Jesus Christ the same yesterday,
and to day, and for ever.
- Heb. 13:8
Sermon
A Call To Pray
Posted on 21 Sep 2014
09/21/2014
Text: 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.
Introduction
- 2 Chro. 7:14 – the basic requirements for prayer
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- “If my people, which are called by my name” – You must be God’s people – you must be born again and have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
- “Humble themselves” – humility is a requirement for prayer. God resists the proud.
- “Pray” – prayer is an action that must be performed. Talking about prayer is not enough
- “Seek my face” – prayer must be focused on God, not on man or anything else.
- “Turn from their wicked ways” – Repentance is a part of the prayer – it is also a part of being born again
Main Topic
Why must we pray?
3 Reasons for prayer
- It’s a commandment that we must obey
- 2 Chro. 7:14 is calling all of us to pray
- 1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
- 1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
- Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
- Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
- Prayer moves the hand that moves everything
- Hannah
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- 1 Sam. 1:1-18
- Hannah was married to Elkanah, but for years she was barren
- Peninnah, who was the second wife, had many sons
- Peninnah even provoked her for not having any children
- Hannah was sad, but nothing happened
- Hannah wept, but nothing happened
- Hannah got on her knees to pray…and bam the babies started to come.
- She had Samuel, – one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament
- She had 3 sons and 2 daughters as a result of that prayer
- Acts 12
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- When king Herod killed apostle James the church kept quiet – they did not pray
- Then when Peter was arrested and put in prison – the church prayed
- Act 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him
- Peter was miraculously delivered because prayer was made by the church.
- Act 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
- Story of Dorcas
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- Acts 9:36-43
- Dorcas/Tabitha was a very nice woman who took care of widows
- She fell sick and died.
- Many cried, including the widows, but nothing happened
- But when Peter got on his knees and prayed, Dorcas came back to life
- Act 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
- If you don’t pray, don’t expect to receive
- If you fail to pray, don’t expect an answer
- Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
- If you want to receive, you have to pray
- Psa 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Psa 145:19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
- Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Who must pray?
- You must pray – All men (not gender specific)
- Luk 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
- Immediately after this verse, Jesus told the story of the persistent widow and the wicked judge.
- This implies the statement “men” includes women, and even children.
How do we pray?
- Be determined to know how to pray
- A baby learns to walk by taking the first step and not quit after that
- Learn how to pray and put in practice what you learned
- Stick around those that knows how to pray more than you – iron sharpeneth iron…
What do we pray for?
- Pray for everything
- Sick relatives or friends
- Unsaved relatives or friends
- Your government
- Yourself – what are you going through
- Your church, your pastor and his family
- You must pray…
Where must we pray?
- Everywhere….home, school, church, workplace, grocery store, taking a walk, etc..
- 1Ti 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Conclusion
21 day challenge
This is a call to pray
I’d like to issue a challenge to you. That you will pray on a daily basis for 20-30 mins over the next 21 days.
If you accept this challenge, rise up on your feet.
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