Sermon: "Your Best Communication" Part 3 ...a sermon on Prayer
by Chris Cumming
SERMON THREE ON PRAYER – COMMUNICATING WITH GOD
Intro: This is the 3rd part of a 3-part sermon on the subject of prayer. Part 1 was the Introduction in which we discussed 3 subjects.
1) The Lord’s Prayer Outline
2) Requirements for Effective Prayer
3) Recognizing God’s Answer to Prayer
In Part 2 we began discussing actual prayer elements. In that sermon, we discussed the first 6 elements of prayer content. They were presented in chronological importance.
1) Praise—starting with praise for God
2) Waiting—total surrender before the throne of God
3) Confession—of sin; creating a clean heart
4) Scripture Praying—seizing faith
5) Watching—mental awareness, vigilance, guarding against Satan
6) Intercession---praying for others, for the Work, for countries and kings
Today, we will conclude with the last 6 elements of prayer.
Again, the purpose remains the same…
Communicate with God
Prayer Element 7: Petition
“The Act of Personal Supplication”
“Supplication” means “to ask God humbly and earnestly”
The word “supplication” is in your dictionary at home. Do you know what word comes next?
It’s the word “supply”. In that same dictionary it says as one of the meanings of “supply” is church. The church is your supply until Christ returns. The definition also stated each church member serves as a supply for the other church members.
Petition is that aspect of prayer given over to asking God for specific personal things. To seek an unselfish spiritual or material blessing is not unscriptural.
Let us look at an important example: Does anybody know who Jabez was? I did not.
His story is found in 1 Chronicles, that book with all the “begats”. There are over 500 names mentioned in 1 Chronicles. It is one “begats” after the other. But right in the middle of all this, the Bible talks about just one of the 500…Jabez.
Turn to 1 Chronicles 4 and beginning in verse 9…
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
Jabez is asking for physical blessings and God granted them. We can do the same.
Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Praying must be personal. God tells us to work out our own salvation. That’s personal. Prayer is a part of our salvation and they must be personal; especially prayers of petition.
Petition is the confession of helplessness in a specific matter. Since we are helpless, we must offer these petitions to God EACH DAY.
Matthew 6:11 says “Give us this day our DAILY bread”.
We need to express our dependence on Christ for every need.
Remember the sermon I gave about changing God’s mind about something? We saw the examples of God’s servants actually changing God’s mind. The lesson for us in these petitions we offer to God is that we must present each need with a good argument as to why God should grant it.
Keys to Petition:
1) A petition should be specific.
Do not be vague. The greater the intensity of our desire the better we will hold on to that petition.
James 5:16 (ff)
…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
2) A petition must be complete.
Think through the petition. Analyze the problem from every angle and then express it as a petition. The more complete you are the more faith that is generated when we bring it to God.
3) A petition must be sincere.
1 Corinthians 5:8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
4) A petition must be simple.
2 Corinthians 1:12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
Let your petitions be direct, pure and simple.
Matthew 7:7-11
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Prayer Element 8: Thanksgiving
“The act of expressed appreciation”
Thanksgiving is closely related to praise but differs in this sense:
Praise focuses on who God is.
Thanksgiving focuses on what God has specifically done for us.
As I have stated, these elements are being given in chronological order of where they might best appear in the make up of your prayer. This element can however, be sprinkled throughout the whole prayer period.
Colossians 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Element 3 was confession of sin. Thanksgiving is a confession of blessing.
Like praise, thanksgiving takes the believer’s attention from self and places it on God.
What can we possibly give God other than praise and thanksgiving? This question is asked in the Bible. Turn to Psalms 116
Psalm 116:12, 17
12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
Later, he answers.
17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Earlier, I stated that in our petitions to God, we should be specific. Such is the case when we offer thanks to God.
Four Specific Areas of Thanks:
1) Confess Spiritual blessings.
Ephesians 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
2) Confess Material Blessings
2 Corinthians 9:8-9
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
3) Confess physical blessings
Thank God for good health.
Psalm 103:2-5
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
4) Confess External blessings
Thank God for blessings given to friends, community or nation. Thank Him for the blessings to the Work and to this local church.
God’s blessings are everywhere:
Psalm 33:4-5
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
Give thanks unto your God.
