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The need for prayer… (things)
Through our words we make men thirsty – to know more about Jesus!
1st – How we should pray… vs. 2-4
1st – In light of the command to submit / love / obey…
Paul tells us that we need to be in prayer – because on our own we tend to fail…
It is one thing to know what God commands us to do – it another to actually do it!
God tells us to ‘Put on Jesus Christ’ – Love our wives / teach our children…
Work hard for your employer – as if you were working for God Himself…
But the key that God has given us to put on Jesus is prayer…
Through prayer we can receive the power of the Holy Spirit – power to live for God!
To often in life we only pray when things are falling apart – trial / troubles…
Yet the reason why we face trials – is because we get our eyes off Jesus…
Why wait till everything has gone wrong – pray while things are going right…
That way we keep our eyes on Jesus – and avoid having to go through the trials!
2nd – We should be constantly praying…
The typical view of prayer is coming to God with a list – needs / wants / ect.
It is treated as a ritual – part of what God expects a Christian to do…
As if somehow if we recite some words to God once or twice a day – it is enough…
Rarely do we take the time in prayer to listen – it is a one-way conversation…
It makes you wonder – if no one is answering – is anyone listening – Luke 18:11
Prayer should be a conversation with our Father in heaven…
How can we have a relationship with God – if we never talk to Him…
Prayer is not something we do – it is the definition of how we live our life…
I Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing…”
We should not use repetition in prayer…
Matthew 6:7 – “When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.”
Its Ok to repeat a prayer – Jesus asked the Father 3 times to take away cross…
It is OK to ask for the same thing more than once – persistent widow – Luke 18:1-8
But the idea of scripted prayers is just silly – that is a speech – not a prayer…
And we must be careful not to make prayer a ritual rather than a conversation…
Imagine if a ‘friend’ came up to you every day and said the same thing…
Never any variation – never waiting around for a reply – no relationship!
When we simply repeat ourselves out of habit there is no conversation…
We do not pray to change God’s mind…
We might come to God with an idea – but in truth His ideas are better than ours…
God sees the end from the beginning – everything – knows what is best for our lives…
So it is only logical for us to desire ‘God’s will’ for our lives…
Luke 22:42 – “Nevertheless not my will, but Your will, be done.”
Prayer is not about changing God’s mind – getting Him to agree to our plans…
Prayer is about God changing our mind – getting us to line up with His plans / will!
3rd – We should be alert in prayer…
The idea is that we tend to get distracted when we pray…
In the middle of our prayer our minds begin to drift – of we get sleepy…
And before you know it we are not longer alert – we are not longer praying!
That is why there is some wisdom in bowing down on your knees when you pray…
Or closing your eyes to keep out distractions (but being careful not to sleep)…
Not that there is a required position when we pray / a command to close your eyes…
We see example in the Bible of praying while standing / sitting / lying on their face…
God does not listen to a prayer made on your knees more than praying standing…
But practically speaking I find it best not to pray lying down – tend to fall asleep…
Better to walk and pray – or on our knees – it helps keep us attentive!
When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane – Mark 14…
He told Peter to be alert – while He went and prayed to the Father…
But when Jesus came and checked – all 3 of them were fast asleep – (3 times)
And we are told in Luke 22:45 – they were sleeping from sorrow…
No matter how hard they tried – they just couldn’t keep their eyes open…
It does seem whenever we are overwhelmed – depressed – it can be exhausting…
It leaves us just wanted to run away – go to sleep – avoiding our problems…
Yet the key to getting through the tough times – to be alert and pray!
When we look to Jesus – stop looking at our circumstances – we find victory!
It also helps to be specific in prayer…
Not that there is anything wrong with general prayers…
We can pray for the peace of our nation / prayer for our leaders in government…
But it is also good to be specific in our prayers – to give God details…
Not that God does not already know- God sees the end from the beginning…
But it allows God to direct us on specific issues – allows God to change us…
And it keeps us focused / alert to our minds do not drift!
4th – We are to pray with thanks…
So often in life – we forget to be thankful for all God has done for us – given to us…
We tend to think about what we think we still need – but really just ‘want’…
If it was a need God would provide – Luke 12:31 – if we do not have it – don’t need it!
