Praying continually keeps us in happiness.

Date of Sermon Delivery : 24. Oct. 2021

Place of sermon Delivery : Delhi, India

Sunday Worship Service

Speaker : Jatin Bisht

Title: Praying continually keeps us in happiness.

Bible: Philippians: 4:6-7

6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. 

7. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

6 किसी भी बात की चिन्ता मत करो; परन्तु हर एक बात में तुम्हारे निवेदन, प्रार्थना और विनती के द्वारा धन्यवाद के साथ परमेश्‍वर के सम्मुखउपस्थित किए जाएँ। 

7तब परमेश्‍वर की शान्ति, जो सारी समझ से परे है, तुम्हारे हृदय और तुम्हारे विचारों को मसीह यीशु में सुरक्षित रखेगी।

 

 

Jai Mashi ki. 

I greet you all, sisters and brothers in the name of Jesus Christ. 

And I hope that you will all be very good in Lord Jesus. 

The past few Sundays we have been hearing about true happiness, we know what true happiness is? 

True happiness comes from the Lord, but the enemy does not want that we may remain in true happiness, so he always comes to steal our true happiness.

Right after God’s creation, the man was so happy in the Garden of paradise (Eden)

But the enemy was jealous seeing all this. 

Therefore, He came and stole all true happiness from the human race, and defected it

Even though our defective nature hindrance for our happiness, but God opened the way for us through Jesus Christ, which we heard last Sunday. 

 

Today we will learn, how we can stay connected with true happiness?

Do you want to stay connected with true happiness? Yes, I also want.

But before I share today’s God word, I want to share a story with you.

In 2013, we went for a picnic in Lodi Garden, we enjoyed a lot because there was a lot of things, there were games, there was refreshment, there was good fellowship, there were many new people, there was good weather, there was the word of the lord and worship of the Lord. 

And that day I had to lead the worship time, but while we were all worshipping, some officer came and stopped us from worshipping that you should not do all this here, so Shepherd told me to stop the worship, and I love to worship therefore I was not happy in that reason, 

But what happened after that, made a great impact on my faith, so I have not forgotten that thing till today, I will share it with you at the end.

Let’s open today bible Philippians 4:6-7

6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. 

7. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

 

Four letters (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) were written by Paul while he was under house arrest in Rome. These letters are also known as prison epistles/letters.

It is so amazing to see, someone in jail but he is encouraging people and is writing letters of Joy and peace. 

How is this possible? it is possible in Jesus, and Paul’s life is proof of it 

 

Here Paul is saying do not be anxious about anything. But it is so easy for us to become anxious and worried about what’s going to happen if I will lose my job, what about that school project, what will happen if I will get this and that disease. 

So many things that are occupied our minds, how long my relationship will go.

It can build a sense of stress and worry in our lives, but God doesn’t want us to have it in our lives.

So, is the lord saying here that disease is not true, problems are not true, do not we need to worry about it?

No 

But God says here, do not worry about it, but for this all we need to pray, petition with thanksgiving.

What is prayer? 

Pray is simply talking with God. 

It is a two-way conversation. Prayer is the most powerful thing in this universe, nothing can take the place of prayer.

Many times, people share that they are not growing in Jesus, they are not changing, they are not able to hear what God wants from them. 

James 4:2 says you do not have because you do not ask.

If we are not prayer that mean we do not need God, 

If we are not praying about our finance because we do not need God to be in our finance. 

If we are not praying about our marriage because we do not need God to be in our marriage.

If we are not praying for direction because we can find our own direction.

But prayer is beautiful things, which shows God, I need you, I need you in my life.

Prayer means we are inviting God, inviting God in our marriage, in our finance, in our life direction.

Many times, we pray or come to God only when our problems are big, in another word, we come to God at last. 

Why do not we knock on his door first? 

Does the lord come to us after roaming here and there?

Never (kabhi nahi)

He comes us directly, he gives us a priority, he wants that we may head no tail. 

In our small worry, we thought, we can do it by myself, or we have enough experience to solve it, or O it is so small thing I can handle it.

But later on, this, all small problem takes the form of a big problem, which converts into anxious disease. 

I want to ask you one thing, can you think of a thing that is a big deal to the lord, which we consider a big problem, but that is nothing in front of God. 

God wants that we may share with him our small- small things too. 

Make practice in your pray that nothing may remain in your heart, tell to him everything, everything means everything.

When I ride a bike, I talk to God, do not think that I close my eyes, I keep my eyes open and I tell everything to God.

Because it is impossible to know a person until we do not talk to that person.

How we are going to know God if we do not talk to him.

Therefore, tell to God your everything, as someone tells his everything to his close friend.

Tell to him you’re suffering so that he can console you.

Tell to him your joy so that he can arise you more.

Tell him your ambition/longing so that he can satisfy/purify it 

Tell him your hatred so that he can make you victorious in them 

Tell him your challenges so that he may protect you.

Tell him your impurity so that he can make you pure.

Tell him your heart's wound so that he may heal you.

Whenever you will pray to God, or connect with God by communication, you will experience true happiness. 

God wants that we may trust in him, we may not worry about anything but in every situation, we may pray to him, 

Paul says here wherever you bring your prayer in front of God, give thanks to him at the same time because he has heard our prayer and answered that prayer on the way. 

But sometimes we thought God did not answer my prayer, I prayed and I did not get what I asked. 

For example – There was one father, who used to give candy to his child, and his child always takes candy, but one day his child asks a bicycle instead of candy and the father answered was No. 

Here whatever child asked his father, he received the answer, and here the answer was no, 

Although the child cannot understand, the father’s no-say was a very wise answer.

Whatever we ask the Lord, the lord always answers it.

But be aware that to whom we are praying, or in another word, be aware to whom are communicate more.

