Moraine Valley Church

Prayer Review

Prayer Review
Passages April 28, 2019
I. Introduction:
A. E. M. Bounds in his book “The Power of Prayer” says this, “The Church is
looking for better methods; God is looking for better men and women.” “What the
Church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations or
more and fresh methods, but men and women whom the Holy Ghost can use –
men and women of prayer, mighty in prayer."
1. The power of prayer should not be underestimated. Listen to James 5:16-18
2. Over the past 3 months, MVC has taken prayer very seriously! We not only
preached about this on Sundays but we also studied and discussed it in small
groups and practiced it over 21 days!
• We started this series by
II. Review
A. Learning a foundational principle of prayer: God has established asking as the
means of receiving in His kingdom
1. Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive.”
2. James 4 says, “You have not because you ask not!”
B. Then we learned in John 15 that our attitude in prayer should be humble desperate
dependence upon Jesus rather than a complacent self-sufficiency we saw in the
church in Revelation 3
1. One says, “I can do nothing apart from Jesus” The other says, “I have need of
nothing.”
2. One “God, I need You for this” The other says, “I can handle this”
C. Then we learned that the true motive in prayer is to bring glory to God
1. Remember this quote:
“Too often our prayers are intended to inform God of what we believe He
needs to do to structure the universe in compliance with our desires for a
happy and comfortable life. Because most of us have been taught that the
primary purpose of prayer is to ask God to meet our temporal needs, we
continue in this routine without the thought of something greater and more
powerful.” Daniel Henderson
D. Then we learned that to pray in Jesus’ name actually has three aspects to it.
1. Access to God through Jesus
2. Ambassador – ask what Jesus would ask
3. Authority – the legal right to ask for that with all of power of Jesus to back up
His name
E. Then we took two weeks to answer the question, “What should we pray about
other than God meet my needs and bless my family?”
1. We learned from the Lord’s Prayer that we should pray first and foremost for
God’s agenda (His glory, His kingdom and His will) along with our personal
and spiritual needs.
2. We learned from Paul’s prayers that he prayed kingdom focused prayers for
the spiritual needs of the church at large.
3. We learned from Timothy Keller’s research on revival that one of the
primary means God has used to bring about revival was corporate prayer for
kingdom centered needs. That is the kind of praying we learned from Jesus
and Paul
F. Then we learned that there is no simple answer to unanswered prayer and we need
to be careful about giving nickel answers to million dollar questions for people
who are struggling deeply with unanswered prayers
1. We learned sometimes it is a matter of not now
2. We also learned there could be a variety of different reasons why God would
say no. And they should be prayerfully considered when no answer is
received.
3. And sometimes the best answer is I do not know – as we learned from Job
that sometimes it is a mystery bigger than I am smart!
G. Then we saw one reason we should persistent in prayer is because God uses
prayer to change us as we pray. We saw at Jesus’ baptism that as He prayed Holy
Spirit came upon Him, at the transfiguration as He prayed He was transfigured
and in the garden as He prayed angels ministered to Him. All this happened as he
prayed!
H. Then finally we learned about the priority of God’s Word in prayer as we learned
the simple and life changing method of Martin Luther
1. Capture the heart of the text
2. Praise, thank, and worship God from the text
3. Admit/confess sin from the text
4. Petition/ask God to do for you in light of the text
I. The most important part of the series was when we sought to put into practice the
things we learned in 21 days of prayer
1. We learned in Hebrews 11:6 that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him
2. I was so moved to see a church full of over 100 people come out for 21 days
at 6:00am in the morning to seek God in an hour of prayer.
3. I not only heard of answers to prayer but of many people who said they were
changed as they prayed these three weeks!
II. Celebrate
III.Going Forward
A. An old preacher Samuel Chadwick said this, “The one concern of the Devil is to
keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless work and
prayerless religion! He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles
when we pray!
B. MVC has no desire for prayerless work and wisdom. We want prayer to become
a part of the DNA of MVC and the people of MVC.

