Steps to Grow Forward in Prayer

Can I Talk to God? 5: Steps to Grow Forward in Prayer Colossians 4:2
Allen R. Hunt Mount Pisgah 3/5/06

Rely on education and get what education can do
Rely on eloquence and get what eloquence can do
Rely on organization and get what organization can do
Rely on prayer and get what GOD can do (Anonymous)
This has been a fun series – we have been learning exactly this
Rely on prayer and get what GOD can do

I. Christians know that
(Acts 1.14, 24; 2.42; 3.1; 6.4; 8.15; 9.11, 40; 10.4, 9, 30; 12.5; 16.13, 16, 25; 22.17; 28.8)
All you have to do is look at the book of Acts – life of earliest Christians
28 chapters – and 24 times, you find Christians praying
Almost once per chapter – in fact, before they DID anything, they prayed
Trying to rely on prayer and get what GOD can do
Before they selected a new 12th disciple to replace Judas (1.24)
When selecting missionaries to go out from Antioch to carry the gospel (13.3)
When appointing elders for the churches (14.23)
When Paul heals Tabitha, when he heals the father of Publius (9.40; 28.8)
When Peter receives a vision about the Jewish law and food regulations (10.9)
When Peter is in prison, and after he is released from prison (12.5, 12)
Every time you look, the Christians are praying
Before they do anything else, they pray – learning to rely on God

So want you to see how important this simple verse from Colossians 4.2 is
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful
Great place to conclude this series
Because I told you in the very first message, prayer will require effort on your part
Will require something of you, will take discipline – does not happen by accident

And that is exactly what this simple verse tells you – Devote yourselves
Strong word – one word for Devote yourselves
Dancing with the Stars kind of word – really!
I am a junk TV addict – Idol, Bachelor, Dancing with Stars – mindless and I love it
Jerry Rice was competitor in Dancing this time
Retired NFL receiver – known for his fierce competitive spirit
Paired with a pro dancer – trying to teach him ballroom dancing
Competing against 11 other couples over several months – a couple eliminated each week
And Jerry worked hard – did not surprise me – knew of his discipline and ethic
6 day a week workouts – divided into 2 parts
AM – 2 hours cardio training PM – 3 hours strength training
AM – 5 mile trail called The Hill – 5 vertical miles – not enough for Jerry – stop halfway and run 10 40m uphill sprints – because he wanted to be fit, ready, at peak of his game
PM – Alternate upper body days with lower body days – 3 sets of 10 reps – 21 exercises
630 reps a day - 6 days a week
That is the Greek word for “devote yourselves”
Same word used about prayer – devote yourselves to prayer
Let me tell you what that one simple word means when it is used

II. Devote yourselves to prayer
Persist obstinately
Don’t give up in prayer – stay at it – persist – like a pit bull
Remember the persistent widow Jesus describes in Luke – day in and day out goes and demands justice from the court – until finally the judge says OK
That is how Jesus describes this devotion to prayer
Remain in attendance
Word was used to describe someone who showed up in law court every day – every day
Perfect attendance – every day – stayed at it
Devote oneself to a task
Like Jerry Rice – given completely over to the task
Let nothing interfere – stay on task – even when you don’t want to
Because you have a goal in mind – talking to God – want to rely on prayer so I will get what GOD can do rather than what I can do
Adhere firmly to a man
You remember those silly car dealer promotions? Where draw contestants and have them stand with one part of body touching the car – 10 minute break each hour for water and bathroom – last one still standing without ever losing touch with the car – wins the car!
That is this kin of word – stick to the Man – don’t worry about the car
Stick to Jesus – adhere to Him – that is the goal of prayer
Rely on prayer and get what GOD can do
Persist, remain, devote, adhere – powerful word
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful

So today we arrive at a decision point – 5 weeks of messages
Lord’s Prayer, ACTS together, Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner), Testimonies, Prayer rocks and altar
Decision point – what are you going to do about it?
Will you devote yourself to prayer?
It is the Biblical model of what it means to be a Christian
Disciples waiting in fear after Jesus death and resurrection – what do we do – Jesus said, “Do nothing. Wait in Jerusalem and devote yourselves to prayer.” (Acts 1.14)
New believers converted on Pentecost – devoted themselves to prayer, breaking of bread and fellowship (2.42)
Peter and leaders becoming so busy caring for the poor and the widows that finally realized that they needed to delegate that task to Stephen and some other leaders so that they could “Devote themselves to prayer and the Word.” (6.4)
Christians are all about prayer – it will take effort and work
What are you gonna do about it?

