SundaySermon
The Mystery of Prayer
by Ptr. Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: Ezekiel 22:30-31

Ezekiel 22:30-31 (Amplified Bible)
30And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
31Therefore have I poured out My indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their own way have I repaid [by bringing it] upon their own heads, says the Lord God.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY THERE WAS A SYSTEM OR PLAN OF PRAYER AT ALL?

IS NOT GOD ALMIGHTY AND SELF SUFFICIENT ? HOW COULD HE POSSIBLY NEED HELP OUTSIDE OF HIMSELF?

JUST AS HE SPOKE THE WORLDS INTO EXISTENCE WITH A WORD, COULD HE DO THE SAME FOR WHAT HAS TO BE DONE IN THIS WORLD ?

WHY THE HELP OF PUNY MAN AND WHY A DID HE DEVISE A SYSTEM OF PRAYER?

LOOKING BACK ON OUR OPENING SCRIPTURE GOD TELLS US BEFORE DESTROYING THEM, DURING THIS TIME OF NATIONAL APOSTASY, HE LOOKED FOR SOMEONE TO STAND IN THE GAP OR MAKE UP THE HEDGE..

SEEMS LIKE HE WAS LONGING TO SPARE THE NATION, BUT WAS STRANGELY HELPLESS WITHOUT A MAN, WITHOUT AN INTERCESSOR. HE IS HIMSELF, THE ULTIMATE JUDGE, JURY, AND EXECUTIVE AND ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY. OR IS HE?

LISTEN IN MATTHEW 7:7 GOD LITERALLY BEGS MEN TO PRAY

7[a]Keep on asking and it will be given you; [b] keep on seeking and you will find; [c]keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.
SOME VERSIONS SAY, “ ASK, I ASK YOU TO ASK, SEEK, I INTREAT YOU TO SEEK, KNOCK, I URGE YOU TO KNOCK.”

EVIDENTLY HE CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT OUR PRAYERS.

HE NOT ONLY INVITES AND EXHORTS US TO PRAY, HE ALSO COMMANDS US IN MT 9:38

Matthew 9:38 (Amplified Bible)
38So pray to the Lord of the harvest to [a]force out and thrust laborers into His harvest.

HE HIMSELF IS THE LORD OF THE HARVEST. THE HARVEST IS HIS, THE LABORERS ARE HIS. WHY SHOULD HE STAND “HELPLESSLY” BY WHILE URGING MEN TO PRAY REAPERS INTO THE FIELD? WHY DOES HE SEND LABORERS ONLY IN ANSWER TO THE PRAYERS OF THE REDEEMED.

GOD CATEGORICALLY PROMISES TO ANSWER...

NOW WE SEE THAT HE BINDS HIMSELF TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS. HIS PROMISE TO ANSWER PRAYER IS SO SWEEPING, OVER SUCH A BROAD SPECTRUM, AS TO CONSTITUTE A VERITABLE CARTE BLANCHE, THAT IS, A BLANK CARD BEARING THE AUTHORITY OF HIS OWN SIGNATURE.

LOOK AT WHAT JESUS SAID:

John 14:13-14 (Amplified Bible)
13And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as [a]presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.(A)
14[Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as [b]presenting all that I AM].

John 15:7 (Amplified Bible)
7If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live

in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

AND IN:John 16:23-24 (Amplified Bible)
23And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me [you will need to ask Me no questions]. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name [as [a]presenting all that I AM].(A)
24Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as [b]presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.

HIS PLAN OF PRAYER IS “WATERTIGHT”. MEANING THEY ARE UNQUALIFIED OR UNCONDITIONAL!!! NO CONDITIONS ARE ATTACHED WHICH CONSTITUTE A HEDGE ON GOD’S PART.

NOTHING UNFAIR WHICH ARE NOT IN REASONABLE CAPACITY.
I.E. ABIDING IN HIM , AND HIS WORD ABIDING IN US, AND USING HIS NAME IS POSSIBLE FOR ANY ORDINARY, EARNEST, AND SINCERE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER. BUT, .... IF GOD IS NOT HEDGING, THEN THE ENTIRE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRAYERLESSNESS OR INEFFECTIVE PRAYER FALLS ENTIRELY ON US!!!!

