1. Solomon prayed and asked God for wisdom and favor. (1Kings 3:6-9)

“And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”

The word “understanding” is שָׁמַע, (shaw-mah’), which means to hear. One wise woman once told this Pastor that God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth. So, we ought to listen TWICE as much as we TALK! That is wisdom!! Do you talk more than you listen?

2. Wisdom and favor was granted by the Lord! (1Kings 3:11,12)

“And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.”

So Solomon was given an understanding heart to lead the people of Israel. Will you stop and ask God for wisdom?

Introduction: Are you ever afraid? How should you pray? Sometimes we “SINK” in despair! Are you sinking in doubt? Peter did.

Look how he responded. But more importantly, take note on how Jesus reacted to his cry.

1. Peter was afraid! (Matt 14:25-30)

“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

When Peter got distracted, he became afraid. He took his eyes off Jesus. Then he sank like a rock! But in that moment of fear, he called upon his Lord. It was a short but to the point prayer. “Lord save me”!

We can pray the same way.

2. Jesus heard his heart cry and rescued him! (Matt 14:31)

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

Our Lord heard Peter’s cry and immediately saved him! 

By the way, the word “doubt” is διστάζω,(dis-tad’-zo), which means to waver or to hesitate.

In other words, evidently Peter was preoccupied by looking in two different directions. One minute, his eyes are on Jesus. The next minute he is overtaken with fear because of the size of the waves and the howling of the wind. Do you ever listen or watch the news and start to sink?

Do circumstances ever get you down? 

Conclusion: Praise our Lord because He can not only walk on the water but He can also calm the storm. If you are sinking today, cry out to Jesus! He will save you.

Introduction: It seems like when we get desperate in prayer, Jesus is quick to hear and answer according to His will. Are you desperate? In Mark’s gospel, an example of this can be seen. The disciples had been on the mountain of transfiguration with Jesus. Needless to say, it was a mountain top experience. Next, they begin to walk down the mountain only to discover a demon possessed boy; yet they were powerless to cast out the demon. But why? What was missing? How could they accomplish such a task?

The text reveals it – the remedy. 

Have you ever felt helpless? No doubt they wanted to see him set free. 

2. The daddy was desperate! (Mark 9:20-24)

“And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 22And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

Here is a case where a person gets desperate enough to not only seek out help but to get the help needed!

3. The demon was destroying! (Mark 9:17,18)

“And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away.”

The devil loves to destroy lives. Jesus has come to give life!

4. Jesus brought deliverance! (Mark 9:25-27)

“When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.”

Demons cannot stand up to Jesus Christ. They must obey! He has all authority!!

Conclusion: Jesus has power over demons.

Finally, Jesus explains, “And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:28,29)

While the disciples were defeated, and the daddy was desperate, thru it all, Jesus Christ delivered the demon-possessed boy. He can do the same today. 

Introduction: Do you need reviving? Does America need a heaven-sent, sin-killing, Christ-honoring Revival? So how should we pray? King Solomon uttered these words as he was instructed to build the temple.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Three insights from this prayer can be extracted.

1. The Basis for Revival! (2Chron 7:14)

“If my people, which are called by my name….”

Revival is for God’s people. When the Church is revived then the lost will be saved! Are you praying for a revival?

2. The Burden for Revival! (2Chron 7:14)

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways…”

Here are the propositions for revival….brokenness, humility and a heart cry for Jesus!

3. The Blessing from Revival! (2Chron 7:14)

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

If these conditions are met on our part (by the power of the Holy Spirit), then our Lord will keep His part – the BLESSING! Are you a candidate?

Introduction: Do you share the love of Christ with people? If not, why not? Jesus has called us to be witnesses (Acts 1:8). But in order to become a witness, we first need to pray. But what should we pray?

1. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give us influence with those we are talking to. (Mark 16:20)

“And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

Since the Word of God has wonder working power, and the blood of Jesus Christ does not rub our sin in, but rather rubs it out, then we have a great message to share.