Palm Sunday

The Setting for Palm Sunday

Various Passages April 14, 2019
I. Introduction:
A. The setting for any story is a crucial element of the story.
1. Just think if you missed the first 15 minutes of the Wizard of Oz and all you
saw was the rest of the story without being introduced to key characters, the
tornado that knocked Dorothy out and not know why she was trying so hard
to get back to Kansas!
2. That setting helped us better understand the events, characters and the
conclusion to the story of the Wizard of Oz!
B. The setting is also important to the story of the triumphal entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem. It helps us get some context as to what was really going on, helps us
see the importance of that event, we learn more about Jesus from it, and finally
the theme of that event that we celebrate today on Palm Sunday.
C. My goal this morning is to show “what is the big deal” with this event that kicked
off …
1. The most important week in the history of this whole world which resulted in
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
2. And it kicked off a series of events that eventually led to Jesus’ departure
from this world, His ascension when He went back to heaven.
• To accomplish this goal let’s look at …
II. The setting to the Triumphal Entry
A. Turn to Luke 9:29-31.
1. This passage was the time that Jesus was transfigured on the mountain while
He was praying. It goes on to tell us that two men appeared at that time and
were talking with Jesus, those two men were Moses and Elijah.
2. Wouldn’t you have loved to be in on that conversation and listen to what they
were talking about?
3. Read 29-31.
4. They were talking about His departure, His departure from this world after
He died, rose and ascended to heaven. And it was going to take place in
Jerusalem.
5. I would say since that was their discussion during the transfiguration of Jesus
Christ then it would put that topic right at the top of importance list!
B. Look at Luke 9:51 and read
1. We see here that the days were approaching regarding His ascension which
He talked about with Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration.
2. In light of that, Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem. It literally means
He “set His face” to go to Jerusalem. That means Jesus had a strong, firm
and unchanging commitment to go to Jerusalem
C. Then in Chapters 13 and 17 it makes a point of telling us about Jesus teaching and
doing miracles while He was on his way to Jerusalem.
D. Turn to Luke 18:31-34 where Jesus told the twelve disciples why He was going to
Jerusalem. Read v31-34
E. Turn to Luke 19:11 as they now were getting real close to Jerusalem. And the
twelve disciples had a whole different idea as to why they thought they were
heading to Jerusalem.
1. Read 19:11
2. They thought it was time for the kingdom of God to appear
3. But in the next verse Jesus starts to tell them a parable that indicates He is
going to be going on a long trip, receive a kingdom, then return back again.
Read v12
4. No, that earthly kingdom of God is not going to start now but after a long
period of time when I return!
F. Look down at 19:28 where we see that they were so close that Jesus sends two of
His disciples ahead to get a donkey, actually a colt – a young male donkey, to
bring to Jesus.
1. Read v28-35
2. And now we are ready for the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
• So it is clear that this entry is important. But to understand why this is the
significance and Jesus had to do this we need to see
III. The setting behind the setting
A. We find this by looking at three key Old Testament passages that actually refer to
“this” event of Jesus coming into Jerusalem. And these will help us understand
why this is so important, exactly what was going on that day.
B. Turn to Psalm 118:22-26. This is what is known as Messianic Psalm – simply a
Psalm that speaks of the Messiah, the Christ, the coming Savior and King, not
only of Israel but of the whole world.
1. As I read watch for
a) The rejection of the Messiah, the stone, by the builders but God taking
that rejected stone and making it the chief corner stone for His building,
His church, His kingdom.
b) Also note that the psalmist calls upon Him to save them, and they give
their blessing upon this one, this corner stone who comes in the name of
the Lord
2. Read
3. Note in Acts 4 that Peter told the rulers and elders of Israel, their leaders,
their builders, that they had crucified Jesus the Christ whom God raised –
then he said this. Read Acts 4:11-12
4. So we learn in this passage that there is going to be a rejection by the leaders
of God’s Messiah, His Christ, His King and a praise of Him by the people!
C. Turn to Daniel 9:25-26
1. And it is important to realize this book was written 600 years before Jesus
came!
2. Here we see what I believe is the most amazing prophecy in Scripture where
God tells Israel the exact date the Messiah will come to them. I did a sermon
on this 16 years ago where I broke down the whole passage phrase by phrase
(April 13, 2003) – I am sure you all remember it. But if you forgot it will be
attached along with these notes on our church web page. Also CDs
available!
3. Actually from this verse if you do the calculations you will see the exact date
the Messiah, God’s anointed King will come to Israel.
a) When the calculations are done you will see the date is April 6, 32 AD –
the exact date of the Triumphal Entry we are looking at today in Luke
19. The day that Jesus officially presented Himself as the Messiah!
4. Then the next verse tells us what will happen after this date. Read v26
a) The Messiah will be cut off – the Hebrew word used to indicate a violent
death. – An obvious reference to the Cross of Christ
b) Then after this violent death the city of Jerusalem and the Temple will be
destroyed by enemies. –
(1) We know from history that the city of Jerusalem and the Temple
were destroyed in 70 AD by the Roman army under the leadership
of General Titus.
D. Final prep verses I want you to see is in Zechariah 9:9-10. A book that was
written 500 years before Jesus came! Read and point out
1. Their king was going to come to Jerusalem bringing salvation and riding on a
donkey, specifically a colt a young male donkey. v9
2. And note that He is coming to bring peace v10
a) He is going to cut off the chariot, horse and bow – all instruments of war.
b) He will speak peace to the nations
3. His reign will be over the entire world!
• Now let’s go back to Luke 19 and read the account with all this setting now in our
minds.
IV. Triumphal Entry
A. We already saw in the setting to this that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem and He
is going to be on the colt of a donkey, just like Zechariah 9 says and He is also
coming in on the exact date Daniel 9:25 told us that the Messiah would come to
Jerusalem. April 6, 32 AD
B. So let’s read this – Read Luke 19
1. Read 35-37a
2. Remember we learned in Psalm 118 that the people will praise him but the
leaders will reject Him.
a) Listen to 37b-39
b) They actually quoted the very words of Psalm 118 but changed it from
one who comes to the King who comes. Because of the miracles they
saw they knew He was the Messiah
c) The religious leaders told Jesus to stop the people from calling Him the
King. They rejected Jesus as the King.
3. Note Jesus’ response to what just happened as he was approaching Jerusalem.
Read
a) V41-42
(1) “This” day – this specific day – April 6 32 AD the date that Daniel
had told you about.
(2) This day with a proper response would have brought the peace that
v10 of Zechariah 9 spoke of, cut off war weapons and bring peace.
4. Now in the next few verses we see the enemies and destruction that Daniel
9:26 told us would happen after the Messiah came to Jerusalem and would be
violently killed. Read 43-44b.
5. The reason for all of this is found at the end of v44. Read 44c
a) They did not recognize that they just got a visit from God, from the
Messiah who would bring them peace and salvation.
b) Rather than accepting and worshipping the Messiah the leaders of the
nation rejected Him and actually sought to put Him to death – Read v47
a fulfillment of Daniel 9:26 the violent death of the Messiah.
C. Palm Sunday was the official presentation of God’s King to Israel, who came to
bring peace and salvation and while the people recognized who He was the
official leaders of the nation rejected Him.
• There are two possible responses to this major event in Jesus life. First….
V. Application
A. The religious leaders rejected Jesus because they did not recognize who Jesus was
or what was going on
1. Read v44.
2. Do you recognize that King Jesus is actually here at MVC this very morning?
You can’t see Him but the Bible teaches very clearly He is with us when we
gather in Jesus’ name
3. And do you recognize what is going on here today is you just heard clearly
who Jesus is as proven by this very special event, the Triumphal Entry? And
He is here today to bring you salvation and peace!
4. John 1:9-13
B. Is your response like the common people who recognized and praised Jesus as
their King?
1. Read v37c-38
2. Read v40 – If they did not praise Him the stones on the street would have
because this event was so big and important. This entry demands praise!!!!

Word of God and Prayer

Word of God and Prayer

2 Samuel 7:18-27 April 7, 2019
Introduction:
A. I could not think of a better day to wrap up our series on prayer than on a child
dedication and communion Sunday because:
1. Throughout our lives as parents there is not anyone we pray for more than
our children
2. Communion is the time when remember our relationship with Jesus and what
He has done for us. And I believe the primary purpose of prayer is to build
our relationship with God.
B. So, this morning I want to close this series on prayer by talking about - prayer and
God’s Word! We will look at – the priority of God’s Word in prayer, how to
pray God’s Word, then a simple method for praying God’s Word!
• Let’s start with the
I. Priority of God’s Word in Prayer
A. Start by introducing the final book I would recommend on prayer – Tim Keller.
1. This book is the one I recommend for those who have been praying for a
while and understand the foundations of prayer. This is the book that will
stimulate you to excel to the next level of prayer and addresses some of the
misguided practices of prayer today.
2. And, really, my first and last point today are addressed in greater depth in his
book.
B. Many today are setting the Bible aside when it comes to prayer and are looking
for a mystical experience in prayer where they are seeking to get beyond words in
prayer, a wordless prayer where they just experience the tranquil presence of God.
Much of this is right on the edge of some practices called contemplative prayer or
centering prayer.
1. I know a woman, who use to come to MVC, who would practice this by
setting a chair in the center of her living room, putting the Bible up on the
shelf, pulling the drapes and turning off the lights and just clearing her mind
of everything until she experienced the presence of Jesus.
2. When she left MVC, she told me very clearly that I have a sinful trust in
God’s Word!
C. Listen to what Keller says about this these practices. Read p56 & 57
D. Prayer in God’s Word uses words and is based on truths about God and life that
are shaped by God’s Words.
1. Yes, in the Psalms we are told to contemplate the beauty, the glory and love
of God. But, Biblical contemplation is an engagement of the mind based on
the truth of God’s Word, not a setting aside of the truth.
2. Read P62
E. Another thing I hear a lot from people is “God told me this” and “God told me
that”
1. Listen to this amazing story about George Whitefield, the man God used to
spearhead the Great Awakening.
2. Read p63
F. My point here about the priority of God’s Word in praying is that a conversation
“with” God in prayer is a conversation primarily built off of God’s Word as He
speaks to us through His Word and we speak back to Him through prayer about
the things He has said to us in His Word,
1. Hear me clearly – that does not mean God never speaks to us through our
thoughts and prompting in prayer.
2. But rather the Bible teaches and models that God’s Word should drive our
prayer life.
• Secondly, let’s look at…
II. How to pray God’s Word
A. Turn to 2 Samuel 7
B. Context – great promise that God made to David that he would have a descendant
who would be a king forever who would reign forever over a forever kingdom!
C. Now listen to David’s prayer after God gave him this promise, that teaches us
how to pray God’s Word and promises
1. As I read v25-26 note that David has his motives right in this prayer! Read
2. Point out
a) V25a-b word You spoke … confirm it
b) V25c – do as You have spoken
D. The best way to pray God’s Word is simply to ask Him to confirm what He said
He will do or has done in your life.
1. The way to see God’s promises and truths moved from the pages of Scripture
into our lives or from our heads to our hearts is through prayer!
2. Asking God to fulfill, to accomplish, to bring about, to carry out, to perform,
to do in your life what He said in His Word He would do or has done
• Finally, I want to close this series on prayer with a simple ….
III. Method of Praying God’s Word
A. This method is SIMPLE and LIFE CHANGING.
1. It is the method I wish I learned this 46 years ago when I first started having
devotional times with God in His Word.
2. It is the method that I have been practicing more and more since I first read
of it in Keller’s book,
3. It is the method I am going to encourage people with from now on when they
ask me how do I have a daily devotional time with God in His Word,
4. It is the method that Martin Luther used, the man who turned the church and
the world upside down in the 1500’s.
B. We learn of his method in a letter that he wrote to his barber when his barber
asked him how he prayed. Here is his answer summarized simply in my words.
CPAP
1. capture the heart of the text
2. Praise, thank, and worship God from the text
3. Admit/confess sin from the text
4. Petition/ask God to do for you in light of the text
IV. Communion
A. Let’s start by practicing it in preparation for communion. Consider the text I put
on the screen as communion is being passed. Ask God is there anything you
should thank or worship Him for, anything to confess, anything to ask Him to do
or confirm for you all in light of that verse.
B. Passage 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
C. Pass

