Fervent In Prayer

Introduction:

As the inspired Biblical writer James expressed it in James 5:16b: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” New King James Version  As the New American Standard Version puts it:  “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”  The apostle Paul wrote this about Epaphras in Colossians 4:12.  “Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” NKJV  Fervent prayer is much needed today in the Lord’s church.  As Brother Fulford wrote:  “Deep, sincere prayer is hard, agonizing work!”  This lesson will examine what prayer consists of, for what I should pray, and the need for gratitude in prayer.

Body:

I.  What Prayer Consists of

·  Praising God  (Psalm 9:1-2) “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works, I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” NKJV  (Ephesians 1:3) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” NKJV

·  Expressing thanks  (Psalm 100:4) “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” NKJV  (Ephesians 5:20) “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” NKJV

·  Supplication [a humble request]  (Psalm 37:4-5) “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” NKJV  (I Timothy 2:1-2) “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” NKJV

 

 

·  Intercession/Petition  (Ephesians 6:18-19) “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” – NKJV

·  Contrition [a feeling of being crushed or broken]  (Isaiah 66:2) “For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist, Says the Lord.  But on this one will I look:  On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.” NKJV  (Isaiah 57:15) “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:  I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” NKJV

·  Confession of sin  (Psalm 51:1-3) “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.” NKJV  (I John 1:8-9) “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NKJV

 

II.  For What Should I Pray?

·  For God to help us resist the devil; to resist temptation  (James 4:7) “Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” NKJV

·  Approve the things that are excellent  (Philippians 1:10) “that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,” NKJV  Be able to determine what has real value  (Colossians 3:1-2) “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” NKJV

·  To not love the things of the world  (I John 2:15) “Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” NKJV

·  To always seek the kingdom of God first  (Matthew 6:33) “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” NKJV

 

·  To ask for the old paths and walk in them  (Jeremiah 6:16a) “Thus says the Lord:  ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.’ ” NKJV

·  To be faithful unto death  (Revelation 2:10) “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.  Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days.  Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” NKJV  This list is adapted from the Gospel Advocate,  March, 2017, Page 25

 

III.  The Need for Gratitude in Prayer

·  Thank God for who He is; His power, majesty, and glory.  (Psalm 93:1) “The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength.  Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.” NKJV  (Psalm 111:6) “He has declared to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.” NKJV

·  Thank God for His love, mercy, and long suffering.  (Psalm 119:156) “Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord; Revive me according to Your judgments.” NKJV  (II Peter 3:9) “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” NKJV

·  Thank God for Christ’s atoning death on the cross.  (I Peter 2:24) “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.” NKJV  (Hebrews 2:9) “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” NKJV

·  Thank God for Christ’s resurrection.  (I Corinthians 15:16-17) “For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” NKJV

·  Thank God for Christ’s promise to come again.  (John 14:2-3) “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” NKJV

 

·  Thank God for our eternal home in heaven.  (Revelation 21:3-4) “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.  God Himself will be with them and be their God.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ ” NKJV

Conclusion:

Without prayer, a Christian will die spiritually.  Let us truly be a people devoted to prayer.

Bobby Stafford 

September 3, 2017