Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Oct. 29, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. 

IT’S TIME TO PRAY

By Michael D. O’Neal                   Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                   Albany, Georgia

 

 

Scripture Reading: Acts 3:1-8

Text: Acts 3:1

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Introduction: We ought to pray for our missionaries across the sea. Tonight we have a man with us who has surrendered his life to carry the gospel to a foreign people. However, it bothers me when God’s people here in America don’t get alarmed by what they see right HERE. It bothers me that we don’t get stirred up to pray by what is happening on OUR shores, in OUR nation, in OUR cities, in OUR churches, and in OUR homes.

The Jews had set times of prayer. God’s people today almost have NO times of prayer!

May God use this message tonight to stir us to get back to prayer, back to our closets, back to our Prayer Meetings, back to our family praying, back to our personal praying … IT’S TIME TO PRAY!!!

I. IT’S TIME TO PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY

1 Timothy 2:1-2 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.

A. It has little respect for God

B. It has little righteousness in government

C. It has little reward for righteousness

II. IT’S TIME TO PRAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

A. We live in an unconcerned community

• Unconcerned about God
• Unconcerned about godliness

 

B. We live in an unconverted community

• MOST people who live around us are LOST!

C. We live in an uncontacted community

• Not only are most of our neighbors lost, but MOST of them have NEVER had someone sit in their home, open a Bible and show them God’s way of salvation!

III. IT’S TIME TO PRAY FOR OUR CHURCHES

2 Chronicles 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.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Churches today are in a mess! Even INDEPENDENT Baptist churches today are in a mess!

Today’s churches have too many

Mean members

Miserable members

Moaning members

Milk-toast members

Mamby-pamby members

Mealy-mouthed members

Moaning members

Today’s churches

Lack concern

Lack consecration

Lack converts

Lack consistency

We need to pray!!!

A. Let’s pray for a sweet spirit in our churches

• Our love for each other should be our identifying mark – John 13:35.

B. Let’s pray for some steadfast service in our churches

• This is the requirement of a steward – faithfulness – 1 Corinthians 4:2.
• If you can’t get Christians to even come to church every time the doors are opened, you aren’t going to get them to grow, and the church will never be what it should be!

C. Let’s pray for soul-winning power in our churches

D. Let’s pray for standards of separation in our churches

E. Let’s pray for self-denying saints in our churches

F. Let’s pray for spiritual fruit in our churches

G. Let’s pray for sacrificial giving in our churches

H. Let’s pray for sincere emotionalism in our churches

• Saints EXCITED in the Lord!
• Saints LOVING in the Lord!
• Saints HAPPY in the Lord!
• Saints MOTIVATED for the Lord!
• Saints WEEPING with our Lord!

IV. IT’S TIME TO PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN

Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Judges 2:10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

A. Let’s pray for them to be saved

B. Let’s pray for them to be sincere

C. Let’s pray for them to be sold-out to God

D. Let’s pray for them to be separated

E. Let’s pray for them to be soul-winners

Some of you parents need to be more concerned that your kids have the approval of GOD, rather than the approval of this world! You’re training your kids to believe that other things in life are more important than God, than His church, than His worship, His will, and His work!

Oh, how we need a revival in our homes! We need dads who believe that it is more important for them to be in church with their children every time the doors are open, rather than to provide a nice house for them to live! We need mothers who believe that it is more important for them to be a good wife and mother than it is to have a career and retirement!

God help us all! LET’S PRAY!!!