How Can a Person
Describe Prayer?
Nov 10, 2013 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction
A.
How can I describe prayer? Real,
problem-solving, heart-lifting, mountain-moving prayer? How can that be
described so everyone does it?
B.
People have a million different
ideas about what “prayer” is
1.
Many pray the “Our Father” and
call it praying
2.
Many pray through decades and
decades of beads
3.
Many moan and wail, bobbing back
and forth, and call it prayer
4.
Others cross themselves, and
bless themselves, and believe they are praying
5.
Some recite memorised prayers
from childhood, and think they are praying
6.
Others go into a trance and speak
unintelligible words, and in unknown tongues, and think they are praying!
C.
What Prayer is NOT
1.
It is NOT about Repeating
yourself
2.
Empty words spoken into the air
3.
It is not a show or a performance
4.
Long drawn out praying with much
words – as if to wear out God
5.
It is not only about YOU and your
needs
D.
Prayer is different and even
BETTER than any of that!
E.
The BIBLE, and the Bible alone
describes what prayer is and how to pray
II.
Message - What Prayer IS
A.
Prayer Is… The Desire of God
(Proverbs 15:8)
1.
Prayer means to TALK
with God – it means to spend time with Him every day, all day – to ABIDE
with Him, hang around Him, bring all our needs to Him, casting all our cares
upon Him!
a.
Like Jesus constantly did!
1)
Who walked constantly in a mind
of prayer
2)
He pleased God, not by His
performance, but by His constant talking with His Father
b.
Like Hannah finally did! She
shows us what prayer is (1st Samuel 1:10,12,13)
1)
She had held off from praying for
so long that she had become bitter and angry
2)
So, when she prayed, it was Real
– bitterness of soul, crying
3)
Prayer is Speaking to God in your
heart
4)
And Prayer is getting what you
need from God!
2.
It is DESIRED by God – first and
foremost! Before you or I ever think about praying, Realise that God is waiting
for us to pray – to talk with Him!
3.
He desires to hear us pray about
everything – to hear us TALK with Him!
4.
God YEARNS to be needed by us (1st
Peter 3:12)
5.
God the Father even placed His
Holy Spirit into each and every one of His children so that they could cry out
in the most intimate of words, “Abba! Father!” (Gal 4:6) – not fancy, formal,
stiff words, but child-like words to his loving Father
6.
So, Forget about what you can get
from God
7.
And focus on FIRST worshipping
the one and only true God
8.
That’s what HE seeks (John
4:22,23)
9.
And that is where prayer begins!
B.
Prayer Is… The Delight of His
People – at least it OUGHT to be (Psalm 37:4)!
1.
Prayer is NOT a thing we
do, but a way we live
a.
Marriage is not a thing we do,
but a way we live with each other
b.
Not a chore, or a task to be
ticked off when accomplished
c.
It is the time a child WANTS to
spend with his parent – with his Father
d.
One third of us was made to
constantly walk with God – our spirit!
e.
Yet this part of us is almost
completely ignored by us, neglected, made fun of
2.
Pray delighting in just who God
is
3.
Enjoying trusting God instead of
anything else
4.
Just spending time with HIM
a.
Moses went up to Mt Sinai to get
the Law. He stayed up there for 40 days because he enjoyed spending time with
God
b.
Peter, James and John went up to
the Mount of Transfiguration just to be with Jesus, and when He was transfigured
in front of their eyes, they wanted to build shelters, and just stay up there
with Him
c.
If people want something from
me, then spend time WITH me please!
Same goes for God!
5.
To pray as a matter of duty, or
religious effort is a waste of time
6.
But as an act of love, it will
work almost every time!
7.
Every living breathing human
being should pray…
8.
But everyone who prays, who
really prays, should find the resulting effect so fantastic that they would
rather spend days and weeks and a lifetime in prayer (Psalm 84:10)!
C.
Prayer Is… Our ONLY Access to
God (Hebrews 4:16)
1.
Think about it
a.
There is NO OTHER WAY to talk
with God
b.
There is no telephone booth, no
internet website, no mystical trance that you can use to communicate with our
Creator!
c.
God made it all possible through
the work of prayer
2.
Draw nigh unto God by prayer
3.
Coming boldly before His throne…
4.
Don’t think you can come near
unto God by going into a Cathedral, or into a “holy place” or through some
“great” praying guru
5.
Just get near unto God by taking
time to pray!
D.
Prayer is More than We Think
it is.
It has the Following Ingredients (don’t skimp on them):
1.
It is Humility!
Requires us to Humble Ourselves
a.
That’s why we get alone (Mt
6:5,6; 14:23). Jesus got away from everyone to pray. There was no pride in
praying – no showing off!
b.
That’s why we bow the knee – not
normally flat on our face, but at least LOW, like before a king!
c.
That’s why we bow our heads and
close our eyes
d.
BE HUMBLE in His presence!
e.
Humble yourselves before GOD
ALMIGHTY
f.
When you pray, you have HIS
attention! So, give Him all of yours!
2.
It is Honesty!
Confess our sins, to the One we have sinned most against!
a.
The first thing to work through
is anything that might be causing GOD to be upset with you
b.
