WHY DOES CHRIST ENCOURAGE THE CHURCH TO PRAY ALWAYS?
(LUKE 18:1) “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought
always to pray, and not to faint;”
Introduction:
a. Jesus
Christ Himself encourages His disciples to pray always and not to faint.
b. The Holy
Spirit helps the Christian to pray for things that the local church needs very
badly.
(ROMANS 8:28) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Five (5) great
reasons why the local church needs to pray always:
I. BECAUSE CHRIST
WANTS HIS CHURCH TO EXPERIENCE THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF GOD.
(JEREMIAH 33:3) “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and
mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
a. God promises to
supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
(PHILIPPIANS 4:19) “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.”
b. Great and
bountiful blessings God prepared for the Christians.
(JOHN 10:10) “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to
destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly.”
II. BECAUSE
CHRIST WANTS HIS CHURCH TO EXPERIENCE THE GREAT POWER FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.
(ACTS 1:8) “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
a. The Church needs the
working power of the Holy Spirit in its midst for effective and
fruitful service to God.
b. The Holy
Spirit gives guidance and knowledge to God's people.
(JOHN 16:13-15) “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide
you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
c. The local
prayed unitedly in the upper room.
(ACTS 1:13-15) “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room,
where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas,
Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and
Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer
and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his
brethren. 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples,
and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)”
III. BECAUSE
CHRIST WANTS HIS CHURCH TO EXPERIENCE THE GREAT WORKING OF GOD IN THE MIDST OF
THE CHURCH.
(PSALMS 126:2-3) “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with
singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for
them. 3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
a. God works and
moves in the midst of the Church with great surprises of many blessings.
b. The Hands of
God is the great evidence of the powerful working of God in the church and many
souls being saved.
(ACTS 11:21-23) “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number
believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22 Then tidings of these things came unto
the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas,
that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the
grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they
would cleave unto the Lord.”
IV. BECAUSE
CHRIST WANTS HIS CHURCH TO EXPERIENCE THE GREAT VICTORY IN GOD'S MINISTRY.
(1 JOHN 5:4-5) “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is
the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that
overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
a. God will give
His Church perfect protection and victory against our spiritual enemy—the
Devil.
(EPHESIANS 6:10-12) “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power
of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
b. Our total
victory against our spiritual enemy is Christ Jesus.
(1 CORINTHIANS 15:57) “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.”
V. BECAUSE CHRIST
WANTS HIS CHURCH TO EXPERIENCE THE GREAT RESULT OF UNITED PRAYER BY CHRISTIANS.
(ACTS 12:1-5) “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to
vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the
sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take
Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had
apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of
soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of
the church unto God for him.”
a. God answered
the prayer of the Christian and protected Peter from the enemy.
b. God answered
the prayer of the Jerusalem Church without ceasing by sending an angel to rescue
Peter from prison.
(ACTS 12: 7-8) “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. 8 And the
angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And
he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.”
Lastly, there are
great results of the continued prayer of the Church.
*GOD BLESS YOU
ALL*
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