THE HEART OF A PRAYERFUL SERVANT

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     Prayer is simply man talking to God. 

It is God’s child coming into his Father’s presence with a request. 

It is the expression of dependence of the human being on a resource and power that is greater than himself. 

 

B.      Prayer should be something simple. 

1.       However, many Christians find that it can be a very difficult discipline. 

a.       Oh yes, it is easy to mutter a few words of thanks. 

b.      It is easy to cry out unto God when we are facing struggles in our lives. 

2.       But, how many of us really believe that we have mastered the disciple of prayer?  How many of us really believe that we are “prayer warriors”? 

 

C.     The Bible instructs each of us to pray. 

1.       1 Thessalonians 5:17 sets forth a three-word command to this effect: 

 

Pray without ceasing. 

 

2.       In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus instructs us with these words: 

 

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

 

3.       James reveals that the way to obtain wisdom is through prayer (Jam. 1:5-8). 

 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering:  for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord.  A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways. 

 

4.        David knew the value of prayer and prayed often every day according to Psalm 55:16-17.

 

As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.  Evening, and morning, and at noon will I pray, and cry aloud:  and he shall hear my voice.

 

D.     Jesus was a man given to prayer. 

1.       This might shock us somewhat since He was the Son of God.  However, as a man He was dependent upon His heavenly Father while He carried out His work on earth. 

2.       Luke’s gospel portrays the humanity of Jesus to the Gentile world.  In his narrative on the “Life of Christ,” he presents the prayer life of Jesus to his readers on numerous occasions.

a.       He withdrew into the wilderness to pray (Luke 5:16).

b.      He went into a mountain and continued all night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12).

c.       He took Peter, James, and John with Him into a mountain to pray (Luke 9:29).

d.      He prayed for Simon (Luke 22:31-320.

e.       He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to His crucifixion (Luke 22:41-42).

 

 

 

3.       Jesus was so intense in prayer that He was asked to teach men to pray (Luke 11:1).

 

And it came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

 

4.       NOTE:  If the Son of man needed to pray, we certainly need to lift up our voices unto the throne of God.

 

E.      The faithful child of God must come to understand the value of prayer and develop an effective prayer life.

1.       If this is going to be done, he must develop a heart for prayer. 

2.       The title of our lesson is:  “The Heart of A Prayerful Servant.”

 

I.                    A DEPENDENT HEART

 

A.     We live in a society that teaches individuals to be independent. 

1.       In other words, we are told that we must learn to rely on ourselves and not on someone else. 

2.       Society has now evolved into an individualistic society. 

a.       In a society that is focused on the individual, it is difficult for individuals to be dependent on others, including God. 

b.      To proclaim dependence manifests weakness and fragility. 

 

B.      Yet, this is precisely what the human heart must admit if a person is going to pray. 

1.       When we pray, we thank God for blessings He has provided to us (1 Thess. 5:18).

2.       When we pray, we cast our care upon God (1 Pet. 5:7). 

3.       When we pray, we let our requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6). 

4.       When we pray, we often offer up supplications for other individuals (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

 

C.     All of these things evidence that we are dependent upon God. 

 

D.     If our heart isn’t dependent upon God, it will never cry out to Him.  In fact, the human being who isn’t dependent upon God will seldom, if ever, mention the name of God. 

 

II.                 A SEEKING HEART

 

A.     He knows God exists, and he knows that God wants him to make the effort to come into the presence of deity. 

 

B.      Psalm 14:12 is an interesting verse in this discussion.

 

The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

 

C.     The promise to those who seek God is that they will find Him (Matt. 7:7). 

 

…seek, and ye shall find…

 

D.     In fact, they will find that He will reward them abundantly for seeking Him out.

1.       Psalm 34:10b

 

“…but they that seek the Lord shall not want of any good thing.

