Introduction
Prayer is the means God has provided for the church to live victoriously.
- Prayer is essential to the Christian life because of our dependency upon the Lord. Our methods and activities will be useless without prayer. Jesus said "I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Much money and time is spent in activities but without prayer they will accomplish little.
- The importance of prayer means it is important to be diligent in all forms of prayer (1 Timothy 2:1) "supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks..." (see Prayer course 2). We should be seeking to be skilful in prayer.
- Prayer is important so that the body of Christ will have the freedom to live for Christ and evangelise others (1 Timothy 2:2-4). The devil seeks to close doors for the body of Christ to evangelise. It is prayer that will open these doors.
Introductory Illustration
Progress is dependent upon communication. The ability to communicate is essential to progress. Modern technology has made communication easy between people anywhere in the world. A successful company must have board meetings because talking together is essential in building up a company.
An ambassador for one country must be in communication with the people he or she represents. Lack of communication can lead to an ambassador speaking on his own initiative instead of on behalf of the leaders of the nation. With God it is the same. We must be in communication with God. Lack of communication can cause us to be led by our own initiative instead of the moving of the Holy Spirit.
Finney on Revivals (Lecture IV): God moves when the Church prays. John Knox was a man famous for his power in prayer, so that Queen Mary of England (known as Bloody Mary) used to say that she feared his prayers more than all the armies of Europe. He used to be in such an agony for the deliverance of his country, that he could not sleep. One night he and several friends were praying together, and as they prayed, Knox spoke and said that deliverance had come. He could not tell what had happened, but he felt that something had taken place, for God had heard their prayers. What was it? Why, the next news they had was, that Mary was dead!
Main Points
The importance of prayer is shown in scripture because of...
1. The Great Value of the Blood
The price that was paid for us to be able to pray was great. This privilege was bought for us by the death of the Son of God on the cross. We value things by their cost or by what the item means to us personally. Prayer should be highly valued by every believer because it was bought for us at great cost. A private audience with a king is something most people can only dream about but prayer brings us into intimate relationship with the Lord.
Hebrews 4:14-16 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
The blood opens up the way for us to draw near to God.
Hebrews 10:19-22 "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
Unbelief will stop us from approaching God with boldness. It is the power of the blood that gives us access. Denying the power of the blood is not humility it is unbelief.
We have great confidence that the Father will give us all things because He was willing to give His Son for us (John 3:16). There is nothing more costly than what He has already provided for us.
Romans 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Answered prayer is our inheritance in Christ through the blood. We are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). All things are ours in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:22-23).
2. The Great Provision Through Prayer
1 John 5:14 "If we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us."
- We are told that the Father is willing to give whatever we desire in the name of Jesus. John 15:16, "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."
- Prayer will keep us from anxiety and worry. God expects us to make our requests known to Him. Philippians 4:6-7, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
- We will not receive unless we use the provision of prayer. James 4:2, "You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not." God expects us to ask in prayer. We will not see the provision of God in our lives unless we are willing to obey God and be diligent in prayer.
- Prayer enables us to be continuously in fellowship with God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing."
3. The Great Spiritual Warfare
Every person in the body of Christ should be actively involved in standing against the powers of darkness. Prayer is essential for the church to overcome the enemy (Ephesians 6:18).
- Without prayer it is not possible to war a good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18). Many believers are not even aware there is a spiritual warfare. They do not have a heart for the fight. Believers who are aware of the great spiritual warfare will be diligent in prayer.
- A good soldier in Christ will be watchful in prayer. In Ephesians 6:18 watching means "to be sleepless" - Greek 'agrupneo' from two words 'agreuo' (to chase) and 'hupnos' (sleep). Watchfulness by keeping oneself awake. Note the all's - "always", "with all prayer", "all perseverance", "for all saints".
- Prayer is necessary to be "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Our dependency upon the Lord makes us strong (Proverbs 18:10).
4. Prayer is Given Great Priority in the Ministry of Jesus and the Apostles
- Jesus spent much time in prayer. Luke 6:12, "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
- The Apostles gave themselves to the Word of God and prayer. Acts 6:4, "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
- Jesus taught His disciples to pray and told them to be diligent in it. Matthew 6:5-8 describes the proper approach to prayer - in secret, with sincerity, not with vain repetitions.
- Prayer is seen to be an essential part of the life of the Church in the Acts of the Apostles: Acts 13:3 (fasting and praying before sending missionaries), Acts 14:23 (praying when ordaining elders), Acts 16:25 (Paul and Silas praying in prison), Acts 20:36 (praying with the elders), Acts 21:5 (kneeling on the shore to pray).
If it was necessary for Jesus to pray then how much more necessary is it for us to be committed to prayer.
Summary
We know that prayer is important because:
- This privilege was bought at great cost and we must recognise the great value of prayer
- Prayer is the means God has provided for us to ask and we must recognise that God will meet our needs in answer to prayer
- Prayer is necessary in spiritual warfare and we must recognise the need for prayer to defeat the enemy
- Prayer is given great importance in the ministry of Jesus and of the Apostles and we must recognise that we will not be able to accomplish anything without prayer
Textbook Reading: R.A. Torrey, "How To Pray"