Persistent Prayer | Sun 20th March | 2022 Year of Abundant Harvest

We thank you for joining is tofay to celebrate our living God and His name is Jesus.

Today we will be learning about “Persistent Prayer!“

As a Church, we are on a season of 40 days prayers and we trust that after these 40 days, there will be great testimonies. Prayer is a very important weapon that God has given us and that we can use it. Unfortunately many of us fail to utilise this wonderful armour in our walk with God. We experience the supernatural in this natural realm when we pray.

Now a days, prayers have become an SOS line, which we use it only during emergencies. But remember, this is the time where only prayers will bring a revival.

Illustration: F.B. Meter once said, “The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.”

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

If we note that Gospel of Luke has several passages where Jesus is praying.

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,

The prayer life of Jesus was very important for Luke. Similarly we can take the example to follow.

If we notice two specific parables/passages in the Gospel of Luke, they are

– Luke 11:5-20 (Lord’s Prayer)

– Luke 18:1-8 (The parable of the persistent widow)

Both these parables/,passages teaches the importance of persistent prayers.

Being persistence in prayers is actually making a habit.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Christ encourages fervency and constancy in prayer. We must come for what we need, as a man does to his neighbour or friend, who is kind to him. We must come for bread; for that which is needful. If God does not answer our prayers speedily, yet he will in due time, if we continue to pray. Observe what to pray for; we must ask for the Holy Spirit, not only as necessary in order to our praying well, but as all spiritual blessings are included in that one. For by the influences of the Holy Spirit we are brought to know God and ourselves, to repent, believe in, and love Christ, and so are made comfortable in this world, and meet for happiness in the next. All these blessings our heavenly Father is more ready to bestow on every one that asks for them, than an indulgent parent is to give food to a hungry child. And this is the advantage of the prayer of faith, that it quiets and establishes the heart in God.

We will persevere when we are passionate about praying. Being passionate and persistent in prayers will lead us to victory in Christ.

Dear people of God, what is your prayer life? As a Christian we need to be dependent on God and not independent.

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”

I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

When we are persistent in prayers, God listens to us and speak with us. If we are on our own while making decisions, we might end up ruining everything. God knows what we want and what we should get, as He wants the best for us.

Persistence in prayers will keep us from falling or losing heart. When the situations appear to be hopeless and overwhelming, then get on the knees and cry unto God. God is waiting on us to call Him.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

How can we be patient in tribulation? We can be patient in God. Because Joy of Christ is the key to endurance and hope. Prayer is everything in Christian life and there is nothing in Christian life if there are no prayers. When we persistently pray and submit to God, we will be able to rejoice and endure the suffering.

Prayers engage God and enable God’s people in His kingdom.

Jesus said, “Without Me, you can do nothing!”

What is a Christian life without prayer? Well, there is nothing!

Dear people of God, may God convict us of our failures in the areas of prayers. We hope you are emcouraged with today’s message.

Thank you for joining us, we look forward to see you next Sunday. God bless!