We start with open, honest
confession to God
c.
NO PRIEST IS NEEDED NOW – only
ONE High Priest – ONE Mediator
d.
THINK ladies and gentlemen…
1)
Have you disobeyed God?
2)
Are you resisting His leading in
your life?
3)
How has your THOUGHT life been
lately?
4)
What angry, ungodly words have
flowed out of your mouth?
5)
How wondering have your eyes
been?
6)
How bitter have you let your
heart become?
7)
How little do you spend time with
God?
e.
If you won’t accept that you are
WRONG, and STUPID, then why waste your time praying???
3.
It is Believing God!
Believing God’s promises – Biblical desperation!
a.
Why pray if you DON’T think God
can do miracles? Amazing things?
b.
Believe God – not just “in” God!
Even the devils believe in God!
c.
Have faith in God (Mark 11:21-24)
d.
Believe He can do exceeding,
abundantly, above, ALL that you ask, or even THINK!
e.
I like to recall a powerful
Scripture when praying – there are HUNDREDS of them…
1)
Jer 33:3
2)
John 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”
f.
Desperation in prayer is a pretty
good thing
1)
If nothing else is working, and
you have done your best, and opthers have done their best…
2)
Then I would say it is time for
God to do His best!
4.
It is Forgiving!
Forgiving all those who have hurt YOU! (Mark 11:24-26; Mt 5:44)
a.
What a vital ingredient!
b.
We want forgiveness BY God, but
we won’t offer it to others! Real good isn’t it?!
c.
Jesus commands us to forgive when
we pray
d.
Take time to examine your heart,
your temper, your attitude towards everyone
e.
Go to them and forgive them
f.
THAT IS, IF, You want YOUR
prayers to be answered!
5.
It is Asking!
Asking for what you want (Matthew 7:7-11)
a.
Once the first 4 steps are taken,
THEN can you ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you (John 15:7)
b.
ASK!
c.
Don’t worry about knowing the
exact words to say, and HOW to say them…
d.
Just ask!
e.
Ask and ye shall receive!
f.
Don’t be embarrassed about what
you are asking for (Philp 4:6)
1)
For the big things – not matter
how big
a)
Health problems
b)
For other people’s disasters they
are going through – safety
c)
For people’s souls to be saved
from the coming wrath of God on this world
2)
For small things (there really
are not any small requests)
a)
Like peace, and calmness
b)
Like, to help you find your keys
c)
Or, ask for God to bring things
back to your memory when you take a test
3)
Pray for your enemies – to leave
you alone!
4)
Pray for your needs
5)
Pray about everything – in other
words, talk to God about everything you are feeling, everything you are lacking,
every problem, and every obstacle in your way!
g.
The Holy Spirit will take what
you say and expand it, and fix it up so that it is just right (Romans 8:26,27)
h.
You don’t have to come up with a
powerful speech to convince God. Just talk to Him! Be in the habit of talking to
Him constantly!
i.
Examples:
1)
Elijah knelt and prayed
surrounded by tens of thousands of rebellious, ungodly Israelites on Mt Carmal.
He prayed only 63 words, and God answered and the entire crowd fell to THEIR
knees in humiliation and admittance that Jehovah God is the only true God!
2)
Elijah just bowed his head one
day, and prayed that it would not rain, and it never rained again… not until he
prayed again and asked God to allow it to start to rain again, which was 3 and ½
years later!
6.
It is Listening!
Listening as much as talking (Hebrews 3:7)
a.
God will, in a sense, speak to
you in the quiet time of prayer
b.
NOT in the rattle of your own
talking, but in the silence that you give to Him to speak to you
c.
It is not that God will talk to
you in direct revelation – that happened throughout history (spoke to prophets,
moved holy men of God as they wrote down His words in Scripture), but it doesn’t
now happen
d.
But when you are quietly
pondering, resting, trusting, God speaks
e.
Now, if you want to hear God
clearly speak to you, go to His Word in faith, and He will!
7.
Yielding to the Answer God
Gives You – Trusting! (Mt 26:39; 1st John 5:14,15)
a.
“Thy will be done” is the final
word
b.
You and I come to God in OUR OWN
will, with our own needs and with what we think should be done
c.
We MUST leave the results to God
1)
Sometimes God says NO – probably
most of the time
2)
Many times God asks us to wait
3)
But thankfully, God’s answer
always is spectacular (Psalm 72:18)
d.
Examples:
1)
Paul prayed for God to take away
the problem in his life that he called a “thorn in his flesh” and God said no!
2)
Job prayed for protection for his
children, and God over-ruled Job’s prayer!
3)
Jesus prayed, let this cup pass
from me, and God said, no!
e.
FAITH, is NOT making demands of
God, and only expecting Him to do as YOU will… THAT is paganism and selfishness!
f.
Faith is depending upon God, and
trusting that He will do right (Gen 18:25). He cannot do wrong! If God did
everything you and I wanted, He would end up dong a lot of wrong!!!
8.
Praising God for everything
you already have (Philp 4:6)- WITH thanksgiving!
a.
Praise God when He answers with a
miracle
b.
And praise God when He DOESN’T
give you what you asked for
c.
