“My House Of Prayer”
No Christian dare say there is no need for prayer. We prayed the sinners prayer before we were saved and a prayer of thanksgiving after we were saved. Dare we try to live a Christian life before the world and remain a prayer-less people? A world dies about us and our eyes are undimmed by tears. Our sons and daughters are bit by the serpent of sin and we seek not the altar of prayer. Men stumble in confusion, bruised and beaten by the storms of sin, and we remain with knees unbended. We play at church while Satan steals our neighbors and friends.
Jesus prayed all night before he chose the twelve, but we seek workers and leaders while 5% of the church prays. Jesus prayed all night while the multitude slept the sleep of death. When our church life depends upon prayer as its heart, and that heart grows cold, it is time for the watchman to sound the alarm.
Isaiah 56:1-8, Acts 4:23-31, Acts 12:1-5, Matt. 21:12-13
I: When Men Pray, Taken for Granted That at Pray.
1. “Praying he prayed.” Elijah
2. Daniel prayed three times a day.
3. Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego faced the furnace without fear because they knew how to pray.
4. Israel remained strong in proportion to her prayer life.
II: The Family Altar.
1. Around the broken altar we find our modern failure and family woes.
2. Material gains and wordily pleasures have taken its place. “Success has wretched our home.”
3. Psychiatric records trace many adult failures to the broken altars of home.
4. In vain the home tries to transfer its responsibilities to the school, welfare groups, and church.
5. Even the church stands helpless before 30 hrs. of godless teaching in the home.
6. The family altar is the salvation of our homes.
III: The Heart Of the Church Is Her Corporate Prayers.
1. She was born in prayer. (Jesus prayed all night).
2. She received her power for World Wide Missions in prayer.
3. She has met every persecution by prayer.
4. She has proceeded every revival meeting by prayer.
5. When prayer dies in the church she is shaken with an earthquake of indifference.
IV: “My House Shall Be Called A House Of Prayer.”
1. Pretense kills prayer.
2. None can pray in public until they pray in private.
3. Church, loyalty, numbers nor the preacher can gender prayer.
4. We must take a long look through the eyes of Calvary at a lost and dying world.
When the heart grows cold and the pulse beats slower, it is time to call the Undertaker or a good doctor. Dare the minister remain silent when the church neglects the hour of prayer.