The Purpose of The Church- Prayer

Adapted from a Jeffery Anselmi sermonhttp://www.sermoncentral.com/print_friendly.asp?

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Acts 2:41 ESV So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added

that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles'

teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came

upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and

had all things in common.

45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking

bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47

praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number

day by day those who were being saved.

As we finish the purpose of the Church series, I hope that it has inspired some

thinking from each one of us about what our purpose is and what we can do to better fulfill

our purpose at Lindley Christian Church.

I want to finish this series with a purpose that does not seem to exciting.

It is an activity that every person, no matter what their physical limitations are, can do.

This activity is a channel of blessings for all who will use it.

This purpose is prayer.Everything that we do as individual

Christians and as a church should be bathed in prayer.

If prayer does not drive sin out of your life, sin will drive prayer out.

We feel that we just do not have time to pray.We are too busy to pray, and so we are too

busy to have power.We have a great deal of activity but we accomplish little; many services but few conversions; much machinery but few

results. (R. A. Torrey)

Other times we use prayer only in an emergency.

A young soldier who was fighting in Italy during World War II jumped into a foxhole

just ahead of some bullets.

He immediately tried to deepen the hole for more protection and was frantically scraping

away the dirt with his hands.

He unearthed something metal and brought up a silver crucifix, left by a former resident

of the foxhole. A moment later another leaping figure landed beside him as the

shells screamed overhead. When the soldier got a chance to look, he saw that his new companion was an army chaplain. Holding out the crucifix, the soldier gasped, "Am I

glad to see you!How do you work this thing?"

Prayer is important!Corrie Ten Boom ask us the question, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare

tire?”Too many times prayer is used as a spare

tire instead of the steering wheel of our lives and the churches.

What can we do to change this?Why should prayer be an important part of

our lives?

Jesus was devoted to prayer.

Jesus put a priority on prayer.Luke 6:12 ESV In these days he went out to

the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

Luke 5:16 ESV But he would withdraw to

desolate places and pray.

Prayer Should Be A Priority For The Church Because…

When He was busy and tired.

Matthew 14:23 ESV And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the

mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

During His darkest hour, when He was about

to be crucified, during His time of deepest need Jesus made time to pray.

Luke 22:39 ESV And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives,

and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's

throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but

yours, be done."

43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his

sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples

and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into

temptation."

Whenever Jesus did something or before He did something He prayed to God.

Raising of Lazarus. John 11:41 ESV So they took away the

stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said

this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent

me."

How much prayer meant to Jesus!It was not only His regular habit, but His

resort in every emergency, however slight or serious.

When perplexed He prayed.When hard pressed by work He prayed.

When hungry for fellowship He found it in prayer.

He chose His associates and received His messages upon His knees.

If tempted, He prayed.

If criticized, He prayed.If fatigued in body or wearied in spirit, He had recourse to His one unfailing habit of

prayer. Prayer brought Him unmeasured power at the beginning, and kept the flow unbroken

and undiminished.There was no emergency, no difficulty, no

necessity, no temptation that would not yield to prayer.

(S. D. Gordon, Quiet Talks on Prayer. Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 5)

The early church was devoted to prayer.

Acts 1:14 ESV All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together

with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Acts 2:42 ESV And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

The Leadership of the church was also devoted to prayer!

Acts 6:4 ESV But we (The twelve-Acts 6:2) will devote ourselves to prayer and to the

ministry of the word."

Romans 12:10 ESV Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in

showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show

hospitality.

Prayer is a way to show devotion to someone.

Prayer should be a priority because God hears us.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV pray without ceasing,

Romans 8:26 ESV Likewise the Spirit helps

us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too

deep for words.

1 Peter 3:12 ESV For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is

against those who do evil."

James 5:16 ESV Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,

that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is

working.

Acts 10:1 ESV At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was

known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius." 4

And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a

memorial before God.

Acts 10:30 ESV And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been

heard and your alms have been remembered before God.

Cornelius’ prayers were a memorial to God.WHY?Faith!

Prayer is the channel from which blessings flow.

Mark 11:24 ESV Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you

have received it, and it will be yours.

Matthew 21:22 ESV And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

John 16:24 ESV Until now you have asked

nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God’s infinite grace and

power. All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer.

(R. A. Torrey)

Prayer is the phone line to God.

Prayer is a way to express thanksgiving to God.

It is probable that in most of us the spiritual life is impoverished and stunted because we

give so little place to gratitude.It is more important to thank God for

blessings received than to pray for them beforehand.

For that forward-looking prayer, though right as an expression of dependence upon God,

is still self-centered in part, at least, of its interest; there is something we hope to gain

by our prayer.

But the backward-looking act of thanksgiving is quite free from this.

In itself it is quite selfless.Thus it is akin to love.

All our love to God is in response to His love for us; it never starts on our side. We love

because he first loved us.1 John 4:19 ESV

(William Temple, from 3000 Quotations on Christian Themes. Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 17.)

1 Timothy 2:1 ESV First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

We can have inner peace from prayer.

HOPENotice that when things go bad, most people

respond with prayer.

Philippians 4:6 ESV do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and

supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the

peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and

your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15 ESV And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed

you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and

hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you

do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to

God the Father through him.

People that we do not get along with need our prayers.

Matthew 5:44 ESV But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who

persecute you,

Luke 6:28 ESV bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

You cannot hate those you pray for.

Prayer Should Be A Priority Because Other People Need Prayer

The sick need our prayers.James 5:14 ESV Is anyone among you sick? 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 will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has

committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be

healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Spiritual and physical.

Government and church leaders need our prayers.

When Edward Everett Hale was chaplain of the U.S. Senate, someone asked him, "Do you pray for the senators, Dr. Hale?" He

replied, "No, I look at the senators and pray for the country."

Acts 12:5 ESV So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God

by the church. Hebrews 13:17 ESV Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy

and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18 Pray for us, for we are

sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

Other churches need our prayers.

2 Corinthians 9:13 ESV By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of

your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the

generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and

pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

The lost need our prayers.

Romans 10:1 ESV Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that

they may be saved.He is referring to Israel in this context.

1 Timothy 2:1 ESV First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions,

and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be

saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

If we pray for those who are lost, we will make an even greater effort to reach them.

Prayer is an important function of the church.

A person who does not think they can do much could have a prayer ministry.

We’ve seen from the Scriptures, God’s Word, how important being a praying person is.

Conclusion

Our failure to think of prayer as a privilege may be partly due to the fact that we can

pray any time.The door to prayer is open so continuously

that we fail to avail ourselves of an opportunity which is always there.(Harry Emerson Fosdick, The Meaning of Prayer)

When asked to do something that seems hard or spectacular, we are more apt to do it than to do something as simple as prayer.

Like art, like music, like so many other disciplines, prayer can only be appreciated

when you actually spend time in it. Spending time with the Master will elevate your

thinking. The more you pray, the more will be revealed. You will understand. You will smile

and nod your head as you identify with others who fight long battles and find great

joy on their knees. (Joni Eareckson Tada)When we don’t pray, it’s primarily because

we don’t sense our need for God.

No man should be alone when he opposes Satan.

The church and the ministry of the Word were instituted for this purpose, that hands may be joined together and one may help

another.If the prayer of one doesn’t help, the prayer of another will. (Martin Luther, "Martin Luther--The Early

Years," Christian History, no. 34.)Do you use prayer as a spare tire instead of

the steering wheel?