10/8 Fundamental Thoughts

PRAYER

Luke 11:1-10  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  (2)  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  (3)  Give us day by day our daily bread.  (4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.  (5)  And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;  (6)  For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?  (7)  And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.  (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.  (9)  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  (10)  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Emphasis on (Luke 11:9-10)

ASK       SEEK    KNOCK

INTRODUCTION:    I would guess after salvation there is nothing more important to talk about doing.  We are commanded to lead souls to Christ, but we must pray for them and for people we may not have met. 

I.            PRAYER IS FIRST DISCUSSED IN

 (Genesis 4:26)  And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

A.           We Have A Need Of

Psalms 65:2  O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. 

Matthew 7:7-8  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

I can’t imagine a day without prayer, our family, church family, friends, all our government people they need our, MY, YOUR, prayer.  Ask for what we need but ask with sincerity and if it is God’s will it will be done.

              B.           Holy Spirit Aids In Our Prayers

Romans 8:26-27  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  ²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

We do not know God’s plan for our lives, consequently we do not have a clue as to what to pray for.  So the Holy Spirit intervenes and gets the prayer to Jesus the way it is needed for Jesus to send it on to God.

              ILLUSTRATION             Unspoken Prayer

Unspoken prayers are kept that way so the devil doesn’t have a clue as what we said to God. 

              C.           Our Prayers Are Odors To God

Revelation 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Prayer and praise should always go together.

(Revelation 8:3)  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 

No prayer sent through Christ was ever denied.  These prayers that have been accepted in Heaven have produced great changes. 

We presume these odors to be pleasant odors, representing favorable Christian holy prayers. 

What do you suppose deceitful, hateful prayers smell like?  Do they get to God?  Not according to the scripture.

II.           OUR PRAYERS THROUGH CHRIST ARE INTERCESSORY 

              A.           For Sinners

In these verses Jesus is praying for future believers.

John 17:20-21  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; ²¹  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

                 B.            For Weak Believers

 Luke 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 

Though we may fall, we shall not be utterly cast down.  we are asked to encourage others.  We are like those of “little faith” such as Simon Peter, ME, YOU.

              C.           For Our Enemies

In this next verse Jesus was hanging on the cross.

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 

This prayer of Jesus’ was while He was being nailed to the cross or just after.

              D.           For Our Church

In this next verse John 17:9 Jesus is praying for His apostles (church).  To all that receive Christ’s Word, and believe in Him.  Christ has redeemed us , not to Himself only, but to God, by His blood.

John 17:9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

III.         PRAYERS ANSWERED

              A.           Moses

 Exodus 15:24-25  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?  ²⁵  And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 

              B.           Gideon

 Judges 6:39-40  And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.  ⁴⁰And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.  

IV.         POSTURES OF PRAYING 

              A.           Bowing 

Genesis 24:26  And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. 

              B.           On Face before God

Joshua 5:14  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 

              C.           Standing

1 Kings 8:22  And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

V.           WHERE SHOULD WE PRAY

              A.           Christ’s Command

Matthew 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 

VI.         WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY

              A.           Morning

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. 

              B.           Evening

Mark 6:46-47  And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 

              C.           All The Time

 (1 Thessalonians 5:17)  Pray without ceasing.

CONCLUSION:               What is your prayer life like?

You must have your salvation?  Prayers will be answered without salvation.

But he “God” requires salvation to enter heaven.

Are you ready?   If you don’t know or aren’t sure

Get it settled today before it’s to late.

10/6 Fundamental Thoughts - Sermons

Ground Zero

Titus 2:11-14  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  (12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  (13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  (14)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

INTRODUCTION:             As I was listening to talk on the TV concerning the Muslims were going to build a mosque at “GROUND ZERO” apparently on the physical grounds.   I had no problem knowing the term, GROUND ZERO meant the Towers in NYC.  Most here today who are old enough to follow the news reports of the last few years most likely knows what the term GROUND ZERO means.

              Since the event of September 11th, we have grown increasingly concerned with this “Ground Zero” it has almost become “Holy” ground.

              I would like to move the focus of GROUND ZERO from New York City and the vacant lots of the WTC towers to Wellington, Texas Allow me to make some observations and applications, which will become obvious as the message unfolds. But first, my text:

Here in Wellington

I.            THERE ARE THOSE IN NEED AND THOSE                    (v 12)

REACHING OUT TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

A.           If One Had Been On Hand That Fateful Day, In NYC,

1.           A quick observation would have revealed two groups of people.

i.            There were those RUNNING FROM the confusion.

ii.           AND there were those RUNNING INTO the confusion.