When to Persist and When to Let Go

When to Persist and When to Let Go
Various Passages March 31, 2019

Introduction:
A. In Luke 18:1 Jesus says we out to pray and not lose heart!
1. Does that mean we should persist until we get our answer?
B. Last week we learned that when God does not answer prayer it could mean not
now, no for about five different reasons or more often, than we think simply, we
do not know why!
• This morning I want to try to answer the question, “When do I persist in prayer and
when should I let go?” I want to answer this by looking at three passages where we
see Paul, Jesus and David persisting in prayer and then just some pastoral counsel!
I. Paul, Jesus and David!
A. Turn to 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 regarding Paul
1. Context – Paul in his humility speaks of himself and the great revelations he
received from the Lord when he was years earlier caught up into heaven. He
says here he will not speak of himself regarding this but he will speak about
his weaknesses.
2. So listen to what he says from here. Read v7-8
a) Paul said he received a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to
keep him humble because of these great revelations.
b) He said this tormented him so much that three times he asked the Lord
earnestly to remove it.
3. Note what happened. Read v9a
a) God spoke to him – “He has said to me”
b) Note what He said – Read 9b-d
4. Now look at the new disposition that Paul learned as a part of this prayer
experience – Read v10
5. His prayers changed, he stopped asking for deliverance from his tormenting
problem, when God spoke to him.
6. I remember a time a long while back that I was praying repeatedly and
intensely about one of my daughters who was just not doing well at that time.
I was begging with God to change my daughter and as clear as a bell God
spoke to my heart, no outward voice but that still small voice in my heart –
the problem was not my daughter but her father. That moment my prayers
changed as I let go of asking God to change my daughter and began to pray
about Him changing me!
B. Now let’s consider the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane. Turn to Luke 22
1. I think you remember the story – It was right before the cross and Jesus went
to the Garden of Gethsemane along with Peter, James and John to pray about
it.
a) That prayer time was very intense – Listen to v44.
b) Three times He prayed about this cup of the cross being removed but He
wanted God’s will not His own
2. He persisted in that prayer that night but there is no record of God speaking
to Him as He did with Paul. But God did use that time of prayer to prepare
him for the cross.
a) Listen to v43 – He was strengthened by angels as He prayed
b) Then in v47-48 when the betrayal came He calmly walked right into it
having been strengthen in prayer.
3. Jesus came out of that prayer “just knowing” what was God’s answer to that
prayer. Sometimes as we pray on we “just know” in our hearts, a
strengthening to face, a sureness, an understanding in our hearts and minds
that this prayer is done and it is time to move on.
4. Sometimes God uses that persistent prayer to change us as we pray. God not
only uses prayer to answer our request but also to do things in us as we pray.
Jesus’ baptism as he prayed Holy Spirit came upon Him, transfiguration – as
he prayed he was transfigured. Garden – as he prayed angels ministered to
him. All this happened as he prayed!
5. So during the 21 days of prayer we should expect that God will not only
answer many prayers, not only that MVC will have a greater impact for Jesus
as a result of these 21 days but also that God will do something inside of us
as we pray! That’s transformation.
C. Remember the story in 2 Samuel 12 where David’s son was very sick and God
sent word through the prophet Nathan that his son was going to die.
1. David knowing God was a gracious God he still prayed to God for the
healing of his son. He fasted and prayed with his face to the ground for
seven days for his son to live but on the seventh day, he died.
2. When that happened David got up washed himself up, changed his clothes,
went to the house of the Lord, and worshiped!
3. In this case, the circumstances put an end to the persistent prayer. No need to
continue because the circumstances made it clear that the Sovereign God is
doing something else. Not a time to persist but to let go.
• Let me add a fourth way with just a word of pastoral advice.
II. Pastoral Counsel
A. I put two verses of Scripture together.
1. Psalm 37:4– says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the
desires of your heart”.
a) It means that as I delight myself in the Lord, He will shape within me the
desires of my heart. Delighting in the Lord will cause godly desires to
be shaped and birthed within you by God.
2. Philippians 4:6 – says, “Let your request be known to God.”
a) We should not just pray the right things but we should pray the real
things. What is your real heart desire at this moment? God wants to
hear that from us.
B. Here is my answer when I put those two verse together – “As long as you have
the desire for it keep on praying for it, but keep your heart open for God to change
or remove that desire.”
C. So we get insight into whether to persist in our prayer or to let it go. When either
God speaks to us directly about it, or we just know by what God is doing in my
heart to prepare me to face this situation, or the circumstances clearly bring an
end to that prayer or when God changes or removes that desire!
D. If none of those happens to you, I recommend you keep on persisting in that
prayer.
E. And right now you have a once in a lifetime opportunity to have your church join
you in your request for next 21 days

