Praying with Power

I was your prayer life would you answer the question personally to do it lasting you generally will be on his life. There is not one true authentic follower of Jesus Christ that denies not only the need for prayer. But it's utter necessity.

My goal this evening is not to increase your guilt or to discourage you but rather to underline from Scripture the necessity of prayer I want to encourage you to pray, I will continuing this evening and or cities on Moses only comes a very intriguing passage where Moses is interceding for Israel than about to go into battle against the Amalekites and were going to the story. If you have your Bible turn to Exodus chapter 17 and the reading from verse eight through 16 Exodus 17 verse eight then Emily came and fought with Israel at the ref edition so Moses said to Joshua choose for us men and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand. So Joshua did as Moses told him and fought with Amalek while Moses and Aaron and her went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand. Israel prevailed and whatever the Lord his hand, Amalek prevailed Moses hand grew weary so they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it while Aaron and were held up his hands, one on one side and the other on the other side, so his hands were steady until the going darling of the sun, and Joshua overwhelmed public. This people, with the sword from the Lord said to Moses right this is a memorial in the book, and recited in years of Joshua that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar and called the name of it. The Lord is my banner saying I hand upon the throne of the Lord, the Lord will award with Amalek from generation to generation. Call this message in the cities like the Moses playing with power here is Moses, pray and that is a dramatic sense of protest prayer makes a difference. I'm asking myself and asking you why do we find that often so difficult to cultivate a sustained time of daily prayer. Most of us find it easier to study the word of God to be involved in Christian ministry to serve the Lord to share our faith with others and spend time in prayer.

What do you think we got the greatest response at Calvary Vineyard a number of options.

One thing I learned these various options. What would get the greatest response on the evening of worship and preaching an evening of him singing an evening with a contemporary Christian bond, an evening meal. My food always brings God's people is not an evening meal celebrating what God is doing at Calvary is a last option on the evening of prayer. Financially these things, what evening do you think we get the greatest response. I leave you to think about Samuel Chadwick, a holy man amount of prayer taught that Satan's greatest a.m. is to destroy our prayer lives.

I thought about that part was the enemy where we diatonic Samuel Chadwick is saying that his greatest statement is to destroy our prayer lives because there is the part of God. Chadwick said that Satan is not afraid of playlist study playlist work or prayerless religion, but he trembles.

When we pray, Martyn Lloyd Jones, a great Welsh preacher said man is at his greatest on the highest when upon his knees. He comes face to face with God's time to spend on your knees this great preacher is saying that we are the greatest and highest when upon our needs, we come face-to-face with God when of my great heroes of the faith of Robert Martin McShane wrote what a man is along on his knees before God that he is in the Lord. What did Jesus say look. Chapter 18 verse one that we ought always to pray and not to lose heart. Then IV translates it not to give up the King James says not to face you feel faint. Sometimes you feel wary, do you feel sometimes you want to give up is just too hard. Following Jesus Christ life is too difficult. Desire of the situation. Jesus is saying to you don't lose heart. Don't give up. You ought always to pray, the apostle Paul writes, pray without ceasing.

So we who follow Jesus are to be people of prayer. Why in prayer we are expressing our reliance upon God, I'm saying as I pray Lord we need you here is a man robberies whose life is a mess.

What is he needs just Reformation iconic done a better job. Great contract with a record producer in Nashville know the greatest thing that he needs is for God to enter the in his whole life.

No is dependent on God in prayer we are saying that we are dependent upon God, upon his grace to forgive us for his glory, to overwhelm us as we come face-to-face with God as we reflect on who he is.

And prayer is the means by which God executes his purposes in our lives. There is also the means by which we commune with God.

We follow God, we listen to his word. As we learned this morning, we seek to obey God and to demonstrate our love for Jesus and keeping his commandments are now in prayer and we quieted ourselves and that we commune with God know if you think that you can follow Jesus love Jesus and obey and serve the Lord in your own strength in your own abilities you don't need to pray you got it all covered. You've got spiritual gifts you got a lot of experience in a well-educated, a good education. You've done this you don't really need God. I saw a cartoon of a man playing at his bedside in saying is there some way you can help me, but make it look like I did it all myself.

