Joy in God through Prayer – Part 1 Exceeding Joy in God Series [7] Selected Scriptures June 16, 2013 Pastor Paul K. Kim

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PRAYER “Prayer is having good thoughts or wishes for something.” –No, we pray TO GOD who hears, answers, and delights in our prayers (Psalm 116:1; Prov. 15:8). “Prayer is too difficult—i.e., I don’t know what to say.” –No, what God delights is our broken contrite heart—not the eloquent words—in prayer (Luke 18:13-14; Psalm 51:17). “Good prayers are the ones that come naturally easy for me.” –No, prayer is labor and battle (Rom. 15:30; Eph. 6:18). “Prayer is a duty that makes me feel guilty for not doing it enough.” –No, prayer is a source of Christian joy. (John 16:24; Psalm 37:4).

LEARNING FROM THE EXAMPLES OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN PRAYER 1.For God’s name and God’s kingdom in the world (Matt. 6:9-10) 2.To be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18-19; Gal. 5:20) 3.To save unbelievers (Rom. 10:1; Luke 15:7) 4.For healing of sickness (James 5:13-15) 5.For strategic wisdom (James 1:5; Col 1:9) 6.For unity and harmony of the church (John 17:20-21; Phil. 2:2)

LEARNING FROM THE EXAMPLES OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN PRAYER 7.To know God and Christ’s love better (Eph. 1:10; 3:14, 18) 8.For a deeper sense of assured hope (Rom. 5:13; 12:12) 9.For strength and endurance (Col. 1:11; Eph. 3:16) 10.To not fall into temptation & for forgiveness of their sins (Matt. 6:12-13; 26:41) 11.For God to complete their resolves and enable them to do good works (2 Thess. 1:11-12; Col. 1:10) 12.For protection from the Evil One (Matt. 6:13)

CHANGING THE WAY WE APPROACH PRAYER IN FIGHTING FOR JOY IN GOD 1)Approach prayer as THE ESSENTIAL POWER SOURCE for the battle/fight for joy in God. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:13,  We must first realize that our battle is NOT against flesh and blood (i.e., visible/physical) but against the evil one.  Prayer is the power of God that strengthens our spirit in the fight and spiritual battle; with it, our armor is useless.  Therefore, prayerlessness leads to powerlessness.

CHANGING THE WAY WE APPROACH PRAYER IN FIGHTING FOR JOY IN GOD 2)Approach prayer as THE TWO-WAY CONVERSATION WITH GOD who delights your prayer. 1 I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” Psalm 116:1-4  Prayer is not monologue but dialogue with God our ABBA.  Throughout the course of each day, we are to pray this way.  Therefore, prayerfulness leads to intimacy with the Father.

CHANGING THE WAY WE APPROACH PRAYER IN FIGHTING FOR JOY IN GOD 3)Approach prayer as YOUR RESPONSE TO God’s Word spoken to us. 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul... 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Psalm 42:4-6  Prayer ought be guided by Scripture; Scripture must be sharpened by prayer.  Through prayer, we respond to God who speaks to us.  Therefore, in prayer we are to preach to ourselves the truth.

TALK TO YOURSELF RATHER THAN LISTEN TO YOURSELF Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment [in Psalm 42] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says: “Self, listen for moment, I will speak to you.” - Martyn Lloyd-Jones

CHANGING THE WAY WE APPROACH PRAYER IN FIGHTING FOR JOY IN GOD 4)Prayer as THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ENJOYED. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 15:7; 16:24 Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty. E. M. Bounds

CHANGING THE WAY WE APPROACH PRAYER IN FIGHTING FOR JOY IN GOD 4)Prayer as THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ENJOYED. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 15:7; 16:24  Prayer is the privilege we have in Christ as the children of God the Father who desires to give us good things (Luke 11:9-13).  We must exercise this privilege—like using muscle— in fighting for joy in God.  Therefore, prayerfulness leads to joyfulness.

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.What misconception about prayer must I change? How will it help me pray? 2.In what ways can I change my daily prayer for God’s power needed for the fight for joy in God? 3.In what ways can I change my daily prayer for intimacy and joy in God?