Put Passion in Your Prayers! -- Peace Church, Loyal, Oklahoma USA

Put Passion in Your Prayers!

Luke 18:1-8. Jesus told this parable to illustrate that we are always to pray and not to faint. 2 Thessalonians 3:13, “Be not weary in well doing.”

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

A Look at the Parable in Luke 18

First, the cast of characters:

1. The judge who did not fear (respect) God or man.

2. The widow. She had two strikes against her. First, she was a woman. In those days women received little respect. Second, she was a widow, and probably did not have any money. (The early church was instructed to take care of widows and orphans.)

3. Determination. This lady knew who she was and that her cause was just. No one was going to put her down!

4. Persistence! Determination is nothing unless it is coupled with courage and action!

5. Victory! Finally the judge said, “Though I do not fear god or regard man, I will avenge this widow lest she wear me out.”

After telling the parable Jesus asked: “Will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:7-8

No matter what difficulty you face, always remember that God loves you and plans the very best for you. Do not walk in fear or unbelief!

“Will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones?” If persistence in a just cause wins action from an unjust judge, God wants to answer our prayers!

I think the devil just tolerates our prayers when we pray for ourselves and do not pray for others. The devil knows that God does not answer selfish prayers. However, when we start praying according to God’s will, Satan will start a battle. Daniel had to wait 21 days for an answer because the angel Gabriel was in conflict with the prince of the Persian kingdom. Gabriel resisted, but could not prevail. Finally the angel Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help Gabriel. (Daniel 10:13) This helps us understand the meaning of Ephesians 6:12!

“Delay is not denial!” God is love, so if your answer is delayed, know that God has a very good reason, and so don’t give up! God wants us to be strengthened!

Jesus then looks forward to His second coming. He knows that a spiritual decline will take place before that day, thus He asks, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

Jesus often referred to Himself as the “Son of Man.” After all Jesus went through for us, we don’t want to disappoint Him by being slack in our prayers!

The title of this sermon is “Put Passion in Your Prayers.” Prayer is not to be treated as “small talk” with God. You are addressing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords when you pray! The very God of the Universe considers your prayers as incense – a sweet smelling savor that floats into heaven. In other words, He loves it when we pray.

Have you ever noticed that when someone asks, “How are you?” that they really do not want to know? I think there are two reasons. First, they have enough problems of their own – why take on yours or mine! Secondly, God may be behind it! Since we believe what we hear ourselves say, God may be seeking to teach us to say positive things!

While it is good to talk things over with the Lord, remember also that God considers our prayers petitions. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

Before you go before the Lord in prayer, carefully prepare your petition. Think through what you want, find scriptures that support your position, make sure you have the mind of the Lord, and then pray!

When I worked in hospital administration, I learned that a carefully-worded proposal was very helpful. A good proposal takes hours to think through and write – but the results are powerful!

If we will approach prayer the same way, we can make a huge difference. What steps will lead to answered prayer?

1. Make sure your petition is in line with the will of God. 1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

2. Prepare your petition. Using scriptures to increase your faith, ask God for what you need. For example, “Lord, according to Philippians 4:19, you will meet all my needs according to Your glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

3. Be persistent. Thinking about the scriptures we have already read, stick to your guns in asking God. But don’t be demanding. Talk it over with Him… i.e., listen to God! Ask for instructions and an understanding heart! There are several Old Testament verses that tell us God gave the people what they wanted – to their hurt!

Luke 5:9-10. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

There is a tale told of that great English actor Macready. An eminent preacher once said to him: "I wish you would explain to me something."

"Well, what is it? I don't know that I can explain anything to a preacher."

"What is the reason for the difference between you and me? You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction, and the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth, and I am not getting any crowd at all."

Macready's answer was this: "This is quite simple. I can tell you the difference between us. I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction." G. Campbell Morgan, Preaching, p. 36

In his book Sit, Walk, Stand, Watchman Nee describes a preaching mission to an island off the South China coast. There were seven in the ministering group, including a sixteen-year-old new convert whom he calls Brother Wu. The island was fairly large, containing about 6,000 homes. Nee had a contact there, an old schoolmate of his who was headmaster of the village school, but he refused to house the group when he discovered they had come to preach the Gospel. Finally, they found lodging with a Chinese herbalist, who became their first convert. Preaching seemed quite fruitless on the island, and Nee discovered it was because of the dedication of the people there to an idol they called Ta-wang. They were convinced of his power because on the day of his festival and parade each year the weather was always near perfect.

"When is the procession this year?" young Wu asked a group that had gathered to hear them preach.

"It is fixed for January 11th at 8 in the morning," was the reply.

"Then," said the new convert, "I promise you that it will certainly rain on the 11th."

At that there was an outburst of cries from the crowd: "That is enough! We don't want to hear any more preaching. If there is rain on the 11th, then your God is God!"

Watchman Nee had been elsewhere in the village when this confrontation had taken place. Upon being informed about it, he saw that the situation was serious and called the group to prayer. On the morning of the 11th, there was not a cloud in the sky, but during grace for breakfast, sprinkles began to fall and these were followed by heavy rain. Worshipers of the idol Ta-wang were so upset that they placed it in a sedan chair and carried it outdoors, hoping this would stop the rain.

Then the rain increased. After only a short distance, the carriers of the idol stumbled and fell, dropping the idol and fracturing its jaw and left arm.

A number of young people turned to Christ as a result of the rain coming in answer to prayer, but the elders of the village made divination and said that the wrong day had been chosen. The proper day of the procession, they said, should have been the 14th.

When Nee and his friends heard this, they again went to prayer, asking for rain on the 14th and for clear days for preaching until then. That afternoon the sky cleared and on the good days that followed there were thirty converts.

Of the crucial test day, Nee says: “The 14th broke, another perfect day, and we had good meetings. As the evening approached we met again at the appointed hour. We quietly brought the matter to the Lord's remembrance.”

Not a minute late, His answer came with torrential rain and floods as before. The power of the idol over the islanders was broken; the enemy was defeated. Believing prayer had brought a great victory. Conversions followed. And the impact upon the servants of God who had witnessed His power would continue to enrich their Christian service from that time on.

Roger F. Campbell, You Can Win! 1985, SP Publications, pp. 35-36.

God never changes! He always responds to prayers that come from the heart and the depth of our feeling – unless the prayer is immersed in doubt and fear!

If you can’t get a clear mind on the will of the Lord, then ask for instruction! John 15:7 “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

Isaiah 40:31

[All illustrations found at www.sermon.com]

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Please feel free to contact Pastor Leon Seaton by e-mail. He will be pleased to hear from you!

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