WHY DOES GOD ENCOURAGE THE CHRISTIANS TO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING TO HIM?
(1 THESSALONIANS 5:17-18) “Pray
without ceasing 18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Introduction:
a. Paul
encouraged the Christians to pray without ceasing because Paul believed that in
more prayer there is more power from God, and more prayers assure more answers
from the Lord.
b. The Jerusalem church was also our good example for a local church to pray without ceasing.
(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.”
Five (5) great
reasons why we need to pray without ceasing:
I. FOR OUR
PROTECTION
(1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-2) “But of the
times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For
yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the
night.”
a. We need God’s
protection from evil times; we are in the last days, and the Devil is working
double time to deceive, discourage, and defeat 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.”
(2TIMOTHY 3:1-5) “This know
also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be
lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers,
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4
Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away.”
II. FOR
OUR PREPARATION
(1 THESSALONIANS 5:4) “But ye,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”
(MATTHEW 24:45-46) “45 Who then
is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his
household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom
his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”
III. FOR
OUR PURIFICATION
(1 THESSALONIANS 5:5) “Ye are all
the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night,
nor of darkness.”
(1JOHN 3:1-3) “Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall
see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as he is pure.”
IV. FOR
OUR PARTICIPATION
(1 THESSALONIANS 5:6-9) Therefore
let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they
that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the
night.8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of
faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not
appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”
(1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-16) “For as the
body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being
many, are one body: so also [is] Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond
or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is
not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand,
I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall
say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the
body?”
V. FOR OUR
POSITION
(1 THESSALONIANS 5:12-18) “And we
beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in
the Lord, and admonish you;13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their
work’s sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you,
brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the
weak, be patient toward all [men]. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto
any [man]; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to
all [men]. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give
thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
*TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
*
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