Aligning Our Hearts with God's Will Through Prayer

 

Summary

In our time together, we explored the profound call to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This call is not just a suggestion but a divine mandate that requires our active participation. We began by examining the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6, where Jesus instructs us to pray for God's will to manifest on earth. This prayer is not merely a ritual but a powerful declaration that aligns our hearts with the divine purpose. It challenges us to envision a world where the peace, joy, and victory of heaven are reflected in our earthly lives.

We then turned to James 4:15, which reminds us of the humility required in acknowledging God's sovereignty over our plans. The phrase "if the Lord wills" is not just a relic of old-time faith but a vital expression of trust in God's perfect plan. This trust is not passive; it demands that we actively seek God's will through prayer, resisting the temptation to accept the status quo of suffering and injustice as inevitable.

The sermon emphasized that the transformation of our world is not automatic. It requires intentional prayer and action. We are called to be like Abraham, who interceded for Sodom, and Esther, who risked her life for her people. These biblical examples illustrate the power of intercessory prayer and the impact one person can have when aligned with God's will.

We are reminded that we are the mobile office of God, ambassadors for Christ, tasked with bringing the light of the gospel to a dark world. This responsibility is not to be taken lightly. It requires us to live intentionally, to pray fervently, and to act courageously. The enemy may try to discourage us, but we are assured that with God's help, we can see change in our families, churches, and communities.

Finally, we are encouraged to embrace the "if" of 2 Chronicles 7:14, understanding that God's promises are contingent upon our response. If we humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face, He will heal our land. This is not a passive hope but an active pursuit of God's will, trusting that He is faithful to His word.

Key Takeaways:

- Praying for Heaven on Earth: Jesus instructs us to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, challenging us to envision a world where heavenly peace and joy are reflected in our lives. This prayer is a powerful declaration that aligns our hearts with divine purpose, urging us to actively seek God's will. [04:37]

- The Humility of "If the Lord Wills": James 4:15 teaches us the importance of acknowledging God's sovereignty over our plans. This phrase is a vital expression of trust in God's perfect plan, reminding us that our lives are not governed by chance but by divine will. [02:48]

- The Power of Intercessory Prayer: Biblical examples like Abraham and Esther show us the impact of intercessory prayer. These stories illustrate that one person's prayer, aligned with God's will, can bring about significant change and demonstrate the power of standing in the gap for others. [24:48]

- Living as Ambassadors for Christ: We are called to be the mobile office of God, bringing the light of the gospel to a dark world. This responsibility requires intentional living, fervent prayer, and courageous action, knowing that with God's help, we can make a difference. [19:08]

- Embracing the "If" of God's Promises: 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us that God's promises are contingent upon our response. If we humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face, He will heal our land. This is an active pursuit of God's will, trusting in His faithfulness. [34:24]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:25] - Introduction to Prayer
- [02:48] - The Humility of "If the Lord Wills"
- [04:37] - Praying for Heaven on Earth
- [06:26] - The Necessity of Prayer
- [08:35] - Overcoming Discouragement
- [11:33] - Standing Against the Enemy
- [19:08] - Living Intentionally for God
- [21:02] - God's Grace and Mercy
- [24:48] - The Power of Intercessory Prayer
- [26:57] - The Spirit of Esther
- [27:36] - Fate vs. Faith
- [30:01] - Praying for Laborers
- [33:06] - The Conditional Promise
- [34:24] - Embracing the "If" of God's Promises
- [36:05] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:9-10
2. James 4:15
3. 2 Chronicles 7:14

---

Observation Questions:

1. In Matthew 6:9-10, what specific instruction does Jesus give about how we should pray regarding God's will? [04:37]

2. According to James 4:15, what phrase should we use to acknowledge God's sovereignty over our plans, and why is it significant? [02:48]

3. How does 2 Chronicles 7:14 describe the conditions under which God will heal the land? [34:24]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the power of intercessory prayer, and how do they demonstrate the impact of one person's prayer? [24:48]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does praying for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven challenge our understanding of prayer as a passive or active practice? [06:26]

2. What does the phrase "if the Lord wills" teach us about humility and trust in God's plan, and how might this affect our daily decision-making? [02:48]

