Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“Navigating Turbulent Times with Persistent Prayer”
Romans 12:12
Review
D. Think and live wisely through turbulent times 12:12
Paul offers three anchors of stability that do not prevent the storm but offer the saint a means to survive the storms of life.
1. Regarding hope - rejoicing
To navigate turbulent times we must maintain a healthy view of the future; eternity. Paul here calls it hope. Biblical hope is the confident expectation, certain assurance, eager anticipation, settled conviction that the thing or event promised by God will most assuredly come to pass.
? Our hope is centered in the Almighty God.
? The truth of the Words and promises of God reinforces hope
? The power of the indwelling Spirit stimulates hope
? Perseverance leads to intensified hope
? Prayer reinforces hope
? Realization of God’s grace strengthens hope
What can we expect or anticipate (hope) from God and why?
? Hope of eternal life and eternal inheritance
? Future Grace and glory
? Present help in trouble
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
How should we respond to a proper perception of future positive expectations?
? Rejoice
? Walk in purity and passion in the present
? Wait patiently
? Take hold of and hold fast to your hope with courage and strength
? Keep Looking to and for Christ
? Be prepared to give an account of the hope within.
2. Regarding tribulation -- enduring
Never give up. Stay in the furnace until fully fired. The same things that give us hope give us endurance.
? The encouragement of the Scriptures.
? The power of the Holy Spirit.
? Prayer
? The encouragement of the saints.
3. Regarding prayer -- remaining constant
Prayer is conversation with God. Conversation with God, like conversation with people, has numerous aspects. We talk just to relate to one another. We communicate to exchange information. (Intellectual) We talk to express feelings and ideas and dreams. We communicate to confess wrong doing and apologize. We communicate to express a cry or need for help. We talk to communicate concern for others. All of these aspects make up a well rounded prayer life. A study of the Psalms is a study in conversing with God. You can find anything from a desperate cry for help to an exuberant shout of adoration. In the midst of tribulation and turbulent times Paul suggests not only an eternal perspective and endurance but also persistent prayer.
Prayer is intricately tied to trouble. Prayer for deliverance. Prayer for help. Prayer for strength.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me." Psalm 50:15
Many of the NT prayers expressed his passion to see people strengthened in grace.
If any lack wisdom let them ask God. (James 1)
James instructs any who are suffering to continually pray.
The Old Testament is full of those who cried out to God.
Paul cried out to God in trouble.
Paul prayed for others in trouble.
Paul asked others to pray for him for deliverance from trouble.
Don’t be anxious about anything but by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God and the peace which surpasses understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
The call to pray persistently occurs more than just this once in the Bible. The early church devoted themselves to learning, meaningful community, breaking of bread and prayers of all kinds. Paul boldly asserted his continual devotion to prayer for others and himself. Paul called on ALL believers to devote themselves to continual conversation with God.
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Ephes. 6:18
pray without ceasing; 1 Thes. 5:17
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; Col. 4:2
That means that we should be in a continuous on-going conversation with God throughout our day every day.
There is much mystery concerning prayer. There is more preaching about it than there is practice of it. It should be enough to pray simply because God asks us to.
The following are just four significant reasons to communicate with God.
? Prayer facilitates intimacy with God.
? Prayer fosters humble dependence.
? Prayer furthers God’s work.
? Prayer fortifies the soul against temptation.
One of the chief struggles with prayer is what we perceive as God’s failure to answer.
God always answers our cries, just not in the way we might want Him to. God answers yes, no or wait. There are many things that may block or delay God’s response to our prayer. Some of those things have to do with our walk and some have to do with God’s will.
OUR WALK
? Proper Attitudes
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5-7)
God looks for gratefulness and thanksgiving. Phil 4:6; Titus 2:1
? Proper Motives
God looks for a desire to do his will not ours.
The things we ask for should not be for our gain but for God’s glory. James 4:3; Col 3:17
So many places we are asked to pray according to HIS will. 1 John 5:14-15; Matt 26:39
? Purity
God looks for those with a pure heart and life.
Unconfessed sin and failure to make restitution results in delayed response. 1 John 3:22; Psalm 66:16-20; 2 Sam 21:1,14
Sometimes our sin results in some unalterable consequences that no amount of praying will change the situation this side of heaven. Jer 7:16; 11:14; 1 Cor 11:30; Deut 3:22-28
? Obedience to God’s revealed will Prov 28:9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable. Pro 28:9
? Sensitivity to the needy Prov 21:13
If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Pro 21:13
? Harmony with others
? Praying in faith James 1:5-8; Matt 13:58; Heb 11:6
? In the Spirit Eph 6:18; Jude 12:20
? Persistence Eph 6:18; Luke 18:1-8; 11:5-13
Today’s passage in Romans calls for persistent prayer in times of tribulation and trouble.
GOD'S WILL
? God sometimes delays for a better deal or plan
Zechariah, Israel in bondage, Lazarus
? Prayer may be outside the ultimate plan of God
? Prayer unanswered because of a higher priority
? Delay due to demonic interference Daniel 10
? Unanswered prayer to build faith and maturity
We may not yet be ready for the answer. There must be some other preparation before we can handle an answer.