Unanswered Prayer

Unanswered Prayer

Various Passages March 24, 2019
I. Introduction:
A. Unanswered prayer is one of the most discouraging and perplexing aspects of
prayer, maybe even of the Christian life!
1. Believers are told right from the beginning of their relationship with God that
God answers prayers! We are told to pray, we are taught promises about
prayer, and we hear amazing stories about answers to prayers for others. and
yes they themselves have even experienced some answers to prayers
2. Then comes along something that deeply burdens our hearts, so we start
claiming His promises, persisting in prayer, praying in faith and yet they have
not seen one shred of evidence of God doing anything or answering their
prayers.
3. And when it goes on over a long period of time with no answer from God
a) Some their practice and belief in prayer really cools down thinking why
go to Him in prayer because He does not answer my prayers anyway!
b) Some begin to question God’s faithfulness or His word and find it
difficult to trust Him.
c) Some start to feel abandoned by God, let down by Him and that He
really does not care about my concerns.
d) And even some who have turn away from God hurt, angry and
disappointed.
B. Then comes along that Christian who learned the “company line” when it comes
to unanswered prayer as they say “God does answer prayer, sometimes it’s yes,
sometimes it is no and sometimes it is not now!”
1. While there is truth to this line, I do not think it communicate the complete
truth when it comes to what the Bible says about unanswered prayer.
2. And I personally feel that answer can be very insensitive for someone who
has been deeply, deeply disappointed by unanswered prayer. To them it can
feel like “a nickel answer to a million dollar question!”
• This morning I am going to try to fill out a bit more of what it means when we say
yes, no, not now and let me add a fourth one “I do not know” Let’s start with
II. Yes
A. When we get a yes we celebrate, our faith in strengthen in God and His word and
our hearts are lifted high with joy! Read Ps 118:5-6
B. But sometime we do not recognize the yes because it is not exactly what I asked
for, the time I asked for it or in the way I asked God to do it. In other words it is
a yes but it is a different answer than I expected.
C. I love what Tom Yeakley says about this– When you pray do not tell God how to
do it, just ask Him to do it and allow Him to do it in a way that brings glory to
Him.
1. When I pray that way, it opens my mind to see God working in ways of His
choosing rather than mine!
• Let me next address the second easiest part of that phrase to answer
III. Not now
A. Simply that is saying God will answer but not in my timing.
B. Listen to what Jesus said about this:
1. Read Luke 18:1
2. Then Jesus tells them the parable of a widow who pleaded with an unjust
judge. He finally gave in to her request after she wore him down by her
determination. Then Jesus said, “How much more will God, the righteous
judge, listen to the persistent prayers, day and night of His loved ones?”
C. There are things I have prayed for years, and some even for decades that God did
answer like the salvation of my parents, something that I prayed for over 20
years!
• Next is the hardest part of that phrase to answer or maybe to accept – when God’s
answers to our prayers are:
IV. No
A. This is the heart of unanswered prayer - I asked God for something and He
answered it with a no!
1. I do not want to leave it at that this morning but expand on that a bit. I think
a no needs a bigger explanation for someone who is wrestling with
unanswered prayers.
B. Sometimes that No is because God is a loving wise father is saying “no” for my
benefit
1. Greatest example of this in scripture is Job as two times he asked God to let
him die. Job 6:8-9
2. And often we do not see it at the moment but God’s no is the most loving and
wise answer you can get to your prayers. Usually I do not see that right away
but times I look back over my life and say I am so grateful that God did not
answer that prayer with a yes as what I have now is exactly what I need and
is actually better for me.
C. Sometimes the no is because what I asked for was not God’s will.
1. Obviously, Jesus is the greatest picture of this when He said His soul was
deeply grieved to the point of death then He asked the Father three times that
if it was possible for this burden of the cross to pass from Him; yet not as I
will but as you will!
2. As we, all know that request was not God’s will and Jesus went to the cross.
When we have Jesus’ heart for God’s will in our prayers a no is much easier
to accept!
D. Sometimes the no is because God has a greater way to display His glory!
1. Three times Paul asked God to remove the thorn in the flesh he had - listen to
what God said. Read 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
2. I think of someone like Joni Erickson Tada who became a quadriplegic as a
result of a diving accident.
a) In my way of thinking how much glory God could have gotten if he
healed her. But look at the way God has displayed Himself and used her
by not healing her.
b) She is a beautiful picture of this verse and of God receiving greater glory
by not healing her.
E. Sometimes we get the answer no because our motives are all wrong in our
prayers.
1. Read James 4:2d-3
2. Remember this quote “Too often our prayers are intended to inform God of
what we believe He needs to do to structure the universe in compliance with
our desires for a happy and comfortable life.” Daniel Henderson.
F. Let me give you one more reason for a no that is not discussed often enough but
Scripture does refer to it. Simply that while being a child of God, my life and
walk are out of whack with God.
1. There are various Scriptures that refer to this but I just will show you a few.
First :
a) Read Psalm 66:18
b) To regard sin in my heart means that I know that there is a serious sin in
my life but I do nothing about it!
c) God is not even listening to that prayer as He is concerned about what is
of first importance - getting your heart right with Him
2. You might say – that is Old Testament stuff. Listen to 1 John 3:22
a) He says here his prayers are answered because He obeys God and does
the things that please Him
b) What does this imply about the child of God who is in blatant
disobedience to God and involved in things that are displeasing to God?
3. Try this one on – it is for married couples, especially husbands!
a) Read 1 Peter 3:7
b) Some husbands here today are not getting their prayers answered
because you are not treating your sister in Christ, God’s daughter, your
wife sensitively, gently and with honor.
c) I get that because if some guy does not treat my daughters right but
rather harshly then comes and asks for a bunch of good things – what do
you think is going to happen.
• Finally let’s look at my addition this morning to yes, no, not yet and it is
V. I do not know
A. Job is the greatest example of this. Turn in your Bibles to Job 7
1. Actually, in the book of Job there are two prayer requests that he had, each
request he asked for two separate times. The first one we referred to earlier –
his request two times to die. The other prayer request Job asked two times
was – Why are you doing this to me?
2. Read 7:19-20 – Why have you set me as a target?
3. Read 10:2 - Let me know why you contend with me?
B. Job makes it very clear that God does not answer his prayers!
1. Read 19:6-7 – but I get no answer
2. Read 30:19-20 – You do not answer me
3. Read 31:35-36 – let the Almighty answer me.
4. We can see in Job the pain and frustration of unanswered prayer. It got to
the point where Job, being a righteous man, struggled so much with what was
happening to him that he began to find fault with God and accuse Him of
being unrighteous in the way He dealt with him!
C. Now listen to how God answered Job
1. Read Job 38:1-4 – Oh, oh Look out as it took God four chapters of questions
to Job for him to get the point.
a) Then in chapter 38 God pummels him with questions about his ability to
know and understand the great mysteries of the heavens and the earth?
He says tell me if you understand, surely you know!
b) Then in chapter 39 - Focus now switches from the great mysteries of the
heavens and the earth to the great mysteries of the animal world as the
Lord questions him about his ability to understand these things.
c) Then at the end of this section we see Job’s response – Read 40:1-5
2. Then in chapter 40 – God turns to Job’s strength and authority to overcome
and control things! Read 40:6-9.
a) Then in Chapter 40 He uses the hippopotamus and in chapter 41 He uses
the crocodile to show him just how small his strength is.
3. In summary God showed Job a major lesson that would be good for all of us
to let sink deep within our hearts - that there are things in life that are smarter
than he is smart and stronger than he is strong.
D. Jobs final prayer of repentance reveals to us this final answer to the question of
unanswered prayer
1. Read 42:1-3
2. Job is broken at the core of his being as he sees God’s sovereignty and his
inability to overthrow what God wants to do.
3. He also learned that God’s purposes are just too high for him to understand.
E. The answer “I do not know” is a way of saying - sometimes the reality of
unanswered prayer is a mystery, something that is bigger than we are smart,
bigger than we can understand –
F. Bottom line at times it is a very biblical answer to the question “Why God does
not answer my prayer?” is “I do not know” It is a mystery!
VI. Application
A. My prayer for today’s message is that those who are presently struggling with this
million dollar question may discern a bit more what God may be doing in their
lives in not answering their prayers. And those who are not struggling now may
be equipped to more sensitively and wisely serve those who are struggling with
this!
B. Next week in many ways will be part two to this question of unanswered prayer
as it raises some other questions – primarily - how do I pray now.
1. I have this unanswered prayer, and I see that God isn’t against me, but rather
is doing something for His glory. So does that mean I stop praying for this? Is
it wrong to pray for this?
2. Should I be the persistent widow or should I let go and move on?
C. Before Josh closes us, I just want to give a few minutes for those who have been
wrestling deeply today with this question to sit before the Lord to see if there
something God wants to impress upon their heart today.
1. Not now – Persist in Prayer
2. No
a) Not best for me in the long run
b) Not God’s will
c) God has a greater way to display His glory
d) Wrong motives
e) Undealt with sin in my life
3. I do not know – It is a mystery bigger than I am smart!

