Battle Plan for Prayer - Week 8

Teaching using  The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick. Chapters 14 & 15.

Repentance verses Pride

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 

James 4:10

In Luke 18, Jesus described two men praying. One was a Pharisee who expressed thankfulness for being a great person. He boasted that he was not like the sinners around him. He spoke of his good deeds and self-righteously did not repent of anything. But the other man was a tax-collector who tore his shirt and refused to look up to heaven. He recognized his need for forgiveness and asked God for mercy.

Jesus said the tax collector walked away justified while the Pharisee was not justified or right with God. In that day many Jewish people saw the Pharisee as righteous before God and the tax collector as an unforgivable sinner. But Jesus saw it differently.

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18:14

While considering these verses, which way do you approach God? Are you humble or prideful? In humility we see our need for God’s grace, guidance, and forgiveness. In humility we can call to God while we turn away from our sin. But with pride we do not understand our need for forgiveness. We see ourselves as good enough and asking for forgiveness would be a sign of failure or weakness.

Pride proclaims, “I am a good person, I haven’t done anything truly bad. Why do I need forgiveness?” Pride also says, “I am in control. I am a good person. I should be rewarded for what I do.” Pride says, “Mine is the kingdom, mine is the glory, mine is power.” Pride leads us to believe in our own importance.

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves

Galatians 6:3

Pride overlooks the fact that our life and abilities are a gift from God. God offers us mercy, grace, and blessings, not because we deserve it but because it is his nature and desire. Everything we accomplish is derived from the gifts and abilities God has given us, not from ourselves.

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 

Proverbs 6:16-17

Unfortunately, many prideful people believe they are wise. They believe they deserve honor. But a prideful attitude separates us from God and prevents us from receiving God’s full blessing.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2

In today’s culture, pride blinds us to the need for repentance and prayer. It is difficult to seek repentance when we are proud of what we do. It is difficult to ask for forgiveness when we believe we are good enough.

Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

Proverbs 29:23

In scripture the people who walked closely with God and were used to do mighty things were humble. David was Israel’s greatest king. Yet many times he asked, “who am i?”

But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel,

that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
1 Samuel 18:18

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

"Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
1 Chronicles 17:16

Paul called himself the worst of sinners. Yet he wrote half of the New Testament.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
1 Timothy 1:15

Joshua humbled himself before the Lord and God used him to conquer the promised land. Esther walked humbly in submission and God used her to save the Jewish people from extinction. God wants us to be humble before him but also humble before each other.

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5

How would family, church, and community relationships change if we showed greater humility to each other? We would be more focused on other people’s needs instead of being self-centered. We would be more cooperative and less stubborn. We would be less sensitive to insults and more apologetic towards others.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, 

that he may lift you up in due time. 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

James 4:6

If we are humble, God will draw near to us and we will draw near to him in repentance. If God calls pride a sin, then what possible good can it do us? It is better to prayerfully ask God to help us remove our pride. It would be better if we stop boasting about ourselves and begin boasting about God and what he has done. God hates pride and loves humility. The only way to approach a holy, sovereign, omnipotent God is to humble ourselves in thanksgiving, and confession. To be mighty in prayer we must tackle our pride and wrestle it out of our lives. To maintain a close relationship with God and be powerful in prayer we must maintain an attitude of humility.

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom

or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
Jerimiah 9:23-24

Unity verses Division

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you

have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13

In Genesis 11 there is the story of the Tower of Babel. Townspeople decided to glorify themselves by building a great tower in the city center. They began and were successful in what they were doing. But God looked down and was displeased.

But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

Genesis 11:5-7

When their languages were confused they stopped building and separated themselves by language moving to different parts of the land. God said that when they joined together they were so powerful nothing they attempted would be impossible to them even though they were ungodly. The question arises if ungodly people can be so powerful what power might the church possess if it came together in unity with one mind? Nothing would be impossible to us. That is why the enemy divides us over so many trivial things. To zap the power of unity, preventing us from taking ground for the kingdom. United prayer is much more powerful than prayer offered by divided, bickering people. This is why choosing to forgive and letting go of bitterness is crucial for the church. Any pride or selfishness is the enemy of prayer.

In John 17 Jesus prayed for his followers to be in unity so that the world would know Jesus was sent to bring the world to God through salvation.

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:22-23

God loves and blesses unity. When people work together it shows, love, purpose and power while bringing attention to Jesus our savior. When an army of Christians work together doing God’s will, they become an unstoppable force.

In Acts the early church had this type of power. They were with one mind, devoted to prayer and doing good. God’s hand was upon them and the church grew by thousands in a short time. The people were in awe of the might things God was doing.

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

Acts 2:43

However, when we are divided we communicate something very different. When we exhibit pride, bitterness, and end-fighting what does the world think? Is God glorified or is does God look divided among his people?

Powerful movements of revival have arisen from people united in prayer. The Great Awaking resulted from people praying in unity, setting aside differences, joining in unity, seeking God’s forgiveness, and forgiving each other. They prayed for God to show up and he did.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3

God blesses people who join in unity, who remove sin from there midst, and seek his face together. He will grant our needs when we forgive each other but he also warns us that we cannot hate our brother and love God.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Mark 11:24-26

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.

For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,
cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command:
Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
1 John 4:20-21

For our homes, churches, and communities to flourish they must dwell in unity with no bitterness, selfishness, or pride. We are to live peaceably with everyone as much as we are able. If it is out of our control then we pray for the situation. Even when two Christians join together in prayer God is there.

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:20

Unity is powerful. We must not let the enemy separate us over trivial issues. We must fight back with forgiveness, love, and seeking the Lord. Imagine all the churches of Birmingham working together to save the loss, feed the poor, or heal the sick. A powerful move of God would happen and it would bring others to us to experience the greatness of God themselves. It has happened before and God is willing to do it again.

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Jeremiah 33:3