Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Feb 24, 2008
“Getting Control of My Prayers II”
‘Building My Life’ series part 9 of 10
In the 1850’s secular and religious conditions combined to bring about a crash . . . The third great panic in American history caused factories to be shut down and vast numbers to be thrown out of employment . . . A zealous businessman by the name of Jeremiah Lamphier took up an appointment as a City Missionary in downtown New York . . . Burdened by a need, Jeremiah Lamphier decided to invite others to join him in a noonday prayer meeting, to be held on Wednesday once a week . . . In the first week of October 1857, it was decided to hold a meeting daily instead of weekly (because great numbers of people were turning out) . . . Within six months, ten thousand businessmen were gathering daily for prayer in New York with over 5000 prayer groups meeting every day. Soon the word spread all over the country. Prayer meetings were started in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Washington D.C. In fact President Franklin Pierce started going almost every day to a noonday prayer meeting. By 1859 some 15,000 cities in America were having downtown prayer meetings everyday at noon and thousands were brought to Christ. Within two years, a million converts were added to the body of Christ. Why, because of one man’s willingness to surrender to God and to pray… (this was called the third great awakening)
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.
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At the dedication of Solomon’s temple, God’s glory cloud filled the temple (2Chron 7:1-2) |
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God spoke to King Solomon… obedience = blessings while disobedience = cursing |
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Even though this was written 450BC to the Israelites… it still applies to us today… let’s read it again… |
PRAYER:
I. Responsibility
“If my people, who are called by my name…”
· Relational & Conditional
o Relational by “MY PEOPLE” – God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
o Conditional with “IF” – A choice God’s people makes to pray
Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
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Two questions… Am I a believer? If so am I praying? |
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Both of these questions deal with human responsibility to respond correctly to God |
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What a responsibility… to know God personally then to come to Him in prayer |
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The Power of a decision is awesome… personal responsibility – salvation & prayer |
II. Requirements
“…will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…”
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Humility – Attitude of the heart |
James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
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A state of mind well pleasing to the Lord… not self but God centered… surrender / obedience |
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Humility challenges our pride… our ego… It’s not about you but about God. |
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It’s not thinking too highly of yourself but soberly and in truth (Rom 12:3) |
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The man who humbly bows before God will walk upright before man |
This simply means that the hard unyielding self,
which justifies itself, wants its own way, stands up for its rights, and seeks
its own glory, at last bows its head to God’s will, admits it’s wrong, gives up
its own way to Jesus, surrenders its rights and discards its own glory - that
the Lord Jesus might have all and be all.
“The Calvary Road” Roy Hession
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Prayer – Archway into the spiritual unseen world |
Daniel 10:12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
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Prayer is the weapon in spiritual warfare that pierces into the unseen world (Eph 6) |
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Prayer moves God’s heart so He moves with His mighty power in our everyday lives |
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Don’t expect a million dollar answer to a five-cent prayer! |
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Seeking – Hungering to know God intimately |
Psalms 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
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Wanting to know God and His ways more than anything else… |
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Being still and know that He is God… His presence will be there… intimacy with God |
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The Bible is filled passages concerning seeking the Lord… |
Seeking the Lord…
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
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Repentance – Turning from sin and turning to God |
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
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Coming to the point in your life where conviction of sin overwhelms you… repent & turn |
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When we come to the end of your rope… broken… turning from self & sin and a turning to God. |
The Fast: (Is 58:6-8; Joel 2:12; Mt 6:16-18; Es 4:16, 5:2; Acts 13:1-3)
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Scripture does not command Christians to fast. (Neither commanded or forbidden… only Spirit led) |
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Intended to help us refocus upon the Lord & His Glory. (Off the world & me and on Awesome God) |
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God says it is good & profitable if done correctly. (Right motives… awesome results) |
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Often linked with prayer, before important decisions, for spiritual victory. (Power, protection…) |
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A means to change us and to draw us into a deeper fellowship with God. (With no regret but joy) |
Matthew 6:16-18 16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Types of Fasting:
Normal Fast – No food only liquids for a definite period (Jesus in Mt 4:1-3) – most common today
Absolute Fast – No food or water for short period only (Moses in Deut 9:18) – I don’t recommend… Falwell
Partial Fast – Eating or omitting certain foods or even meals (Daniel in Dan 1:8-14) – no meat but fruit/veg
Personal Thoughts:
· The Lord will burden/lead you into a fast for a specific reason… It’s a spiritual discipline…
· The fast is between you and God… keep it that way, private… It’s a practice of self-denial…
· Allow your time of fasting be joyful, encouraging not somber / downer
· I generally fast from food while drinking juice and or water only… normally sundown to sundown
· Going through the night without eating we get the word “Break-fast” (physical benefits…rest digestive organs, cleanses individual cells, etc…)
· This discipline of bringing the body into subjection seeking the Lord may precipitate revival
· Pilgrims fasted before disembarking in 1620… Used by national leaders for divine intervention…
· Prayer & fasting brings Divine spiritual break through… overcoming bondage / addictions / sin
· Brings my will into alignment with God’s will resulting in tremendous answers to prayer…
· Also a time for others… grappling for precious souls, spiritual growth of individuals, church…
· Jonathan Edwards fasted 22 hours before preaching, “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”
· Jesus, Apostles, early church fathers, David Livingston, John R. Rice, EM Bounds, Charles Finney, John Wesley, D.L. Moody, Bill Gothard, John Walvoord, R.A. Torrey, Oswald Sanders, Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Charles Stanley… they all fasted…
· In fact Jerry Falwell entered two 40 day fasts within 105 days bringing over $52M dollars!
· God why can’t YOU grow a great church? He can and He is here at Cross Creek!
· If we would pray with power, we should fast & pray… Serious prayer brings serious results…
Psalms 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;
III. Results
“…then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”
· God Hears – nothing sweeter than God hearing our prayers
· God Forgives – nothing sweeter than finding forgiveness through Christ
· God Blesses – nothing sweeter than seeing answers to prayer… just look around!
THIS FRIDAY: “Piercing the Darkness” Feb29th 8pm – 8am!
Let’s storm the gates together… for our families, church, country, world
Psalms 119:148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.
Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
Psalms 119:62 At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.
Let’s Pray