Pauls Prayer

Paul’s Prayers
Ephesians 3:14-21
March 17, 2019
I. Introduction:
A. Last week, as we looked at the Lord’s Prayer, we were answering the question
I got from two men “What kind of things do we pray for other than God bless
my family and fix these problems?” Today I am continuing to answer that
question by looking at the prayers that the Apostle Paul prayed to see the kind
of things about which he prayed.
B. As I was preparing I did some studying to see just what people do pray about
here in North America. I found two different studies that addressed this. The
Barna Group and Lifeway Research
1. Let me tell you about a few interesting things I found people have prayed
for at some time in their life.
a) 21% - Winning the lottery
b) 13% - Your favorite sports team would win
c) 7% - Good parking spot
d) 7% - Not get caught speeding
e) I have prayed for three of those four, anyone else?
2. Here is a summary of what people pray about most often:
a) Barna group said, “Primarily the immediate needs and concerns of the
individual. Corporate needs are less compelling drivers in people’s
prayer life!”
b) Lifeway Research said – “Most Americans (82%) typically focus on
their friends and family. (74%) on their own problems. (54%) pray
about good things happening in their life. (36%) pray for their future
prosperity.”
C. Tim Keller writing on revival said that while Holy Spirit is the ultimate cause
of revival but He does use “secondary causes.”
1. And he said one of the three primary causes He uses is corporate prayer,
which is focused upon extraordinary, kingdom centered prevailing prayer!
2
2. Sounds like what we learned in the Lord’s Prayer guide last week –
praying with others and praying, first and foremost, for God’s agenda (His
glory, kingdom and will).
3. This is interesting because what Jesus called us to and what Keller tells us
brings about revival are the same ----- corporate kingdom centered
praying! That is just the opposite of what these studies found – only 4%
of the people most often pray with someone else and the majority of our
prayers are for needs and concerns of the individual, and very little
concern for the kingdom needs of the Church of Jesus Christ!
D. And I guess it would be no surprise to find that Paul’s prayers recorded in
Scripture were for the corporate body, the local church and they were
kingdom centered prayers!

