{"id":1537,"date":"2018-04-08T02:59:23","date_gmt":"2018-04-08T02:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/?p=1537"},"modified":"2018-04-10T18:04:49","modified_gmt":"2018-04-10T18:04:49","slug":"sermon-april-8-2018-extreme-prayer-the-importance-of-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/sermon-april-8-2018-extreme-prayer-the-importance-of-prayer\/","title":{"rendered":"Sermon &#8211; April 8, 2018: &#8220;Extreme Prayer &#8211; The Importance of Prayer&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1537-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/sermons\/apr8-18.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/sermons\/apr8-18.mp3\">http:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/sermons\/apr8-18.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<h2><strong>Extreme Prayer<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>The Importance of Prayer<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Communication <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Communication is the transmission of information.<\/li>\n<li>Everything communicates something.<\/li>\n<li>Creation itself began with communication.<\/li>\n<li>God\u2019s relationship with man demands communication.<\/li>\n<li>Whatever the Bible says about communication with God it does so with an underlying expectation that we do communicate with God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prayer is communication with God.<\/li>\n<li>The need to pray is built into the very nature of man.<\/li>\n<li>The main Greek and Hebrew words for prayer imply humility.<\/li>\n<li>Unfortunately sin and pride stifle prayer.<\/li>\n<li>Far too many of us don\u2019t see the point in praying because of our lack of need.<\/li>\n<li>This has created a vacuum of prayer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Problem<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We have become blinded into thinking we do not want for anything.<\/li>\n<li>Our focus has been turned to this world and what it offers.<\/li>\n<li>Problem is, nothing we do or gain here goes with us into the afterlife.<\/li>\n<li>Solomon understood that living for one\u2019s personal satisfaction in this life is meaningless.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Solution to a Meaningful Life<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Solomon\u2019s answer was \u201cFear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.\u201d \u2013 Ecclesiastes 12:13<\/li>\n<li>We see more clearly.<\/li>\n<li>Jesus commanded us to love, and we are to proclaim the good news and disciple others.<\/li>\n<li>We have been giving meaning and purpose; the ultimate goal is the salvation of others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Importance of Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Honestly, it is hard to live with this purpose in mind when this life has so many concerns itself.<\/li>\n<li>Fortunately, we have Jesus (Hebrews 4:14-15) and prayer (Hebrews 4:16).<\/li>\n<li>Jesus is our example and he has shown us that prayer is extremely important.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Example of Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Communication with the Father was so important that prayer was second nature to Jesus.<\/li>\n<li>Jesus prayed, taught how to pray and commanded to pray.<\/li>\n<li>Jesus even added a new dimension to prayer when he commanded his disciples to ask in his name and promised that it would be given. (Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Makes Sense<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Human beings are limited and weak.<\/li>\n<li>However, God has given us access to himself who is Sovereign, all powerful, all knowing and ever present.<\/li>\n<li>If we want to live with meaning and purpose it will require us to make prayer a priority.<\/li>\n<li>It is only by God\u2019s power, not our own, that people will enter into the kingdom of heaven, and so prayer must be a priority.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Jesus and Prayer in Scripture<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><u>Jesus gives thanks and blesses food<\/u>\n<ul>\n<li>Matthew 14:5; Mark 6:41; Luke 9:15; John 6:11 &#8211; Jesus blesses (give thanks) before feeding the five thousand<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 15:36 and Mark 8:6-7 &#8211; Jesus gives thanks and blesses before feeding the four thousand<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; and Luke 22:14-23 &#8211; Jesus gives thanks and blesses the bread and cup (institution of the Lord&#8217;s Supper)<\/li>\n<li>Luke 24:30 &#8211; Jesus blesses the bread during the supper at Emmaus (interesting that the disciples who were with Jesus recognized him after he blessed the food)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><u>Jesus&#8217; other examples of