2. THE SOUL OF PRAYER
Notes
Transcript
PRAYER IS A HOLY AGITATION
PRAYER IS A HOLY AGITATION
WE ARE TO AGITATE THE LORD BECAUSE
I. IT IS COMMANDED
II. IT IS THE PATH TO HIS PROMISES
III. IT IS OUR BURDEN
PRAYER BURNDEN
Diverse praying does not create agitation because it does not creat vulnerability. We struggle with going to God with our burdens – the things that we feel we deeply need Him to do and work in ouir lives, because we fear that He wont do it. We hate putting ourselves out there – even to the Lord who loves us.
Here is what I kow about going to the Lord with a burden: He will answer it or He will not. But, in both cases, our hearts are changed to adore Him more deeply and, mysteriously, to live in the reality that what we asked for is not what He wanted for us.
Our failure to go to him with our burdens is, therefore, our fear of not getting – not what he wants, but what WE want. Yet, His love for us is so amazing and His care for us so deep and intimate, that if He says not to our requests He will change our hearts to see it as good, and right and perfect.
THE CONTEXT: MINISTERS
THE APPLICATION:
CHURCHES
CHRISTIANS
MOTHERS/FATHERS
LEADERS OF GODLY INSTITUTIONS
THE POINT OF THIS SERIES
WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT THE “SOUL” OF SOMETHING WE SPEAK ABOUT ITS ESSENCE:
THE TRUTH OF A THING
THAT ASPECT OF SOMETHING THAT WITHOUT IT, THAT THING WOULD NOT BE A REALITY
WHEN I SAY THE “SOUL” OF PRAYER, I MEAN THAT NATURE, DISPOSITION AND HOLY URGINGS OF A MAN OR WOMAN THAT MUST GET AT THE LORD
LAST WEEK’S MESSAGE: PRAYER AS AN UNQUENCHABLE THIRST FOR CHRIST
LAST WEEK’S MESSAGE: PRAYER AS AN UNQUENCHABLE THIRST FOR CHRIST
TODAY’S MESSAGE COMES FROM THIS TEXT IN ISAIAH
THIS MORNING I WANT YOU TO SEE PRAYER AS THE FOLLOWING:
PRAYER AS A HOLY AGITATION
PRAYER AS A HOLY AGITATION
WE ARE TO AGITATE THE LORD BECAUSE
I. IT IS COMMANDED
I. IT IS COMMANDED
On your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have set watchmen;
all the day and all the night
they shall never be silent.
You who put the Lord in remembrance,
take no rest,
and give him no rest
until he establishes Jerusalem
and makes it a praise in the earth.
II. IT IS THE DESIGNED PATH TO HIS PROMISES
II. IT IS THE DESIGNED PATH TO HIS PROMISES
CONTEXT: GOD PROVIDES PROMISES IN THE MIDST OF PERPLEXITIES
The New Israel: A Commentary on the Book of Isaiah 56–66 God Speaks (6–9)
They dare do so, knowing that God has already ‘sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm’ (uplifted when making an oath) that he will certainly fulfil his promise within space and time.
IN THIS WAY THE PEOPLE ARE CALLED TO TAKE NO REST
On your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have set watchmen;
all the day and all the night
they shall never be silent.
You who put the Lord in remembrance,
take no rest,
RELATED SCRIPTURE TO SUPPORT THIS IDEA
Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Their heart cried to the Lord.
O wall of the daughter of Zion,
let tears stream down like a torrent
day and night!
Give yourself no rest,
your eyes no respite!
TO TAKE NO REST IS THE CALL TO NEVER STOP PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS THAT
GOD LOVES HIS PEOPLE
THE GOD IS A DELIVERER
THAT GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US
THIS GOOD NEWS IS ULTIMATE DEMONSTRATED IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: IT IS THE GOSPEL THAT REMINDS US THAT WE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST AND SEEK TO YEILD OUR LVIES TO HIM, ARE POSITIONED IN HIS PROMISES
Lexham Context Commentary: Old Testament Messages of Salvation Given in Perplexing Times (62:1–64:12)
MESSAGES OF SALVATION GIVEN IN PERPLEXING TIMES (62:1–64:12)
This section begins by once again reminding Israel of God’s great love for her and his assurances that he will deliver her. He promises that he will never again allow other nations to harm her or take her precious resources. These assurances are confirmed by bestowing on her a new name (i.e., “my [God’s] delight is in her,” 62:4).
