WHY GOD
ENCOURAGES CHRISTIANS TO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING TO HIM?
(1 THESSALONIANS 5:17-18) "Pray
without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you."
Introduction:
a. Paul
encouraged Christians to pray without ceasing because he believed that with
more prayer comes more power from God, and more prayers assure more answers
from the Lord.
b. The
Jerusalem church is also a great example for a local church that prays without
ceasing.
(ACTS 12:1-5) "Now
about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the
church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he
saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were
the days of unleavened bread.) 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. 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.
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 living in the last days, and the
Devil is working double time to deceive, discourage, and defeat 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."
(2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5) "This
know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be
lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form
of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
b.
Continuous prayer builds a spiritual fortress around the believer's mind,
allowing us to recognize and resist the subtle fiery darts and temptations of
the enemy.
c. God
answers the non-stop prayers of a vigilant church by sending His divine help
and angelic protection to rescue His people from sudden spiritual crises.
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) "Who
then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his
household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his
lord when he cometh shall find so doing."
a.
Praying without ceasing keeps the Christian spiritually awake, sensitive, and
actively aligned with God’s timeline so we are never caught off guard.
b. A
prayerful life cultivates the wisdom and faithfulness needed to manage God's
household and successfully fulfill our individual callings until Christ
returns.
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."
(1 JOHN 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.
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. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as he is pure."
a.
Spending consistent, unceasing time in the presence of a Holy God naturally
exposes hidden faults and drives us to continuous repentance and inner
cleansing.
b.
When we walk closely with God in prayer, the desire for the darkness of
worldliness fades away, allowing our lives to clearly reflect His pure heavenly
light.
IV.
FOR OUR PARTICIPATION
(1 THESSALONIANS 5:6-9) "Therefore
let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that
sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
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. 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. 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. For the body is not one
member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of
the body; is it therefore not of the body? 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?"
a.
Intercessory prayer is the primary spiritual platform where every single member
of the local church can actively participate and support the weight of the
ministry.
b.
Unceasing prayer binds the diverse parts of the spiritual body together in
strong unity, ensuring that no member feels disconnected, unvalued, or left
behind.
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; And to esteem them very highly in love for their
work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren,
warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be
patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but
ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice
evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
a.
Maintaining a non-stop prayer life secures our functional position of
leadership and obedience, keeping us patient toward the weak and respectful
toward church leadership.
b. A
prayerful position enables a Christian to naturally choose good over evil and
sustain genuine joy and thanksgiving, even through severe earthly difficulties.
Conclusion:
a. A
church that stands firm in unceasing prayer will always be a powerful, dynamic,
and safe church against the dark spiritual tides of these perilous times.
b. Let
us commit to keeping our communication lines open to the throne of grace, fully
expectant of God's bountiful supply, perfect protection, and great victory.
(PSALMS 126:3) "The
LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."
TO GOD
BE THE GLORY!
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