PRAYER

BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH

WEST and FEEDER STREETS

HUDSON FALLS, NEW YORK

Recently, God laid on my heart a heavy burden to preach on prayer. I always sense my inadequacy to this task. However, God's Word is not inadequate about praying. (Paul said, "Preach the Word"). Let me share a few insights with you.

You are familiar with The Garden of Gethsemane account, I am sure (Mt. 26:36-46). Let me direct your attention to one verse and then give an outline for your thinking about prayer:

"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Mt. 26:39)

Years ago, I visited the Garden of Gethsemane in Israel. I stood by the old olive tree where tradition says Jesus prayed. I was over- whelmed. I wanted to pray. People were gawking, snapping pictures, and verbalizing. I was crushed. Here was the place Jesus wrestled with "the cup."

Recently, while re-reading Mat- thew, I was struck with four things about prayer (coming from the example of Jesus).

THE DIRECTION OF PRAYER

A person of prayer (Paul the Apostle was such) will die IN the will of God before he will retreat FROM the will of God.

Jesus "went a little farther." His example was followed by Paul, John, Peter, James, the early martyrs, and by every godly leader I have known in the work of Jesus Christ.

Facing the cross, facing the burden of all sin, facing separation from the Father, Jesus "went a little farther."

What are you facing?

You are facing a heartache, go a little farther AND PRAY!

You are facing disappointment, go a little farther AND PRAY!

You are facing painful trouble, go a little farther AND PRAY!

You are facing strong adversity, go a little farther AND PRAY!

You are facing betrayal by friends, go a little farther AND PRAY!

THE DIRECTION OF PRAYER IS FORWARD!

THE DEPENDENCY

IN PRAYER

The ETERNAL WORD fell on His face.

The CREATOR fell on His face.

The SON OF GOD fell on His face.

The LIGHT OF THE WORLD fell on His face.

The LION OF JUDAH fell on His face.

The MIGHTY GOD fell on His face.

The GREAT HIGH PRIEST fell on His face.

The GREAT SHEPHERD fell on His face.

The PERFECT SARIFICE fell on His face.

Both the Father and the Son are co-equal, yet the Second Person of the Trinity willingly bowed to the will of the First Person of the Trinity. He revealed "DEPENDCY IN PRAYER."

What do we often do in prayer? We prance, we strut; we boast; we make demands! In the Middle East, prostration before someone reveals absolute submission to someone.

THE DEFINITENESS

OF PRAYER

Dr. Lee Roberson and I were at lunch one day here in New York. I asked, "Dr. Roberson, what do you pray about?" He responded, "Everything. I try to be specific with God. I name every trouble. I call the names of people. Pray about everything."

Then I asked, "Do you ever not know how to pray about a matter?" He answered, "Oh, yes! Many times." "How do you deal with that?", I asked. He said, "I tell God I don't know how to pray about something – when I do that, I am praying."

WHAT A LESSON THAT WAS. It was better than all the classes I took on praying – better than all the books I had read on How To Pray.

Check out the prayers of Christ – each prayer deals with the SPECIFIC ISSUE AT HAND. Paul's prayers are all very specific (read and study them).

For example, if you know a person is rebelling, and has a history of antagonizing the work of God, PRAY AND ASK GOD to deal with that person's rebellion.

General praying is empty ("Bless our home" or "Watch over all of us" or "Thank you for another beautiful day" and so forth). When I call on certain people to pray, I can almost pray word-for-word what they are about to repeat.

Listen, now! When a person has a developing relationship with the Saviour, his prayers will not be the same every time (even in public praying). If your relationship to the Son of God is STAGNANT, your praying will be as well.

BE DEFINITE IN YOUR PRAY- ING!

THE DESIRE IN

PRAYER

Some have said that, if you do not get what you asked for, your prayers were not answered. Books have been written about that.

Recently, at a pastor's meeting, I heard a message on prayer. The speaker said, "God responds one of four ways to our praying" -- then, he listed the four ways.

1. 1. God grants our requests as made . . . . YES
2. 2. God denies our request as made . . . . NO
3. 3. God grants our request, but not exactly as we made it . . . . GOD DIFFERENTIATES

4. God shows no response (but in His mind He is waiting for the proper timing). GOD DELAYS

Jesus often used the father-child relationship to describe God's response to us. As a father (now as a grandfather), I have used ALL FOUR responses to requests by children. God's Word illustrates ALL FOUR responses by God (Look for them this month in your Bible study).

The key to the RIGHT DESIRE IN PRAYING is in this statement: "thy will be done."

Much praying by believers is as shallow as a dish of warm milk. The focus is on "what I want." We may pray for certain things, outcome, and actions, but we should NEVER PRAY AS IF OUR WILL IS PARAMOUNT!

Anytime I go to the garden of prayer, it should be with the DESIRE TO FIND GOD'S WILL AND CARRY IT OUT IN MY LIFE!

Come to the Garden of Gethsemane anytime and talk to the Heavenly Father about all that troubles you. Tell Him how you feel. Then, tell Him you love Him. Let prayer help you develop that all important relationship with Jesus Christ.

Prayer gives FORWARD DIR- ECTION to life.

Prayer forces FOCUSING ON DEFINITENESS in our lives.

Prayer sharpens our DESIRE for God's will.

God bless you! Thanks for allowing me to have a part in your life and ministry.