Prayer as a Source
(This Weekly Prayer was written by Irene Sentosa, from the CBC English Prayer Ministry Core Team,
and edited by Brigitta Tedja)
James Sudarsono: “Prayer as a Source” (Pray & Fast Series)
Watch James preaching here
James started a new series of messages entitled “Pray and Fast” that is in line with this year’s theme. This first message is called, “Prayer as a Source”. We first need to understand: What is prayer?
Prayer is Communicating with God
Communication is a two-way street
Learn to listen! Holy Spirit wants to talk to each and every one of us.
It is to be done not only frequently, but incessantly, unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
“When you pray . . . “ (Matthew 6)
It’s non-negotiable as believers. It is the lifeblood of our lives as followers of Jesus. There is a place of revelation in prayer that God beckons us to.
There are different types of prayer: Exaltation, petition/supplication, intercession, declaration, contrition, and thanksgiving.
Luke 11:2-4 NKJV demonstrates different types of prayers:
“So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name. (exaltation)
Your kingdom come. Your will be done. (declaration)
On earth as it is in heaven. (intercession)
Give us day by day our daily bread. (supplication)
And forgive us our sins, (contrition)
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”
However, Jesus never meant for this to be the end-all to prayer. He said to not pray in repetition—it has no power. He and the disciples prayed in different ways. He did not set templates or formulas. If anything, He showed us that prayer consists of a variety of things and we can integrate them when we pray. Prayer includes worship and it includes reading the Word. It is the act of fellowship and communion with God, not just words.
The KEY of this prayer is in “Our Father”:
These first words set the relationship and position of prayer.
In the past, we see Moses and David and other men of God speak as a servant. Jesus shifted the relationship and it was revolutionary for us to speak to God as a Father.
It is the desire of the Father to establish RELATIONSHIP. He desires unbroken fellowship and communion with you.
Just like in a long-distance relationship and also in marriage, we find ways throughout the day, all day and every day, to stay connected and that is God’s desire for us. It is in this place of fellowship that He wants to give you more than you know.
Prayer is to be A SOURCE
1. As a Source of PURPOSE
Mark 1:35-39 NKJV states, “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because FOR THIS PURPOSE I HAVE COME FORTH.” And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.”
Prayer reveals the heart of the Father in our lives; what He thinks of you and the promises He has declared over your life. Your sense of purpose comes from time spent with Him. There is just something about spending time with God. When we see and know the Father in prayer, we will know our identity as a son and daughter.
2. As a Source of POWER
Matthew 17:14-21 NKJV states, “And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So, I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So, Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Prayer is the place out of which purpose and power flow. Build a lifestyle of prayer and fasting in PRIVATE. The weapons of your warfare are learned in the secret place. David did not learn to fight Goliath that day on the battlefield. He learned how to fight the lion and the bear out in the field when he was alone. He learned in private so that he can stand in public.
3. As a Source of RECOVERY
Mark 6:41-47 NKJV states, “And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. So they all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.”
20,000 people in total, including women and children, were fed from the five loaves and two fish. Powerful miracle took place that day; literally thousands of people saw what Jesus was doing but what was His response?
“Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.
When we experience the power of God; the miracles of God, the big moments of life, whether good or bad—go back to prayer. In victories, in challenges, after the big things in life, learn to come back to God the Father in prayer. Know that prayer is a source of recovery.
Prayer Points:
Pray that we will learn to communicate, commune with the Father, and not just to bring our needs to Him in our prayer.
Pray that we will be in place of fellowship with the Father in our prayer. It is the Father’s desire to have RELATIONSHIP, FELLOWSHIP and COMMUNION with us.
Pray that our prayer will be as a source of PURPOSE that reveals the heart of the Father in our lives and we will know our identity in Him.
Pray that our prayers will be the place out of which His purpose and POWER flow in our lives.
Pray that whether we are in victories or challenges, we will learn to come back to God in prayer as a source of RECOVERY.
Pray that we will learn to hear what the Spirit is saying, to know HIs voice, and to obey.
"My own sheep will hear my voice and I know each one, and they will follow me." John 10:27Pray for a fire of prayer and intercession, a burning passion to seek His face, and more hunger and thirst for the Lord.
Pray for our church family to be a praying church family, that we will have the culture of prayer.
Be the Salt & Light (Repeated to contend for progress to take place)
Pray for California:
Sacramento has produced more and more unGodly bills. Some of those bills will go through committee hearing in the next 2 weeks.
Pray for believers to rise up, take a stand and courageously oppose those unGodly bills.
Pray for all the unGodly bills to be defeated!
Pray for more Godly candidates to run for office.
Pray for believers to rise up and support Godly candidates currently running for office.
Pray for America:
Pray for God to raise up Godly candidate for SCOTUS justice to replace Justice Stephen.
Russia - Ukraine war is still raging, pray that America can lead all the other world leaders to find solutions to end this war. Pray that America will be the city on the hill where other nations look up to for leadership and solution.
Pray that God will pour out His wisdom upon our leaders to craft our domestic energy policy that will benefit the American people and bring down the inflation.
Pray for our southern border. Our porous southern border has become an entry point for human traffickers, drugs and violent criminals. Pray for wisdom upon our leaders to enact and enforce a just and lawful immigration policy.
Pray for Ukraine:
Declare peace upon this region.
Pray for God to soften President Putin’s heart and make him willing to sit on the discussion table to bring peace back into this region.
Pray for safety upon all the churches in the region.
Pray for all the people that displaced by this war and loss their loved ones.
Pray for the children displaced by this war.
May prayer be our source of purpose, power, and recovery!