God you cannot leave out Holiness, His Word,prayer.

Motivation is a good thing but one must have more than that.

I would love to inspire more people to be intercessor’s

But motivation will only go so far.

If you can get ahold of this truth !

If you could get this truth in your heart

Then act on this truth

You must act on this truth you received

Our failures are prayer failures !

We usually have half hearted praying

Praying must be real ! Real to you.

Tonight I will make some valuable statements

1. Whatever hinders our prayer life, hinders our Christian life!

-to busy to pray, then you’re to busy to live a Holy Life

2. Duties in life will press you and crowd out prayer

-we all have responsibilities , must priorities

Dr, was asked, “What killed Mr.Prayer life ? He said he was

choked to death.”

-when prayer has been choked ,we don’t realize it unto it’s to late !

A closed prayer chamber is a life of Christianity that is out of business !

-This will not change on it’s own !

3.Prayer is hindered in stages, not all at ounce !

First- Prayer is hindered by unrest. (don’t have time)

Second- Agitation, (Emotional disturbance)

-we shorten our prayer times (time & agitation)

Third- Prayer is crowded into a corner.

We cease to pray, we cease to live spiritually !

The value of prayer depreciates. (loss of importance)

Fourthly- When prayer is hindered, worldliness will flood in.

-There will not be a zeal to reach others for Christ

Fifthly- To preserve Prayer we must Estimate Prayer

(Daniel went to prayer after the bill was signed)

He opened the window as he did before !

He was already practicing this .

Sixthly- to estimate prayer we must examine the Devils tricks

He likes destroying the best with the good !

HE ATTACKS

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Devil says………………

DO NOT PRAY !- He yells, screams, whispers !

DO NOT PRAY !- The government says stop it, not allowed

DO NOT PRAY !- Atheist says, not allowed

DO NOT PRAY !- Modernist says out of date

DO NOT PRAY !- Calvinist says, want make any difference

DO NOT PRAY ! Family members fuss, no time for them

DO NOT PRAY !- World says, losing out on fun

DO NOT PRAY !- Television says, missing your favorite show

The life of Prayer…………………………….

You must have a private place.

A place where you involve the whole man.

Time you can devote as much time as you can.

Just a little talk with Jesus

How it sooths the rugged road

How it cheers and helps me onward

When I faint beneath the load

When my heart is crushed with sorrow

And my eyes with tears are dim

There’s naught can yield the comfort

Like a little talk with Jesus

Interceding Prayer that Changes God’s Mind

Genesis 6:6,7 2-8-23

Ge 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

I am sure that this subject will be controversial for some
Especially those that are Hyper-Calvinist
But we believe the Bible (I am a Biblist) Baptist by choice)
I want to establish the fact that at times God changed His mind.
The word “repented” means “a change of mind”
That change can come at mans behavior or by man’s requests and prayers.

I. Moses on Mount Sinai Ex. 32:7-10

Ex 32:7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:

10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

A. Notice in vrs.10- The Omnipotent God talking to Moses

Moses is one of His creatures & allows Moses to have Veto power.
Moses could prevent God from consuming His people

B. Notice how Moses answers the Lord Ex. 32:11-14

Ex 32:11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

C. Notice was asking God not to inflict punishment upon His people

D. Notice vrs.13,14- Moses simply reminded God of His promises

E. Notice God changed His mind in vrs.14

II. God changes His mind about the destruction of Nineveh

Jonah 3:1-9

Jon 3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.

4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

A. God did see their works & God did change His mind

B. Jonah was not happy about God not destroying Nineveh

C. The prayer is found in 3:8

III. There are many places where God changed His mind

A. God changed His mind concerning Judah in the days of Joel.

B. In Joel 2:12-14- God’s judgment had been pronounced

The message came that God was merciful
If God’s people would repent & turn to Him
He would change His mind

C. God changed His mind concerning Ephraim. Hosea 11:8

One place God said to leave him alone (joined to idols)
He changed His mind about Him

D. God changed His mind many times with dealing with His people.

Jeremiah 15:6Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

God was weary of changing His mind so many times

IV.

If man will meet the condition of God and pray, God will

Respond to his prayer and perhaps change the course of His direction.

2. Many that would oppose this teaching never learned how to enter the

Great heart of God.

3. God is longsuffering, merciful, compassionate, full of love.

4. God loves His people and will respond to them.

5. God is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent and leans toward His

Children to hear what they say.

6. God longs to have them present their petitions to Him that He may

Give consideration to their request.

The Fullness Of His Love

The fullness of His blessing

encompasseth our way;

The fullness of His promises

crowns every brightening day;

The fullness of His glory

is beaming from above,

While more and more we realize

the fullness of His love.

Prayer and Obedience

Deut. 5:29 John 14:15

De 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Under the Mosaic Law, obedience was looked upon as…

“BETTER THAN SACRIFICE”

Unquestionably obedience is a high virtue!
Obedience is a Soldier quality

-it is the first & last lesson.

-one must know how to practice it all the time without question

How important is obedience in our life and with prayer ?

I. OBEDIENCE IS FAITH IN ACTION

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

A. A marvelous statement of relationship created and

maintained by obedience.

