공동체와 양육

Victorious Prayer (1 The. 5:16~18)

2018.08.12P. Wes McClure

Christians are called to pray from the victory Christ has already won, not merely for victory, and to pray without ceasing through a regular, protected prayer life, trusting that God hears us and that prayer is our divine resource.

Pray from the victory already won

We are called to pray from victory, not merely for victory, because Christ has already won. The enemy fights in the mind, telling believers that prayer is useless and that nothing will come of it, so many stop praying or pray only out of routine. Death has lost its sting, and the outcome of the story is settled. Reading the Bible with Revelation's ending in view, we know that we win, and that knowledge changes how we pray.

God hears us because of our relationship with Christ

God hears our prayers based on our relationship with him, not on how big or small our sin is. When the enemy says a sin has cut us off, we should remember that those who are born again belong to God. John writes in 1 John 5 that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us, and when we know he hears us, we have what we have asked. Our confidence rests on Christ, not on our record.

Our prayers rise as a pleasing aroma through Christ

The altar of sacrifice and the altar of incense in the tabernacle point toward our prayers. The coals from the altar of sacrifice were used to keep the altar of incense burning, which pictures how Christ's sacrifice is joined to our prayers. The incense represents the prayers of God's people, but God also smells the sacrifice and righteousness of his Son. Our prayers rise to the Father as a sweet-smelling aroma, pleasing to God because of Christ. You are priceless to him, and your prayers are getting through.

Prayer is the will of God, not an option (vv. 17-18)

Prayer is not optional; it is a command of God and his will for us in Christ Jesus. When we neglect it, we are disconnected from the head, who is Christ, and begin to feel like a fish out of water. Submitting to God's will in prayer means our will lines up with his, as Jesus showed in the garden when he said, not my will, but thy will be done. Prayer is part of who we are as believers, and it shapes how we live.

Praying without ceasing means a regular, guarded prayer time (vv. 17)

Praying without ceasing does not mean keeping our eyes closed or kneeling all day, but it means a recurring, persistent, and regular prayer life. Daniel prayed three times a day with his windows open, even when a decree threatened the lion's den. A lawyer stopped at 2:30 every day to pray, guarding that time whatever was happening in his office. Block out time for God as you would for work, and let no one interfere with it.

Prayer is your divine resource as heaven's ambassador

Prayer is your divine resource, because you are citizens of heaven and ambassadors sent to this world. The Word of God and prayer are heavenly tools for the work God gives you, not provisions like a car, a job, or an education. Neglecting prayer means neglecting the resources God has provided for service. The battle is spiritual, not against flesh and blood, and God gave these resources not only for protection but to resist the devil and stand firm.

Apply to Life

  • Let us pray from the victory Christ has already won.
  • Let us set aside a regular, protected time for prayer each day.
  • Let us submit our will to God's will in our prayers.
  • Let us use prayer and the Word as our divine resources for the work God has given us.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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