The Lord's Prayer Guide

The Lord’s Prayer Guide
Matthew 6:9-13 // March 10, 2019
Introduction:
A. A number of months ago I was talking to two men who said they wanted to learn
more about prayer. Since we talked about prayer before I asked them “What in
particular would you like to learn about prayer?” – without hesitation they both
essentially said “We do not know what to pray about, other than God bless our
families and fix our problems!”
1. Today and next week’s messages will begin to answer that question for them
and any others here who have wondered that.
B. Turn to Matthew chapter 6 where we will see one of the most loved and repeated
prayers in Scripture, probably the most familiar prayer in Scripture and finally the
one that is primarily used just the opposite of that for which it was intended. We
call it the Lord’s Prayer.
1. Context
a) This portion on prayer we look at this morning is part of the Sermon on
the Mount that Jesus gave where He reveals to us the life and character
of the citizens of His kingdom.
b) At the start of chapter 6 Jesus speaks about “Not practicing your
righteousness before men to be noticed by them”
(1) Giving to the poor
(2) Prayer
2. Then he does a brief side bar during his comments on prayer in v 7-15 before
going back in v16 to “Not practicing your righteousness before men to be
noticed by them” when it comes to fasting
a) The side bar has to do with the way the Gentiles pray as they use
meaningless repetition thinking they will be heard because of their many
words.
b) Read v7-8
3. Now, as we look at the Lord’s Prayer, we will see right at the start that He
connects it with this meaningless repetitive praying of the Gentiles and shows
us how we ought to do it instead.
a) Read v9a
b) The Greek word for “then” simply means “in light of what was just said
so then do this”
c) What Jesus is going to teach us about prayer is to combat meaningless
repetitive prayers that are said over and over again
d) This is ironic because I do not know a prayer in Christendom that is
more often repeated word for word than the Lord’s Prayer.
C. That was not the purpose of the prayer Jesus gave. Listen again to v9.
1. “In this way” not pray “these words” but pray “in this way”
2. Warren Wiersbe says “Jesus was saying “Pray after this manner” that is “Use
this prayer as a pattern”
3. John MacArthur says these words carry the idea of praying “along these
lines” or “in the following manner.” He says “Jesus is giving us the divine
pattern by which kingdom citizens can pray in a way that is pleasing to God”
4. So in Pat Peglow’s simple words I am going to say that the Lord’s Prayer is a
divine prayer guide from the Lord leading us in the direction of the kind of
things for which we should be praying. Thus answering the question of those
two men.
D. So what I am going to do this morning is just talk through the prayer phrase by
phrase trusting that the different things will become clear and stick with us,
depending on what we each need.
• Let’s take a look at
I. The Lord’s prayer guide
A. Let me start by reading the entire prayer and seeing what we can learn from the
big picture structure of this prayer guide. As I do see if you can pick up a big
picture structure to this prayer
1. Read v9-13
2. Structure as I see it is two fold
a) V9-10 God’s agenda
b) V11-13 our agenda
(1) V 11 our daily physical and material needs in this world
(2) V12-13 – our spiritual life
3. That big picture structure alone should be enough to send us in the right
direction in our prayer life. If we spent, time praying about these areas and
even in this order, we would excel in our prayer lives.
B. Now let me just say a few things about each phrase in the prayer. Let’s start with
“Our Father who is in heaven”
1. I think the first thing we need to do is stop and orient ourselves to whom we
are talking.
a) That might best be done by a few transitional moments of meditating on
what you are doing and with whom you are doing it.
b) I am going to be talking with my heavenly Father and not just rushing in
and saying my prayers.
2. Note also he says “Our Father” in v11 give us, v12 forgive us, v13 lead us …
deliver us.
a) This is not just how we pray when we are by ourselves but this is meant
for corporate prayer.
b) Part of the divine pattern for prayer is praying with others and not by
ourselves.
c) A statistic I read this week done by the Barna Group is that 95% of those
who pray, pray by themselves. Only 2% with another person and 2%
corporately! Yet the model Jesus left us calls us to pray at least with
others if not corporately.
d) I encourage you if you have never been a part of a corporate prayer
meeting to join us for our 21 days of prayer at the end of this series. You
will be hearing more about that, as we get closer.
C. Hallowed be your name
1. I pointed this out to you two weeks ago - this is not a declaration of God’s
holiness so we should begin our prayer in worship of God, but rather a
request that God’s name be hallowed.
2. This is more about the fact that we would treat God as holy and revere his
name. That His name would be magnified and exalted not only in my life
but also in the church and in the world.
3. This is about God’s glory! This is the cry of Isaiah in 61:3 when he talks
about God’s people being called “oaks of righteousness, the planting of the
Lord, that He may be glorified.”
D. Your kingdom come
1. God’s kingdom has two aspects to it.
a) The present aspect of the kingship of Jesus over the lives of those who
are trusting in Him.
b) The future aspect of the kingdom which begins with the time when Jesus
will be king reigning from Jerusalem over all the earth for 1,000 years
which then ushers into eternity with the new heaven and new earth.
2. So we pray today for things like
a) The lordship of Jesus to be greater over the lives of His children, and
there would be more and more Jesus and less and less of us.
b) We also pray for the spread of His kingdom today with more and more
people coming to trust Jesus and live for Him
3. But we also pray for the future coming of His kingdom in the same spirit as
the next to last verse of the Bible.
a) Read Revelation 22:20.
b) Yes, we pray for the coming back of the Lord Jesus Christ
E. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven
1. God’s will in Heaven is done fully and joyfully and that is what we should
pray for ourselves and for others
2. But also we should be praying with the same spirit Jesus prayed with “not my
will but thine be done”
a) The reality is that most of us really do not know if what we are asking
for is the wisest and best thing for both God and me.
b) So the disposition of our hearts should always be God give me what You
want in this situation even above what I want because this is what will
bring You glory and be best for me
F. Give us this day our daily bread
1. Now there is a transition to our agenda, our physical and material needs that
will be different for each one of us. From our health to our finances and
more.
2. Note his prayer is not to become wealthy but what we need to make it by day
by day. And Martin Luther believes that since this is a corporate prayer it is
for the material welfare of the whole community so everyone can have their
daily bread
a) I think the heart of this prayer is caught in Proverbs 30:7-9.
G. Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.
1. Now He is moving into our spiritual needs. Moreover, the kind of things that
we can pray about at this point are as big as the Bible!
2. However, He jump-starts this praying about our spiritual lives with
forgiveness.
3. This is the daily maintenance of our own souls with our walk with the Lord.
a) Lord, search me and try me and see if there is any hurtful way in me!
John says, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”
b) This is about our fellowship, our daily walk with the Lord. – Our
salvation is so secure and strong that our sins cannot take it away but our
fellowship with the Lord is so fragile our sins can quench the Spirit’s
ministry in our lives.
H. Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil.
1. This is praying about our daily battle we have with the world, the Devil and
our own flesh.
2. Temptation is going to come because we all have a flesh that is prone to
wander, a Devil who is seeking to destroy us and a world that is seeking to
squeeze us into its mold.
3. So the prayer is not to keep temptation from coming our way but rather when
it does come -- keep us from, lead us away from entering into that temptation
by being lured away and attracted to that pleasure or gain my flesh, the world
or the Devil is putting in front of me right now.
4. Deliver me Lord, keep me safe from their destruction that evil can work in
my life!
5. My friends there are plenty of weak spots, vulnerabilities and strongholds
that can keep us busy praying here.
II. Conclusion
A. Today we have had a divine prayer guide put in front of us. It answers the
question those two men asked me on what kind of things do we pray for besides
bless my family and fix what is broken.
B. These are the “kind” of things we pray for not “the” things or the “only” things
for which we pray! My goal was just to jump-start our thinking so we can excel
regarding the kind of things for which we pray.
1. We will learn more next week when we look at the prayers of Paul
C. Joel Brassfield pray for MVC in light of this guide
1. God’s glory deepen at and spread from MVC
2. That God’s kingdom would deepen and spread through MVC
3. That God’s will would be the joy and desire of our hearts
4. That God would meet the physical and material needs of the people of MVC
5. That God would search us by His Spirit and show us any sins in our lives that
would be quenching the Holy Spirit
6. That God would keep us from falling into sin’s trap and deliver us from any
sins that have already trapped us!
7. Any other spiritual concern God puts on your heart for MVC

Prayer

Pastor Pat continues in our series, "Prayer"

Praying with a "tude"

