OCCASSIONS LEADING TO PRAYER

Text: I Thess 5:16-231Th 5:16 Rejoice always, 1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing, 1Th 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1Th 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. 1Th 5:20 Do not despise prophecies. 1Th 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 1Th 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil. 1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Intro: If we are just honest enough to admit, we’re complacent when it comes to prayer.

•We always forget His Word which says pray without ceasing, right?Aim: For us to be prayerful all the time.•James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. I. REJOICE ALWAYS-V 16•Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!• 2Cr 6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. •It should be expected in the gathering that we are rejoicing

• A Christian life is a pleasant life, full of joy.• You cannot pray without ceasing if you fail to

rejoice in the Lord.II. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING-V 17• The way to rejoice evermore is to pray without

ceasing.• Rom 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in

tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;• Our circumstances should push us to prayer

instead of drawing us away from it.• 1Sa 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that

I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

• We should be opportunistic in finding time to pray.

• Our work or business should not hinder us from prayer as prayers makes our business successful.

• We have been diverted by Satan away from prayer when we always have time in- light conversations-sleep late for the things we enjoy-Facebookand have no time to pray.

• 1Th 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

• 1Th 5:3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

• Luke 21:36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

• Eph 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints– -They are our brethren-They are prone to evil, temptatons, trials-It makes us love them and forget their

faults-Christians are so fragile-Some of them could be in the valley of

death

III. IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS –V 18•This is the will of the Father •Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. •Gen 50:20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. •God knows what is best

-whether you see it or not-whether you believe it or not-whether you understand it or not

•Trust always demands an unanswered questions-whether you like it or not

IV. DO NOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT-V 19• Mat 26:41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." •Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. •We quench fire by withdrawing fuel

-pouring water or too much dirt on it•We should not indulge to the lust of our flesh•We should be careful not to mind earthly things

V. DO NOT DESPISE PROPHECIES-V 20•It is our duty to understand the preaching of the Word•Its interpretation and application•We must esteem it valuable than anything else•We must not despise it even if we are not told more than what we knew

-even if it’s so plain-even if we’re not enticed with words of

human wisdom-even if you have heard it before

•1Pe 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, •1Cr 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

VI. TEST ALL THINGS, HOLD FAST ON WHAT IF GOOD-V 21•This means we will not just trust every preacher but test them by their testimony or lifestyle•We should search the scriptures whether what they say is true or not•Act 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. •Do what they say but do not what they do if they themselves are not living their preaching.•When we are satisfied that any thing is right, and true, and good, we must hold it fast, and not let it go, whatever opposition or whatever persecution we meet with for the sake thereof

VII.ABSTAIN FROM EVERY FORM OF EVIL-V 22• John 7:17 "If anyone wills to do His will, he

shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

• He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the occasions of sin, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to sin, will not long abstain from the actual commission of sin.

• 1Cr 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

VIII. THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE CHURCH –V 23•God did not do anything for no reason, •He does not, and will not at all•Gen 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. •God will not allow earthquake and tsunami in Japan for no reason•Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. •Luke 13:2 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

• Luke 13:3 "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

• He wanted wickedness to come to an end• He wanted believers to be sanctified • It could be the only way because if there was,

He had done it already and people carry on with their wickedness.

• God is not a punishing God, we just reap what we sow

• Life is what we make it.• Num 32:23 "But if you do not do so, then take

note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.

• He just wants us to pray because what happened their could happen to us.

• He just wants us to be alert or watchful.

CHALLENGE: •Are you prayerful?•How long could you pray?•What hinders you from praying?CONCLUSION:1Th 5:17 “ pray without ceasing”

Lord, I need Your grace and mercy.I need to pray like never before.

I need the power of your holy spiritTo open Heaven's door.

Spirit touch Your church, stir the hearts of men.

Revive my soul with your passion once again.I want to care for othersLike Jesus cares for me.

Let your reign fall on me, Oh Lord.Let your reign fall on me.

Lord we humbly come before You.

We don't deserve of You what we ask.

But we long to see Your glory.Restore this dying land.