Sermons
July 2nd, 2023 by Pastor Solley070223AM *Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace
Sub. Prayer
Theme: Power in prayer
Text: Heb 4:14-16
“Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace” Hebrews 4:14-16
Introduction
I want to speak to you this morning on the subject of prayer and power in prayer using Hebrews chapter four as a starting point. Here we find an invitation to pray, a command to pray. – Heb 4:14-16 – God wants us to pray, commands us to pray. I also believe that God wants His children, wants us to be powerful in prayer.
I. Prayer is the most powerful thing available to the child of God, the most powerful thing in the universe: Prayer moves the hand of God. Prayer changes people. Prayer is able to suspend the laws of nature, of physics, and of science. I find in the Bible that because Isaiah prayed the sun moved backwards ten degrees. I find in the Bible that because three prayed in Babylon that fire that killed all who even got close to it could not hurt them and not even the smell of smoke clung to them. I find in the Bible that because Daniel prayed hungry lions passed up a meal until he was taken out of the way. I find in the Bible that because Elijah prayed he controlled the weather for three and one half years. I find in the Bible that because Jesus prayed the dead came back to life. I find in the Bible that because the church prayed Peter was led from prison by an angel. Prayer changes things, changes people, prayer is the most powerful thing in the universes and God wants us to be powerful in prayer.
A. We should want that type of prayer life today and it is available to us: Three things I am sure of about prayer.
1. God would not give us those examples to show us what we could not be: The Bible does not give us examples of what we cannot be but of what we can be. Isaiah, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, Elijah, Jesus, and the church at Jerusalem are held up as examples to show us what type of prayer life we can have. God gives us examples of what we can be.
2. God does not make promises concerning prayer that we cannot obtain: I believe that what God promises in prayer is for us today.
a. Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. That promise not just for Jeremiah but for us today.
b. Matt 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. That promise not just for the disciples but for us today.
c. 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: That promise not just for the church at Ephesus but for us today.
4. God does want us to be powerful in prayer:
B. But is that what we want today? That type of power in prayer seems to be missing so much of the time in so many of our lives. Proof of that are the many books that have been written and continue to be written about prayer. Bible book stores used to have aisles filled with books on prayer. I did an Amazon search for books on prayer and got 6,000 results. People are searching for the type of prayer life that Isaiah had, that Daniel had, that Elijah had and so many more. But where to look seems to be a mystery to many.
II. The Bible has the answers and the keys to a powerful prayer life: Heb 4:16 The word boldly suggests power in prayer.
A. There are a few things that boldly does not mean and they need to be pointed out: Boldly does not mean we come before the throne of grace in prayer as if we have earned the right. It does not mean we come to the throne of grace in prayer to order God to do what we demand. It does not mean we come to the throne of grace filled with pride.
1. But the word boldly does suggest an element of power does it not? Heb 14:16
2. The only other place the word boldly is found in the book of Hebrews also suggests an element of power: Heb 13:6
3. God wants us to be powerful in prayer:
B. But is that what we want today? And if the answer is yes we must be willing to do what is necessary to become powerful in prayer.
PROP: The Bible holds the keys to a powerful prayer life. TS. But are we willing to do what the Bible says to be powerful in prayer?
Body
I. Power is prayer is found in Jesus Christ: Heb 4:14-16 The illustration of the High Priest is used because Hebrew believers to whom this was given knew what it took under Old Testament Law to come before Jehovah God in formal worship. They had to come before Jehovah through the High Priest in formal worship. They could worship at other times, pray always as we can, but in formal worship they had to approach Jehovah through the High Priest. Passover, atonement, and other times of worship required they come before Jehovah through the High Priest. They were very familiar with the illustration used here in Hebrews four.
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A. Today Jesus is our High Priest: Heb 4:14 Jesus is directly refereed to as our High Priest eleven times in the book of Hebrews. Do you think God is trying to tells us something, tell them of a new and better way. – Heb 9:11-12 – That better way is Jesus Christ.