3. In what ways do the stories of Abraham and Esther illustrate the importance of intercessory prayer, and what can we learn from their actions about standing in the gap for others? [24:48]

4. How does the concept of being "ambassadors for Christ" influence the way we live our lives and interact with the world around us? [19:08]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you have struggled to see God's will being done. How can you actively pray for His will to manifest in that situation? [06:26]

2. Consider a time when you made plans without considering "if the Lord wills." How might acknowledging God's sovereignty change the way you approach future plans? [02:48]

3. Think of someone in your life who needs intercessory prayer. How can you commit to standing in the gap for them this week, like Abraham or Esther did? [24:48]

4. As an ambassador for Christ, what specific actions can you take this week to bring the light of the gospel to your community? [19:08]

5. How can you embrace the "if" of 2 Chronicles 7:14 in your personal prayer life, and what steps will you take to humble yourself and seek God's face? [34:24]

6. Identify an area in your life where you feel discouraged or defeated. How can you use prayer to resist the temptation to accept the status quo and seek God's transformative power? [08:35]

7. What practical steps can you take to live intentionally for God, ensuring that your daily actions align with His will and purpose? [19:08]

Devotional

Day 1: Aligning Earth with Heaven's Peace
In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus invites us to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is not a passive request but a call to actively participate in bringing the peace, joy, and victory of heaven into our daily lives. By praying this prayer, we align our hearts with God's divine purpose, envisioning a world where His heavenly attributes are reflected in our earthly existence. This alignment challenges us to seek God's will earnestly, resisting the temptation to accept the status quo of suffering and injustice as inevitable. [04:37]

Matthew 6:10 (ESV): "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Reflection: What specific area of your life can you intentionally align with the peace and joy of heaven today?


Day 2: Trusting in God's Sovereignty
James 4:15 reminds us of the humility required to acknowledge God's sovereignty over our plans. The phrase "if the Lord wills" is not just a relic of old-time faith but a vital expression of trust in God's perfect plan. This trust is active, requiring us to seek God's will through prayer and resist the temptation to believe that our lives are governed by chance. By embracing this humility, we open ourselves to the divine guidance that leads us to fulfill God's purpose in our lives. [02:48]

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

Reflection: What is one plan or decision you are currently facing where you need to trust in God's sovereignty?


Day 3: The Transformative Power of Intercessory Prayer
The stories of Abraham interceding for Sodom and Esther risking her life for her people illustrate the power of intercessory prayer. These biblical examples show that one person's prayer, when aligned with God's will, can bring about significant change. Intercessory prayer is a powerful tool that allows us to stand in the gap for others, advocating for God's intervention in their lives. It is a call to action, urging us to pray fervently and courageously for the transformation of our world. [24:48]

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV): "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."

Reflection: Who is one person or situation you feel called to intercede for today, and how can you commit to praying for them?


Day 4: Living as Ambassadors for Christ
As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to be the mobile office of God, bringing the light of the gospel to a dark world. This responsibility requires us to live intentionally, pray fervently, and act courageously. We are tasked with making a difference in our families, churches, and communities, knowing that with God's help, we can overcome the enemy's attempts to discourage us. By embracing this calling, we become active participants in God's mission to transform the world. [19:08]

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to live more intentionally as an ambassador for Christ in your community?


Day 5: Embracing the Conditional Promises of God
2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us that God's promises are contingent upon our response. If we humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face, He will heal our land. This is not a passive hope but an active pursuit of God's will, trusting in His faithfulness. By embracing the "if" of God's promises, we acknowledge our role in the fulfillment of His divine plan, committing ourselves to a life of prayer, humility, and obedience. [34:24]

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (ESV): "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to humble yourself and seek God's face, trusting in His promise to bring healing and restoration?

