The Significance of Prayer Is a Call to Prayer
Sermon Notes
First, prayer is the tangible expression of a love relationship between us and our heavenly Father who loves us more than we can ever imagine, and we love Him because He first loved us. Our prayer life begins with a response to His love.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God (1 John 4.7).
Second, prayer is the expression of a love relationship in which we express our total and complete dependence on our heavenly Father.
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart (Luke 18.1).
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15.5).
Third, it follows then that prayer is the expression of my dependence on Him for my daily needs – whatever they may be – physical, spiritual, emotional, or relational.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Matthew 6.11-13).
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened (Matthew 7.7-8).
Fourth, prayer is the expression of my dependence on Him for my growth as a Christian. Consider this short but powerful prayer in Paul’s letter to the Colossian church.
“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask
• that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will
• in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
• so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
• to please Him in all respects,
• bearing fruit in every good work and
• increasing in the knowledge of God;
• strengthened with all power,
• according to His glorious might,
• for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;
• joyously giving thanks to the Father,
• who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light (Colossians 1.9-12).
Fifth, answered prayer is perhaps God’s wildest idea of blessing my life with much fruit – the fruit of His life alive in me.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciple
(John 15.7-8).
Sixth, there is so much more for which to pray.
Let me just name a few:
1. Pray for our leaders who are in authority over us (1 Timothy 2.1,2).
2. Pray for more workers in the Lord’s harvest (Matthew 9.38).
3. Pray for non-Christians to be saved (1 Timothy 4.2).
4. Pray for God’s kingdom to come (Matthew 6.10).
5. Pray for the sick (James 5.14).
6. Pray for one another (James 5.16).
7. Pray for your enemies (Matthew 5.44).
8. Pray for boldness in sharing the gospel (Ephesians 6.19).
9. Pray for God to use your work for His kingdom (Psalm 90.17).
But, will we pray?