Prayer Element 9: Singing
“The Act of Melodic Worship”
Here we discover one of the most neglected aspects of personal worship---singing alone in God’s presence.
Psalm 100:2
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Notice just down a couple of verses…
Psalm 101:1
I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
In a survey of over 150 books about prayer, only a few even mentioned singing and then only in passing. Yet, no fewer than 41 of the Psalms specifically refer to singing praises unto the Lord.
What should we sing during prayer. On two different occasions Paul spoke of “making melody” in our hearts unto the Lord with “spiritual songs”.
Ephesians 5:19-20
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Look at what happen when Paul and Silas were in prison:
Acts 16:23-25
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Question: How can we make singing a part of our prayer life?
Well you could sing from memory or using a hymnbook and that would be okay. You can also make up your own melodies by the power of the Holy Spirit. Clearly this is what Paul and other did. There were no hymnbooks back then.
What should we sing about? Here are 6 themes and I only have time to list them.
1) Sing songs of praise.
2) Sing of His Power and Mercy.
3) Sing songs of Thanksgiving.
4) Sing the name of God.
A quick verse here to cover numbers 3 and 4:
Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
5) Sing God’s Word.
Psalm 119:54
Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
6) Sing a new Song.
Psalm 144:9 SAYS
I will sing a new song unto thee,
Let singing be a part of your prayer life.
Prayer Element 10: Meditation
“The Act of Spiritual Evaluation”
Meditation is a silent inner study of some spiritual matter.
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Meditation is taking the time to look deep. God, Christ and the Word of God are very deep.
It is in meditation that God’s Holy Spirit is heavily at work within us, imparting understanding, knowledge and wisdom. Meditation gives us peace.
Psalm 94:19
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
“To think well,” Thomas Traherne said, “is to serve God in the interior court”. Meditating with a solidly biblical foundation is the best thinking in which man can engage.
Let us look at 5 items in which you can focus your meditation:
1) Focus on God Himself.
Psalm 104:34
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
2) Focus on God’s Word
Psalm 1:1-2
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3) Focus on God’s Works
Psalm 77:12
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
4) Focus on Past Victories
Psalm 143:5
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
In times of distress and trial, spiritual relief can be found in looking at the many blessings God has given us in previous days.
5) Focus on Positive Thoughts
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Gain strength through Meditation.
Prayer Element 11: Listening
“The Act of Mental Absorption”
Now, right away you might be asking, how does listening differ from either waiting or meditation?
Waiting comes early in prayer as we come before the throne of God and surrender before Him.
Waiting is when we focus on God in love.
Meditation is a very careful exploration of a particular spiritual theme. Listening is an element of prayer that stands alone.
To listen in prayer is to mentally absorb divine instructions from God concerning specific matters for that day.
It is in listening that we find that prayer is a two-way street. We talk to Him and He, in turn talks to us.
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Exodus 25:17-22
17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
In prayer, we are before the mercy seat, the throne of God. Listen for His Voice
Prayer Element 12: Praise
“The Act of Divine Magnification”
Prayer has now come full circle, and we find ourselves again at praise. Worship should seal all praying.
We began with an act of adoration and we will end with an act of magnification.
Listen to what Mary said when she found out that she would give birth to the Son of God.
Luke 1:46-49
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Jesus taught us in the Lord’s prayer outline to begin and end our prayers in praise…
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name”……the beginning
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever”….the ending
As prayer concludes we praise God because it has been His greatness that has made our devotional time with Him possible.
In these final moments we add faith to our praise. We actually praise God for future answers to prayer.
Psalm 52:9
I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.
By ending our prayers in praise we leave the prayer closet by giving and not asking.
IN THE NAME OF “JESUS CHRIST”
We always end the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ for everything we do and the whole plan of salvation is only possible through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We cannot go before the Father without Jesus Christ.
We then say “Amen”….”so be it” or “it is done”. In the Greek we are saying “God, our King, is trustworthy.”
End your prayers in praise.
Well, there you have it. Three full sermons on the subject of prayer. All three were just outlines.
Prayer is a lifetime study and a lifetime duty.
Never stop learning about prayer. Devote your life and your existence to prayer.
Come boldly before the throne of God. Talk with your Father
It is your BEST Communication.