(John 14:12 NLT) I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life.” If you have been following this series you know that there are many facets and aspects to prayer. Having an effective prayer life involves much more than just take a few moments to say, “Now I may me down to sleep.” We started this series off by looking at the life of Jesus and how He prayed in the morning and throughout the day. Jesus refused to do anything that He did not first see the Father do (in prayer) or say anything He did not first hear the Father say (in prayer). Prayer was the secret to Jesus’ earthly success and it can be ours, if we learn to pray correctly.
Thus far in this series we have also looked at three different factors. I taught you about the reverence factor, where you must have a certain level of reverence of God to properly honor and respect Him as you approach Him in prayer. I taught you about the love factor, where you must walk in love (free of malice, strife, bitterness, and unforgiveness) in every area of your life in order to please the Father and receive answers to your prayers without hindrance. And I taught you about the fear factor, where fear can strip your prayers of any power, or even worse, cancel them out altogether.
We still have a lot to cover in this series and I am thankful to the Father for leading me to teach this, especially in this season. 2011 has been a rough year for many and as we prepare to close the year out strong I am convinced that having an effective prayer life will be essential to experiencing God’s best in 2012 and beyond.
When I talk to people about prayer specifically and about being used of God in general, I often get a sense that they just don’t see themselves as worthy of really doing much for God or not worthy of operating like Jesus operated in the earth. If you fall into this category this morning, if you feel like you are not worthy because of the things you have done in your past, then let me help you out… GET OVER IT! You are not worthy in and of yourself and you never will be. Jesus MADE you worthy. Paul said, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun…. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Cor 5:17 & 21). In our main text we see how Jesus expected us to do what He did, and even greater works than what He did, but we will never get there if 1) we don’t pray and 2) we maintain a low self-esteem.
So what does this mean to you today? It means the Father wants to use you for His glory. To do so you must be committed to prayer (so you can receive divine instruction) and you must overcome any lingering thoughts of low self-esteem. I will close with the words of Dr. Munroe: “I believe that our fear of being proud or presumptuous, along with our lack of acceptance of our worthy in Christ, have kept us in bondage and robbed us of the reality of His finished work on our behalf… who are we in Christ? We are the redeemed. Again, this is not just a philosophy or an opinion. This is the Father’s description of who we are in His Son. The Second Adam redeemed mankind.”
Closing Confession: Father, I now better understand that there are many aspects and facets to prayer. I understand the reverence factor. I properly revere and respect You as my Lord and Savior. You alone are Lord in my life. I understand the love factor. I rid myself of anything that will keep me from operating in Your love daily. I understand the fear factor. I refuse to allow fear to rob my prayers of any power. And I get past any inkling of low self-esteem. I know that I am nothing without You, but I also know that You MADE me righteous through Jesus’ finished work on the cross. I shall not allow low self-esteem to keep me from approaching You daily in prayer. I an new in You. I am redeemed, I know it, and I shall act like it. I come boldly before Your throne daily, in the name of Your Son, and my prayer life fuels my success in the earth! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
