Privilege of Prayer
Written and Preached By: Pastor Shawn Shockley
Associate Pastor, Key West Church Of God
{All Scripture References from the Authorized King James Version}
1 Cor
14:15 … I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding
also: …
INTRO:
Paul, in the middle of this discourse on tongues and interpretation, makes a
statement that causes us to realize that he knew what we all should know about
Prayer and that is that Prayer is a Priceless Privilege.
There are a lot of things discussed in this chapter. There are even some
instructions handed out, but the thing that catches my attention above and
beyond anything else is Paul’s declaration to Pray.
Paul said : “I will pray “
Paul knows that prayer is a privilege, and I want you to know that prayer is not only a
key to victory, but
Prayer is a
Privilege.
In the day that we live in, the most ignored and forsaken privilege that the
people of God posses is Prayer.
We want - Success - Victory - Favor - Approval - Anointing - Blessing
- The Touch of God - Power With God
, But we WON’T PRAY.
PRAYER IS A PRECIOUS PRIVILEGE
The Psalmist understands this Privilege:
Psalm 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning
will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:
and he shall hear my voice.
Psalm 109:4 … I give myself unto prayer.
Paul tried to help the Colossians understand what a Privilege prayer was that’s
why he said:
Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with
thanksgiving;
Peter Knows the Privilege, For he said:
1 Pet 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore
sober, and watch unto prayer.
PRAYER IS A PRECIOUS PRIVILEGE
I. WHAT IS PRAYER:
Let me first tell you what prayer is not.
A. Prayer Is Not:
1. A Gripe Session
2. A Whine Session
3. A Chance to Tell God Off
4. An Opportunity to Sound Spiritual
5. Something that should happen just when we are In Trouble
6. An Object of Manipulation
B. Prayer is:
- Communion - Conversation - Communication
- Lifting - Loving - Listening
- Caressing - Calling - & Crying Out
- Seeking - Sacrifice - Submission - Supplication
Prayer is the Music of the Soul.
Prayer is the breathing of the regenerated Soul.
Prayer is a sweet smelling savor in the nostrils of God.
Prayer Is A fervent, persistent and earnest expression which ascends like
incense past all that we know up into the perfect Presence of Almighty God.
The Bible describes prayer as:
Psalm 25:1 - Lifting Up The Soul
Lamentations 3:41 - Lifting up the Heart
Psalm 62:8 - Pouring Out The Heart
1 Samuel 1:15 - Pouring Out The Soul
Genesis 12:8, Acts 22:16 - Calling Upon The Name Of The Lord
Psalm 27:7 - Crying To God
Psalm 73:28 - Drawing Near To God
2 Chronicles 32:20 - Crying To Heaven
Exodus 32:11 - Beseeching The Lord
Job 8:5 - Seeking To God
Psalm 27:8 - Seeking The Face Of The Lord
Jeremiah 36:7 - Making Supplication
Prayer is:
> It’s an Escalator to the Throne Room of God.
> It’s a Gateway into the Presence of God.
>It’s an opportunity to bring our lives in line with the Will Of God.
> It’s a demonstration of our Faith In God.
> It’s a Testimony of our Trust in God.
> It’s a reflection of our Dependence on God.
> It Plugs Us Into The Power Of God.
PRAYER IS A PRECIOUS PRIVILEGE!
II. WHO IS THIS ONE TO WHOM WE PRAY:
We’ve already hinted at it, but the one we pray to is God Almighty.
We pray to the One Who Told Us:
- To Cast Our Care upon Him.
- To Come Unto Him, & He Would Give Us Rest.
- To Call And He Would Answer.
- That He Would Lead Us.
- That He Would Guide Us
- That He Would Fight For Us.
- That He Would Cause Us To Become Over comers, and Victors.
We Pray To The One, Who Knows All
Who Has All
Who is our All In All
We Pray To God Almighty
Jesus Said:
Matt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father
which art in heaven,
John 16:23 … Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the
Father in my name, …
Joel Said:
Joel 1:14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the
elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God,
and cry unto the LORD,
The Psalmist said:
Psalm 105:4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face
evermore.
Zephaniah Said:
Zeph 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, …
Isaiah Said:
Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye
upon him while he is near:
Hosea Said:
Hosea 10:12 … for it is time to seek the LORD,…
Paul Said:
Romans 10:12 … for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that
call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.
1 Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place
call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, …
WE PRAY TO GOD ALMIGHTY
AND PRAYER IS A PRIVILEGE!
III. WHAT IS THE POSTURE OF PRAYER:
There are a lot of people today that approach God erroneous, and amiss.
Some folks dare to arrogantly point there finger in the face of God and demand
things from Him.
Some folks are seeking Him for things that they can heap to themselves to
appease their own lusts.
Some folks are using prayer to try to manipulate God into doing things their
way.
Some folks even use prayer as a negotiating table.
But when we really understand what a privilege prayer is, and we really
understand the true posture of Prayer, we will not make these mistakes, and our
prayer life will be enriched. It will become fiery, deep and affective.
What is the Posture of Prayer?
First let me say when we talk about Posture were talking about more than a
Position, we are also talking about our attitude, mind set and approach.
As a matter of fact, our position is some times dictated by our attitude, mind
set and approach.
With that thought in mind, what is our Posture of Prayer?
1. CONFIDENCE:
The first essential factor in our Posture is Confidence.
We must pray with confidence.
Confidence that God will hear us, and Confidence that God will respond to what
He hears.
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in
him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
2. HUMILITY:
We must approach God Humbly. We can never approach God in arrogance, in
haughtiness, or in Pride. When we come to God we must come to Him in Meekness
and Humility .
James 4:6 God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the
humble.
Psalm 9:12 … he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
We must come to God Clothed in Humility, that’s why the Psalmist gave this
invitation:
Psalm 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel
before the LORD our maker.
Bowing, or prostrating ourselves is always a sign of Humility, and the Psalmist
is saying let’s come and Humble ourselves before our God.
The Men of Old Knew how to approach God:
Gen 17:3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him,…
Joshua 5:14 …And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship,…
2 Chron 20:18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and
all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the
LORD.
Matt 26:39 And he (being Jesus) went a little further, and fell on his face, and
prayed…
Luke 5:12 …behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on
his face, and besought him,..
We must come before God with Humility.
3. SURRENDERED:
We must come to God with an attitude of Surrender. We must submit ourselves,
Yield Ourselves, relinquish ourselves, For His call, His purpose, His Will, and
His Work.
James said:
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God….
Hezekiah Said:
2 Chron. 38:8 …but yield yourselves unto the LORD,…
We must come to God with an attitude of Surrender.
Jesus, when He taught us to pray, taught us to Pray surrendered or submissively.
He said pray:
Matt 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is
in heaven.
Then He, just before He died, showed Us How to Pray.
Matt 26:42 … Father, if this cup may not pass away from me,
except I drink it, thy will be done.
CLOSING:
Prayer is an awesome privilege.
Prayer is our Avenue of approaching God, and we are to come boldly.
Some Christians approach God with their heads hung low, afraid to ask him to
meet their
needs. Afraid that He isn’t going to answer.
Others pray flippantly, giving little thought to what they say, or who their
praying to.
Church we must Come to God with reverence and Humility because He is your King.
But also come with bold assurance because he is your Friend and Counselor.
We must Take advantage of Our Privilege of Prayer. There will come a day when it
will be
to late pray. There will come a day, when a cry for help will be offered up in
vain, so today
we must Pray.
E-mail Pastor Raymond Shockley
