30/06/2016
NEW WINE CHURCH
DON’T QUIT, YOU ARE A FINISHER
MEN SHOULD PRAY ALWAYS
Michael Olaware
6/19/2016
MEN ALWAYS OUGHT TO PRAY
Today we celebrate fathers around the world.
• Thanks to all the fathers in church; and those in the position of fatherhood
• I am here today to celebrate your fatherhood and your importance
• I am here today to celebrate your different skills
• I am here today to celebrate you being special
• God chose you to control your household, community and the world for God.
INTRODUCTION
• We have been looking at the series titled Protocol for Effective Prayer ( How to pray effectively)
• Today, we will finish that series and start something new
• Topic … Don’t quit, you are a finisher.
Luke 18: 1- 8.
Woman whose husband died that doesn’t give up
“Then Jesus taught the followers that they should always pray and never lose hope. He used this story to teach them: “Once there was a judge in a town. He did not care about God. He also did not care what people thought about him. In that same town there was a woman whose husband had died. She came many times to this judge and said, ‘There is a man who is doing bad things to me. Give me my rights!’ But the judge did not want to help the woman. After a long time, the judge thought to himself, ‘I don’t care about God. And I don’t care about what people think. But this woman is bothering me. If I give her what she wants, then she will leave me alone. But if I don’t give her what she wants, she will bother me until I am sick.’” The Lord said, “Listen, there is meaning in what the bad judge said. God’s people shout to him night and day, and he will always give them what is right. He will not be slow to answer them. I tell you, God will help his people quickly. But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find people on earth who believe in him?””
Luke 18:1-8 ERV
INTRODUCTION
• This story encourages disciples to trust God because God has chosen to answer their prayers of faith
• Jesus told the story to find out God’s character to answer our prayers.
• If the unfair judge could answer the widow, then God can answer our prayers
• Need to understand how much God loves us
• God loves us so much, He will never say no to our prayers.
EXERGESIS
• Luke1:18 caught my attention.
• 18: 1 Then He spoke to them, that men should always pray and not lose heart,
• It is important that you are not a quitter; you are a finisher
• You were made to finish your race; and pass on the baton to the next generation
• You were not designed to give up
It doesn’t matter what the situation is, you were made to achieve; and succeed
Jesus was speaking to the disciples in Luke 18; He said men should always pray and not be tired
This statement in verse 1 is a statement of responsibility
Jesus gave the disciples big responsibility
He encouraged men not to give up no matter what the problem is
The statement “men should always pray and not lose heart”…is for men to recognise seven points that I would like to share with the fathers today
1. It is a call to spiritual aware
• The statement men should always pray and not be tired
• It is a call to have a closer relationship with God
• It is a call to hunger for God
• It is a call to pray to God
• It is a call to give your life to God
• It is a call to serving God
• It is a call to understand the purpose of God
• It is a call to make men the head of family again
• Over the years, men have taken back seat at home, in the house of God and in the community
• It is a call to develop good and improving relationship with the Lord
• This is the time for men to seek the Lord with all their heart
• This is the time for fathers to pray to God for their families, for their wives, for their children and for their communities
• This is the time for fathers to fight spiritual battles for their families
God spoke about Abraham
“Then the men got up to leave. They looked toward S***m and began walking in that direction. Abraham walked with them to send them on their way. The Lord said to himself, “Should I tell Abraham what I am going to do now? Abraham will become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations on earth will be blessed because of him. I have made a special agreement with him. I did this so that he would command his children and his descendants to live the way the Lord wants them to. I did this so that they would live right and be fair. Then I, the Lord, can give him what I promised.” Then the Lord said, “I have heard many times that the people of S***m and Gomorrah are very evil.”
Genesis 18:16-20 ERV
• God spoke about Abraham … I have known him.