1. Jesus said He is the only way to the Father: John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
2. Our Great High Priest, our way to the Father is Jesus Christ: 1 Tim 2:5-6
3. We have a new and better way to come before the throne of grace today, we have Jesus Christ: Jesus is the only way.
B. Only after one is born again, only after one is in Christ can prayers be answered and power found in prayer: Heb 4:14-16 If not in Christ, if not born again not only will be powerless in prayer your prayers cannot be answered. Sin separates from God and because of an unforgiven sin nature the lost individual cannot have their prayers answered.
1. It is often said that God doesn’t hear the prayers of the lost but that is not exactly true: God knows everything, knows even the thoughts and intents of the heart, knows every idle word spoken by man. God knows each mocking word said by unbelief. God knows each blasphemous word said by unbelief. God hears when a sparrow touches the ground so God does hear the prayers of the lost.
2. But because of sin God cannot answer those prayers: Sin separates man and his prayers from God no matter how sincere they are.
3. The first prayer God can answer from the mouth of a lost person is the cry for salvation: Rom 10:9-10 , 13 That prayer God hears and for the first time is able to answer for that one is no longer lost, they now stand in Christ.
4. Once in Christ not only are prayers heard they can now be answered:
C. It stands to reason then that the closer we are walking with Christ the more powerful we can be in prayer: Power in prayer is found in Jesus Christ and the closer we are walking with Christ the more powerful we can be in prayer. There is an illustration of this truth found in the gospel of Mark.
1. In Mark chapter six the disciples are sent out two by two by Jesus: Mark 6:7 And they did have power to cast out unclean spirits, to cast our demons and to heal. – Mark 6:13
2. Now these same ones a short time later: Mark 9:14-27 This is the same group of disciples we saw in Mark six, the very same thing was needed that they were able to do in Mark six. But now they could not cast out that demon. – Mark 9:17-18
3. So Jesus then casts out the demon: Mark 9:19-27 Jesus does what they could not do even though they had done it before.
4. Now, the question the disciples had for Jesus and His answer: Mark 9:28-29 What is the difference between chapter six and nine?
a. Jesus was close by and sent them out in chapter six. Jesus sent them out two by two.
b. But in chapter nine Jesus is not close by. – Mark 9:14 – Jesus was not so near by and I believe that is why they could not cast the demon out of that boy.
c. Now the answer of Jesus. – Mark 9:29 What is the purpose of a fast?
d. You fast to get close to the Lord, to get close to Jesus. You fast to get closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. It stands to reason that the closer we walk with the Lord Jesus Christ the more powerful we will be in prayer:
D. When you seem to lack power in prayer you need to get closer to Christ, you need to walk closer to Jesus: And when you lack power in prayer and claim that you are walking close to Jesus you are deceiving yourself. When I lack power in prayer I need to walk closer to Jesus. Power in prayer is found in Jesus Christ.
1. What is keeping you from being close to Jesus? What can you put away so you can be closer to Jesus each and everyday?
a. Instead of picking up your smart phone could you pick up your Bible?
b. Instead of posting on face book could you talk more to Jesus?
c. Could you be found in the hose of God more often?
d. Could you give yourself more to serving the Lord?
2. If you want power in prayer you need to get close to Jesus: Closer and closer to Jesus day by day.
E. Power in prayer is found in Jesus Christ:
II. Power in prayer is found in praying: Those who have power in prayer are found often in prayer. – James 5:17 – Elijah was an example used in the introduction to this message and what does it tell us about Elijah here? Elijah prayed. – James 5:17 – He did some other things as well, but Elijah prayed.
A. If you want power in prayer you need to spend time in prayer: Consider these commands to pray. – Luke 18:1 ; Luke 21:36 ;
Rom 12:12 ; Eph 6:18 ; Col 4:2 ; 1 Thess 5:17 ; 1 Pet 4:7 – Would you agree that God wants us to pray?
1. God never gets tired of hearing your voice in prayer: God invites you to pray, commands you to pray.
2. You can never pray too much for God:
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B. Yet we find that time spent in prayer can be lacking in the Christian life: James 4:1-2 One of the problems this group of believers had was that they were not praying. – James 4:2 “Ye have not because ye ask not.” Ever wonder what God was not giving to them because they didn’t ask? I wonder about things like that.
