The Summer of Prayer || Watch and Pray
Matt 26:36 NLT Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.
THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT DWELLS WITHIN YOU IS WILLING!
Prayer marked the early church and it should mark us today.
Acts 2:42 NLT All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer.
Acts 1:12 NKJV Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
When the early church prayed the power of God broke forth and His Spirit poured out.
When the early church prayed there were miracles, signs and wonders.
When the early church prayed, revival broke out.
1 Thess 5:16 NLT Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Church, let’s be more committed to the doing, then the knowing. Knowing a lot about prayer won’t get us far, but becoming a house of prayer will move mountains!
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22
He doesn’t just what you to know about prayer. He is inviting us to action: watch and pray!
Today His Spirit wants to empower you afresh to WATCH AND PRAY
Watch and Pray
What does it mean to watch and pray?
To Watch:
metaph. give strict attention to, be cautious, active
to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one
To Pray:
to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship:—pray (X earnestly, for), make prayer. Pray for
This is a command made more than once in scripture…
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert (WATCHFUL) mind and a thankful heart. Col 4:2 NLT
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 1 Peter 4:7 NKJV
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Ephesians 6:18 NKJV
Jesus again tells his disciples in Luke 21:34-36…
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36
Watching and Praying is how you engage the Spirit of God with you and then as you pray you will be watching and praying before the Son of Man!
Watching and Praying
Brings you into the Presence of God
Allow you to take your place in heavenly places! Seated with Christ!
Ephesians 2:6 and [God] raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
The Spirit it Willing…
You can watch and pray because the spirit is willing!
WILLING = READY
Romans 8:12-13 NIV 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
We have an obligation as sons and daughters of the most High God to not live by the flesh, but to LIVE BY THE SPIRIT!
Practical Equipping:
3 ways to allow the Spirit to empower you to watch and pray! (Even though your flesh is weak!)
LEARNING TO WATCH AND PRAY:
Be active in Prayer
Pray out loud
Set a time and place with God and then talk to Him out loud!
He is a real person
Prayer Journal
Written prayers allow you to go slow and process your thoughts with the Lord
Actually mean what you pray
Keep record of prayers you have prayed and ones answered!
Go on a prayer walk/run/pace
Paint, Color, Draw
2. Pray with Others
Priority in the early church
Attend morning prayer
Set up regular times to pray with family and friends
Grow
Learn
Practice
3. Pray even when you don’t feel like it
Train yourself to pray
Discipline yourself in prayer
Make it a non-negotiable
Set a timer, build upon it
Create a prayer schedule for yourself
Pray in the Spirit
If you don’t know what to pray start here
Jude 1:20 NKJV 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
The Spirit will pray for you and will teach you
John 14:26 NKJV 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Ministry Moment:
Romans 8:34 NKJV…It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