2. Pray for our lifestyle to be pleasing to God! (Psa 19:14)

“14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Confessing our sins (1John 1:9), and walking in truth (2John 4), is necessary in order to have the blessings of the Lord on our life.

3. Pray for the “Love of Christ” to motivate us! (2Cor 5:14,15)

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

If we are witnessing because we “have to” or are “told to” then we will not have the right motives. Do you ever ask our Lord to check your motives?

Introduction: Have you ever not known how to pray or what to pray? It happens. So what should we do? The apostle Paul gives us some insight as to what we need to do.

1. Our need! (Rom 8:26)

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought.”

Do you see the word “infirmities”? What does it mean? The word is ἀσθένεια, (as-then’-i-ah). It means want of strength, or even weakness, illness, suffering, calamity, or it can even refer to frailty. That covers a lot of ground! Certainly, we have all been at these different places at one time or another.

2. The Spirit’s help! (Rom 8:27)

“27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

The word intercession means to make petition. In other words, to pray in behalf. The word groanings means sighing. The words cannot be uttered means unexpressed or that baffles words.

Sometimes this is the case. Do you Remember when Jesus Christ groaned in His spirit as He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane? At times, we can only groan. Our Lord knows our heart.

Introduction: How should we pray when the enemy comes against us? Please take note of King Jehoshaphat’s prayer in its entirety:

(2Chron 20:7-12)

“And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let  Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.”

1. Our Focus! (vv 7-9)

Our Focus should be on our God not the enemy. After all He’s bigger than any of our enemies. Where is your focus?

2. Our Fight! (vv 10,11)

The fight raged on different fronts. Usually we are not wrestling against flesh and blood. But rather, we war against principalities and powers; i.e. the rulers of darkness – demonic forces. Therefore, we need to know our weapons (2Cor 10:3-5).

Have you identified the real enemy?

3. Our Faith! (v 12)

I love how Jehoshaphat prayed. He admitted that he did not have “all the answers”! And yet, he confessed his need and dependency on the God of the Bible.

Have you?

Introduction: Do you ever pray for our President? Governor? Congressmen and women? Judges? Law enforcement? First responders? Teachers? Administrators? etc. 

Paul reminded Timothy to practice praying for those in authority.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour” (1 Tim 2:1-3). 

1. How? Who? Why? 

The word “exhort” is παρακαλέω (par-ak-al-eh’-o), which means to call to or for, to encourage. It can mean to send for, summon, invite. Also it has yo do with beseeching, entreating, begging, or admonishing. And lastly it can including comforting.

The word “supplications” is δέησις, which included a need, or an entreaty supplication, prayer. 

The next word is self explanatory-prayer.

Then there is the word “intercession” which is ἔντευξις. It means a petition, supplication. An illustration can be approaching the king.

Don’t forget “thanksgiving”!

Next, the Spirit of God inspired Paul to write,

2. Who?

“….be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority.”

3. Why should we pray for these?

“…..that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”

Conclusion: The only thing left is to pray. Will you take a moment and pray?

Introduction: Do you ever pray for the ministry? What about our Lord’s ministry for you? How should we pray?

1. Pray to Fulfill your calling? (1Cor 1:26-29)

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.”

The world’s heroes are God’s zeros! But our Lord’s heroes are the world’s zeros!

Being faithful to the finish should be every believer’s PRAYER! Is this yours?

2. Pray that as the servants of Jesus Christ that we would not glory in the flesh! (1Cor 1:29)

“That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Robbing our Lord from the glory He deserves can be detrimental to our spiritual growth. This can be very subtle, and even be mixed with our motives. Are you ever tempted to rob (take credit) God of His glory?

3. Pray for understanding for who we are in Christ Jesus and what we have! (1Cor 1:30-31)

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

Did you notice the list of what we have in our relationship with Jesus Christ? This should cause us to rejoice!