Praying with a “Tude”
John 15; Revelation 3
February 17, 2019 MVC
Introduction:
A. Dear Lord, So far, today I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, lusted, lost my
temper, haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over-indulgent. I’m very
thankful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I’m going to get out of bed. From
then on as I face the world, the devil and my flesh, I desperately need you to do a
miracle of not letting my flesh control me but your Spirit. In Jesus Name, Amen.
B. Let me ask you – Is that your attitude when you go to prayer – a humble desperate
dependence upon God?
1. Is this the disposition of our hearts? Is this the posture of the heart?
2. When we do not have this attitude, it becomes one of the main reasons “why
we do not pray!”
C. Attitudes are “heart things”. Often we are not even aware of our attitude. But it is
what drives our prayer life and makes it either a hot prayer life or a lukewarm
prayer life or even one that is nonexistent!
• Do you know what attitude is driving your prayer life? First, let’s take a look at the
…
I. The “Tude” of a Hot Prayer Life – humble desperation
A. We see the need for this attitude revealed in the teachings of Jesus in John 15.
1. This a parable about the vine and branches, Jesus is the vine and we believers
are the branches.
2. We learn here and from the agricultural world that the vine is the source of
life and the branch is for the purpose of holding the fruit the vine produces.
a) Jesus taught that a branch cannot bear fruit of itself apart from the vine.
Read v4
b) He also taught that apart from Him they cannot bear fruit.
(1) Read v5
(2) What is true of the vine and branches is true of our relationship
with Jesus
c) Then we learn in v8 that God is glorified when we bear much fruit!
3. By the way, fruit is more of Jesus in our life!
a) A grape vine produces grapes so a Jesus vine produces Jesus.
b) The fruit is more and more of Jesus in our life, character, attitudes,
thinking and in our ministry to others so that it is Jesus working through
us Bringing People to Jesus and Helping Believers Become more like
Jesus!
4. Anybody here feel the need more of Jesus in their life? Marriage, parenting,
job, school, character, tough times, big decisions, ministry to others, etc.?
5. Then he said in v7 that what they cannot do for themselves God would do for
them in the context of prayer. Read v7.
B. Jesus was telling his disciples that they were in an impossible, hopeless,
unattainable, desperate situation. They were called to bear much fruit but they
were unable, “can - speaks of ability” apart from Him!
1. This is the heart of the Christian life. The true Biblical Christian life is not
difficult to do, it is impossible.
2. What God asks of us is beyond man’s ability. No matter how hard you try or
to figure it out what God asks of us is bigger than we are strong and smarter
than we are smart on our own!
3. Fruit bearing is a work of God not man
C. Humility is the disposition of heart that recognizes that all is of and from God and
nothing is of or from self!
• Jesus even said that He does nothing “of” Himself. He does not do it of His
own initiative, but rather it is the Father doing it in and through Him.
1. Humility is recognizing that God is the source, He is the cause, He is the
reason, all of my Christian life and ministry is of and from Him and not of or
from myself.
D. When we fully grasp this with our hearts, not just our minds, we cannot help but
be desperate and humble, “God, I cannot pull off what you want me to do, I need
you to do this!”
1. When we have this attitude, we cannot help but pray!
2. Prayer that is fervent – (on fire and intense), focused - not a wandering mind,
and full of faith and finally prayer from your heart rather than recited or
formal prayers!
3. On the one hand, it recognizes that apart from Jesus it is impossible to be and
do what God asks us to be and do. On the other hand, it recognizes that Jesus
does in and through us, what God asks us to be and do.
4. I saw a saying that said this – “May I never forget that on my best day I still
need God as desperately as I did on my worst day!”
• The natural response of a heart like this is to call out to Jesus because God does for
us, through prayer, what we cannot do for ourselves. Now let’s take a look at the…
II. “Tude” of a Lukewarm Prayer Life. – contentment/self sufficiency
A. By lukewarm I do not mean that there is no prayer in that person’s life but rather I
mean a prayer life that has no fire and intensity to it. They pray but their mind is
always wandering, there is no faith and it feels like they are just speaking to
themselves. It is more duty and responsibility than a humble desperation.
B. Let me say this “It is possible to have the right theology about prayer and even
humility, but a wrong attitude in your heart”
1. That is when our heads and our hearts have not been wired together by the
Spirit of God.
2. Right theology does not produce a hot prayer life!
3. The need is for a heart surgery performed by the Holy Spirit of God.
C. Turn to Revelation 3 where we see this kind of heart.
1. In this passage, we see in v15-17 the condition of the church; in v18-19
Jesus’ counsel to the church; in v20 Jesus’ call to the church.
2. Note in v14 that this passage is written to the church, a group of believers.
D. V 15-17 reveals their condition of self-sufficiency, a condition that blinded them
to their spiritual poverty.
1. He starts by saying they are lukewarm. Read v15-16.
2. In v17, he gives us a further glimpse into this condition. Read v17
a) They had a mixture of material wealth and spiritual poverty.
b) Their basic attitude was that “I have need of nothing” self-sufficiency;
just the opposite of the humble desperation that says, “I can do nothing.”
One says, “I can do nothing” the other says, “I have need of nothing.”
One says, “God, I need you for this” the other says, “I can handle this”
c) Jesus says there is a spiritual deception going on. “You do not know”
that you are spiritually in deep trouble.
3. Doesn’t this sound like the modern church in North America and like many
of us? On the outside and by North American standards things look great but
the way God sees it can be a completely different thing!
a) We want to see God do miraculous things like we hear He does at a
place like the Brooklyn Tabernacle where drug addicts, prostitutes, and
gang member’s lives are turned upside down by Jesus and marriages are
restored and families healed!
b) They do not have the resources there like we do in the suburbs so their
first resort is prayer to God! We go to prayer as a last resort as we say,
“I guess all we can do now is pray”
c) We are just as desperate for God in the suburbs as they are in the middle
of Brooklyn, New York or Chicago, IL. Yes, right here in the suburbs,
we have our addicts to drugs, drink and porn; we have our troubled
marriages and wayward kids who are not walking with the Lord. We
have habits, hurts and hang-ups we cannot shake; we have the “ds” -
depression, death, divorce, divisions, diseases and dollar struggles
demons, on and on.
d) We are lulled to sleep and deceived by the “resources” we have (money,
credit cards, contacts, education, experts, fancy vacations, etc.) that we
are trusting in to fix these problems, things that can only superficially
and temporarily fix us! We need Jesus just as desperately as those in the
city do for these problems to find the deep, transformational, and
permanent healing only Jesus can give do!
E. Listen to Jesus’ counsel regarding this situation.
1. Read v18 - Come to me
a) Buy the true riches, not material but the spiritual riches of God.
b) Allow Jesus to change your soiled life and put a clean garment on you.
c) You need spiritual medication for your eyes. You have been blind. You
need the healing of your spiritual eyes that only Jesus can give. You
need to see yourself, your situation and your God as they really are.
2. You see in God’s kingdom you do not buy things from Him with money.
God’s currency is faith. The entrance door into “God’s market” to get our
spiritual clothing and medicine is prayer.
a) Listen to Isa 64:7 - “There is no one who calls on Thy name, who
arouses himself to take hold of Thee.”
b) Prayer is the means by which we take hold of God. We put a hand on
Him and a hand on our hearts and circumstances so God transforms us.
3. Read v19 - Be zealous and repent. If your heart is being confronted today by
what I am saying, it is because Jesus loves you. Whom He loves He
reproves.
a) Zealous - be hot, be fervent
b) Repent - change of mind, heart and deeds.
F. We have seen that our prayer life reveals our heart attitude. If it is a lukewarm
prayer life then we have an attitude of self-sufficiency.
1. The key to a hot prayer life is not to commit or try to pray more or change
your prayer habits. The key is to change your heart, to change your attitude.
Then a hot prayer life will be the fruit of a heart of humble desperation.
2. Jesus is calling us this morning to repent of a heart attitude of selfsufficiency.
G. Listen to the call. Read v20
1. Remember this verse was written to Christians who have a self-sufficient
attitude.
2. The key to this is the eye salve that Jesus offers!
3. The picture that Jesus gives us is that self-sufficiency in the church and the
life of a believer puts Jesus on the outside, longing to come in and share life
with you on a moment-by-moment basis.
H. Invite and pray.