? Avoid entanglements
God may not answer a subsequent prayer because it will violate a previous prayer for holiness.
UNEXPECTED ANSWERS
I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for-- but everything I hoped for...
The life of trust is a life of rest and a life that pleases God.
The following are aspects of prayer observed mostly through the Psalms and relate to cultivating any relationship that will hopefully help your conversation with God.
Expression
Express longings and desires, hurts, confusion, pain etc to God, joy, excitement, hope anticipation.
Cries to God, shouts to God etc.
Generally any song that expresses what emotion we might be feeling communicates to God.
Many of David’s Psalms began with cries to God out of deep emotional turmoil. They began with cries for God to hear and heed concerning his sorrow and personal pain.
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my groaning.
Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. Psalm 5:1-3
O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am pining away; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed.
And my soul is greatly dismayed; but You, O LORD—how long?
Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; save me because of Your lovingkindness.
For there is no mention of You in death; in Sheol who will give You thanks? Psalm 6:1-5
Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:1-2
Exploration (meditation)
Explore the character, person and purpose of God
As we explore and affirm the character of God the problems of the soul take on proper perspective. The Psalmist offered direct statements regarding God’s character. Give thanks for the Lord is good. God is an awesome God. Great are you Lord and greatly to be praised.
Sometimes the Psalmist would remember some past work. “You are the God who…”
Sometimes the Psalmist thinks of God in relationship to some earthly picture.
“Rock of my salvation.” “Strong tower.” “Bread of Life.”
Sometimes the Psalmist affirmed the will of God. Prayer sometimes acknowledges what God has already said He desires or wants. “You desire truth in the inward parts.” “You desire obedience over sacrifice.”
Confession
Confess how we have hurt God or failed to honor Him Of course in order to confess our sin to God we need to first recognize it as sin. Actually confession is agreeing with God concerning the gravity of our sin. The core of sin is proud rebellion against the person and will of God. This sin relates to refusing to do what he requests as well as doing what he forbids. At the core of our confession must acknowledge of our rebellion against God’s person which perhaps lead to other sinful choices against his will. These offenses have to do with our thoughts, attitudes, words, deeds. These offenses may be against God, others or even ourselves. What offenses does the Holy Spirit bring to mind that you need to confess today?
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24
Participating in the communion celebration with known sin invites God’s discipline.
Try using Psalm 51 or Psalm 32 as a model for your confession.
We should never take for granted just how wonderful the forgiveness of God is.
Isaiah said though are sins be red like crimson they shall be whit as snow through the sacrifice of Jesus.
On the basis of His sacrifice we have complete forgiveness and it is the basis for continual cleansing and fellowship with God.
Having seen Him as He is and having been willing to let him see us as we are, we are only then ready to fully embrace Him in a ritual designed to celebrate and communicate intimacy.
Adoration
Embrace God
As we come to realize the character of God we respond on a personal level. We progress from seeing God as some untouchable being to our personal God, our shepherd, our Father, my Lord and my God.
As such we express feelings of adoration or endearment. We express how we feel about Him in a personal way.
“The Lord is my shepherd.” “You are my hiding place.” “You are my life.” “There is no one like you.” “You have helped me and comforted me.” “I love you Lord.” “I worship You.” “You are great.” “You are the sustainer of my soul.”
Thanksgiving
Thank God for his many blessings
In the context of such intimacy we are in the best frame of soul to perceive God’s blessings and the things He has done for us and properly express our gratitude.
Oh my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
Oh my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said.
God has set his throne in heaven; he rules over us all. He’s the King!
So bless God, you angels, ready and able to fly at his bidding, quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels, alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are— everything and everyone made by God.
And you, oh my soul, bless God! Psalm 103 “The Message Translation”
Paul calls us to give thanks in everything.
Paul asserted that ungratefulness was an early warning of a devastating spiritual meltdown.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
Entreaty
Ask help from God for ourselves and others
With our perception corrected and our heart connected we can now effectively talk to God about what concerns us and request His intervention.
? Country
? State
? County
? Community
? Church family
? Yourself and family
Submission/ Commitment
Resolve to serve God “I will…or I want to…”
So many times we leave a conversation with God without focusing on some direction. As a result of listening to the Word or meditating, God will direct our hearts in some way. The Psalms are filled with declarations of intent and resolve to move in some direction.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about. Psalm 3:6
Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O LORD, for it is good. Psalm 54:6
So I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may pay my vows day by day. Psalm 61:8
My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; my voice rises to God, and He will hear me. Psalm 77:1
I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, and my spirit ponders Psalm 77:6
I will hear what God the LORD will say; for He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
But let them not turn back to folly. Psalm 85:8
Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, in the company of the upright and in the assembly. Psalm 111:1
What will you resolve to do?
What is God asking you to do?
Will you declare your willingness to do it publicly?
Continue to pray this blessing for the Chico family
Pray that God would grant us an irresistible spirit of intercession that we might with all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints!
Pray that God would stir in us a deeper longing to talk to Him more!
Pray that God would strengthen us by His Spirit in the inner person that we may attain to all endurance and long-suffering in the matter of a worthy walk for God and a consistent talk with God!
Invite the God of peace Himself to sanctify us entirely; and preserve complete our spirit and soul and body, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Thes. 5:23