THOUGHT TO BE FORSAKEN - BUT ARE NOT FORSAKEN
THOUGHT TO BE NOTHINGS - BUT ARE HIS DELIGHT
THOUGHT TO BE ALONE - BUT MARRIED
THOUGHT TO HAVE NO FUTURE - BUT ETERNAL JOY FULL AND CERTAIN
THEY - YOU WHO ARE IN CHRIST - ARE HIS DELIGHT
Isaiah 62:4 (ESV)
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
FROM THIS POSITION WE HEAR THESE WORDS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
ON THE BASIS OF THIS PROMISES - WE ARE CALLED TO SEE PRAYER AS A HOLY AGITATION
FOR THIS HOLY AGITATION TO “WORK” IT MUST COME FROM A SOUL THAT IS HUNGRY FOR THE LORD, HIS GLORY AND HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH (LAST WEEK’S SERMON)
THIS IS NOT A PROMISE TO THE SELFISH; BUT TO THE SANCTIFIED
SANCTIFIED IN THEIR PASSIONS AND WANTS
SANCTIFIED IN THEIR LIFE
WE CAN SEE THIS THOUGHT LAID OUT THIS WAY AS WELL:
“do not forsake Jehovah till He has fulfilled all His promise.”
IT IS NOT SIMPLY THAT WE SHOULD GIVE HIM NO REST, BUT THAT IN DOING SO, WE DONT FORSAKE HIM
IT IS NOT SIMPLY THAT WE SHOULD GIVE HIM NO REST, BUT THAT IN DOING SO, WE DONT FORSAKE HIM
The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded,
2 Chronicles 15:2 (ESV)
and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
BY THIS I MEAN THOSE WHO, LIKE JESUS PROMISED,
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
AGITATE UNTIL IT COMES TO PASS:
IN YOUR SOUL
KEEP AGITATING UNTIL THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS REVEALED
THE REASON WE DO NOT CONTINUE IN PRAYER IS BECAUSE WE BUY THE SOLUTIONS OF THE WORLD; WE BUY ITS WORDS, ITS IDEAS, ITS IDENTITY
SO OUR AGITATION IS AIMED TOWARDS RECEIVING WHAT WE CAN GAIN FROM THIS WORLD, RATHER THAN FROM GOD
THE PROMISES:
Isaiah (Vol. II) (Chapter 62)
“Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken.” Mistaken we may be—our judgment is so weak, our hearts so worldly—but not forsaken. It is a beautiful word, and it is enough.
III. IT IS YOUR UNCEASING BURDEN
III. IT IS YOUR UNCEASING BURDEN
IV. CONCLUSION
IV. CONCLUSION
WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS SYMBOLIZES PRAYER AS AN INCESSANT AND VIGILENT LOOKING FOR IMPENDING DANGER SO AS TO PROTECT THE CHURCH.
PRAYER, THEN, IS CONSTANTLY TELLING THE LORD TO LOOK AT AND DEAL WITH THE DANGERS WE SEE SO THAT HIS PURPOSES FOR HIS PEOPLE WILL COME TO PASS AND NEVER BE THWARTED
THIS IS WHY OBEDIENCE IS CALLED FROM FROM THOSE WHO ARE THE OBJECT OF THE ELDERS’ CARE
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
WE PRAY FOR YOUR CARE AND CONCERN
WE GIVE NO REST TO PRAYING FOR YOU
WE GIVE THE LORD NO REST IN PRAYING FOR YOU
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE CARED FOR IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOUR SOUL AND LIFE IS BEING WATCHED BY FAITHFUL ELDERS WHO FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THEIR ROLE AS YOUR SPIRITUAL WATCHMEN
FOR WHAT SHOULD WE PRAY?
THE WILL OF GOD TO PREVAIL IN THE EARTH
THE PURPOSE AND
ILLUSTRATION
END SERMON ILLUSTRATION: BUT DAD!
I LEARNED, AS A BOY, TO TUG ON MY FATHER’S LOVE AND SOFT SPOT
JESUS IS TEACHING US TO DO THE SAME WITH OUR ETERNAL FATHER: TUG ON THE FACT THAT YOU ARE HIS DELIGHT; GIVE HIM NO REST UNTIL HE BRINGS ABOUT ....