HOW ABOUT THE PART THAT SAYS ACCORDING TO “HIS WILL” ? THIS IS IN NO HEDGE SINCE ANY TRULY YIELDED CHILD OF GOD NEVER WILLS ANYTHING BUT GOD’S WILL. SO YOU SEE, THERE IS NO FINE PRINT IN GOD’S PRAYER CONTRACT..

GOD IS SAYING, I AM INVITING YOU INTO FULL PARTNERSHIP WITH ME!!!

SEE THIS: 2Corinthians 6:1 (Amplified Bible)
2 Corinthians 6:1
1LABORING TOGETHER [as God's fellow workers] with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain [that [a]merciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them--do not receive it to no purpose].

Matthew 18:18 (Amplified Bible)
18Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be [a]what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be [b]what is already permitted in heaven.

THIS DEPUTIZES US TO FULFILL GOD’S DECISIONS ON EARTH. YOU SEE THEY ARE ALREADY BOUND AND LOOSED IN HEAVEN.

LOOK FURTHER IN: LUKE 10:19 (Amplified Bible)
19Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

BIND AND LOOSE AND NOW THE AUTHORITY TO ACT IN HIS NAME..

WHAT GREAT POWER HAS HE GIVEN TO US, AND MOST OF THE CHURCH DOESN’T COMPREHEND IT BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY BLIND AND DEAF.

NOW WE WANT TO ASK WHY HAS GOD DONE ALL THIS???????? THAT IS TO WORK WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THIS SYSTEM OF PRAYER.
WHY DID HE PLACE THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE AND ADMINISTER HIS DIVINE GOVERNMENT HERE ON EARTH?
HE HAS CHOSEN TO DO NOTHING APART FROM THE COOPERATION OF HIS CHURCH.

GOD HAD A PLAN AND WE TOUCHED ON IT LAST WEEK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE WEDDING SUPPER OH THE LAMB.

GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE IN THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE HUMAN RACE WAS TO OBTAIN AN ETERNAL COMPANION FOR HIS SON..

LOOK AT EPHESIANS 5:32
Ephesians 5:29-32 (Amplified Bible)

29For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,
30Because we are members (parts) of His body.
31For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.(A)
32This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church.

CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE (THE CHURCH) JOINED IN MARRIAGE???
YES VERSE 32 MAKES IT QUITE CLEAR.
AND CHECK OUT:

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 (Amplified Bible)
2Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will [one day] judge and govern the world? And if the world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice?
3Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to judge the [very] angels and pronounce opinion between right and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as to] matters pertaining to this world and of this life only!
THIS TELLS US WHAT WE WILL BE DOING IN OUR NEW POSITIONS AS BRIDE OF THE LAMB!!!

2Timothy 2:12 (Amplified Bible)
12If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny and disown and reject Him, He will also deny and disown and reject us.

Revelation 2:26 (Amplified Bible)
26And he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the [very] end [doing the works that please Me], I will give him authority and power over the nations;

26And he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the [very] end [doing the works that please Me], I will give him authority and power over the nations

Revelation 3:21 (Amplified Bible)
21He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne.

LISTEN, WE TOUCHED ON THIS LAST WEEK, BUT, PRAYER IS “ON-THE-JOB” TRAINING FOR SOVEREIGNTY. ADMINISTERING AND ENFORCING GOD’S DECISIONS ON THE EARTH. PRAISE GOD!!!

AS WE PRAY IN OUR PRAYER CLOSETS AND CORPORATELY WE ARE NOW ENFORCING HIS RULES (HIS WORD), WHAT HE HAS SPOKEN AND WHAT JESUS DID MUST BE BROUGHT TO A SICK AND DYING WORLD WHO DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE AND HEAR SPIRITUALLY. THAT’S WHAT FELLOW WORKERS WITH CHRIST MEANS!!! WE CANNOT MISS THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY HE HAS GIVEN US.