That's right is in the evening. The church sometimes people are vying overdue takes credit for some idea demonstrate this is what I did a denial of the grace of God. The dial but it is God who is working to plug people don't pray selfish people don't pray.

Spurgeon said that the greatest part of the universe is prayer. I think that's what Samuel Chadwick is saying. That's why Satan doesn't want us to pray. He wants us to depend on ourselves.

He wants us to live a happy, comfortable life, rather than calling out to God and to crying out to God that this is the greatest cloud in the universe. When we get together in prayer you want to experience a part of God.

I do want to see God at work. Want to see the poet of God flowing in and through you at Calvary.

Do we want to see we you are members and attenders of Calvary church outage or a member of another church. You want to see God at work in saving people like robberies who come broken lost, not an idea whether going to do the part of God grips them on the power of the gospel and they are changed and transform through the power of God was give ourselves to. It's time to this fascinating story when Nesta talk about the intercessions first of all, the intercession of Moses as we come to Exodus 17 verse eight.

This is Israel's first battle since the deliverance through the Red Sea. Remember the Lord Israel, the Lord had destroyed the Egyptians at the Red Sea. Exodus 14 verse 14 the Lord will fight for you and you only have to be silent. Great when the Lord fights or battles having Israel. Moses the Lord will fight for you, but here at breast-feeding annex. This 17 verse eight Israel has the battle against the Amalekites analytic was a grandson of Esau. So these are his descendents. When reading of the kinds of Deuteronomy chapter 25.

It appears that Israel at this point a bit, but bedraggled little bit weary and a bit tired but notice the wise leadership of Moses for this time is over 80 years old. Remember verse nine Moses said to Joshua choose for us men and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand at the top of the hill with a staff of God in my hand Joshua who is Moses commander has to choose his men knows his men to take them out and fight the Amalekites to specific actions are taken note.

First of all Joshua number one Georgia your men together and prepare for Bible view of the military commander.

Joshua does, that Moses over 18 years out on the edge. What does he do something that seems utterly foolish. He takes his staff and goes to the top of a hill.

It says with his staff. Did you notice this in verse nine is read it. The staff of God in my hand or this was the stuff of God. This was a very staff that is been used to perform the miracles in Egypt. This was the staff as the Lord had commanded Moses to lift up his staff and stretch it out over the Red Sea and divided. This was the staff at Atlanta next to 17 that Moses had used to strike the rock in the regions of the Lord. This was the start. Not an ordinary step know this was the stuff of God.

Staff then was a symbol of God's invincible power. We sang the God is able to do the impossible. Yes, he is in the staff is there is a symbol to Israel that God is able to do the impossible and also assign another reminder of his faithfulness to his people, so that it is. There's a hill button below.

Joshua and his men are fighting Amalekites. Aaron and her goal with Moses to the top of the hill and the remarkable thing happens. Notice this in verse 11, whenever Moses held up his hand in hand with the staff. Israel prevented prevailed and whenever the Lord his hands.

Amalek prevailed Moses is interceding in battle is not the staff at the time the new lifted up. I think from the context. His other hand is lifted up as long as his hands are lifted up Israel is winning the battle when he's really, and his hands come down in the Amalekites are winning and during the battle Moses this old man is growing weary. Aaron and her take a stolen so Moses can sit on it yet home, children, students, parents, singles hold up your hands like this, how long you think you get a hold of your hat's rights. Robberies who was at the peak of athletic prowess probably could hold them longer than myself lifting up your hands as I'm doing and remember Moses had the staff in one is very tiring is in the is an unusual posture to hold up our hands and Moses, particularly Moses is an older man is weary than what happens. Aaron and her come.

We read Aaron and her held up his hands, one on one side and the other on the other side, so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun, and Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. I wonderful Amalek is overwhelmed as the hands of Moses, a race without staff of God. Aaron and her supporting his hands as long as his hands are held up Israel as a victory. Who's responsible for the victory. Joshua or Moses while you can say both faith and works, but of course it was God. Military action was taken. Joshua was fighting but God certainly could've overthrown the Amalekites as he did.