• That word know means intimacy; God speaks about intimacy between Himself and Abraham
• God said Abraham will command or train his family to follow the Lord
2. It is a call to take your place
Luke 18: 1
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men should always pray and not lose heart,
• You have a place in your home
• You have a place in church (Gods house)
• You have a place in your walk with God
• You have a place in the society
• You have a place in the nation
• You were created to shine; you were created to make a difference
• The scripture says let your light so shine …
• In Isaiah 60: 1 the scripture says arise and shine …
God asked Adam … where are you?
Genesis 3:9
9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" NKJV
When Adam left his place of assignment; when he left his place of responsibility; when he left his place of authority …Enemy took advantage and crept in
Today, fathers, know you have a place! Take your place
Gideon the mighty man of valour was hiding in the winepress; he was meant to fight the Midianite but he hid away.
Judges 6:11-14
“One time the angel of the Lord came to a place called Ophrah and sat under an oak tree. This oak tree belonged to a man named Joash from the Abiezer family. His son Gideon was beating some wheat in a winepress. He was hiding so that the Midianites could not see the wheat. The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord be with you, brave soldier.”
Then Gideon said, “Pardon me, sir, but if the Lord is with us, why are we having so many troubles? We heard that he did wonderful things for our ancestors. They tell us that the Lord took them out of Egypt. But now it seems the Lord has left us and is letting the Midianites defeat us.” The Lord turned toward Gideon and said, “Then use your great power and go save the Israelites from the Midianites. I am sending you to save them.””
Judges 6:11-14 ERV
• He was a mighty man and brave; made to save Israel but he was hiding away
• He was called to fight for the nation but he hid away
• We need men; we need fathers who understand they need to stop hiding
• We need men; we need fathers who see they have a place
• You have a place; and I challenge you to take your place.
• We need men; we need fathers who take their place at home, in church, in the community and in the nation
• You are a king, you are a priest and you are a prophet over your home
Gen 49:1
49 Then Jacob called together all his sons and said, "Gather around me, and I will tell you what will happen to each of you in the days to come.NLT
3. It is a call to find important things
• This is to know Gods purpose for your life
Matt 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
• Men, you must make God most important
• Men, you must do things with good reason
• Men, you must be purpose driven
• Men, you must have a vision
• It is your vision shows whats important, keep you focused to put God first
Luke 18:1-2
18 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
NKJV
Col 3:1-3
“You were raised from death with Christ. So live for what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth. Your old self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God.”
Colossians 3:1-3 ERV
• You were made to be an impact; and this starts with making God most important
4. It is a call to take action
• The statement “men should always pray” is a call to be alert and ready to fight for yours and your families future
1 Peter 5:8-9
“Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat. Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in your faith. You know that your brothers and sisters all over the world are having the same sufferings that you have.”
1 Peter 5:8-9 ERV
1 Cor 16:13-14
“Be careful. Hold firmly to your faith. Have courage and be strong. Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ERV
5. It is a call to take responsibility
• As fathers we have to take responsibility for our children, wives, family, life…
1 Chron 15:22
22 Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skilful at it. NIV
• God gave you responsibility based on His grace on your life, equal to what you can do. He will not give you responsibilities that is more than your strength
• You are responsible for directing your family, teaching your children the word of God and building a close relationship with God
6. It is a call to be brave
• Always know you have won the battle, even through bad times, hold on to Gods promises in the Bible. Even when there is no evidence just keep believing His promised. Don’t give up on Gods work or your family, children and yourself
Ps 33:20
20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. NIV
Mic 7:7
7 As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. NLT
Rom 4:18-19
“There was no hope that Abraham would have children, but Abraham believed God and continued to hope. And that is why he became the father of many nations. As God told him, “You will have many descendants.” Abraham was almost a hundred years old, so he was past the age for having children. Also, Sarah could not have children. Abraham was well aware of this, but his faith in God never became weak.”
Romans 4:18-19 ERV
7. It is a call to stay the course and finish your race
• You are on a job, your job is to finish the race and finish it well