Jesus said……For I do always those things that please

Him.

B. When we do not obey Him we show a lack of faith in Him.

C. Faith moves God ! (Faith pleases God!)

II. OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS A CONDITION OF SPIRITUAL

AND STABILITY OF HEART

A. How spiritual do you think you are ?

B. A spiritual person wants to be yielded to Christ

C. The most spiritual person in this room does not know they

are the most spiritual person !

Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

III. OBEDIENCE OPENS THE GATES OF THE HOLY CITY

AND GIVES ACCESS TO THE TREE OF LIFE.

Re 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

A. Happy is that person that obey His commands

B. It is funny how we pick & choose what to obey

C. Always be open to what the Lord commands us to do.

IV. WHAT IS OBEDIENCE ?

A. Doing God’s Will

Mr 3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

B. Keeping His commandments

Jo 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1Jo 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

1Jo 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

C. How much should we keep His Commandments ?

“partial obedience is total disobedience”

V. DOES GOD GIVE COMMANDS THAT MEN CAN’T OBEY ?

A. Absolutely not ! (earthly parents do not do this)

B. How much greater is our God

1. it is giving up one’s own way and follow another

2. it is the surrendering of the will to the will of another

3. it is the submission of self to the authority of another

VI. GOD’S COMMANDS ARE NEVER IN TYRANNY BUT IN

LOVE.

A. This love is in our interest.

VII. OBEDIENCE IS LOVE

A. It is love expressing itself

B. Love delights to obey and please whom it loves

(Dr. Hyles on airplane & passenger)

VIII. WE CAN PLEASE GOD

A. It is easier to please God than men.

IX. WE CAN KNOW WHEN WE PLEASE GOD

A. We have the witness of the Spirit

B. We have a Divine assurance

X. GOD”S COMMANDS ARE:

A. Righteous

B. founded in justice & wisdom

C. Holy, Just, Good, True

XI. OBEDIENCE & OUR PRAYERS

A. Obedience helps prayer

B. Obedience speeds prayer to the Throne

C. God will hear an obedient child

E.M. Bounds…..

“If you have an earnest desire to pray well, you must learn how to obey well .”

Why call me Lord Lord and do not the things I say !

E.M. BOUNDS……………………………………..

IF YOU HAVE AN EARNST DESIRE TO PRAY WELL, YOU MUST LEARN HOW TO OBEY WELL. IF YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO LEARN TO PRAY, THEN YOU MUST HAVE AN EARNEST DESIRE TO LEARN HOW TO DO GOD’S WILL. IF YOU DESIRE TO PRAY TO GOD, YOU MUST HAVE A CONSUMING DESIRE TO OBEY HIM. IF YOU WOULD HAVE FREE ACCESS TO GOD IN PRAYER, THEN EVERY OBSTACLE IN THE NATURE OF SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE, MUST BE REMOVED. GOD DELIGHTS IN THE PRAYERS OF OBEDIENT CHILDREN.

Prayer And Discipline

Mark 1:35-38

Mr 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

The Lord is our Example in everything
I could never duplicate His perfection
But we can duplicate His consistency & His discipline in some

area’s of His life.

Discipline is not a miracle !
Discipline is a matter of bringing my body into subjection.

-it is me telling my body what it will do.

-most people allow the body to tell them what to do.

Discipline is when I set the boundaries according to the Word of

God & tell my body “” !

I. The prayer life of the Lord Jesus illustrates discipline.

A. He set a time to commune with His heavenly Father Vr.35

B. He had a sanctified & solitary place to pray. Vr.35

C. He had special places where He Interceded for others.

1. We must have a place away from the Hustle & bustle of life.

2. We need a set place that we frequently go. (Joe Henry Hankins Mom)

II. The prayer life of the Lord Jesus illustrates a steady habit

A. The definition of Habit is….

- a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is

hard to give up.

B. This was not a passing fancy !

C. If our Lord had a set time, a solitary place, a habitual practice

How much more we as frail humans need a place to

exercise the discipline of prayer !

III. The Christian life is a Disciplined Life.

A. Discipline tells my body “ This is what the Bible says !”

B. This is right, whether I like it or not !

C. We will do what the Word of God says………………..

Consistently

By schedule

On purpose noy by accident !

D. It takes time to pray & do what ought to be done.

Time must be given to prayer !

IV. I believe God deserves the best hours of the day.

Prov.8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early

shall find me.

A. Most give God the left overs of the day. (crawl into bed)

B. God wants the quality time & quiet time. (uninterrupted)

Song: Sweet Hour of Prayer

C. God wants our attention as well as our time.

John Wesley……………….

-it was said that he prayed 2 hours every morning…. One

Preacher told him that he was to busy to pray 2 hours. Mr.

Wesley said, I am too busy not to pray 2 hours a day. I cannot

Get done what has to be done unless I get help from God

Almighty.

D. We have time for everything except for time to pray

E.M. Bounds…………….

- Not to give prayer and religion a set and sacred time is to murder

It outright.

