Devote yourself to Pray

Scriptures: Colossians 4:2-3 “2 Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving. 3 At the same time pray for us, too, that God will open a door [of opportunity] to us for the word, to proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear [and speak boldly and unfold the mystery] in the way I should.
The Word of God teaches and admonished us to train ourselves towards godliness, for it is profitable for all things, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”(1 Timothy 4:7-8) and one significant factor that helps to achieve it, is our Prayer Life. On the first part of this sermon, if you still remember (should be remember) is found in the book of Luke 18:1 “men always ought to pray and not lose heart!” to be persistent in praying not only until we received the answers to our prayers but also until the transformational changes happens in our hearts and will, because prayer matters the most, and it changes and does everything that we cannot do by ourselves alone.
For us as believers, prayers has tremendous impact especially on our own faith and life. Understand what an awesome privilege it is to kneel before God and know He listens and will respond. “’Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
Devote yourselves to prayer! And according to scriptures there are three ways to that

1.In the secret place – meaning having personal communion with God. Matthew 6:6 “When you pray, go into a room by yourself. After you have shut the door, pray to your Father Who is in secret. Then your Father Who sees in secret will reward you

2.Corporate Prayer– Matthew 18:19-20 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
James 5:16 “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
3.Intercession– “3At the same time pray for us, too.
In these prayers, we ask God for needs regarding our own life or the lives of others (1 Timothy 2:1) that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.

Why do we need to pray?
Will God’s plan fail if we don’t pray? Does our prayer or lack of prayers impacts God’s work? Scriptures tell us the answers to these questions is Yes and No. It is NO because God is the sovereign God, He is superior and nor He is dependent upon our prayers. He can carry on without our involvement. He can do all things, for no plans of God can be thwarted. (Job 42:2) In other cases it is Yes, James 4:2 “You have not because you ask not”. Sometimes there are some good things that He holds back until we pour our hearts to Him and put our prayerful hands to receive them.
The Bible recorded many prayers that transformed lives and guided of the course of nations.

-Solomon (1 Kings 3) prays for wisdom “Give your servant an understanding mind… able to discern the difference between good and evil.” He pray also for the establishment and permanency of David’s kingship 2 Chronicles 6:12-42 “let your word that you promised your servant David come true.” At the dedication prayer of the temple built by Solomon.

-Jabez prayer for blessings -1 Chronicles 4:10 “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.

– Hannah’s heartfelt prayer, desperate yet faithful prayer 1 Samuel 1:10-11 “ Oh, God Almighty, if you will only see my misery and remember me by giving me a son, then I will give my son to serve you, God, for all the days of his life.”

-Hezekiah’s prayer for healing – (2 Kings 20:3 )“Please, Lord, just remember how I have walked before You wholeheartedly and in truth, and have done what is good in Your sight!” And Hezekiah wept [b]profusely.

-Daniel’s prayer for forgiveness and mercy from the Lord ( Daniel 9:19) “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
Jesus Prayers for His disciples and for all believers (John 17) and even until He perpetually prays for us “Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:34 – The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:9-13
Jesus, He is our AID! A- Advocate (1 John 2:1)
I – Intercessor (Romans 8:34)
D- Deliverer- (Psalm 18:2) The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer!
What is the importance of having a systematic prayer life? Daniel prayed three times a day, the disciples Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer (Acts 3:1) Jesus Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray. (Mark 1:35)
What does it means to pray without ceasing? (1 Thessalonians 5:16) to pray with thanksgiving? And to pray with the spirit and to pray with understanding? (1 Corinthians 14:14-15) and most importantly why worry when you can pray? The Scripture says in Luke 12:25 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
Worry is a conversation you have with yourself about things you cannot change but Prayer is a conversation you have with God about the things He can change.

1.Prayer is the platform for making petitions and obtaining requests. Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
ASK – Ask, Seek, Knock! Matthew 7:7-8

2.Prayer is turning spoken words into manifestation. Revelation 1:6 “ And hath made us kings and priests unto God. What does a king do? Kings make decree! Ecclesiastes 8:4 “Where the word of a king is, there is power.
What does a priest or man of God do? Priest make pronouncement or declarations. “You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak (Exodus 19:6) Scripture-based prayers are powerful prayers because God is bound by His words.

3.Prayer is to worship (Adoration) and for warfare purposes.
Nehemiah’s prayer in Nehemiah 1:5 “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love.”
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Pray in the Spirit on all occasions (Ephesians 6:18)
The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. (Deuteronomy 28:7)

4.Prayer is for our personal growth (edification) and transformation. Luke 9:29 “ As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.