Quotes



Pray the Lord's will on earth as it is in heaven. Now, to do that, we need to understand heaven. We need to understand the situation in heaven. There's no disease. There's no sickness. We sung about it. There will be no more crying. There will be no more sorrow. There will be no more death. There will be no more agony, stress, pain. No more depression. No more discouragements. None of it. Heaven is that way. Heaven is a place of no more tears. No more sorrow. No more defeats. No more loneliness. No more struggles. It's a place of total, total peace and rest and victory. And with the Lord. And Jesus says, I want you to pray that my will is done on earth just like it is in heaven. [00:03:38]

Jesus says, you have to pray my will on this earth. And so a lot of people, we just throw our hands up and we say, you know, what's the use? How can I pray against disease? And how can I pray against all the crime and all the loneliness? And the hurting and struggles? How can I pray against it? I don't have all those answers, but I will tell you, the Lord said we should pray against those things. The Lord said we should pray against those things because that's not the will of God. [00:05:10]

Things are not going to get better without prayer. Can I have an amen? Things won't change without prayer. You don't deal with the enemy without praying. You don't deal with the issues, the ills of life without praying the Lord's intervention in these matters. And so that's what the Lord is saying here. He's saying, I want you to pray that my will, just like it's in heaven right now, peace, joy, rest, satisfaction, all that, pray that down on the earth. [00:06:05]

There comes a time where we have to pray for the will of God to be done in our lives, that we have to pray for God's will. We have to pray against the works of the enemy. Amen. We have to pray that we're in a place of position. We can receive from the Lord, be in a place where God can help us, speak to us, heal us, bless us, do all these things, not just personally but for the church and for our cities and our nation and all. [00:07:33]

The enemy will try to downplay you and degrade you to such a place to where, you know, you don't feel like you can make any difference at all. But the Lord says, I want you to pray. Pray my will to be on this earth, and I'm going to, I want to do my, it's not like we're trying to get God in a full Nelson, you know, and begging to do what the Lord wants to do as well. He wants to work for his people. He wants people free and healed and saved. [00:08:40]

We need to have a little fight about ourselves. We need to have some desire, some zeal and passion that we're going to see the Lord's will and his work done. And we're not going to let the devil just run roughshod through our churches and our homes and families. Rip our peace off and rip our sanity away from us and make us be depressed and fearful and lonely and despondent. Take our joy from us. We're not going to just roll over and play dead. [00:11:33]

There are ways to draw the blessings of God. There are ways to draw the help of the Lord and pull that down from heaven. Here's what he's saying here, pray my will to be done. Don't accept it if it's not my will. I think I can say that just very safely. Don't accept it if it's not the Lord's will. Don't accept disease. Don't accept just, you know, some kind of ripoff from the enemy. [00:12:55]

The Lord is not slack concerned his promise as some men count slackness but his long suffering to us we're not willing to be saved we're not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance not willing it's not the Lord's will for people to be lost somebody says well it's a lost world they're all dying and going to hell well if they are that's still not the Lord's will it's not God's will for people to go to a devil's hell it's not his will that any should perish. [00:15:35]

The recipe is for the church to be the church and to preach and to love and teach people and to be witnesses and examples and to be light and salt of the earth that's the that's the recipe y 'all that's a formula the Lord says I don't want to be lost but if somebody doesn't do something about people they will be lost now we could just assume all we want to you know God didn't want them lost let him do something about it that's not how the Lord worked all this out y 'all. [00:17:44]

We live for God intentionally. We don't live for God. We don't live for God just helter-skelter. We don't live for the Lord, you know, just random. It's easy come, easy go. You know, if I get blessed, I get blessed. If I'm in God's will, I'm in the Lord's will. It's not that way. You live for the Lord intentionally. You wake up in the morning and you say, I'm a child of God. I'm going to live for the Lord today. [00:19:08]

Think about Abraham and Sodom and Gomorrah, and I'll try to wrap it up soon. Think about Abraham and Sodom and Gomorrah. You know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, wicked. All the stuff going on there. Terrible, terrible, terrible stuff. Y 'all know. The Lord sent angels down, and those angels confirmed. This place is messed up and god was going to burn it up burn it to the ground and abraham heard about it and abraham being being the man of god that he was he had a heart for for the people he wanted the righteous people to to he wanted the lord to spare the righteous people the city. [00:21:22]

The Lord says, Pray ye, therefore. I think it's in Matthew. Brother Bob, did I give you that? Matthew chapter 9, verse 37. The Lord says, The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. In other words, the fields are ripe, ready for harvest. There's a work to be done. There's work to be done. Then the Lord said, The harvest is plenteous. The laborers are few. Verse 38. But then he said, Pray ye, therefore. The Lord of the harvest said he will send forth laborers. [00:29:36]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jan 16, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?