Don’t Sleep Through the Pandemic! Pray! Why is our Prayer Life so Sluggish. Mark 14:37 Pray without ceasing! We are to pray all the time and not faint!
He instituted and led in the Last Supper! Paul tells us in I Cor. 11:23 “ For I have recived of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that. That the Lord Jesus the same night He was betrayed too bread :
He Participated in Praise and Worship. They would leave with worship. According to Rabbinical Teaching they would sing Psalms 114-118. (The Hallel Psalm)
He would also fellowship with ones who had failed Him. Vv. 27-28
Most Significant was that He prayed and the Inner three went to sleep. Verse 3
He Prayed! Jesus Prayed in His most Trying Hour.
We are in the Pandemic. How is your prayer life going in the Pandemic. Is it sluggish? How did it get that way. What makes us have a sluggish, sleepy prayer life?
I think we all believe in the Power of Prayer yet it seems we try to do life’s problems in our own strength. 3 Reasons:
Our Prayer Life Lacks Purpose – When Prayer has lost it’s Purpose then we need to review the reasons why we should have a vibrant prayer life.
Reason #1. We Pray because God says so. “Seek the Lord and His Strength, seek His face continually.” I Chr. 16:11/ Jeremiah 33:3 Mt. 7:7; “Watch & Pray” -Mt. 26:41; “Pray without Ceasing” I Thess. 5:17
IF God says it then do it!
Reason #2. We Pray Because God Promises Results. Psalm 91:15 “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him.” Psa. 91:15; And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are speaking, I will hear.” Jer.33:3; Mt. 7:7;
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will , and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7/Three Indian Tribes.
Reason #3. We Have Access to the Most Powerful Force Ever Know to Humanity.
I Kings 18:30-38; John 11:41;
Prayer Heals! Prayer Revives! Prayer Raises the Dead! Prayer Brings Fire from Heaven! One more- Prayer stopped the Very Revolution of the Earth! Ask Joshua.
Our Prayers are Sluggish lacks Purpose. What else does it lack?
Our Prayer Life Lacks Passion.
When a man kisses his wife, he needs to do it with passion. When a woman kisses her husband they need to do it with passion. You are kissing from your heart.
Examples: Moses was heartbroken. So Moses went back to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 32But now, please forgive their sin-but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” Ex. 32:31-32
David was heartbroken because of his sin and failure, “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation.” Psa. 51:12
Jesus’ heart was broken, “”My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death: tarry you here and watch.” Mk. 14:34
Two More: Prayer Needs Power –“How can we have power in Prayer?”
The source of power comes from the Holy Spirit. It is the source of prayer. Zechariah 4:6 “No by might, nor by power but by the spirit, says the Lord.”
Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
I Thess. 5: 19 “Quench not the Spirit.”
Prayer Needs Planned: ACTS
Adoration; Praising Him for who He is. “Oh Lord how excellent is your name upon the earth.” Brag on Jesus.
Confession: “If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear you.” Psa. 66:18; I John 1:9;
Thanksgiving: “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” I Thess. 5:18
Supplication: “Prayer is our way of getting things from God.” “You have not because you ask not.” James 4:2 Ask for what you NEED; Ask for what you WANT; But whatever you do, ASK!
Back to the Drawing Board. Mark 14:37
When your prayer life has purpose; passion; power and a plan you can Watch and Pray for an Hour.
How is your prayer life?
“We pray best when we are no longer aware of praying.” Cessian.
Prayer is simply talking to God/He speak to us; we listen. We speak to Him; He listens; A two way process: speaking and listening.
Learning to dialogue with God will never end because we are partners and we are family/.