#36 HCBC 9-23-07 AM
The Ministry of Intercession
Romans 8:26-27
The “big idea” in the message this morning is about prayer!
Scripture has a lot to say about prayer…
Why pray
When to pray
How to pray
Who to pray for
Where to pray
But our passage this morning gives a unique perspective on the participation of the Holy Spirit in our praying!
Read Rom 8:26-27
It says we do not know what we ought to pray for!
But the Spirit intercedes for us!
He helps us in our weakness!
Some one has a serious medical issue:
We could pray for God to take this away
We could pray for strength to bear the suffering
We could pray for understanding of what God is teaching/desiring for the sick person
Our giving for the year is below budget:
We could ask people to give more
We could stop spending & cut the budget for 2008
We could do nothing because we still have a balance in the checkbook
Someone has a family member who is unsaved:
We could pray for God to save him
We could pray for God to bring someone else into his life
We could pray for God to give us strength to go
Someone is continuing in sin:
We could pray for God to touch his heart
We could pray for God to discipline him
We could pray for God to bring someone else into his life
We could pray for God to save him
We could pray for God to take him home
Someone in our church feels disconnected:
We could pray that he would stay
We could pray he would find another church
Someone who lives alone is no longer safe in their home:
How do we pray…
Someone calls the church in need of help – food – money:
We know it pleases God when we help people…
How do we help this person?
How much do we help this person?
Does help mean telling them how they are poor stewards of what God has given
them?
So, we pray…
But we do not always know what to pray for!
But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit,
Because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
We do not always know what to pray for, but we do know some things about prayer!
1. We know why we should pray:
Prayer is commanded:
Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions
1 Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing
It is sin not to pray
1Samuel 12:23 Far be it from me to sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray
for you.
Prayer gives glory to God
John 14:13 If you ask in my name, I will do it.
That the Father may be glorified in the Son!
Prayer aligns us with God’s purposes
Rom 10:1 …my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they
may be saved.
Rev 22:20 Come, Lord Jesus.
Prayer results in answers
James 5:16 The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much
1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we
know that we have what we asked for.
God promises to grant us what we pray for as part of His plan.
We know why we should pray:
2. We know how to pray:
In Christ’s name
John 14:13-14 “in my name” = in accordance with his person, his will, his
purposes
In faith
Matt 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in
prayer
In the Spirit
Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions…
In accordance with his person, his will, his purposes
From a pure heart
Jas 5:16 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
We know why we should pray:
We know how to pray:
3. We know what hinders our prayer:
Cherished sin
Ps 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have
listened.
Strife at home
1 Pet 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with
your wives… so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
An unforgiving spirit
Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against
anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may
forgive you your sins.
Doubt
Jas 1:6-7 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt…
That man should not think he will receive anything from the
Lord…
We know why we should pray:
We know how to pray:
We know what hinders our prayer:
4. We know what motivates us to pray:
A regular and disciplined study of the Word of God!
Read study meditate memorize
His character…
His plan of redemption…
His deliverance…
His plan for the future…
Desire for the Lord’s glory
…for fellowship with God
…for needs to be met
…for wisdom
…for deliverance from peril
…for relief from fear and worry
…freedom from the guilt of sin
…the salvation of the lost
…spiritual growth of believers
All of this does not take place in a vacuum!
It takes place in the family
It takes place in the church family
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