His Heart Cry Text: Ezra 10:1
Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly.
Ezra was a priest and scribe. He was a leader in Judah following the Jews’ return from exile. Ezra was a disciplined student of God’s law. He was qualified to teach, preach, and interpret the Scripture. However, Ezra knew there was more, and no one could teach him how to pray. Ezra understood that his strength and resources came from God. Moreover, he had to relay upon his Maker for help and change. He knew God could change, people, the atmosphere and situations. There comes a time when a person just has to cry out to the Lord.
There are at least three types of prayer.
The crisis prayer. (Trouble, sickness, or general problems.)
The ministry prayer. ( Prayer team, prayer line, prayer room, Not God's plan)
The heart of everything we do-prayer.
Here’s the heart of everything prayer: Matthew 6:5-8 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Jesus’ disciples ask Him to teach them one thing, in Luke 11:1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Then Jesus gave them an example in Matthew 6:9-13KJ Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Our Father in heaven; He’s in the heavenly domain.
2. Always remember, He’s Holy and always worthy.
His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
He’s our provider. Phil.4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
He forgives sins, and He allows us to forgive others indebted to us.
He helps when we are tempted, because He was tempted in all points.
Prayer isn’t:
1. Prayer isn’t about you, and your pains.
2. Prayer isn’t for a few so called spiritual people.
What prayer should do:
1. Prayer should motivate us to believe for the lost.
2. Prayer will give us a burden for the community.
3. Prayer should be specific. (We begin by asking Jesus for a neighborhood, claim one certain area)
4. Prayer stirs us and makes us grow. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Ezra 10: 7-8 And they issued a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the descendants of the captivity, that they must gather at Jerusalem, 8 and that whoever would not come within three days, according to the instructions of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the assembly of those from the captivity.
Sounds like a good remedy for non-church attendance!
Testimony:
A small church in Indonesia that runs around 3 thousand people. The churches Pastor has to warn his people that they will be caught if they come to church twice in one day.