- The Devil fears nothing more than he fears prayer. So he fights

Nothing more fiercely than he fights our prayer lives

V. Nothing in the Bible is there by accident vrs.35-a

Mr 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day,

A. This is a significant statement ! (God is trying to teach us)

B. The heart that is slow to seek after God in the morning

is a heart that has lost its relish for the person of God.

C. God wants us to fall in love with Him than that we fall in

Love with His work !

Robert Murray McCheyne…………..

-He was a great man of prayer. He tottered into the grave at the ripe

Age of 29. He literally prayed himself to death.

-He accomplished more in his life time than we would living 129 yrs.

VI. It would be great if we were addicted to Prayer & doing

His Will.

A. Some closing thoughts about those who were great people

Of prayer.

Francis Asbury…………………….

-He was an old circuit riding preacher, he had pleurisy so

Bad that he would wrap his body and take a stick and twist

It so he could ride for fifty or sixty miles in great pain.

-He said of his prayer life he arose at 4 o’clock as often as he

Could to spend 2 hours in meditation and prayer.

- These men probably went to bed about 8 o’clock to rise early.

Samuel Rutherford………………

-a great old prayer warrior said he arose at 3 o’clock in the

Morning to meet with God and did not miss a morning watch.

Joseph Elene……………………

-spent from 4 oclock to 8 oclock in prayer & communion with God.

- He said that he was ashamed to know that people would get up at

3:00 to make money but God’s people would not arise at 3:00

to meet with God.

E,M, Bounds………………………

- No man gets God in His fulness who does not follow hard after Him.

Before the day dawns.

LAST STATEMENT- Real prayer has not only to do with the act of crying out to God, but it has something to do with an atmosphere. Atmosphere makes prayer what it ought to be.

Conditions to Answered Prayer

Matthew 7:7,8

Mt 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

I. First Condition Clear the Way Ps.66:18

Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

A. Tolerating known sin Is.59:1,2

Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

B. Confess every known sin 1Jn.1:9

II. Second Condition A Righteous Life James 5:16

Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

A. The Lord’s eyes are upon the righteous Ps.34:15

Ps 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

B. Live close to Christ (do right)

III. Third Condition Have Faith Mark 9:23

Mr 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

A. Emerson said…they can conquer who believe they can

B. Hebrews 11:6… impossible to please God

IV. Fourth Condition Obedience John 3:22

1Jo 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

A. Obedience is necessary to get prayers answered

B. Do that which is pleasing in His sight

V. Fifth Condition Abide in Christ John 15:7

Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

A. Abiding means that you are yielding, surrendering, allowing Him to live

Through you.

B. A branch to survive must have the minerals flowing through it from roots.

VI. Sixth Condition Have right motives James 4:3

Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

A. What are the reason you are asking for ?

B. Does it honor & Glorify Christ ?

VII. Seventh Condition The Will of God Jn. 5:14,15

1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

A. His Will is in the Book

B. Be lead by the Holy Spirit- (your prayer partner)

VIII. Eighth Condition Persistence Matt.7:7

Mt 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

A. Paul prayed 3 times for thorn to be removed (Paul changed his prayer)

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

B. Many just quit too soon

IX. Ninth Condition Idols removed Ez. 14:3

Eze 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

A. Anything that gets in front of God is an Idol

B. Idol can be..Car, Person, object, Money, Job, etc….

X. Tenth Condition Relationships Right 1 Peter 3:7

1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

A. Wives are to be submissive

B. Men are to love their wives as themselves

XI. Eleventh Condition Be Specific Jn.14:3

Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

A. The man asking for bread for a friend

B. Be specific in what you are asking for !

Lu 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Some Reasons for Unanswered Prayer

Isaiah 59:1,2 Psalms 66:18

Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Psalms 66:18

Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Great men of God tells us that Christians should be getting regular answers to prayer

Mt 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

It is normal for an obedient child to ask for bread and get it.
If we do not receive we should be seeking why not ?
We do not have to guess at what sins that hinders our prayers.

I. Wrong Relationship of a Husband and Wife hinders prayers

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

A. How to win their lost husband (not with clothing)

1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

B. Meek and quiet spirit

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

C. Sins at home can cause no answers to prayer (Achan)

D. Rebellion toward each other. (as sin as withcraft) (Angels fell)

E. Husbands dwell with wives according to knowledge

-giving honor as weaker vessel

-being heirs together

II. Prayers blocked by wrongs not made right Matt. 5:23,24

Mt 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

A. Unpaid debts (Zacchaeus)- 4 fold

B. Offended Brothers unreconciled. (Jailer, washed their stripes)

III. Unforgiveness grieves God & hinders prayers (Matt.6:14,15)

Mt 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

A. He will not hear your prayers

Saved sinners, Lost sinners

B. God hates the sin of unforgiveness- Matt. 18:21-35

IV. Covetousness Hinders Prayers (Col. 3:5)

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

A. A Covetous man is an Idolator (a love of money is root of all evil)

B. This man will rob God of the tithe

V. Self Will & Rebellion, disobedience Hinders Prayers

1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD

Intercessor

Email your Prayer request to intercessor@jeremiah333.us

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Email your Prayer request to
intercessor@jeremiah333.us