For those of you who would like to grow forward, keep listening

III. 7 Simple Steps to Grow Forward in Prayer
1) Schedule time
(Luke 6.12)
Whether you like it or not, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be a trifler all your days…. Do justice to your soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself any longer. John Wesley
There simply is no other way
I shared with you in the first sermon – if you had an appointment with the President of the US – you would show up, on time, ready to talk, use your 15 minutes to the fullest
Good news – you can go over his head to the top – to the Lord of the Universe
Talk to Him - Rely on prayer and get what GOD can do

2) Get away: Jesus did
(Luke 5.15-16)
Read the Gospels – discover every so often – Jesus wanders off away from everyone else
Needs to be alone with God – pressing demands could always ALWAYS have prevented that from happening
But Jesus does it – He needs it
So do I – do that one day a month – this past Thursday – met my prayer partner – pastor in Paulding County – part of the day – by myself part of the day – away
Jesus did it – so do I – so should you
Set a goal of one prayer retreat for yourself this year – then grow to two next year

3) Pray aloud
(Psalm 23)
Something oddly powerful about speaking to God out loud
Keeps you focused – keeps your mind from wandering
Let’s try that right now – focus on God

4) Listen AND Talk
(Luke 6.12-16; Acts 13.1-3)
The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. C.S. Lewis
But praying is not only talking – most of it is listening – lot of competing voices for your attention – make sure you are scheduling time to listen for The Voice
5) Pray the Scriptures
(Psalms 88 and 89)
God has given you His Word to use as a tool – not a coaster
The psalms are a gift – just try praying out loud psalms 88 one day and 89 the next
Then move into some others – pray, read aloud, pause, listen, read aloud some more
Or use the Beatitudes – Matthew 5 to pray for people
O Lord, I pray for Bryce – make him meek that he may inherit the earth, make him hunger and thirst for righteousness that he may be filled, make him a peace maker

6) When you cannot pray, sing
When I cannot pray, I always sing Martin Luther
Again, what a great way to keep yourself and your mind focused
Have some simple prayer songs or choruses or hymns that you use to pray aloud to God and to keep yourself focused and centered on Him
I like O for a Thousand tongues to sing – sung it so often I have 6 verses memorized
I like We Fall Down, we lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus, the greatness of, His mercy and love, at the feet of Jesus
These help me pray
Let’s try it right now

7) Pray in groups
(Mt. 18.19-20; Acts 1.14; 2.42; 6.6; 13.3; 14.23; Gal. 6.2; Eph. 6.18; Heb. 10.24-25; James 5.13-16)
Surely you noticed – as we scooted through Acts this morning
How often the Christians were praying in groups – far more often than by themselves
Both are important but there is a unique power that comes from praying in a group
Antioch – that is when God revealed what He wanted to do in that Church – when leaders were praying and fasting together
Disciples = waiting on Jesus – Holy Spirit fell – praying together
You get the picture
So I ask you to trust me this morning for just a moment
Ask you to scoot close to the people seated in same pew as you – get close
Remember we are family – we are brothers and sisters – it is OK
Now put your right arm around the person next to you – want you to close your eyes
And envision that the hand resting on you now is the hand of God – hand that holds you, comforts you, sustains you, provides for you
Now remove that arm and put your left arm around person on that side – if on an end, place it on person in front
Again, close your eyes – and this time concentrate on your own hand – your hand is the hand of God – resting on one of God’s children – that hand has been called to provide meals when a spouse is in the hospital, to write a check when there is a need or a desire to be on a mission team, to stretch out and welcome that person when you meet – your hand is the hand of God
Open your eyes again – get comfortable where you are
Powerful things happen when we work together, even more so when we pray together
Rely on prayer and get what GOD can do
Do that together – and watch miracles occur

Invite you to pick one of two ways to experience that power today – response cards
Life groups for Revelation
8:00 prayer group
Devote yourselves to prayer
Rely on prayer and get what GOD can do