Part of prayer is PRAISE, and
THANKING God, no matter what He does in your life!
d.
Take time to thank Him for he has
already done in your life…
1)
Saved you from a devil’s hell?
2)
Given you a family?
3)
Kept you healthy all these years?
4)
Given you a Bible?
5)
Answered countless prayers
already?
9.
Continuing until the answer
comes (Luke 18:1; Romans 12:12; 1st Thes 5:17;
a.
Patiently Wait on God for an
answer
b.
Don’t start, and not finish
praying
c.
Praying starts, and keeps it up
until the answer comes
10.
“In
Jesus’ name” – in the authority of HIS name, not yours!
a.
Example:
1)
Me:
Hello God, this
is Craig Ledbetter speaking
2)
God:
Who?
3)
Me:
Craig Ledbetter
4)
God:
Who?
5)
Craig:
You know, Craig the preacher? The pastor of Bible Baptist Church of
Ballincollig,
6)
God:
Who? Who is this again?
7)
Craig:
Well, I really am nobody. But your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, told me in
the Bible that I could come right to your throne and ask you for help!
8)
God:
Jesus? Ah yes! He did did He? Well, that changes everything! What can I
do for you?
9)
Craig:
Well, I have some prayer requests! Quite a few as a matter of fact! And
some tough ones at that!
10)God:
Great! Let’s hear them!
b.
Don’t forget that Jesus said we
could use His name to get what we need – HIS authority, HIS righteousness!
1)
John 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.
2)
John 16:23
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
3)
John 16:24
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive,
that your joy may be full.
4)
John 16:26
At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will
pray the Father for you:
11.
In a rush…
a.
Asking
b.
And trusting
c.
And Continuing to keep asking
d.
“In Jesus’ name”
e.
Will work
f.
But don’t push it
12.
Make sure you have a normal time
alone with God, so that when the emergencies come, you can “rush” things, and
they can get what you need from God
E.
Lastly, Prayer is All that
We Need
1.
Yes, we should work our hardest!
a.
Work our jobs
b.
We should pay our bills
c.
We should love our mates and our
families
d.
We should minister to one another
2.
But none of that will accomplish
anything without prayer… without us spending time talking with God, and getting
what we need from God!
3.
Prayer accesses and obtains what
we need most - the Bible word is “availeth much”
a.
You can avail of MUCH Peace that
passes understanding
b.
Grace that is all sufficient
c.
Supernatural wisdom and
understanding that is greater than the greatest minds of our time
d.
Protection from all harm
e.
And most of all, real
transformation – the change of US
1)
From grouch to gracious
2)
From bitter, to a blessing
3)
To anxious, to reassured
4)
From restless, to calm
5)
From fearful, to excited
f.
Let prayer work on YOU most of
all! If prayer hasn’t changed you through the experience, then how can you
expect it to change anything else!!!!!
4.
I know plenty of people who
regret not praying, or not praying enough! But NO one has ever regretted
spending their lives praying and trusting God!
III.
Conclusion
A.
Prayer Is…
1.
The Desire of God. He
desires to hear us pray – to hear us TALK with Him!
2.
The Delight of His People
– at least it OUGHT to be (Psalm 37:4)!
3.
Prayer Is… Our ONLY Access to
God – you are simply wasting your time and best efforts if you are not
praying!
4.
Prayer is More than We Think
it is.
It has the Following Ingredients (don’t skimp on them):
a.
It is Humility!
Requires us to Humble Ourselves
b.
It is Honesty!
Confess our sins, to the One we have sinned most against!
c.
It is Believing God!
Believing God’s promises – Biblical desperation!
d.
It is Forgiving!
Forgiving all those who have hurt YOU! (Mark 11:24-26)
e.
It is Asking!
Asking for what you want (Matthew 7:7-11)
f.
It is Listening!
Listening as much as talking (Hebrews 3:7)
g.
It is Yielding to the
Answer God Gives You – Trusting! (Mt 26:39; 1st John 5:14,15)
h.
It is Praising God for
everything you already have (Philp 4:6)- WITH thanksgiving!
i.
It is Continuing until the
answer comes (Romans 12:12; 1st Thes 5:17;
j.
It is “In Jesus’ name”
– in the authority of HIS name, not yours!
5.
Lastly, Prayer is All that
We Need
B.
Can you not start to pray like
this?
Can you not find it in yourself to…
1.
Humble Yourself?
2.
Be honest with God?
3.
Believe God for everything
you need?
4.
Ask Him for everything you
need?
5.
Listen to God tell you
what HE needs from you?
6.
Yield and Allow God to do
what He thinks best?
7.
Praise God no matter what?
8.
Keep praying, never
quitting, never giving up?
9.
And do it all in Jesus’
most wonderful and powerful name?
C.
THAT is when you will actually
and powerfully start praying and receiving what you need from the God who
delights in answering our prayers!
D.
If you find it hard to pray, it
probably is because you are doing it alone, without the Holy Spirit’s help, or
maybe you are not even born again!
E.
Today would be a great day to not
only learn HOW to pray, but to become a child of God and start to really pray,
to the God who loves you and gave Himself for you!