Egyptians without any military help from Israel, but he uses Joshua uses the man to fight yes but the Israelites as they looked up and saw the leader Moses with these kinds old and with the staff of God in his hand.

You that the powder came not from the sword, but from the staff, not from the battlefield, but from the hill victory was God's.

And then in verses 14 through 16 minute of this binder so that this incident would never ever be forgotten by the Israelites and altar was built with a banner.

The Lord is my banner. Verse 50. This was an offering of praise and offering of thanksgiving to God in the future when God's enemies attacked Israel.

God wanted them to remember that the Lord is my banner and more soldiers looked to banner for courage and hope into remember who the audit to remember previous victories and so this banner would remind Israel that the parlor the victory comes not from themselves but from the Lord. Notice verse 16 the hand of Moses was upon the throne of the Lord, then IV says four hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. This was no mere gesture by Moses was lifting up his hands to God, praying and interceding for Israel that God would work in the victory would be theirs. We who are followers of Jesus. We look not a physical burner but we look to the cross we have at Calvary. This cross on the ceiling to remind us that it is there.

The victory was achieved over enemy. It was there. The victory was. She achieved over the forces of darkness, and the devil himself is our Lord Jesus, atone for our sins on conquered our enemies since Paul says magnificently in Colossians 3 he disarmed the rulers and authorities holding up her hands in prayer. Can I say those in spiritual leadership needed hands upheld in prayer Atlanta next to 17. The Israelites grumbled against Moses and quarreled with them, and Moses becomes tired and weak and he needs Aaron and are to help him keep his hands up to the reality is whoever you are, including those in leadership. We sometimes get tired sometimes that we sometimes get discouraged and those who lead God's people. Certainly needs prayer. We have our weaknesses. We have our struggles we have our faults we have our failures within our spiritual battle.

Did you notice verse eight Amalek came and fought with Israel addressed the dim yes within our spiritual battle. So Paul writes in Ephesians 6, verse 12 for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic forces over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. This is a fiercer battle then Amalekites. This is a battle against the very forces of evil. Here we are at Calvary churches drug the world seeking to be solved, seeking to be light seeking to bring hope to people who are lost to Satan, sit quietly back absolutely not. We have an invisible enemy.

The president is talked about the virus is the invisible enemy. We have another much much more devious and powerful enemy than the virus of darkness spiritual forces of darkness and we need your prayers. I need your prayers are very appreciative of those in the Sunday morning when we come together there downstairs as I'm preaching on what was preaching on this proof it, but if people we call it in the passive. Commitment. If you have never even seen it. It's done stairs beneath me as I'm preaching on love is preaching here are these men not upholding my arms as it were in prayer. You see if souls are going to be saved if people are going to be spiritually restored and help to the clips.

Those of us who preach the word. Those of us who teach not just from this pulpit within the classroom room.

Rob mentioned teaching fourth graders. Those who are teaching students of the life groups the care groups that we have with the worship ministries they need. We need your prayers this morning I the privilege to culminate in the on zoom and what encouragement it was to see pastors, elders and deacons praying for me. Praying for life group leaders praying for this spiritual health and vitality of this church praying for Pastor Hathaway as he leads worship.

We recognize that we need your help. Thank you, thank you so many of you say to me so many of you email me or text me or send me a note and say pastor. We are praying for you holding up our hands, praying with power. Thanks on behalf of our pastors and elders and deacons in life group leaders and those in children's ministry and youth ministry on their behalf. I say thank you. Please continue to hold up our hands in prayer. We need grace we need courage we need peace we need perseverance. We cannot we cannot serve God and the roads read, we want to fight the good fight, with the help of God and strength. So there's the intercession of Moses very quickly. Think of the intercession of our Lord Jesus, if you got your Bible to the gospel of Luke and think very quickly with many of the prayer life of Jesus.

Jesus frequently withdrew to desolate places to pray.

