Never Stop Praying

Jun 4, 2023

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS

Never Stop Praying?
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 – Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
  See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
  Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
  Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.
2. Ephesians 6:18 – Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
3. Colossians 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
4. Romans 12:12 – Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
5. Ephesians 6:18 – (Right after Spiritual Armor) Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
  1. At ALL Times – “whole, all, each” formed from another word which means “increasing and strengthening”
  2. Times – kairos, points of time, particular events, season, harvest time, occasion, time
6. Colossians 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
  1. Devote – to persevere devotedly or to be at one’s disposal
  2. At the Holy Spirits disposal!
Meaning
1. Definition of prayer
  1. First of all let’s define prayer simply – Talking to God
  2. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia – Communion with God, usually comprising petition, adoration, praise, confession and thanksgiving. The ultimate object of prayer in both OT and NT is not merely the good of the petitioner but the honor of God’s name. (your kingdom come, your will be done…)
  3. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible – A primary means of communication that binds together god and humankind in intimate and reciprocal relationship. Its foundational assumption is the belief that the Creator of the world is both available for human address and committed to a divine-human partnership that sustains, and when necessary restores the world in accordance with God’s relational design. In its broadest sense prayer is communication with God that comprises both word and deed, both verbal discourse and nonverbal, performative acts.”
  4. Baker encyclopedia of the Bible – The addressing and petitioning of God. A classic definition of Christian prayer is “an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies. Christian prayer is the end product of a long process of change and development in God’s relation to men.
    1. This is a journey! Everyone here today is in a different part of the journey.
How does this play out in real life
1. Worship
2. Thankfulness
3. Conversation
4. Listen
5. Waiting
6. Allowing the Holy Spirit to INTERRUPT us, our plans, our ideas! Devoted
  (Clossians 4:2) – At the HS disposal…
  1. A constant awareness that God wants to be involved in every area of our life, that he is always with us, that he listens, that he speaks and that he cares.
  2. Important Reminders
    1. Michah 3:4 – God does not hear our prayers if we are purposely sinning
    2. Matthew 6:6 – Prayer should not be a show.
7. Philippians 4:6 – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
8. Everything: entire, each, any, continually, always, through all time.
Sine Wave
1. Definition- An S-shaped, smooth wave that moves back and forth at a regular speed above and below zero.
2. Simple graph – notice arrow, continues on forever if not stopped by an outside force
3. Top of wave is focused prayer,
4. Bottom focused work, other areas in between, ongoing forever (even into Heaven!)
Results, spiritual application (some of them)
1. If you were to look back at the verses I read at the beginning, you’ll find that surrounding those “pray without stopping” verses are listed in the middle of what we should do to live a Christ honoring life. Things like…
  1. Agape one another
  2. Don’t be lazy, work hard
  3. Be patient
  4. Don’t be proud
  5. Don’t get drunk, stay clear headed
  6. Encourage one another
  7. Always be joyful
  8. Be thankful
  9. Stay away from evil
  10. Put to death sexual immorality, greed, anger, slander, dirty language, lies
  11. Gracious & attractive conversations
2. This is not to overwhelm you but to give you HOPE!
What are the results of Sine-wave praying?
1. You learn to KNOW the Holy Spirit’s voice
2. Ability to tune into and hear the Holy Spirit quickly (remove anxiety….)
3. Fruits of the Spirit
4. As all of these things increase, so will your ability to accomplish the ways I listed to live a God honoring life. It will become natural, from a response to your growing relationship with God.
What should I do about this?
1. Practice talking with the Holy Spirit
2. Remove obstacles to your ability to speak to and hear the Holy Spirit
3. Our prayers should be “increasing and strengthening” (Ephesians 6:18)

← Spirit Led Life - Part Three Fruits of the Spirit →