AND AS HE LIED TO ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN, HE IS TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING TO YOU AND I NOW IN THIS PRESENT WORLD. AND LOOK AROUND AND SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL HE HAS BEEN WITH THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE. THE ROAD TO HELL IS WIDE AND MANY THERE BE THAT GO THERE !!!

COMMON CHURCH GET EXCITED !!

TO TEACH US HOW TO OVERCOME, GOD HAS DESIGNED THE SCHEME OF PRAYER. HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD; AND YET MANY WHO DON’T PRAY MUCH OR WHO DON’T SEE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF COMING TOGETHER TO PRAY AS CHRIST BODY, ARE ALLOWING THE ENEMY’S LIES TO WEAKEN THEM AND THE BODY THEY FELLOWSHIP WITH.

MOST CHURCHES HAVE VERY LITTLE TURN OUT AT PRAYER MEETINGS AND BIBLE STUDIES, WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINED BY THEIR LEADERS

TO BE VICTORIOUS. PRAYER IS, NOW GET THIS REALLY GOOD, IS THE “KEY” TO OUR SUCCESS AS A CHURCH !!!

WE NEED TO BE DOING EXACTLY THAT BEFORE EVERY SERVICE. SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, AND TUESDAYS. AND IN OUR OWN PRAYER CLOSETS EVERY DAY THAT WE BREATHE IN THE LIFE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US.

YOU CANNOT PUT THIS ON THE BACK BURNER, YOU CANNOT PUT IT OFF AND RELEGATE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE YOUR TOO BUSY LIVING YOUR LIFE TO GET THINGS YOU THINK YOU NEED.

THIS IS A PLEA, NOT ONLY TO THIS CHURCH BUT TO ALL CHURCHES THAT CALL JESUS LORD. WAKE UP!!!! ITS TIME TO PRAY.

YOU WANT REVIVAL ?PRAY! YOU WANT HEALING ? PRAY! YOU WANT TO GROW IN GOD? PRAY! YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN SERVING GOD? PRAY!
PRAYER IS WHERE THE ACTION IS AT!!!!!

NOW CHECK OUT YOU SPHERE OF INFLUENCE:

Matthew 16:19 (Amplified Bible)
19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth [1. a]must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth [b]must be what is already loosed in heaven
AND:
Matthew 18:18-19 (Amplified Bible)
18Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be [a]what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be [b]what is already permitted in heaven.
19Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and [c]everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.

EXAMPLE OF THE 2 SIGNATURES REQUIRED ON SOME CHECKS. SAME IN PRAYER, JESUS SIGNATURE IS ALREADY THERE AND ITS NOW WAITING FOR YOUR SIGNATURE. ARE YOU READY TO SIGN ?

LET NOT GOD EVER SAY ABOUT JTRF, AND I SOUGHT A CHURCH AMONG THEM AND FOUND NONE.

I SAID TUESDAY NIGHT AT PRAYER MEETING AND I WILL REPEAT IT AGAIN, WE HERE AT JESUS THE ROCK FELLOWSHIP, NEVER WANT TO BECOME AN ECCLESIASTICAL TREADMILL. (RELIGIOUS TREADMILL). ALWAYS MOVING AND NEVER GOING ANYWHERE.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PRAYER PROGRAM WILL BE IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO THE DEPTH OF INDIVIDUAL PRAYER LIFE OF ITS MEMBERS.

IN CLOSING I WANT TO GIVE YOU WHAT I BELIEVE PRAYER SHOULD BE USING AN ACRONYM FOR THE WORD P R A Y E R .
PRAYER REALLY ACCELERATES YOUR ENEMY’S RETREAT.

P =PRAYER SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.

R = PRAYER SHOULD BE REAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD’S PLAN.

A = PRAYER SHOULD ALWAYS BE ADAMANT. (INVINCIBLE)

Y = PRAYER SHOULD BE A YIELDING OF YOUR MIND TO GOD.

E = PRAYER SHOULD BE ENERGIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

R = PRAYER SHOULD BE A RESIGNATION TO GOD’S WILL.

ALLOW SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO FLOW, ALTAR CALL, INVITATION TO THE CHURCH

BENEDICTION.