2.       Hebrews 11:6

 

…and he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

III.              A HUMBLE HEART

 

A.     A humble heart realizes it does not deserve to be in the presence of the Almighty God. 

 

B.      The humble understand that coming before God is a privilege that has been granted to him and not a right.  

 

C.     Verses:

1.       1 Peter 5:5

 

…be clothed with humility:  for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 

 

2.       The publican who went up to the temple to pray understood the need for humility.

(Luke 18:13).

 

“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” 

 

D.     The humble are aware of their littleness and their sinfulness before God. 

1.       God welcomes them, but they know they are not worthy. 

2.       They draw near with a deep sense of awe and reverence for their heavenly Father. 

3.       The example of Nebuchadnezzar.

a.       At one time Nebuchadnezzar was a man filled with pride. 

b.      God, however, humbled this Babylonian ruler. 

c.       After his affliction, he was a changed man (Deut. 4:34-35)

1)      “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever…

2)      And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing:  (Dan. 4:34-35).  Notice the words:  “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing…”

d.      Nebuchadnezzar learned who was high and lifted up.

1)      He was not one who could be placed in that category. 

2)      He then approached God with heart of humility.

 

IV.              A TRUSTING HEART

 

A.     Men come to God because He has made promises to them. 

 

B.      One of the promises God has made to those who seek Him in prayer is that He will hear them. 

1.       Verses:

a.       “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth…” (Ps. 34:17). 

b.      “The Lord is far from the wicked:  but he heareth the prayer of the righteous” (Prov. 15:29). 

c.       “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (I John 5:14). 

2.       When we bow in prayer before God, we are not praying to the wind.  Our words are not spoken in vain.  We have immense faith that the ears of God bend to hear every word that we utter. 

 

C.     Not only do we believe that He will hear, but we also put our trust in His promise to answer our prayers. 

1.       Verses:

a.       “Ask, and it shall be given you…” (Matt. 7:7). 

b.      “…call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jer. 33:2-3). 

2.       God answered Hannah’s prayer. 

God answered Hezekiah’s prayer. 

God answered Nehemiah’s prayers. 

3.       All of these individuals prayed with trusting hearts.  If we do the same, God will hear and answer our prayers.

 

V.                 A SUBMISSIVE HEART

 

A.     We pray wanting what we think is best for us. 

1.       Sometimes what we think we need is not what God believes we need. 

2.       Thus, our will and His will come in conflict with one another. 

3.       In those cases, we must possess a submissive heart.  Our will must be willing to submit to the will of the Father. 

 

B.      Jesus is a prime example. 

1.       While in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was in the immediate shadow of the cross.

a.       Even before the nails were driven into His hands, He could feel them. 

b.      Even before He bore the weight of sin, He could feel its burden. 

c.       Even before He was lifted up before the masses, he could hear their voices mocking Him.

2.       He approached the Father with His request (Matt. 26:39).

 

…O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…

 

a.       Three times, He sent these words unto the throne of God. 

b.      Each time, however, His words were tempered with another statement.  “…nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39). 

 

C.     Our will may not accomplish the will of God. 

Our will may not be what is truly best for us. 

Our will has no way of seeing into the future. 

 

D.     Thus, it is always best to leave the outcome of prayer in the hands of God. 

1.       “Father, if it be thy will bless me.  However, if thy will is different than mine, I will accept it.”

2.       We must follow in the footsteps of our Master who said:  “Thy will be done” (Matt. 26:42).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     In this lesson, we have examined five (5) elements of a prayerful heart.

1.       A Dependent Heart

2.       A Seeking Heart

3.       A Humble Heart

4.       A Trusting Heart

5.       A Submissive Heart

 

B.      These are not the only qualities needed.  There are several others, contriteness, fervency, persistence and obedience, to name two.

 

C.     Once you and I have a heart for prayer, we will begin to change the world.  Why?

1.       Prayer unleashes the power of God.

2.       Prayer unlocks the storehouses of Heaven.

3.       Prayer turns God’s attention to those in need.

4.       Prayer assists in bringing salvation to those who are lost.

 

D.     Our prayer is that all will develop a heart of a prayerful servant.