praying<\/u>\n<ul>\n<li>Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12, 9:28 &#8211; Prayed on the mountain (before walking on water and before choosing the disciples)<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 19:13 &#8211; Prayed over the children<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 26:36-41; Mark 14:32-42 &#8211; Prayed in Gethsemane<\/li>\n<li>Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16 &#8211; Withdrew to &#8220;desolate places&#8221; to pray<\/li>\n<li>Luke 3:21 &#8211; Prayed at his baptism<\/li>\n<li>Luke 9:18 &#8211; Prayed alone with his disciples (before Peter&#8217;s confession)<\/li>\n<li>Luke 9:29 &#8211; Prayed on the mountain during the event of the transfiguration<\/li>\n<li>Luke 11:1 &#8211; Prayed in a &#8220;certain place&#8221; (before teaching the disciples how to pray)<\/li>\n<li>John 14:16-17 &#8211; Jesus will ask (pray to) God for the Holy Spirit to be given to his disciples<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><u>Jesus&#8217; prayers<\/u>\n<ul>\n<li>Matthew 11:25-26; Luke 10:21 &#8211; Prayer of thanksgiving.<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 26:39 &amp; 42; Mark 14:36 &#8211; Prayer of supplication.<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34 &#8211; A cry out to God &#8220;&#8230;why have you forsaken me?&#8221; (Supplication)<\/li>\n<li>Luke 22:32 &#8211; though we don&#8217;t see Jesus praying Jesus tells Peter he has prayed for him that his faith may not fail (Intercession)<\/li>\n<li>Luke 23:34 &#8211; Asking God to forgive mankind (or those crucifying him) (Intercession)<\/li>\n<li>Luke 23:46 &#8211; &#8220;Father, into your hands I commit my spirit&#8221; (Supplication)<\/li>\n<li>John 11:41-42 &#8211; Before raising Lazarus (Intercession)<\/li>\n<li>John 12:28 &#8211; A prayer that God&#8217;s name will be glorified (Adoration)<\/li>\n<li>John 17 &#8211; Jesus&#8217; high priestly prayer (Intercession)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><u>Jesus&#8217; teaching about prayer<\/u>\n<ul>\n<li>Matthew 18:19 &#8211; If two agree in what they ask for it will be done for them<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-25 &#8211; If we ask in faith we will receive (Lesson of the withered fig tree)<\/li>\n<li>Mark 11:25 &#8211; Prayer must be accompanied by forgiveness of others<\/li>\n<li>Luke 18:9-14 &#8211; Prayer requires humility<\/li>\n<li>John 14:13-14, 16:23-24 &#8211; Whatever is asked for in Jesus name he will do it (so that God will be glorified)<\/li>\n<li>John 15:7-8 &#8211; If Christ abides in us, and his words abide in us, we can ask whatever we wish and it will be done. By this God is glorified when we bear fruit.<\/li>\n<li>John 15:16 &#8211; Jesus will do whatever we ask in his name so that we may bear fruit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><u>Jesus&#8217; commands about prayer<\/u>\n<ul>\n<li>Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28 &#8211; Pray for those who persecute you.<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 6:5-14; Luke 11:1-13 &#8211; How to pray &#8220;When you pray&#8221; (Lord&#8217;s prayer)<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2 &#8211; Pray for &#8220;laborers of the harvest&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 24:20; Mark 13:18 &#8211; Prayer concerning the time of flight during Jewish persecution<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 26:40; Mark 14:38 &#8211; To disciples to pray that they may not fall into temptation<\/li>\n<li>Luke 18:1-8 &#8211; Always pray and do not lose hope (parable of the persistent widow)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Extreme Prayer The Importance of Prayer Communication Communication is the transmission of information. Everything communicates something. Creation itself began with communication. God\u2019s relationship with man demands communication. Whatever the Bible says about communication with God it does so with an<\/p>\n<p class=\"continue-reading-button\"> <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/sermon-april-8-2018-extreme-prayer-the-importance-of-prayer\/\"><i class=\"crycon-right-dir\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,21,43,11,10],"tags":[48,57,84,24,44,13],"class_list":["post-1537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-studies","category-members","category-sermon","category-service","category-worship","tag-bible-studies","tag-bible-study","tag-extreme-prayer","tag-members","tag-sermon","tag-worship"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1537"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1537\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1538,"href":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1537\/revisions\/1538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kcc.life\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}