We overlook the simple things – food / clothing / family / a home / our health…
But God calls us to be thankful for all things – for all God has done for us – every day!
Looking at what He has giving us – not what we think we still need…
I Thessalonians 5:18 – “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
When we come before the Lord – we need to give thanks…
When we thank God – we find whatever ‘need’ brought us to prayer is gone…
Our perspective changes – we see our circumstances in a new light…
We no longer see our ‘needs’ – instead our God who has given us EVERYTHING!
5th – We are to pray selflessly… vs. 3
Paul asked the believers to pray for him – be others centered in their prayers…
Do not just pray about their problems – think about others as well…
We tend to think that life revolved around us – we only think about our needs…
But when we are self focused it is misery – only seeing our problems / troubles…
It is entertaining to watch the line for soup on Sunday mornings…
Right after listening to the Word – everyone rushes to be ‘first in line’!
We do not stop an ask if someone else if hungry – offer them to go ahead…
We only think about ourselves – our hunger – our problems…
If are only focused on our problems – we are going to be miserable…
When we focus on our problems – it is VERY EASY to get overwhelmed…
When we pray for others our perspective changes – we see things in a new light…
We might think times are hard because we only have salt to eat with our rice…
Until we see our neighbor who does not even have rice – then we thank God!
Paul asked for prayer for open door – for boldness…
Paul was in prison – Colossian 1:3 – he was bound up…
Yet his prayer was for God to get him out of prison – but to allow him to preach!
We often pray for God to get us out of our trials – rather than use our trials!
When the neighbor / family member makes fun of us for following Jesus…
We want God to shut their mouth / maybe bless them with a lightening bolt…
Instead of asking God to use their attention – as an opportunity to share Jesus!
2nd – How we should walk… vs. 5
1st – Paul told the believers to walk in wisdom…
Wisdom comes to those who ask for it from the Lord…
James 1:5 – “If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do–ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.”
Wisdom means that you not only know what God wants you to do…
You also realize that in order to live a blessed life – you must also do it!
2nd – We are to be wise in how we share Jesus with unbelievers…
People do not believe in Jesus because they are either blinded by their sin…
We all know people who are stubborn – refuse to give up their sinful lifestyle…
They cannot see Jesus because they are blinded by their sin…
John 3:19-20 – “The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed…”
Jesus is not hidden – He is easy to find – the Gospel message is available to everyone!
But Men do not want Jesus – because they prefer to stay in their sin…
They would rather have their sin – than eternal life with God in Heaven!
Or they are blinded by the ‘god of this world’ – satan…
II Corinthians 4:4 – “Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them.”
People are burdened down by superstitions – things they imagine in their mind…
And they are bound to these fears – so long as satan can keep them from the Word!
It is through the power of the Word – we can change the mind of the misled…
We can open their eyes – show them they have been deceived by satan’s lies!
3rd – We are to be wise and redeem the time…
Do not waste a single moment – because we live in evil days…
We tend to fill our days with things that in the end – mean absolutely nothing…
We ‘waste’ our time ‘foolishly’ on being mindlessly entertained by TV / games…
When there is a world full of people who do not know Jesus – a world going to hell…
Not that we should not take the time to spend with our wives / family…
Not that we cannot take some time to play – relax…
But at the same time seize the moment – to tell people about Jesus Christ!
3rd – How we should talk… vs. 6
We are to talk with grace…
Do not force rules and laws on people – judging them and their actions…
Instead give them the Grace of God – share with them the hope of Jesus!
Ephesians 4:15 – “We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ…”
Rules do not make the difference – it is the relationship that changes the heart…
It is God that changes our hearts so we no longer want go the wrong way!
If you see someone struggling with their walk – do not give them rules…
Instead tell them the truth – IN LOVE – do not let them go on in their sin…
Give them Jesus – point them back to the one who can change their heart!
Seasoned with salt…
Salt is a preserving agent in food – if you do not want something to spoil you add salt…
Salt is a healing and purifying agent – it cleans wounds (though it is irritating)…
Salt makes you thirsty – it causes you to crave water…
Through our words we should confront sin – keeps men from spoiling…
Through our words we heal – as we share the forgiveness of Jesus…
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