How to Pray Without Ceasing -- Zac Poonen -- August 28, 2022
https://rlcf.church/media/sermons/how-to-pray-without-ceasing River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message emphasizes taking God's commands, such as praying without ceasing, with utmost seriousness and persistence. The speaker warns against giving up halfway or dismissing commands as impossible, asserting that true love for Christ is proven by obedience to His commandments. He encourages believers to strive for deep obedience rather than settling for a shallow, half-hearted faith.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What does it mean to pray at all times?Jesus told a parable in Luke to teach disciples that they ought to pray at all times and not lose heart, which means maintaining a 24-hour spirit of dependence.Luke 18:1
Pray without ceasingPaul instructs believers in Thessalonians to pray without stopping, and genuine love for Jesus is proven by obeying His commandments.1 Thessalonians 5:17
Shifting prayer from asking to listeningMost prayers focus heavily on asking God for personal needs while ignoring that God already knows everything, much like taking up all the time talking to a godly mentor instead of listening.
Developing the habit of listening to GodJust as people can listen to music or messages while working, believers can train their minds to keep an open heart and listen to God throughout daily tasks.
Praying at all times in the SpiritEphesians reinforces praying at all times in the Holy Spirit, which means true prayer begins with God placing a burden in our hearts rather than starting with our own selfish desires.
The year of a disciple leads to the tongue of a discipleIsaiah prophesies about Christ having the ear of a disciple wakened morning by morning, showing that hearing from God first enables us to sustain weary people with our words.
The persistent widow and our opponentThe parable of the widow demanding justice from an unrighteous judge illustrates that we must never give up when the enemy harasses our hearts with anxiety and wrong attitudes.Luke 18:3–5
Persistence in asking for the Holy SpiritA second parable about a man asking his friend for bread at midnight illustrates persistent prayer directed toward receiving the Holy Spirit to help others.Luke 11:13
The baptism of the Holy Spirit for witnessingJesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come so believers could be witnesses in expanding circles from their immediate family to the ends of the earth.Acts 1:8
Ask, seek, and knock persistentlyGod answers everyone who asks, seeks, and knocks with the persistent love and burden of wanting to feed and bless others rather than seeking selfish experiences.
