The Church of Joy, Williamson Ga

Jesus prayed. In this prayer that was recorded by John, we hear this “from the heart” prayer. Jesus opens and speaks from the depths of His heart. It sounds so honest, so simple, so deep, so rich, so wide, no one can fathom it.

A few thoughts about prayer as we begin:
>If Jesus needed to pray, we all need to pray.
>If Jesus didn’t fell bad about asking for His needs to be met, you don’t need to feel bad asking for your needs. (What do you want from God this year?)

In addition:
>Prayer is supernatural, it is extraordinary, prayer is the connecting point between the world that you see and the world that you do not see.
>Praying is how we build our relationship with God and others. One of the greatest ways to grow closer to someone is to pray for them and with them. A great way to grow in your faith is praying God’s Word over others and in your life. As we pray, we grow closer to others and closer to God.

Jesus prayed and has shown us how to pray as well.
John 17:1 starts with:
"1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

Here Jesus is, in this moment, talking with God…His focus was upward looking for God’s Kingdom to come down.

There is only two ways to live you life:
Man’s way or God’s way
>This world is not our home
>This world is broken and flawed
>Something has gone tragically and terribly wrong
>Sin is infected and affected this world
>This world is broken and needs healingThis world is cursed and it needs forgiveness
>The world is passing away and needs to be replaced

When we look UP, what we are doing is reminding ourselves WHO our Ruler is and WHERE our citizenship is.

You need to know my friend that this world isn’t working and it won’t work unless the KINGDOM comes down. That is why we hear Jesus pray in Matt. 6 “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

Friends: When sin entered the garden of Eden, the dominion darkness, of Satan and cursed man established a system on earth. You were born into it… turn on the news and you will see it… look around, you surrounded by it. Are we inviting God into our lives or are perpetuating the cycle of sin and depravity that has ruled since Adam?

Before you get overwhelmed, wore down, in process, taking a step, making the decision, messing up…LOOK UP and talk with GOD. When you look up to HIM, you are inviting the Kingdom of God into your life.

This is what Jesus is doing here… In this passage of Scripture, we are in the last week of Jesus life before His crucification. Jesus is asking God to fulfill His purpose in Him. Jesus is moving from the natural into the supernatural. If Jesus seeks the Father to bring His presence and power to earth, then we need to as well. The powers of darkness must flee when the light of HIs presence shines forth and His Kingdom comes in us and through us.

Verse 1 continues: “Father,"
>One word… one word that can change everything.

This world is full of words, but this WORD is the word that is filled with the power of God.

How does Jesus start His prayer? FATHER

Even in Matt.6 Jesus starts His prayer with Father…
>It is a relational word, an intimate word, a personal word, a warm word
>Up until this point, pray wasn’t this personal. But here Jesus is teaching us, showing us, giving us access to FATHER… how incredible...how intimate.

Jesus uses this word 165 times…

How do you understand the relationship of a father?
Some of you may have a hard time understanding the goodness of a father because it is either a projection or a rejection of our earthly father that helps us understand what FATHER means.

>I have good news, if you have a good earthly Father, you are doubly blessed.
>If you have a bad earthly father, you have a better one now… And He wants you to know it and know Him. Prayer starts it and grows the relationship.

John 17:1 “Father, the hour has come.”
>You need to PRAY to prepare yourself for BIG changes

Everyday is important, some days are REALLY important. REALLY IMPORTANT.

>You’ve got a BIG decisions to make, a BIG obstacles to overcome.
>Some days are crucial, some days you really hit that proverbial fork in the road and you’re like “do I go left or do I go right,”

Last year some of you had big obstacles, big decisions, big opportunities… you made big choices.
>you might be there right now
>for some of you, they are on the horizon

What do you do when those big days come, when the big decisions need to be made?

As our Father, God’s heart is for us, we are not on our own, HE TAKES CARE of His children. The best way to learn of His love is to spend time before Him.

Some of you would say "I struggle in being disciplined to pray. I struggle praying and am not consistent." Listen, don’t focus on trying to pray more and better, focus on getting to know God as Father. He wants you to really know Him, really trust Him, really know that He loves you… when you focus on Him, you will pray more and pray more… when you feel Him moving in your life, see Him working through you, pray isn’t a chore, it is a way of life that connects you to His heart.

The bigger decision, the more you need to pray.

And I am not saying that you make your plan and ask God to bless it… I am saying, meet with God and ask Him what His plan is…

You see, sometimes God will calm your storm and sometimes you’ve got to go through it. Sometimes He will take you around it…thank Him for mercy… Other times God will carry/empower you through it…thank Him for grace… either way, God is with you when you trust Him.

You see, no matter what in on the journey, God is with you.

Stopping to pray is asking Him, Father, are we going around it or through it…are you going to Divinely intervene in this moment so I can get around it or are you going to empower me to get through it? And if we are going through it… How do I do it?

Some of you need to relinquish your plans and opinions and STOP in your tracks and cry out. God I surrender. God, I need help? How do I do it with You?

My friend, seek His face, yield your walk to His way and see your life change.