B.           A Similar Phenomenon Exists Today.

1.           There are people who desperately want to get away from the confusion of the world, but they have no idea where to turn.

2.           That's where we come in.

i.            We must be characterized as those who are RUNNING INTO THE CONFUSION.

ii.               If I am going against the general direction of the crowd, I must know something they don't know.

C.           What Do You Know That The World Doesn't Know?

1.           Someone has characterized the work of the believer today as "random rescue raids into the kingdom of darkness."

  

Here in Wellington

II.           THERE ARE SOME IN DESPERATE NEED AND SOME WHO DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE A NEED.                (v 12)

A.           Those Who Are Trapped And Know It Realize Their Desperate Situation.

1.           Many who are sinners KNOW they are sinners and want help ... but they may not know where to turn.

2.           Some who are sinners KNOW they are sinners but think they can "work it out with God."

B.           Those Who Are Unconscious Are Not Aware Of The Serious Nature Of Their Situation.

1.           Some who are sinners do not realize the consequences of sin.

2.           It is our responsibility to help them to "awake to righteousness" ...tell them about Jesus Christ.

C.           Aware Or Not Aware, Anyone Without Christ Is In A Desperate Situation.

 Here in Wellington

III.         BY-STANDERS ARE SOON DRAWN INTO THE ACTION.

                                                                                                                       

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

A.           The Task Forces ALL To Respond.

              1.           “Go Ye”

B.           One Who Is Aware Of His Surroundings Cannot, Will Not, Allow Things To Go On Without His Becoming Involved.

1.           Given the opportunity to save a life or not save a life, how would you respond?

2.           I think everyone here would say, "If I could do something to save a life, I would do it."

3.           Given the opportunity to keep someone out of hell or let them go there by your silence, what would you do?

4.           If saving a life "physically" is so important, how much more important is it to change one's outcome for eternity?

Here in Wellington

IV.         THE WORK TO BE DONE CALLS FOR MORE THAN ORDINARY EFFORT.

A.           People Did Things They Thought They WOULD Never Do.

B.           People Did Things They Thought They COULD Never Do.

C.           Some Of You Here Today Probably Think That You COULD Never Lead A Soul To Christ.

1.           Do you think that,

              i.            Because you don't know how?

2.           Or do you think that,

              i.            Because you are afraid?

3.           Or do you think that,

              1.           Because you think that God could never use you?

Here in Wellington

V.           THERE ARE NO SPECTATORS.

A.           Being A Spectator Was Not Tolerated By Those Who Were Helping And Those In Need.

B.           The World Is Literally Going To Hell At An Alarming Rate ... Right Now ... There Is No Time For Spectators.

Here in Wellington

VI.         THERE IS NO THOUGHT OF STOPPING UNTIL THE TASK IS FINISHED.

A.           It Was Not Until May 2002 That The Worksite In NYC Was Declared "finished."

B.           I Want To Say With All The Passion In My Soul This Morning, THE TASK OF REACHING THE LOST FOR CHRIST IS NOT FINISHED.

1.           It won't be finished until the Lord returns.

2.           We can sit around and declare that "soul winning is hard" and "it's harder than it has ever been," but the truth of the matter is,

John 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Here in Wellington

VII.        IT IS NOT ABOUT A PAT ON THE BACK ... IT IS ABOUT "RESCUING THOSE IN DEPSERATE NEED."

A.           There Were No Heroes ... Just Workers.

B.           There Is No Disgrace Is Being "Just A Worker."

1.           You don't have to have a Bible college education to share Christ with someone.

2.           You don't have to be a S. S. teacher to share Christ with someone.

3.           You just have to love them enough to want to keep them out of hell.

CONCLUSION:               Here in Wellington, there are those in need and those reaching out to meet those needs.

Here in Wellington, there are some in desperate need and some who don't know they have a need.

Here in Wellington, by-standers are soon drawn into action.

Here in Wellington, the work to be done calls for more than ordinary effort.

Here in Wellington, there are no spectators.

Here in Wellington, there is no thought of stopping until the task is finished.

Here in Wellington, it is not about "a pat on the back" ... it is about "rescuing those in desperate need."

We are living at GROUND ZERO (Here in Wellington)... Right Here In Our Town...

Smell the sweat, hear the cries, and see the ones, who don't know they have a need,

AND by God's grace, REACH OUT ... Don't Be A By-Stander...

USE MORE THAN ORDINARY EFFORT...

DON'T STOP UNTIL THE TASK IS FINISHED ... and FORGET ABOUT WHO GETS THE CREDIT...

Fanny Crosby wrote,

"Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;

Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave.

Weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen.

Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.