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March/April PRAY WITHOUT CEASING 1
Thessalonians 5:16-23 “Rejoice
always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give
thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic
utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully;
hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every
form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself
sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and
body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.” NASU Paul
the apostle is instructing the Thessalonian believers,
telling them that prayer is an act of lifting one’s
heart and mind to God in confession, supplication,
adoration, and dedication. King
David was the greatest king in history: his name is
mentioned in the Bible some eleven hundred times, in 28
of the 66 books. He was also a human being, subject
to like passions and temptations as you and I. David
as a man was a cross-section of the whole human race --
we are all good, bad, and indifferent at times. What
made David a great King was his reverence for God. His
prayers and his humility, together with his failures are
recorded for our edification in the book of Psalms. 1
Samuel 12:24 reminds us that we should, “Only
fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart;
for consider what great things He has done for you.”
NASU God wants a people who are obedient of
heart. The heart can always be in an attitude of
prayer, even when the mouth is silent: a reverent heart
speaks clearer than a multitude of words. John
15:5 reads, “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.”
NASU We can’t do anything without God. Prayer
is the lifeline between God and His people. When
the line is disconnected by prayerlessness the power
likewise is shut off. The
Word of God and prayer through the enabling of the Holy
Spirit can accomplish the seemingly impossible. Jesus
encouraged and comforted His disciples with these words
from John 16:24, “Until now you have asked
for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that
your joy may be made full.” NASU Again,
we are urged, “in everything give thanks; for this
is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” NASU Prayer
is the first exercise in faith. When at the time of
our conversion, we in repentance cried out to God –
as likewise did David the Psalmist -- Psalms 51:1-2,
“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your
lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your
compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me
thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
NASU Prayer
is God’s appointed way through which the believer is
to offer petitions, and claim the promises of God. Our
heart’s dedication should ever be as David’s,
Psalms 55:17, “Evening, and morning, and
at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my
voice.” KJV How
should we pray? Hebrews
10:21-25 says, “Since we have a great
priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a
sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our
bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast
the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who
promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to
stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not
forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as
you see the day drawing near.” NASU We should
pray with a true heart. For
whom shall we pray? 1 John 1:9, “If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
NASU James 1:5, “But if any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously
and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
NASU Pray
for yourself! Ephesians
6:18, “With all prayer and petition pray
at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on
the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the
saints,” NASU Pray
for one another! 1
Timothy 2:1-2, “First of all, then, I urge
that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings,
be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are
in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet
life in all godliness and dignity.”
NASU Pray
for all men and those in authority over you! And
the Bible even says that you have to pray for your enemy
and those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44, “But
I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you,” NASU Proverbs
15:8-9 reminds us, “The sacrifice of the
wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of
the upright is His delight. 9 The way of the wicked
is an abomination to the LORD, but He loves one who
pursues righteousness.” NASU We
must pray with the Psalmist again, Psalms 63:1-8, “O
God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul
thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and
weary land where there is no water. 2 Thus I have
seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your
glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than
life, My lips will praise You. 4 So I will bless
You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your
name. 5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and
fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You
in the night watches, 7 For You have been my
help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.”
NASU Let’s practice the presence of God in our lives through prayer! See you in service! Pastor Mike |
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