For example, Luke five Luke five verse 16 but he that is Jesus withdrew to desolate places to pray. Jesus lived a busy life. The crops are pushing on them is when the disciples heard it is he goes to a desolate place to pray is if you're going to be used by God in public. You must spend time with God in private that over to chapter 6, verse 12 before Jesus chose the disciples.

What did he do Luke six verse 12. In these days he went out to the mountain to pray and all night. He continued in prayer to God.

And when they came. He called his disciples and chose from them. 12 whom he named apostles assures decision to be made under Lord Jesus perfect God and perfect man spends all night in prayer before important decisions how important it is. We spent time in prayer. Chapter 9 Luke chapter 9 verse 28 is that the Mount of Transfiguration about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went top on the Moncton to pray some of you have been, as I have, to the city of Dalian and there's a there's some beautiful mountains that I think in my mind which one it was.

One way doesn't matter, but Jesus went up on the mountain to pray.

Getting my couldn't have prayed in the school. You need to go to desolate place.

You see, we need the place of quietness. We need a place where we can withdraw from the busyness of life I rise is very difficult for you. Some of you young mothers and young you've got 234567 children the Ranger is very difficult to get that client is to think about that might my mother who was a within the prayer very difficult to have a time of quietness of the disciples. Of course had to learn to listen to Jesus. Chapter 9 verse 35 what God says this is my son, my chosen one. Listen to us talking this morning about obeying the Lord's commandments, we need to listen. Some of us are not very good listeners would prefer to talk. We need to listen and in prayer sustained time of prayer were claiming ourselves listing it over to chapter 22 chapter 22 verse 51 is coming to the garden of Gethsemane and when Luke 22 verse 39 and he went out and went as was his custom to the mind of olives and the disciples followed him when he came to the place he said to them, and pray that you may not enter into temptation and withdrew from them about the stone's throw and knelt down and prayed saying father if you're willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done. Praying that his disciples would not enter into temptation. Praying that you do his father's will, you who are parents that you pray that for your children. But will that they will not enter into temptation. When you pray that for your brothers and sisters here sometimes with aware of a brother or sister who was struggling when we do we tend to gossip about them. We we pretend to perhaps judge them.

How much better to get on her knees and to pray for them as the Lord did that they may not enter into temptation unless prayer life.

You say it has the Lord not stop praying now that he's ascended to his father and his God, absolutely not. In heaven we have a part of an intercessor. Hebrews 7 verse 25. Think of this. This is absolutely mind blowing. Hebrews 7 verse 25. Consequently, he that is our Savior after his ascension is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them this morning as I went on to zoom the prayer meeting was already in place. I joined a little late and I was so encouraged, as it looked and I saw these men praying for me that encourage me that that strengthened me, but there's something more wonderful, isn't it that when we pray to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ were joining a prayer meeting which is already in session. That is our Lord Jesus Christ is interceding for us and his saving power and his help in his wisdom and his peace out available in the difficult circumstances of life. If I can quote Robert Murray McShane again if you can forgive me for that. He says this if I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room.

I would not feel a million enemies yet distance makes no yet distance makes no difference. He's praying for me.

Paul says that in Romans eight the Lord Jesus Christ is the God's right hand is interceding for us. I know the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, but also my Lord Jesus Christ is inter-seating for me.

Hebrews 4. Since then, verse 14. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens with Huntington's ascension, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our confession, for we do not have a high priest was able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are yet without sin letters that hear this with confidence draw near to the throne of judgment. No the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. The Scriptures are instructing us that when we pray we come with confidence to the very throne room of God and ask for his help. Ask for the strength in their Savior is making intercession for us.

Is there to give all of the grace all of the help.

All of the encouragement that you need to your troubled heart to strengthen us to give you wisdom to give you direction in your time of need. All of them are sick. All of the grace that you need for this day for this situation is found to come boldly to the throne of grace, we have enter such of intercession of Moses intercession of Jesus very quickly.