In a letter of Corinthian Paul says you cannot drink the cup of the lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the lord’s table and the table of demons.

Many people pray to the wrong object, 

They pray to idols, as well as God, but as Paul says you cannot drink the cup of the lord and the cup of demons. Many times, people pray to Jesus as well as pray to idols. Idols are not anything, they are just the imagination of the human mind which works by the enemy. 

When Moses was on the Mount of Saini, and long in coming down from the mountain, Israelites asked Aaron, come make us gods who will go before us. 

Israelites lost their patients and forced Aaron to make idols for them. Which was against God's commandment “you shall have no other gods before me”.

They thought this idol of gold will help them and bless them, but that was not true. 

As a consequence, 3000 Israelites were killed. 

Now you all are thinking, we do not worship idols, but somewhere we all are under the captivity of idols. 

At the present time, smartphone addiction is increasing. For many of us, cannot live without their phone. This is quickly becoming an idol. As soon as their eyes open so less pray to God instead of looking at their phone. 

If someone will ask, how do you start and end your day? Maybe many of us will agree with my answer that is our smartphone.

It is not a problem with our phones or social media. But it is the value we give more that makes a problem. Anything that takes the place of God in our life, or anything (money, entertainment, comfort) that becomes more important than God, is an idol. 

I hope we do not want bondage, but we want freedom and true happiness, which come from God. 

So, we should pray to the Almighty God (John 16:24)

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete. 

Pray to the almighty God, Jesus says in Matthew 19:26 with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. 

Please say to each other, all things are possible. 

If you have financial difficulties, pray. 

If you want God may use you more, pray. 

If you have anxiety, pray.

If you have laziness, pray.

If you are lonely, then pray.

If you are disappointed, pray

If you need more wisdom, then pray 

If you want God's favor in your life, then pray.

If you want to open any door, then pray 

If you have lost your job, then pray

If you are fearing, then pray.

If you have lost happiness, then pray. 

If you do not understand anything, then pray 

My dear brother and sister, make your number priority is connecting with God.

Come on your knee, because when people of God come on your knees then great works of God are done. A big ocean splits into two parts, the walls of Jericho fall, blind man start seeing, lame start walking, mute start to talk, and every sadness turns into great Joy.

Because our God is not the one who cannot hear, cannot see, and cannot walk. But our God is almighty God who sees, walks, listens, and is always with us. 

The next thing I want to tell you Who can pray to God and how to pray?

Everyone can pray to the Lord, but if that person does not believe in the lord, then it is useless to pray to him, because he does not believe in what he is asking. 

Brothers and sisters Pray regularly, is there anyone who has a personal time for prayer? Or you would pray when you felt like.

Have you ever known a great athlete who practiced only when he felt? Maybe no, A athlete does not become great athlete because he practices only when he feels like. In the same way I and you cannot become a prayer warrior if we pray when we feel like it. 

In psalm 55:16-17 David said I call to God and the lord saves me, evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. 

David prayed at least three times a day (morning, noon, and evening)

Make prayer your prime goal, make your appointment with God more important than anything and reject every interruption.

Pray Honestly – when we pray, are we honest with God? 

Do you really talk to God when you pray/or someone pray? 

Covid has changed people, someone is praying but people are talking with someone other in phone, texting, like photos. It is not a work of God, but work of enemy he wants to reduce our honesty before God, he does not want that we may pray more and share our everything to Him.

So, when we are praying, we are talking to almighty God, respect to him, do not hide anything but be honest in your pray. (Hebrew 4:13)

Pray faithfully – Example of Hannah’s pray

 

What are the effects of prayer?

Prayer helps us to get God's answers. Prayer is a two-way conversation.

last week I was talking with one brother, he was sharing with me his elder brother's condition.

He said that his elder brother does not listen to anyone, he does not take responsibility, we guide him a lot but he does not listen to us. 

I asked him, do you pray for him? He said he prayed for him but when he saw there is no changes, he stopped to pray for him. 

One thing Keep in your heart that God always answers our prayers.

As the word of God is not vain, so the words of the one who prays to him are also not vain. Keep praying and waiting because God will surely answer

Prayer builds strength and confidence in us, when we make prayer a habit, God’s presence in us grows stronger and stronger, because prayer helps us to see our situation through the eyes of faith, and it builds us boldness, as Paul says in Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who gives me strength. 

Prayer releases us from anxiety, prayer is a way by which we share our heart to God and fully process everything that affects our spirit

Prayer helps us to understand God’s will, God has a plan for every one of us, but many people live their life without ever thinking about it. We are not here by accident, but we are here because God put us here with a reason, through prayer we could come to know God in a personal way, and then live the way he wants us to live. Prayer brings the will of God more clearly.

At the last but not least Prayer brings peace 

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

In 2015 I went to Goa and I saw a sea for the first time in my life, and I spent some time living by that sea and when I was looking at the sea, I could able to experience the greatness of the lord and the peace which filled in my heart I cannot define it, but that was so wonderful. 

My dear brothers and sisters 

If you will see today's text, you will find between anxiety and peace there is pray. Prayer is a powerful tool, where we enter with anxiety and come out with happiness and peace. 

Do you want to be in God’s peace and get happiness? 

Then come closer to God, pray to him, and stay connected with God's true happiness. 

I will end our message with that story, it was left incomplete, so when the time of worship in that picnic was ending, I was praying lord we want to worship more, which was impossible because the officer was refusing us to do that, but as I was ending my prayer, a person came and said softly in my ear do worship again, what was impossible prayer made it possible, and that incident made a big impact in my faith.

Prayer has made a great influence on my life of faith, and I hope the same in all of your life too. So, let’s talk to the lord more, only then we will be able to live in his happiness and you will come out of every trouble like a champion.

May God bless us by hearing his word

Amen.