The Importance of Prayer - Part 3

6. Prayer Is the Way We Receive Mercy and Grace in Times of Need


Heb 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

God has appointed a way how we may obtain mercy and grace.

That way is prayer; bold, confident, outspoken approach to the throne of grace, the most holy place of God’s presence.

Look at verse 14&15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Mercy is what we need

Grace is what we must have

Prayer is the way to get them

Jesus Christ wants us to come and come asking.

Luke 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

7. Prayer in the Name of Jesus Is How We Obtain Fullness of Joy

John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (Made Full)

Why is it that prayer in the name of Christ brings fullness of joy?

• We get what we ask

• It makes God real

• It brings communion with God

• He is there

Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Are you thinking - I have never known any such joy as that in prayer

Ask yourself then. Do you take enough leisure for prayer to actually get into God’s presence? Do you really give yourself up to prayer in the time which you take?

8. Prayer is the way to freedom from worry and to God’s Peace

8th reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that prayer, in every care and anxiety and need of life, with thanksgiving is the means that God has appointed for obtaining freedom all anxiety, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Be careful for nothing – In nothing be anxious

The rest of the verse gives us the HOW

Verse 7 gives us the RESULTS

What are we allowing to crowd out our prayer life? Why is it that we allow this we know what is good for us? (Example of food)

Time spent in prayer is not wasted, but time invested at big interest.

The Importance of Prayer - Part 2

Reading today is Acts Chapter 6

3. The Apostles Regarded Prayer as the Most Important Business of Their Lives


The 3rd reason for this Sleepless, vigilant persistent prayer

Acts 6:2-4

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Life for them was busy! We need to get our priorities right! What is the most important thing

Review the verses – Rom 1:9, Eph 1:15-16, Col 1:9, 1 Thes 3:10 and 2 Tim 1:3

All mighty men of God were men of prayer. They may have differed in way but they were men of prayer.

We should read about George Muller who was a great man of prayer.

4. Prayer Was Very Important in the Early Life of Jesus

Jesus Christ is a great example for us to follow

Read Mark 1:35 - And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

What do we learn from this verse?

Luke 6:12 - And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Christ found it necessary!

WWJD - A man or woman who doesn’t spend time in prayer cannot truly say they are a follower of Jesus Christ.

5. Praying Is the most Important Part of the Present Ministry of Our Risen Lord

Christ’s ministry didn’t end with His death. His atoning work was finished. He now carries our salvation on to completeness.

Heb 7:25 - Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Save them to the UTTERMOST – not from but to!

His purpose is now to make intercession for us

Read also Rom 8:34

This is a great ministry that we all can have part in.

We must take time and do it now.

The Importance of Prayer - Part 1

Reading Eph 6:10-24

What is one of the most important things in the Christian life?

Text – V18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Prayer – Worship

Supplication – Request

Notice the word – All

Strong words – Prayer, supplication, perseverance (we give up)

Strong expression – “watching thereunto” See Matthew 26:41 –

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

The idea here is to be vigilant or sleepless in the matter of prayer.

1. Why pray? Because there is a Devil

Look at verse 12 and then look at our instruction to follow in verse 13

We are instructed to put on the full armour but verse 18 brings it to a climax. Yes it is to vigilant, sleepless and persistent prayer.

In the Spirit or else it will fail

2. Prayer is God’s appointed way to obtain things

Read James 4:2

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

These last few words contain the secret of the poverty and powerlessness of the average Christian.

I make so little progress in my Christian life – why

Neglect of prayer - ye have not, because ye ask not.

I see so little fruit in my labours

Neglect of prayer - ye have not, because ye ask not.