The intercession of the church. The church just like how the church we should be interceding for one another when Peter and asked who preaches the gospel 3000 souls are saved. Acts 242 says they do more than themselves to the apostles doctrine apostles teaching to the breaking of bread to fellowship and to the prayers and throw the book of acts encourage you to check the site throughout the book of acts we see a church on its knees. No wonder the gospel spread so quickly throughout the known world church on this. These here's Peter in acts 12 is imprisoned in some of the believers met together. Nice of Mary Weatherly during checking the latest scores in NFL or the NBA. No there gathered together and praying before the church at Antioch commission. Barnabas and Saul in acts 13 there fasting and praying. What does Paul say to the Colossians in Colossians 4 verses two and three. Start with starting with cautions for yes verse two and three. Continue steadfastly in prayer. Thickness of problems to be steadfast, steadfast devoting herself. This is our priority continue steadfast in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving at the same time, says Paul. Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word declare the mystery of Christ on a kind of which I'm in prison. I may make it clear which is highly ought to speak with Paul. I read Ephesians 6 verse 12. Let me read as I conclude this evening from verse 13 of Ephesians 6.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you maybe able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth is the word of God with committed to the truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness without of righteousness this morning and the shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given for the gospel of were sent to communicate the gospel in all circumstances take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one and take the helmet of salvation I had this protected because I'm saved by the grace of God and the side of the spirit which is the word of God. This book verse 18 praying at all times in the spirit.

This is not mechanical prayer praying at all times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication. To that and keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak and I would ask for that. As well, prayer is foundational in the spiritual warfare without finding a little Bible against Heimlich but were fighting a fiercer battle against the putting on the whole armor of God. The key is this. As we put it on.

We are devoting ourselves to. Playing, says Paul, for all the saints keeping alert with perseverance. Praying, waiting for the Lord. This is a great antidote to spiritual weakness and discouragement and anxiety. Praying in the spirit playing with parts praying without a seat in the life of Moses is seen in the life of our Lord is seen in the life of the church. What about you about our church during this lifetime tenacity you need a time to pray was the best time in the morning night during the day you need the time to pray. You you need a place to pray this in a quiet place you go for a walk. Good time to pray. Perhaps there's a room and was a perhaps or someplace that you can go may be difficult for some of you and the plan be disciplined in this was going to work best for you first thing in the morning. Last thing at night time or place a plan. We have a Calgary watchman prayer was that people who are praying running the clock to select one hour you choose it could be 2 AM or 2 PM. Whatever should your schedule.

Let us know we'd love to sign you up just contact the church. We have the day of prayer and may chapter 7 be part of that.

Pray for your leaders pray for one another. Pray for those who are ill believed unemployed. Pray for our missionaries. Pray for one another and think of all that the Lord will do as we pray without this is the path to victory, praying with power.

This defeats the enemy.

This sets back the enemy is a tax with us that we are a church on her knees praying with power lifting up hands so that the grace of God and the salvation of God would flow throughout this community throughout the world. Pray in your homes right now. When asked you to pray some of your on your own just by fermented and pray for God's wisdom.

There are some things on your heart.

Pray for one another pretty free for coffee church that we would be protected. Prefer leaders pray for someone that you know of, pray for yourself some of your sitting there at home with your wife and your children husband's right now.

Family together hold each other's hands and men, can you just pray just for a minute right now when you get the opportunity just for a minute to pray some of you have never prayed.

I live with your wife and family is a very good at that. Don't make a speech to God as God for his help would you do that right now is going to give us a minute, quietness to do that number going to sing a hymn which expresses needs for God as we cry out with. Take a moment of silence, eternal guards become grimaces we think of this picture of the Lord Jesus interceding for us. God who cares a God who loves us. Help us to come boldly unto the throne of grace, and pray for those in particular need for those who are waiting for those who are tired of for those who are lost. For those who don't know the Savior pray particularly for them. Father all of us look to Christ.

Thank you that not only is he our Savior. He's working he's or interceded. These are soon coming Savior help us know father to be people of prayer and in your grace for your mercy upon us. We ask as we cry out to you in Christ name