40 DAYS VIGIL WITH PRAYER AND FASTING FROM 29TH APRIL OVER 7TH JUNE, 2020 TITLE “MY GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE” HEBREWS 12:29.
Day 12: Sunday 10th May, 2020.
Scripture:- Luke 18:1-7
Topic:- God The Consuming Fire Versus Prayerlessness [1]
Text:- 1 Samuel 12:23
Prayerlessness in the Bible is the opposite of prayer in which is the lifeline and connection to God. This is what Christ showed the opposite of prayerlessness in his walk on earth.
Then, what does the Bible say about prayerlessness?:
The key-verse of this study is 1 Samuel 12:23. Do you know that prayerlessness is a sin? We say that it is unfortunate that we do not pray more; we admit our prayer life is weak and ineffective; but in actual fact we sin when we do not pray.
IT IS BELIEVED THAT PRAYER is the lifeblood of a Christian’s walk with God. Prayer connects us to God; prayer is an active way to love and connect with others; and prayer makes room in the prayer’s heart for God’s correcting voice.
The Bible says to “pray continually.” So anything other than a continual attitude of prayer and communion with God is sin. Anything that interrupts our connection to God or leads to self-reliance is wrong. See 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
We could look at Adam and Eve’s actions in Genesis chapter 3 as a type of prayerlessness. They eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and are too ashamed to speak with the Lord as He comes to meet them in the garden. They are disconnected from God in their sin; their communication with Him is interrupted.
Can you imagine someone claiming to be your best friend and never talking to you? Whatever friendship was there would certainly be strained.
Similarly, a relationship with God is impoverished and fatigued without communication. Prayerlessness is antithetical to a good relationship with God. God’s people will have a natural desire to communicate with their Lord. “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” The biblical commands to pray are accompanied by wonderful promises. See Psalm 5:3; 145:18.
Christ is our best example of prayerfulness. He Himself was a man of prayer. If the Son of Man saw a personal need to pray, how much more should we see the same need in ourselves? See Luke 11:2-4.
Prayerlessness ignores the gift of intercession that God has given us. Prophet Samuel saw prayers on behalf of the people of Israel as a necessary part of his ministry. According to Samuel, prayerlessness is a sin. See 1 Samuel 12:23.
Prayerlessness is defiance toward God’s command to love others. And we are not only to pray for people who are easy to pray for. See 1 Timothy 2:1.
Jesus tells us that we must also pray for those who persecute us in Matthew 5:44. This is the message of Christ, to love and support everyone with prayer, even those who are hard to love. See Matthew 5:44.
Prayer makes room for the correcting voice of God. Prayerlessness weakens our ability to hear Christ when He whispers words of correction or conviction to our spirits. See Hebrews 12:2.
Christ is the “pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Without His Spirit living in our hearts, we would be on a rough road following our own judgments. As we pray for God’s will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” The contrariness of our own wills is revealed. See Matthew 6:10.
Prayer Points:
1. I command spirit of prayerlessness, come of my life by God’s consuming fire now, in the name of Jesus Christ.
2. Spirit of lukewarmness, come out of my life by God’s consuming fire now, in the name of Jesus Christ.
3. You spirit of weariness, come out of my prayer life now by God’s consuming fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
4. O Lord God, increase my appetite for prayer henceforth by fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
5. I rebuild my prayer altar that has been pulled down by prayerlessness now God’s consuming fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
6. I refuse to pray amiss henceforth, in the name of Jesus Christ.
7. Power and anointing of prayer, fall mightily upon me henceforth, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Happy Lord’s Day!
