GREAT EXPECTATIONS! (PSL) – PART 2

(Daniel 11:32b)
A Message by Rev. Dr. Stanley Lim on 21 & 22 October 2000

INTRODUCTION:

‘But the People who know their God will be strong and take action’ (God’s Word translation). A month ago I shared with you that in order to become a people of action in carrying out the great exploits of God, we must fulfill the first condition that God sets before us, i.e “We must know God”. And the process of knowing God involves 2 processes:-

a. The confrontation of our personal sin.

b. Our total surrender to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

I would like to continue this series of Great Expections by considering with you today the aspect of ‘Becoming a people of action in prayer!’

The scriptures in Luke 18:1 says “Men always ought to pray and not lose heart”. It is the desire of God that Christians always pray. Prayer reveals the true status of the believer’s heart. Jesus said in John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me”. Prayer is an activity that Jesus has not ceased doing even though He is not with us physically.

There are a few aspects of prayer that I would like to address today.

I. The people who know their God will be strong to ABIDE

The act of prayer by God’s people reveals a very important commitment. The commitment to abide is a strong indication of a fruitful Christian. John 15:5, “He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit”. Why is abiding so vital for Christian living? Because your abiding in Christ will make your prayer effective! Jesus said in John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

When we received Christ in accordance to John 1:12, we became children of God and that means we inherit everything God has prepared to give His people – It means good health, every need met by the good hands of Jesus, respected and honoured by people, experiencing the good and abundant life as described in John 10:10, etc.

II. The people who know their God will be strong to WATCH with PERSEVERANCE

Eph.4:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Today people in general are so busy and too busy to watch and terry in prayer. When we was the last time we had a full house for prayer meeting. When Benny Hinn comes to town I bet this auditorium will be packed to capacity may be even with overflows on all floors.

When asked why Christians do not come for prayer meetings, they have 101 reasons to give. Whenever comes time for lunch, we have more questions of where to eat and what to eat. We seem to have more celebrations than travailing these days. Thank God for instituting a Church-wide Prayer & Fasting on Wednesdays. Sometimes structured prayer seems to work better. Amen! When watchmen are missing from the church the thief will have a good time accumulating their wealth.

Will you WATCH and PRAY for all the saints? I recently e-mailed to a church leader inviting him to be my prayer partner. I realise that I cannot stand alone but need others to hold on to my arms as I fight the warfare just as Moses needed help of Aaron and Hur.

III. The people who know their God will be strong to JOURNEY IN THE MIDST OF OPPOSITION.

The difficulties of our life are obstacles that God allows to be put on our pathway to make us strong as we journey towards maturity. A prayerful saint will be able to endure difficulties and oppositions. Paul in exhorting Timothy in 2 Tim.2:3, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Paul continues to say in verse 4 that “no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier”. Will be all pray like Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane in Luke 22:42, “Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will but Yours be done”.

Let’s journey with Jesus! We are not alone in this. He who has gone before us is leading, guiding and encouraging us will make available His power and resources for us as we PRAY AND seek HIS face daily.

CONCLUSION: Yes,

We will be made strong to abide in Christ.
We will be made strong to watch with perseverance.
We will be made strong to journey in the midst of opposition.

Let’s not hear more sermons on prayer, but let us all now begin to PRAY!!