21/02/2023
TOPIC: The Prayer Life of a Christian Part1
TEXT:Colossians 4:1-8
INTRODUCTION
F.B. Meyer said, "The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but un-offered prayer."
Prayer is, for the most part, an untapped resource, an unexplored continent where untold treasure remains to be unearthed. It is talked about more than anything else , and practiced less than anything else. And yet, for the believer it remains one of the greatest gift our Lord has given us outside of salvation.
Paul was somebody who understood prayer and its power. Prayer was a part of Paul's life, and he took it for granted that it would be a part of the life of every Christian. You cannot really be a good Christian and not pray, just like you cannot have a good marriage if you don't talk to your wife. You can be a Christian and not pray, just like you can be married and not talk to your wife. But in both circumstances you will be miserable. Prayer is the pipeline of communication between God and His people, between God and those who love Him.
I. Pray with persistence
Paul begins by saying,
"Devote yourselves to prayer," (NASB) or "Continue earnestly in prayer," (NKJV). In the original language it says, "continue steadfastly in prayer." The word translated, "continue steadfastly," is one word in the original language. It can be translated, "persist in, adhere firmly to, or remain devoted to or to give unremitting care to." It caries with it the idea of dedication. Of the ten times it is used in the New Testament four of them have to do with being devoted to prayer. It is a very powerful word and in this verse is given as an imperative, or a command. In other words, persistence in prayer is not an option for the Christian it is an order from the Lord Himself.
Two of the most instructive parables Jesus ever told on prayer, one in Luke 18 and the other in Luke 11, both have to do with being persistent and not giving up in prayer.
Luke 18:1 says, "Now He was telling them a parable to show them that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart."
Luke 11:9 is where we find the promise that says, "ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you." Each of those verbs are in the present tense, active voice and could be translated, "keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking." Jesus does not want us to give up in prayer, He instructs us to be persistent.
Now there is a difference between a persistent prayer and a long prayer. A person who is persistent in prayer does not necessarily have to pray for a long time. Persistence means not giving up.
Some people give up easily , they quit because they say they don't feel like praying, the joy is gone, the feeling is gone. But we are not to live by our feelings but to live by the commandments of our Lord who tells us to pray without ceasing.
George Muller, known as one of the greatest prayer warriors of all times had this to say about persistence in prayer"
"It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer. The truth is that, in order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer is to continue praying. The less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray."
Be persistent in prayer.
II. Pray with passion
If you are persistent in something, it stands to reason that you are to be passionate about it. In fact, Paul says we should be vigilant or be watchful; it is the opposite of slothfulness.
This describes passionate prayer.
Jesus was passionate about His prayer life, it was something He was always doing.
How much prayer meant to Jesus! It was not only his regular habit, but his resort in every emergency, however slight or serious.
When perplexed he prayed.
When hard pressed by work he prayed.
When hungry for fellowship he found it in prayer.
He chose his associates and received his messages upon his knees.
If tempted, he prayed.
If criticized, he prayed.
If fatigued in body or wearied in spirit, he had recourse to his one unfailing habit of prayer.
Prayer brought him unmeasured power at the beginning, and kept the flow unbroken and undiminished. There was no emergency, no difficulty, no necessity, no temptation that would not yield to prayer.
And every time we see Jesus praying He was praying with passion.
In Luke 3:1 at His Baptism - while He was praying the heaven was opened.
-Passionate prayer opens Heaven.
In Luke 6:12 before He called His disciples - He spent the whole night in prayer.
-Passionate prayer gives direction.
In Luke 9:29 at His transfiguration - And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. -Passionate prayer enables us to experience the glory of the Father.
In John 17 in His high priestly prayer - -Passionate prayer impacts the lives of others.
In Matthew 26:39 in the Garden of Gethsemane - It is only through passionate prayer that we can pour out our hearts to God.
In Luke 23:24 as He hung on the cross - a life that is lived in -passionate prayer will enable us to maintain that spirit, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Jesus always prayed with passion, because He knew Who it was He was talking to and He knew that prayer to the Father is a powerful thing and not something to take lightly and glibly.
Prayer from the heart, that's what passionate prayer is, it is prayer from the heart not just from the head.
James 5:16 says, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplishes much.