1. What might I be missing out on in this life because I don’t ask, because I don’t pray as I should? If the promises of answered prayer in the Bible are for us today then wouldn’t this be for us as well? – James 4:2
2. What if I spent the time in prayer I should? Luke 6:12 What if I did that, would I find more power in prayer?
3. What if I prayed about everything and gave thanks for everything? 1 Thess 5:17-18 Would I find more power in prayer?
4. What if we spent the time in prayer we should be spending? Would we find more power in prayer?
5. How much time do you spend in prayer?
6. How many things do you fail to ask about in prayer?
C. Now we do need to ask for the right things and in the right way: James 4:3 I need to ask but I also need to ask according to His will and for His glory and not for mine. Even in prayer I should be pointing to Christ and His glory.
1. I pray for healing in my own body and for others: I should be praying for God to be glorified and so I could better serve Christ.
2. I pray for daily provisions: It should be so I can better serve Jesus.
3. Even as I pray for things prayer should not be about me, it should be about Christ: James 4:3
4. What is the aim of your prayers? To lift you up or to glorify Jesus Christ?
D. Power in prayer is found in praying:
III. Power in prayer is found in fervency: James 5:16 The Bible speaks here of effectual fervent prayer. – James 5:16 – So it will be fervent prayer that will be effectual.
A. What then is fervent prayer? Fervent prayer means we are putting our all into prayer. It is not half hearted prayer, it is putting your all into prayer. Fervent prayer is putting your all into prayer.
ILL. Are there times when you are less than fervent in prayer? The answer is yes and I can name some of them this morning.
(1) Can you say you are fervent in prayer when you say grace before a meal? Or do you repeat some words over and over again before each meal or forget what you have prayed before you take the first bite?
(2) When you bow your head in your daily prayers do you remember what you have prayed ten minutes later.
(3) When you ask for traveling mercies is it as short a prayer as possible.
(4) Even called to make public prayer is it as short as you can possible make it?
B. If you want power in prayer you need to be fervent, you need to put your all into prayer: That is when power follows prayer.
1. Do you think Jesus was fervent in prayer in the garden? Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. The power that followed that prayer took Jesus all the way to the cross for me and then brought Him out of the grave. Jesus was fervent in prayer.
2. Do you think Daniel was fervent in prayer when commanded not to pray: Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. The power that followed that prayer shut the mouths of lions. Daniel was fervent in prayer.
3. Do you think Elijah was fervent in prayer? 1 Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. The power that followed that prayer brought fire down from heaven. Elijah was fervent in prayer.
ILL. We find ourselves fervent in prayer when the need is great. (1) Praying for my son when he was diagnosed with an incurable disease made me fervent in prayer. (2) Praying for my wife to come out of what I thought was a coma made me fervent in prayer. But I need to be fervent in prayer all of the time.
C. When does God want what is less than my best effort? Eccl 9:10 When should this not apply? When does God want what is less than my best effort? God forgive me for the times I don’t give my best effort.
1. Would this apply to prayer? Eccl 9:10
2. Why do I think I should give half hearted effort in prayer and find that acceptable to God: If I want my prayers to carry power I need to be fervent in prayer, I need to give my best effort.
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D. Power in prayer is found in fervency:
IV. I have more to look at next week concerning power in prayer but keep this in mind, God wants us all to have power in prayer: James 5:17 Elijah was just like any of us here this morning and we can have power in prayer.
Conclusion
Do you want to have power in prayer today?
I. Power is prayer is found in Jesus Christ: Heb 4:14-16 The illustration of the High Priest is used because Hebrew believers to whom this was given knew what it took under Old Testament Law to come before Jehovah God in formal worship. They had to come before Jehovah through the High Priest in formal worship. They could worship at other times, pray always as we can, but in formal worship they had to approach Jehovah through the High Priest. Passover, atonement, and other times of worship required they come before Jehovah through the High Priest. They were very familiar with the illustration used here in Hebrews four.
II. Power in prayer is found in praying: Those who have power in prayer are found often in prayer. – James 5:17 – Elijah was an example used in the introduction to this message and what does it tell us about Elijah here? Elijah prayed. – James 5:17 – He did some other things as well, but Elijah prayed.
III. Power in prayer is found in fervency: James 5:16 The Bible speaks here of effectual fervent prayer. – James 5:16 – So it will be fervent prayer that will be effectual.