Prayer - My Personal Journey

Prayer: My Personal Journey
Various Passages
Feb 10, 2019

Introduction:
A. My guess that in a room this size there are very few people who feel fully
satisfied with their prayer life. On one end of the spectrum you have people who
pray very well but feel like they really should pray more and on the other end of
the spectrum there are people who know they should pray but know very little
about prayer and not sure how to do it.
B. Today we start a series on prayer. I want to start by sharing with you some of my
journey with prayer with the hope that something at some point of my journey
may be helpful to you.
C. I know that Satan hates prayer and will do everything he can to stop us from
doing it, to stop you from coming to hear this series, and if you do come, to
distract you as we talk about it.
D. So let me start by praying for us regarding this series!
• Before I knew Jesus my prayer life was one of
I. Recited Prayers
A. I knew only two prayers – the Hail Mary and the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father”.
B. Never once did I pray from my heart with my own words. Whenever I would
pray, I would repeat over and over again these two prayers thinking God was
pleased with me for doing this and would therefore give me good things in my
life!
• That practice continued until the day that …
II. I called upon the name of the Lord to be saved.
A. It was a time of desperation after I had destroyed my life with drugs and I was so
desperate that I went to a chaplain’s office for help.
B. After he told me how Jesus had helped others in the same situation as mine and
that He could help me as well, he then shared the gospel with me. I remember
saying, “Could I get just a few minutes to think about this?”
1. So I went in another room and for the first time I talked to God as I said
“God, I do not know if this is some weird religion or not but all I know is I
need you”
2. And for the first time in my life I heard that still small voice whisper in my
heart “this is the way, walk in it”
C. Then I went back into the room with the chaplain and in a prayer he led I through
I called upon the Lord to save me. Instantly, deeply, and forever my life was
changed. Prayer is powerful and can change the whole direction of your life!
• As a
III. New Believer
A. My prayers were very short but much like the time in the chaplain’s office –
sharing my heart in my words with God regarding the need of the moment.
B. But the more I was around other believers and impressed by their prayers the
more I wanted to pray like them because they sounded so spiritual. And the more
I did that the drier it became. Primarily my prayer time was at meals and a few
minutes in the morning. That lasted about three years.
• As a
IV. Growing Believer
A. God placed in me, from early on, a deep love for His Word. So this is what my
prayer life looked like for many years – Spend an hour in the Word and then
spend two minutes in prayer at the end of it. And of course, I prayed at meals.
B. Then I ran into a spiritual crisis in my heart. The question in my heart was
“where is the power?” I had this two-sided dilemma in my life.
1. On the one hand, I knew that the Holy Spirit of God lived in me, that I have
already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, and
that the exact same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead was mine,
the resurrection power of Christ.
2. But on the other hand while I felt that I had experienced a touch of all of
these it was not like rivers of living water flowing from my heart it was more
like a hose trickling out just enough water to keep me going.
3. I saw in the Bible that the power I was supposed to have but radical honesty
would have to say I did not see it in my life.
• From that point there have been numerous things God has taught me to address this
powerlessness in my life. First …
V. Praying In Faith
A. Read Hebrews 11:6
1. Rewarder
2. I believed that God is, and that God is able, but I did not believe that He
would do it for me. Another way to say it is that I had a deep dependency
upon God without any expectancy. Need both.
3. I had built my prayer life off what I call the exception rather than the rule. I
always used the great escape clause that would let God and me off the hook if
he did not answer my prayers. That little phrase “If it be your will”
a) I prayed like an extreme sovereigntist - God is God and He is going to do
what He wants to do and what He has planned to do.
b) So when I prayed I would pour out my heart to God but when I with
closed with “If it be your will” I really did not expect God to answer my
request but to do His will.
B. God taught me at this time what I believe to be one of the “great wonders” of the
prayer life - “a sovereign God answers prayer.”
1. I had allowed my theology of God’s sovereignty to wash away my faith in
prayer.
• As I began to pray in faith then God led me to another foundational truth. This truth
is …
VI. Asking as the means to receiving!
A. Turn to and read Matthew 7:7-8
1. The other side of the coin is found in James 4:2, “you have not because you
ask not!
2. God has established asking as the means to receiving in His kingdom!
3. J.I. Packer says it this way “God has purposed to give us blessings through
prayer”
B. If I want to see God’s power in my daily life, I need to ask Him for it and not just
say my prayers and go through the prayer list!
• Then another key truth turned my prayer life upside down
IV. John 14:13
A. Please turn to this.
B. Before I read this let me tell you what my basic disposition was in prayer – “God
please bless my doings and efforts!” In other words “God, take out your salt
shaker of blessings and shake your blessings upon what I do.”
C. Read John 14:13-14
1. I prayed – God bless what I do – Here Jesus is saying “I will do it” – Jesus
will do what we ask!
D. Prayer is not about God blessing my efforts and doing but rather about God doing
a miracle – Jesus Himself doing for me, what I ask.
E. God began to open my eyes to the fact that I do not have the power in my life not
only because I am not asking God to do that in my life. But also because I am just
asking him to add a little blessing to my doings rather than the miracle of Jesus
Himself in all His power - doing things in and through my life!
• Next God used a book in my life called
V. Praying Hyde
A. John Hyde was a missionary to India who felt God’s call on his life to pray for the
lost and those in the ministry!
1. He would spend close to eight hours a day in prayer.
2. The stories that God did through him in reaching the lost and impacting
others who ministered are numerous and impressive
B. What I learned from him is that I need the Spirit of God to enable me for prayer as
much as I need him to preach or evangelize! He said his secret to prayer was Gal
2:20 “not I but Christ” He depended upon the Spirit of Jesus in him to pray
through him!
C. From that I have begun a practice of the very first thing I do in prayer is declare
my need and dependence upon the spirit of Christ to lead me and equip me in
prayer so that Jesus is praying through me!
D. And from that book, I began a practice of setting my alarm at one hour and
praying during that time. To be honest with you, that lasted about a year to a year
and a half then it faded away
• Then God used the verse to resolve a major tension I was feeling about the power in
the Bible but not in my life! It was …
VII. Hebrews 4:16
A. Read Hebrews 4:16
B. “May find grace to help”
C. I thought, “Why do I need to find grace when I already have it and every spiritual
blessing I could ever get? Why do I need to find grace when I already have the
powerful Holy Spirit living in me who raised Jesus Christ from the dead?
D. Then the lights went on in my life: prayer is the means by which we experience
the grace and power of God in our everyday life and ministry, whatever the need
might be.
E. Prayer is grace’s withdrawal slip. All the free gifts, all the power of the Holy
Spirit and the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that God has deposited
into our lives can be withdrawn and used in our daily lives through believing
prayer.
• As I was doing my own personal study about the Holy Spirit I noted that repeatedly
…
VIII. Prayer and ministry of the Holy Spirit are closely associated to one another!
A. Turn and Read Luke 11:11-13
B. God gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. I already have the Holy Spirit
but to experience His power in my life, all the power of the resurrection of Jesus
Christ I need to ask God.
C. I do not assume the filling, leading, anointing, sanctifying, convicting or
converting work of the Spirit. I come to God and ask Him for those believing He
will do it based on this verse and others that connect the ministry of the Holy
Spirit to prayer.
• Next God used a meeting we had as leaders with
IX. Al Toledo
A. Al is the pastor at the Chicago Tabernacle and the son in law of Jim Cymbla
whose ministry and church is known for and built off of prayer
B. Through that meeting with Al, God pointed out to me something so profound and
foundational about prayer and it was not through any point that Al was trying to
make.
1. All night long Al did not use the word “prayer” but instead said “talking to
God”
2. It knocked me off my seat – this thing prayer is not about saying my prayers
but about talking to God just as I would talk to Kim in the morning over
coffee or in times of deep stress.
3. That has totally changed the way I approach God and even as I pray the sense
of what I am doing as I pray – I am not saying prayers but I am talking to
God.
• The last thing God has done has spoken to me through another book …
X. A W Tozer -Prayer: Communicating with God in Everything
A. His point at the start of the book is very clear – The goal of God in our prayer life
is not a daily prayer time but a life of prayer – an all-day awareness of God being
with you and a conversation with God as you walk through the day
B. I have felt bad for years that I was not able to sustain an hour of day in prayer and
I felt that I was moving backwards in prayer rather than forward! But the reality
is I would pray for an hour, 30 minutes, 10 minutes whatever then I would move
on with the day and not talk to God because I did my time in the morning.
C. Tozer was saying that prayer should be a conversation that you have with God all
day long, as you walk through life. Guess what? – That is where I have been and
God encouraged me that He would rather I talk to Him all day long as I confront
situations rather than in the morning and not take a thought of Him again.
D. We can know God’s power all day long as we walk and talk with Him all day
long not just a prayer time or prayer meeting.
XI. Conclusion
A. I believe that God wants to build into MVC a life of prayer and a movement of
prayer and not just time of prayer or a prayer meeting!
B. I have asked Josh to tell you about our first step we want to put in place to move
us in that direction - 21 Days of Prayer - Josh