(Clip) Practicing the Discipline of Prayer On Earth
K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the vital importance of dedicating significant time to prayer and fasting as a discipline to deepen intimacy with God and be effective in His work on earth.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of living as aliens and strangers on earth, not conforming to worldly culture but focusing on living for Christ. Practical recommendations are given, including prioritizing prayer over Bible studies, dedicating more time to prayer to deepen intimacy with God, and setting aside a day for fasting and prayer. The power of fervent, secret prayers is highlighted through a personal testimony, encouraging believers to prioritize their relationship with God above all else.
Full Transcript
Just read that email and see some pictures from our missionaries that left their homeland Burma and went to Laos and Cambodia, living there for years and leading people to Christ, having planted several churches. But I may never see those brothers in person, nor the believers, but I know someday when I get to see Jesus, there will be multitudes that no man can number around the throne. Why? Because today, wherever he may be, the Lord placed you here.
Live the way the Lord would want you to live as aliens, strangers, and pilgrims. Don't belong to this earth and the culture or whatever that is destroying us from being like Christ. There are four recommendations I will give, hopefully practical applications you can take and do something with it.
One, I don't know about this church, but wherever I go, I recommend more and more now, stop a lot of Bible studies, but convert that hour or hour and a half for prayer. We cannot know the Lord intimately, nor can we be used by him without understanding the meaning of time with God. Average Christians spend less than eight minutes a day in prayer.
Can you imagine you spend eight minutes with your family a day and think that you can know them? No one. How can you know God without spending time with him? Add more time to your prayer life. Seek to take a day of the week for fasting and prayer.
By the way, if you fast one day of the week and pray, you die, you please let me know. I can assure you the Lord will give you the grace. But the reason I'm saying this to you, you know, we are six boys in my family that I grew up back in India.
My mother used to spend three, four hours a day, early morning hours alone in prayer. And she never revealed this to anyone. One of her prayers was that out of six boys, one of them will go and preach the gospel.
Every Friday for three and a half years, she fasted and prayed specifically for that one prayer request, although she never disclosed that to me or anyone. And I'm the result of her prayer. You are organizing for children, grandchildren, your family.
Counseling is very good. Books are good. But nothing is going to take the place of being with God.
And get a world map. And we have world map.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Missionaries' faithfulness despite distance
- Living as aliens and strangers on earth
- Avoiding worldly culture that hinders Christlikeness
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II
- Prioritize prayer over Bible studies
- Average Christian prays less than eight minutes daily
- Importance of spending quality time with God
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III
- Incorporate fasting and prayer weekly
- God’s grace sustains fasting believers
- Personal testimony of mother’s persistent prayer
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IV
- Prayer surpasses counseling and books
- Use tools like a world map to pray for the nations
- Commit to practical applications of prayer discipline
Key Quotes
“Average Christians spend less than eight minutes a day in prayer.” — K.P. Yohannan
“You cannot know God without spending time with Him.” — K.P. Yohannan
“Nothing is going to take the place of being with God.” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- Dedicate more time daily to prayer to deepen your relationship with God.
- Incorporate a weekly day of fasting and prayer to seek God's guidance and grace.
- Use tools like a world map to intentionally pray for missionaries and global needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does K.P. Yohannan recommend replacing Bible studies with prayer time?
He believes that intimate knowledge of God and being used by Him requires more time spent in prayer than in Bible study alone.
How much time do average Christians spend in prayer daily according to the sermon?
Average Christians spend less than eight minutes a day in prayer.
What is the significance of fasting in the discipline of prayer?
Fasting combined with prayer helps believers focus spiritually and receive God's grace for their requests.
What personal example does the speaker share about persistent prayer?
He shares how his mother fasted and prayed for three and a half years for one of her six sons to preach the gospel, which resulted in his own calling.
What practical tools does the speaker suggest to aid in prayer?
He suggests using a world map to pray for missionaries and nations around the world.