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Pastor Jon Cobler Saturday/Sunday

Church of Living Water July 4/5, 2009


Olympia Foursquare Church

GOT INFLUENCE?
Part 2
A Prayer for Revival

TEXT: Matthew 9:37-38

I. WHY PRAYER IS NOT AN OPTION

A. Prayer directs our focus towards the answer rather than on the problem.

1. We all naturally:

a. Worry

b. Fear

c. Hold grudges

d. Become bitter

e. Feel defensive

2. No one has ever had to teach us how to worry -- it comes naturally and
leads to emotional, physical, and spiritual distress.

3. When we direct our attention to God in prayer we are forced to take our
attention away from the trials we are facing and we begin to become
enraptured in the arms of the One who:

a. Gives peace that passes understanding.

b. Gives us confidence and security.

c. Gave us the cross and taught us to forgive.

d. Protects us and guides us with His eye.

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand,
I shall not be shaken. (Psalms 16:8 ESV)

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4. Jesus prayed, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
(Luke 22:42)

5. We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. -- Oswald
Chambers

6. Prayer points us towards God’s will and way. As we release our worry,
fear, pain and bitterness to Him in prayer, we’ll hear Him lovingly leading
us towards the Truth.

B. Prayer deepens our intimacy with the Father.

1. Just like any other relationship, the more time spent together, the deeper
the relationship.

a. Jesus was God and yet He got away frequently to be alone with the
Father.

b. A few of the examples when Jesus withdrew to pray are found in


Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16, 6:12, 9:28.

2. It may seem like a one way conversation if we treat our prayer life like a
vending machine:

Insert 3 prayers for a candy bar, 2 for chips and 1 for a pack of breath
mints!

a. We disrespect God when we have the audacity to come to Him and tell
Him what He needs to do!

b. What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He
approve ours. -- Helga Bergold Gross

c. Jesus gave the assurance that you can ...ask whatever you wish,
and it will be done for you.

BUT that statement can’t be disconnected from the first part of the
sentence which says, If you abide in me, and my words abide in
you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7
ESV)

3. Could it be that some of our prayers go unanswered because we spend all


of our time confiding in Him and not ever abiding in Him?

a. The difference is that when you abide in Him and His word - His
desires become your desires.

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b. When you abide in Him there is harmony between God’s will and
your passionate desire:

• For people to know Him.

• For the sick to be healed.

• For others to know His peace.

• For your children to walk with God.

• For His provision and guidance.

• For healing in relationships.

c. This is why there is so much value in getting up in the morning,


grabbing your Bible (and a cup of coffee) and finding a solitary
place to sit and be together! Not only talking, but listening,
through the Word, and to the Spirit.

d. God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning


of prayer. -- Mother Teresa

C. Prayer moves the hand of God.

1. Prayer DOES NOT:

a. Force the hand of God.

b. Manipulate the hand of God.

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9 NASB)

Then He said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out
laborers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38 ESV)

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you,
asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all
spiritual wisdom and understanding… (Colossians 1:9 ESV)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.


At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for
the word, to declare the mystery of Christ... (Colossians 4:2-3 ESV)

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2. While prayer cannot force God into anything, both Jesus and the Apostle
Paul believed and taught that if we would pray, according to the will of
God, He would move on our behalf.

3. We would be amiss to preach about the significance of our influence on


the world without preaching about the need for us to have influence in
prayer.

II. THE SUMMATION OF THE MATTER

A. Jesus said you get to choose:

1. Be a hypocrite: an audience of many = small impact

2. Be humble: an audience of One = BIG impact

"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to
stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may
be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your
Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward
you.” (Matthew 6:5-6 ESV)

B. We need to pray for the following:

1. The World

a. Healing for those who are sick.

b. Justice and protection for those who are oppressed.

c. Mercy for those who are impoverished.

d. Christian and missionaries to be encourage and protected.

2. The United States of America

a. Wisdom and conviction for our President and government officials.

b. Comfort for the families of all of those men and women in public
service (Government, Law Enforcement, etc).

c. Supernatural comfort for those with loved ones who are in the military.

d. We would do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly as a nation.

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3. Local Cities

a. We would have a passion for evangelism.

b. We would be “salt & light” in our community, especially through


Lakefair and Vacation Bible School.

c. The Holy Spirit to move supernaturally in our midst.

d. Many people to come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

4. Our Families

a. Our children and youth to have a passion for Jesus.

b. Faith and provision for those struggling financially.

c. Marriages to be protected and strengthened by God’s might.

d. Grace for single parents, and those whom have lost spouses.

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